Anybody have triggering issues with their Digitech Bass Synth Wah (XBW)?

[hoerni]

I just got one over the weekend (used) and I've been playing with it a bunch. I was uses a G&L ASAT on Saturday into my main rig and a Fender MIM P bass into my practice rig I keep here at work.

It seems if I play too hard, or dig in too much, the unit has a tendency to trigger multiple times. If I play soft and more consistent, the sweep only triggers once. Sticking a compressor in front of the pedal seems to solve the problem, but takes away the dynamics. This seems to happen regardless of the sensitivity level

I've been doing this with a battery. It seemed like a fine battery, but I'm wondering if trying it with a power supply would yield better results.

Has anybody else seen this problem with their XBW?

I'm especially curious because I did buy it used and didn't get a chance to check it out in the store.

[JanusZarate]

Regardless of the Sensitivity setting, you say? Adjusting that should normally fix a good chunk of the problem.

With a hot-output bass, IME, you're prone to those sorts of problems with digital synthesizers and filters, not to mention, analog ones as well. Compression creates a sort of signal stability that your playing style may not provide. Turning down the volume on your bass can help as well, but don't turn it down too low, or you'll have problems trying to trigger the filter at all.

So... AFAIK, there's nothing wrong with yours. It's just how it is.

Oddly enough, the BSW is supposed to have really good tracking. Maybe your playing technique is more unstable than you think? Just a thought.

[hoerni]

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

Regardless of the Sensitivity setting, you say? Adjusting that should normally fix a good chunk of the problem.

With a hot-output bass, IME, you're prone to those sorts of problems with digital synthesizers and filters, not to mention, analog ones as well. Compression creates a sort of signal stability that your playing style may not provide. Turning down the volume on your bass can help as well, but don't turn it down too low, or you'll have problems trying to trigger the filter at all.

So... AFAIK, there's nothing wrong with yours. It's just how it is.

Oddly enough, the BSW is supposed to have really good tracking. Maybe your playing technique is more unstable than you think? Just a thought.

Yep, regardless of the sensitivity. I get get the sensitivity to match my dynamics fine, but at even the lowest setting (least sensitive), it will still double (or more) trigger if I really dig in.


I've got a few auto-wah devices (Boss AW-3, Ibanez SB-7, Korg PME Dist Wah) and I've never had a problem like this before.

As far as my dynamics, I am actively playing with a lot of variation to get a feel for the response. It's just that I wasn't expecting this.

I have an Ibanez SB-7 on my board that I was A/Bing it with, and that had none of the sample problems. I have Digitech Phaser w/ triggering I should also check though.

[assboglin]

Just might be good old Digitech quality engineering.

[TaySte_2000]

Use a power supply that thing should not be run on a battery it has a very high draw it uses a battery in like 30 mins if not less.

That will be your problem

[The Lurker]

Originally Posted by TaySte_2000

Use a power supply that thing should not be run on a battery it has a very high draw it uses a battery in like 30 mins if not less.

That will be your problem

+1

[assboglin]

I've owned two Bass Synth Wahs and never had your problem but I always used a power supply.

[syciprider]

The Boss SYBs do the same thing. Welcome to the world of reasonably priced synth pedals.

Remember that you can't do scales or arpeggios. Not even with the vaunted EHX BMS. One note at a time played with consistent attack and touch.

I have my sensitivity between 3 to 4 O clock.

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by TaySte_2000

Use a power supply that thing should not be run on a battery it has a very high draw it uses a battery in like 30 mins if not less.

That will be your problem

+1 - I overlooked the battery thing!

Tracking quality drops with voltage, and Digitech pedals kill batteries at record speeds. Try using an adapter - any Boss-style 9VDC adapter with the proper barrel plug will do, as long as it can deliver at least 300mA (more is great, too).

However... IME, constant voltage tends only to solve the problem of missed tracking, not double-tracking.

[hoerni]

Okay, I just went into to check it out again. Tried it with a power supply, and that seems to help things, but doesn't completely eliminate the problem.

Turns out I was wrong, the sensitivity does affect it. At the extreme upper end, it seems to go nuts. (sorry mystiboo)

Can someone (or better yet multiple someones) with the pedal please try this for me.

Sensitivity on 10, Sweep on 3, Range on 10, Mode 4.

When I do this and pluck an open G string, I get tons of triggers as the note dies out.

If I lower the sensitivity to about 7 or 8 (I used a Steinberger Spirit this time which has weaker pickups), it works well 95% of the time, but there are still the occasional glitches. But max sensitivity seems to highlight the problem.

Assboglin, any chance you could give this a try for me? TIA

[Sean S]

also, if you're trying to play below a low G/G#, it won't track very well at all.

[syciprider]

The problem with the BSW in synth mode is that there is just one sweet spot on the Sens knob where all the tracking issues clear up vice a more generous range.

[hoerni]

Originally Posted by syciprider

The Boss SYBs do the same thing. Welcome to the world of reasonably priced synth pedals.

Remember that you can't do scales or arpeggios. Not even with the vaunted EHX BMS. One note at a time played with consistent attack and touch.

I have my sensitivity between 3 to 4 O clock.

I was trying to do some scales. Not shredding or anything, but I guess somewhat quick.

I never had this problem with the Ibanez SB-7. But I think that's an analog pedal.

What bass are you using for that sensitivity? I found that to be about right for my ASAT, but those pups are hotter than most.

[syciprider]

I use Musicman basses.

[TaySte_2000]

Don't have the sensitivity at 10 have it at like 5-6 at most that should stop the glitchyness of it being triggered by overtones

[syciprider]

Mine goes up to 11

[hoerni]

Originally Posted by TaySte_2000

Don't have the sensitivity at 10 have it at like 5-6 at most that should stop the glitchyness of it being triggered by overtones

Yeah, I agree. Also, I think you hit the nail on the head with the overtones.

One thing I did was play with the tone knob while holding a note. More treble let to more re-triggering. I could even make it trigger by sweeping the tone control.

I'm going to have to try the AW-3 again, as I don't remember it ever having this problem. The SB-7 that bumped it from my board doesn't have any of these issues.

[Trevor.A]

Originally Posted by hoerni

Okay, I just went into to check it out again. Tried it with a power supply, and that seems to help things, but doesn't completely eliminate the problem.

Turns out I was wrong, the sensitivity does affect it. At the extreme upper end, it seems to go nuts. (sorry mystiboo)

Can someone (or better yet multiple someones) with the pedal please try this for me.

Sensitivity on 10, Sweep on 3, Range on 10, Mode 4.

When I do this and pluck an open G string, I get tons of triggers as the note dies out.

If I lower the sensitivity to about 7 or 8 (I used a Steinberger Spirit this time which has weaker pickups), it works well 95% of the time, but there are still the occasional glitches. But max sensitivity seems to highlight the problem.

Assboglin, any chance you could give this a try for me? TIA

With these settings, if I just let the note ring I get tons of triggers. I remember finding a setting once that would trigger 20-30 times over a few seconds from just touching the strings, sounded kinda cool actually

[hoerni]

Originally Posted by Trevor.A

With these settings, if I just let the note ring I get tons of triggers. I remember finding a setting once that would trigger 20-30 times over a few seconds from just touching the strings, sounded kinda cool actually

Thanks for checking for me.

Yeah, I was actually having fun with the extraneous triggers. If I could make it controllable it might be kinda cool.

[TaySte_2000]

SB-7 is analog so it doesn't track or get triggered like the BSW there in lies the difference