The SusEx is a wireless 3-in-1 smart MIDI foot pedal that combines three foot-controller functions in a single unit: sustain, a modulating note trigger, and dual-CC expression (MIDI continuous control). A foot-position sensor on the high-friction pedal surface lets you switch function automatically as you play, so one pedal can replace separate sustain and expression pedals. It connects wirelessly over BLE MIDI (Bluetooth Low Energy MIDI) and ships with a breakout cable for a traditional wired sustain connection.

Auto-mode switching is the SusEx's signature feature. A sensor detects where your foot sits on the pedal surface and changes the pedal's function, and which CC it sends, without manual mode buttons or swapping hardware. For example, the toe area can send sustain while the center sends expression. The pedal offers three operating modes:

• Mode 1: foot position switches between Sustain and CC1.
• Mode 2: foot position triggers CC1, with foot position and action controlling CC11.
• Mode 3: foot position switches between Note Trigger and CC1, and foot action can combine the Note Trigger with CC1.

HubBLE is the free companion app for iOS and Android. It makes USB-MIDI keyboard workstations BLE-MIDI enabled, supports up to two SusEx pedals at once, and reroutes CC messages for multi-parameter control. The app is downloaded from the iOS App Store or Google Play. It is optional: the pedal works as a self-contained MIDI controller without it.

In Mode 2, foot position sends CC1 and foot position plus action sends CC11, so light versus firmer foot action determines whether CC1 switches to CC11. In Mode 3, foot position switches between Note Trigger and CC1, and the trigger can fire a C1 note, so unintended C1 notes mean your foot action is combining the trigger when you do not want it to. The ILIO SusEx Usage Guide has a Proper Use of Mode 2 and Proper Use of Mode 3 section that walks through avoiding these unintended results. See ilio.com/susex-guide, or contact ILIO if you need help.

The SusEx ships with the pedal, a breakout cable for the traditional wired sustain connection, and a Quick Start Guide. Recharging is described as using a USB cable, though a complete itemized box contents list, including whether a charging cable or printed manual is included, is not published. To confirm exactly what ships in the box, contact ILIO.

The SusEx pairs as a standard BLE MIDI device. On macOS, open Applications then Utilities then Audio MIDI Setup, choose Window then Show MIDI Studio, click the Bluetooth icon to open Bluetooth Configuration, select Black BT SusEx, and click Connect. On Windows 11, pair the pedal in the system Bluetooth settings, then use the free loopMIDI app to create a virtual MIDI port and the free MIDIberry app to route Black BT SusEx (Bluetooth MIDI In) to that port. On iOS, connect to the pedal through the Bluetooth MIDI settings inside the app you want to control. Full step-by-step pairing instructions and videos are on the ILIO SusEx Usage Guide at ilio.com/susex-guide. If you need help with a specific setup, contact ILIO.

Yes. The pedal connects wirelessly over BLE MIDI and also supports a traditional wired sustain connection through the included breakout cable and a standard TS cable. You can run the wired sustain to one keyboard while the SusEx is BLE-connected to another device at the same time.

Yes. The HubBLE app supports up to two SusEx pedals together over BLE MIDI and reroutes CC messages so you can control multiple parameters. For setups beyond two pedals or detailed multi-pedal behavior, contact ILIO.

On macOS, open Applications then Utilities then Audio MIDI Setup, choose Window then Show MIDI Studio, click the Bluetooth icon to open Bluetooth Configuration, select Black BT SusEx in the list, and click Connect. Your app or DAW then sees the SusEx as a MIDI input. Step-by-step instructions and a video are on the ILIO SusEx Usage Guide at ilio.com/susex-guide.

The SusEx works with Windows 11. First pair it in the Windows Bluetooth settings, then install two free apps: loopMIDI, which creates a virtual MIDI port, and MIDIberry, which routes Black BT SusEx (Bluetooth MIDI In) to that loopMIDI port. Your DAW or app then reads the loopMIDI port. During pairing the pedal may briefly show Connected and then Not Connected, which is normal on Windows. Full steps and links to both apps are on the ILIO SusEx Usage Guide at ilio.com/susex-guide.

The SusEx works with any BLE MIDI-enabled host. Confirmed host platforms are macOS, Windows 11, and iOS apps and BLE MIDI gear, with the HubBLE companion app available for iOS and Android. macOS pairs through Audio MIDI Setup, and Windows 11 connects using the free loopMIDI and MIDIberry apps as described in the ILIO SusEx Usage Guide. If your keyboard workstation has only USB-MIDI, you can route it through HubBLE to add BLE MIDI to that setup. Because it sends standard MIDI, any host that accepts BLE MIDI controllers (sustain on CC-64, expression on CC-11, and note triggers) should generally work. Specific macOS version numbers, an Apple Silicon statement, and minimum hardware are not published, so if you are buying for a particular system, contact ILIO to confirm.

It should. GeoShred connects to Bluetooth MIDI devices for input and output and receives sustain (CC-64) and expression-pedal (CC-11) input, which matches what the SusEx sends over BLE MIDI. This pairing is based on GeoShred's documented BLE MIDI and CC support rather than a formal certification naming the SusEx, so if you want it confirmed for your exact configuration, contact ILIO.

