Review – AirTurn PED

Review – AirTurn PED…

More bassists are turning to technology to manage their music at gigs. There are several popular apps that let you use your iPad or tablet to display your charts. To keep your hands on the bass instead of the tablet, you’re going to need to have a reliable Bluetooth footswitch controller in your gig bag. AirTurn’s DUO has become the gold standard of rugged and easy-to-use controllers for hands-free page turns in your favorite music app.

If you’re looking for something even more portable, AirTurn recently unveiled a smaller controller, the PED. While the functionality between the DUO and PED are similar, the main two differences are price and size. The PED retails for $69 compared to the DUO’s $99. While the DUO’s transceiver can be disconnected from the foot switches and used as a handheld remote, the PED is a compact, one-piece unit that is only 0.7 inches tall and can easily be carried in a pocket.

Unlike the DUO rechargeable batteries which use a micro USB charging port that will give you 100 hours of power, the PED has a lithium ion battery (CR2032) that should last six to 12 months. A second spare battery included in battery compartment. The unit has handy low battery and Bluetooth connection status LEDs.

In spite of its small size, the PED has a solid feel and a little bit of heft. This, combined with the anti-skid foam on the bottom of the controller makes sure it won’t be sliding around every time you touch the pedal. The control surface has a heavy duty membrane with four ridges on each pedal for better foot traction.

The PED works with any Bluetooth SMART READY-equipped Mac, PC, iPad or Android tablet.