How to Use the M-Vave/Cuvave Chocolate Wireless MIDI Footswitch Pedal with Other Pedals

Hey, folks! If you’re anything like me and you’ve recently purchased the M-Vave Chocolate wireless MIDI footswitch pedal, you might be struggling to find a proper user manual. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. While there are some lengthy YouTube videos out there created by well-intentioned individuals, I’ve prepared a concise written guide to help you out.

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Step 1: Ensure you have the necessary gear

When I bought the Chocolate, I mistakenly assumed that everything I needed would be included in the box. Boy, was I wrong! Apart from the charging capability, you’ll also need the companion wireless MIDI transmission system or a TRS to MIDI cable to do anything else. Luckily, the wireless system is affordable, but it’s worth noting that the product page doesn’t mention this requirement. For the sake of this guide, I’ll focus on the wireless system rather than the TRS-MIDI option as you might want to use the TRS input on the Chocolate for an expression pedal.

Step 2: Download the companion app for your phone.

The app is called CubeSuite and can be found on the Apple Store. Presumably, it’s also available on the Samsung Galaxy Store since M-Vave/Cuvave claims to support Android devices. I cannot personally verify this as I don’t own a Samsung phone.

Step 3: Activate the Chocolate and establish a connection with the app.

Once you turn on the Chocolate, the Bluetooth LED on the device will start flashing. No additional steps are needed to enable pairing.

Launch CubeSuite and search for nearby devices, ensuring that your phone’s Bluetooth is enabled.

Select “FootCtrl” to connect the Chocolate to the app and your phone.

Step 4: Familiarize yourself with your pedal’s MIDI functions.

This part of the process requires delving into the product manuals for your pedals. The MIDI section of your pedal’s manual should outline the MIDI CC messages associated with specific functions. For example, check out this link for the HX Stomp’s MIDI list: [Insert URL Here]

IMPORTANT: During your manual deep dive, ensure that your pedal is set up to receive MIDI messages on the correct channel. Most MIDI-capable devices default to MIDI channel 1, but if you purchased your pedal used and the previous owner did not reset it to factory settings, they might have configured it to receive MIDI messages on a different channel.

Step 5: Programming Chocolate Footswitches using Advanced Custom Mode

To configure footswitch A, select Advanced Custom Mode on CubeSuite’s main screen: [insert link here]

Choose “A” to set parameters for footswitch A, “B” for footswitch B, and so on.

If you want the footswitch to perform a single action, select “mode: single step (single bank of information)”. If you want to assign a combination of short and long presses to the footswitch, choose “mode: short tread (bank A information) long tread (bank B information)”.

Click on the lower-most box to set your MIDI CC parameters. 

If your pedal is set up to receive MIDI messages on channel 1, select Channel 1.

Choose Type: CC.

Enter the MIDI CC number for the assigned function into the “Data 1” field. For example, with the HX Stomp, MIDI CC #72 is used for preset selection.

Enter the value associated with the selected MIDI CC into the “Data 2” field. Referring to the HX Stomp MIDI documentation, values between 0-63 will select the previous preset, and values between 64-127 will select the next preset.

Click “Save”.

Example: HX Stomp

Let’s say you have an HX Stomp. If you use the Stomp footswitches in snapshot mode, selecting your snapshots is easy with the three footswitches. However, switching quickly between presets or other functions can be a hassle. Fortunately, you can configure the Chocolate footswitches to select the previous or next preset, toggle the tuner screen, and adjust tap tempo, while keeping your Stomp’s footswitches in snapshot mode. Referring to the HX Stomp manual, here are the values to be entered in the Chocolate’s Advanced Custom Mode:

Footswitch A (Select Previous Preset)

Data 1: 72

Data 2: 0

Footswitch B (Select Next Preset)

Data 1: 72

Data 2: 64

Footswitch C (Toggle Tuner)

Data 1: 68

Data 2: 0

Footswitch D (Tap Tempo)

Data 1: 64

Data 2: 64

Here’s a short video demonstrating this setup: https://youtu.be/j8htzbLyPjo

Step 6: To ensure successful pairing with the wireless receiver, it is important to turn off your phone’s Bluetooth or disable FootCtrl in the list of connected devices

This is crucial as the Chocolate can only connect to one Bluetooth device at a time. Failing to break the connection with your phone will prevent you from pairing it with the wireless receiver. I learned this the hard way after wasting countless hours, and I want to save you from going through the same trouble.

Step 7: Begin by pairing the Chocolate with the Wireless MIDI Receiver

Connect the wireless MIDI receiver to your pedal. Different pedals, such as the HX Stomp, receive MIDI messages either via 5-pin MIDI connectors or micro USB. Therefore, make sure to use the appropriate companion receiver for your pedal.

If you are using the Midi A receiver (5-pin connector), ensure that it is charged and switch it on (located on the underside) while the Bluetooth pairing light on the Chocolate is blinking. Refer to this image for reference: https://i.imgur.com/bSNXGN6.jpg