If you're a monitor engineer, you know the problem: you need to talk to the band, but your hands are on the faders. A footswitch solves this. Press to talk, release to mute. No hands required.
Those GPIO ports on the back of your WING make this possible. GPIO stands for General Purpose Input/Output, and in practical terms, it lets you connect a footswitch to trigger any function you can assign to a Custom Control button.
A dual footswitch like the Hotone Ampero Switch+ gives you two buttons on a single TRS cable.
GPIO Count on the WING
WING Full Size: 4 GPIO (2 TRS jacks)
WING Rack: 4 GPIO (2 TRS jacks)
WING Compact: 2 GPIO (1 TRS jack)
Each TRS jack carries two GPIO channels (one on Tip, one on Ring), so a dual footswitch maps perfectly.
Practical Examples
GPIO functions are assigned through Custom Controls, so any custom control you can select on the WING for a button, you can assign to a GPIO for a footswitch to control.
Talkback for Monitor Engineers
This is my favorite use. Assign one button to Talkback A (band only) and one to Talkback B (band plus PA). You can communicate with musicians without taking your hands off the console.
GPIO 1: IN N.O. > Other > Talkback A
GPIO 2: IN N.O. > Other > Talkback B
The GPIO configuration screen showing mode and function options.
Scene Control
Assign GPIO 1 to 'Go Prev Scene' and GPIO 2 to 'Go Next Scene' from the Show Control category. Set both to IN N.O. This gives you scene navigation during a service or production with your feet.
GPIO 1: IN N.O. > Show Control > Go Prev Scene
GPIO 2: IN N.O. > Show Control > Go Next Scene
Effects Tap Tempo
You can also use a footswitch to tap tempo for an effects processor. Set the GPIO to IN N.O., then assign it to FX PAR > [your effects slot] > TIME. You can only control one effect at a time, but it's helpful when you need to sync a delay to a song without touching the screen.
The Full Setup Guide
The blog post covers all six GPIO modes (input and output), the difference between normally open (N.O.) and normally closed (N.C.) switches, and more practical examples like a VOG unmute switch for show callers. I also included a reference chart to help you match your switch type to the correct GPIO setting.
Since GPIO functions are assigned through Custom Controls, you might also want to check out my WING Custom Controls Reference for every function you can assign.
Until next time,
Drew
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