Akai Deep Impact Schematics

[The Reff]

Does anybody have the schematics for the Deep Impact lying around ?

I would like to get my deep impact modified.

thanks in advance

[JanusZarate]

I'm really doubting you'll find those. Since the heart of the pedal is digital, schematics are practically useless for the average pedal modder, not to mention, extremely difficult to find...

[The Reff]

It's mostly for the input and output sections - my deep impact has some weird level issues.

I have no intention of messing with all the digital stuff

[JanusZarate]

Ah...

Perhaps someone will chime in with them... but I've never seen them in the two years that I've been here.

[niftydog]

Yup... my initial reaction is "you're dreamin'!"

I've looked at mine to find out which DSP chip it uses, but didn't notice much in the way of analogue stuff. I suspect the only analogue chips are buffers feeding the ADC - nothing to back this up but my gut feeling is that all the gain adjustment is in the DSP. But, I could be wrong.

What's the issue with it, out of curiosity?

[The Reff]

The balance between the wet signal and the bypassed signal is way off. It's useless in live situations. Adjusting levels or effects doesn't help.

When the effect is turned on, I can still play notes with a medium-soft touch that doesn't get picked up by the synth and goes through clean. We've actually solved this problem by putting a compressor in front of the pedal. The downside is that you loose all control with the sensitivity based aspects of the synth like the envelope filter.

[niftydog]

I don't think softly played notes getting through unprocessed is a fault really. It's just the nature of the beast.

As for wet/dry balance issues: "way off" in what sense? Too much wet or too much dry? You get no response when adjusting the balance parameter? What about the level parameter?

I want to understand your problem so that I might help - please be a bit more specific.

Considering the balance parameter is set using the preset knob (which is a digital encoder) I'm almost certain the control is done within the DSP and this would prove literally virtually impossible to modify.

[The Reff]

It's the difference between synth signal (pedal on) and the bypassed signal (Pedal off) that is useless. As I recall it (it's been a while and my pedal is in the shop, but we tested it before we opened the pedal) the synth signal is much louder than the clean signal. And with the compressor pedal in front it was the other way around.

[eshears]

It wouldn't recommend putting a compressor in front of the Deep Impact, as it's pretty sensitive to input signal.

How are you setting up the Input and Output levels? You should be setting the Input levels so that the yellow light lights up with your normal playing (I set it so the red light comes on with a heavier attack). Then, set the Output level so that the synth signal is about the same level as the clean signal. You can then fine tune the level and balance for each preset.

[niftydog]

Originally Posted by The Reff

It's the difference between synth signal (pedal on) and the bypassed signal (Pedal off) that is useless. As I recall it (it's been a while and my pedal is in the shop, but we tested it before we opened the pedal) the synth signal is much louder than the clean signal. And with the compressor pedal in front it was the other way around.

Oh! Interesting!

Unless there is a fault then between the "input level" and "output level" controls, and the "level" parameter you should be able to sort that problem out.

I'd need to have the thing in front of me to be totally sure about how the various controls work, but start with this:

Set the input level knob so the "OVER" light flashes very occasionally when playing really hard. Select each preset in turn and set every presets "LEVEL" parameter (using the PRESET dial) to a common value - say 5 to begin with. Then, set the output level knob so the volume is about the same as the bypassed volume.

(I'm not sure whether the output level knob has any affect when the pedal is bypassed - this is what I'd have to check to be sure, but I've got a feeling it's not active when bypassed.)

[eshears]

Originally Posted by niftydog

Oh! Interesting!

Unless there is a fault then between the "input level" and "output level" controls, and the "level" parameter you should be able to sort that problem out.

I'd need to have the thing in front of me to be totally sure about how the various controls work, but start with this:

Set the input level knob so the "OVER" light flashes very occasionally when playing really hard. Select each preset in turn and set every presets "LEVEL" parameter (using the PRESET dial) to a common value - say 5 to begin with. Then, set the output level knob so the volume is about the same as the bypassed volume.

(I'm not sure whether the output level knob has any affect when the pedal is bypassed - this is what I'd have to check to be sure, but I've got a feeling it's not active when bypassed.)

I would "+1" Nifty's post if I hadn't already said the same thing in my previous post!

I can add, however, that the Output Level has no affect on the bypassed volume. In fact, it's supposed to be true bypass.

[niftydog]

Yes, and confirmed with some experimentation last night!

So, my procedure would be:

• set the input level knob so the "OVER" light is only very occasionally flashing on very hard playing.
• pick one of the presets to reference the other presets too and set its level parameter to a nominal value - say 5 because it's roughly half way.
• use the output level knob to match the bypassed volume and the effected volume.
• adjust the level parameter of the other presets to match their volume to the reference preset.

[Eric Moesle]

I agree with the posts above. If you spend some time modifying the presets you can balance both the wet/dry blend with the effect on, and the effect on/effect off level balance.

I have had no issues whatsoever doing this to my presets. The abiity is built in, it just takes time and effort.