---
title: "M-Audio SP-2 vs Yamaha FC4A"
url: "https://mid1.com/compare/m-audio-sp-2-vs-yamaha-fc4a"
site: "mid1 (mid1.com)"
---

# M-Audio SP-2 vs Yamaha FC4A

Both are picks from our guide: Best Sustain Pedals (https://mid1.com/guides/accessories/best-sustain-pedals).

## Specs head to head

| Spec | M-Audio SP-2 | Yamaha FC4A |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Type | Piano-style switch pedal | Piano-style pedal, half-damper capable |
| Half-damper support | No | Yes, on compatible keyboards |
| Polarity switch | Yes, built in | No, power-cycle method |
| Cable | 6 ft, 1/4" jack | 6 ft, 1/4" jack |
| Weight | 14.1 oz | 1.87 lb |
| Dimensions | 10.5 x 3 x 2.5 in | 4.33 x 11.81 x 3.15 in |

## M-Audio SP-2

Our rating: 7.8 out of 10.

Best for: Anyone who just needs sustain to work, on any keyboard, without spending much.

The M-Audio SP-2 is the pedal most people buy first, and the r/piano thread backs it: one comment calls it "a good inexpensive option if you don't need a continuous (not just on/off) pedal." At about $25 with nearly 30,000 ratings, it is the default answer for anyone who just wants sustain to work.

It is a traditional piano-style pedal with a chrome foot plate, a heavy duty mechanism, and rubber pads underneath that grip the floor instead of sliding. A polarity switch on the housing handles either wiring convention without guesswork. It ships with a 6 foot cable ending in a standard 1/4 inch jack.

It is a switch pedal only, sustain is either fully on or fully off, so a half-damper input gets nothing extra from it. It feels lighter underfoot than the pedals above it, and the fixed 6 foot cable is short for a stacked or raised rig.

## Yamaha FC4A

Our rating: 8.6 out of 10.

Best for: Players on a Yamaha or half-damper-capable keyboard who want closer-to-acoustic feel without paying Roland prices.

The Yamaha FC4A is the pedal the r/piano thread trusts by name: "Yamaha and Roland both made great pedals" was one of the thread's top replies. At about $29 it undercuts the Roland DP-10 by roughly half while still supporting half-damper response on keyboards built to read it.

It runs improved anti-slip rubber on the base, and Yamaha says mechanical noise has been reduced from earlier FC4 pedals, so it is quieter under a fast foot. Polarity is fixed by holding the pedal down while powering the keyboard off and back on rather than a physical switch. It also works as a general FS controller input for synths and drum machines.

Half-damper response only appears on a keyboard built to read it; on a switch-only input it just behaves like an on/off pedal. There is no physical polarity switch, only the power-cycle method. And it costs close to triple the SP-2 for feel many controllers cannot use.

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Source: https://mid1.com/compare/m-audio-sp-2-vs-yamaha-fc4a