The SusEx is a hardware MIDI controller, not a plugin, so there are no AU, VST3, VST2, AAX, or standalone plugin formats for the pedal itself. It drives DAWs, synthesizers, and music apps wirelessly as a standard BLE MIDI controller. Black BT has announced a forthcoming DAW control plugin for track-specific MIDI assignments, but its format and shipping status are not yet verified. For the current status of that plugin, contact ILIO.

For bedroom and studio producers, the SusEx is the only pedal you need for hands-free control of synth and performance parameters, including fader-style automation. For guitarists, it controls FX pedal plugins such as amp and effects suites in a DAW or standalone. For drummers, it works with any drum sampler or synth over BLE MIDI rather than being tied to a single electronic drum ecosystem. See the ILIO Black BT FAQ at ilio.com/faq-black-bt or contact ILIO for help matching it to your rig.

The SusEx has an internal rechargeable battery that you recharge using a USB cable, and an LED indicator shows battery status. Press coverage and retailer listings describe the charging port as USB-C, though Black BT and ILIO product pages do not name the port type. To confirm the exact cable and port, contact ILIO. The exact charge time and whether a charging cable or charger is included in the box are also not published by the manufacturer, so contact ILIO to confirm what ships with the unit and how long a charge takes.

Battery life per charge, along with the battery type and capacity, is not published by the manufacturer. For the most accurate runtime expectations, contact ILIO rather than relying on an unofficial figure.

No software install is required to use the SusEx. It operates as a standalone BLE MIDI device and, once paired, works offline without an internet connection. The only download is the optional HubBLE companion app for iOS or Android, used for CC rerouting, connecting multiple pedals, and BLE-enabling USB-MIDI keyboards.

Black BT has announced a firmware update that enables dual BLE MIDI connections, originally targeted for Fall 2025. Whether this update has shipped is not confirmed on the official pages. To check the current firmware status for your pedal, contact ILIO. The exact update mechanism, such as whether updates are applied through the HubBLE app or over USB-C, is not documented by the manufacturer. Black BT has also announced roadmap additions including a DAW control plugin for track-specific MIDI assignments and X/Y axis control, which are announced rather than confirmed as shipped. To update your pedal correctly or to check the status of a roadmap feature, contact ILIO.

Confirm the pedal is charged using the LED battery indicator, then open the Bluetooth MIDI setup inside the app you want to control and connect to the SusEx there rather than through your operating system's general Bluetooth settings. If your keyboard offers only USB-MIDI, route it through the HubBLE app to add BLE MIDI. If the pedal still does not appear, contact ILIO.

Hold the power button for about four seconds, until the battery light comes on, to power on the pedal. To change modes, press the Mode button while the pedal is sitting on a flat, stable surface. The pedal uses internal accelerometers to detect foot position, so it must be on a hard, level floor. Soft or carpeted surfaces can disrupt mode switching and calibration. If mode switching is not working, move the pedal to a flat hard surface and try again, or contact ILIO.

The SusEx senses foot position with internal accelerometers, so it needs a flat, stable, hard surface. Carpeted or soft floors can disrupt the accelerometer and cause mode switching or auto-switching to behave unpredictably. Place the pedal on a hard, level surface, press the Mode button there, and try again. If the behavior continues, review the troubleshooting table on the ILIO SusEx Usage Guide at ilio.com/susex-guide or contact ILIO.

First review the Quick Start Guide that ships with the pedal, then visit the ILIO SusEx Usage Guide at ilio.com/susex-guide, which has demonstration videos plus sections on the proper use of Mode 2 and Mode 3. Most unexpected behavior comes from foot action combining a CC or note trigger you did not intend, or from the pedal sitting on a soft surface. If you still see unexpected results after checking those, contact ILIO.

ILIO is your point of contact for technical support in North America. Reach ILIO Support at (818) 707-3655, Monday through Thursday 9:30AM to 4:30PM and Friday 9:30AM to 3:30PM PST. The manufacturer can also be reached at info@blackbt.com for product-level questions, but warranty and return claims for North American customers should go through ILIO.

The SusEx Pedal is USD $299.00 and is now shipping. ILIO sells it directly and through its dealer network. Availability can change, so contact ILIO Sales at (800) 747-4546, Monday through Thursday 9:30AM to 4:30PM and Friday 9:30AM to 3:30PM PST, to confirm stock and place an order. Older press articles list an outdated preview price of around $150 with only two modes; the shipping product is $299 with three modes.

No. The SusEx is a hardware product, so there is no software license key, serial number, iLok, seat count, or computer activation limit. There is nothing to authorize, deactivate, or transfer as software. As a physical unit it can be resold like any other gear. For any questions about registration or warranty transfer, contact ILIO.

Specific warranty length, coverage, and return terms are not published as a formal statement. Black BT does provide an online warranty registration portal at warranty.blackbt.com where you can register your pedal. For North American customers, warranty and return claims are handled by ILIO. Contact ILIO before returning a unit or opening a warranty claim so it can be processed correctly.

Black BT provides an online warranty registration portal at warranty.blackbt.com where you can register your pedal. The specific warranty length, coverage, and return terms are not published as a formal statement. For North American customers, ILIO handles warranty and return claims, so contact ILIO before starting a claim.

The SusEx is made by Black BT, based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. ILIO is the exclusive North American distributor and your first point of contact for sales, support, warranty, and returns. Reach ILIO Support at (818) 707-3655 or Sales at (800) 747-4546. For product-level questions you can also reach Black BT directly at info@blackbt.com.