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An inertial effects controller is an electronic device that senses changes in acceleration, angular velocity and/or a magnetic field, and relays those changes to an effects controller. Transmitting the sensed data can be done via wired or wireless methods. To be of use the effects controller must be connected to an effect unit so that an effect can be modulated. The Wah-Wah effect is a classic example of effect modulation.

An inertial effects controller can be compared with a traditional expression pedal. An inertial effects controller uses changes in inertia as the cause of modulation. A traditional expression pedal uses changes in an electrically resistive element as the cause of modulation. There are some advantages and disadvantages between the two.

Advantages of inertial control

If the device is wireless, it offers an advantage of remote control. Wired or wireless devices have the advantages of no moving parts to break as well as  more precise control.

Disadvantages of inertial control

Inertial control devices require power to function. Depending on the make and model, this maybe a battery or an AC-DC adapter.

Availability

Conceivably effects to be controlled could be among others, audio, light and motion. Conceivably also any or all of the inertial sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer), could be used for effect modulation. However, currently the only commercially available products are designed for control of audio effects and use acceleration sensing only.

Future

Inertial control of a device, wired or wireless, is a relatively recent and growing trend as technology advances have reduced pricing and size as well as improved useability and performance of the core components. Specifically the core components are an inertial device called a Mirco- Electro-Mechanical-System (MEMs), a microcontroller, and for wireless systems, a radio frequency transmitter/receiver.