What is a Latch switch and a Momentary switch?

sydsad

Hey,

Iv just ordered a Boss Me-70 multi guitar effects pedal and ill be using a boss Fs-6 dual footswitch with it

This is it the footswitch http://www.thomann.de/ie/boss_fs6.htm

Im a bit sketchey though with what this latch and momentary things is.

If anyone could help me out on this just so ill have more of a clue when it arrives that would be great.

Thanks

DamienH

Latching is just the normal process of a switch as far as I'm aware i.e. If you step on it it's ON till you step on it again. If it wasn't latched (unlatching) the effect would only stay ON while you had your foot on the pedal. You can change the polarity of the LED aswell, whether it's on/off when the pedal is latched/un-latched.

Not sure what you mean by the momentary tbh, are you talking about un-latched state?
Now I've never used this pedal but thats what the terms mean in an electronic sense anyway.

edit: I was just thinking it's a fairly handy feature for a pedal. You could use delay in an unlatched state to add finishing touches to solos etc. Or dual-guitar effect for Thin Lizzy harmonies. Shooting from the hip!!!!

Paolo_M

sydsad wrote: »

Hey,

Iv just ordered a Boss Me-70 multi guitar effects pedal and ill be using a boss Fs-6 dual footswitch with it

This is it the footswitch http://www.thomann.de/ie/boss_fs6.htm

Im a bit sketchey though with what this latch and momentary things is.

If anyone could help me out on this just so ill have more of a clue when it arrives that would be great.

Thanks

We'll first look at just the switch itself.
A latching switch is one that holds it's position even after you've removed your hand/foot. A light switch is a good example.
A momentary switch does not hold it's position and returns to it's "normal" position once you remove your hand.

What it means relates to what device it is actually switching.
Momentary switches are generally used to switch an electronic devices that have a circuit called a "Flip Flop" inside. A Flip Flop only needs a quick pulse to change it's state. It will not change it's state again until another pulse is given. They're used because they are quick, reliable and cheap.
Boss pedals usually use this type of switching.

However most switching functions on a guitar amplifier would require latched switching. For example a channel switch that is normally on the clean channel would return to the clean channel once you take your foot off the switch.

sydsad

thanks lads