Aphex Punch Factory 1404 Trim Pots

Baleen · #1 04-18-2008, 02:50 PM

Does anyone know what the two trim pots inside the Aphex Punch Factory pedal do? They are VR1 & 2. I found them while trying to clean the switches and pots. They are pretty well buried inside, so I decided they may not be intended for user tweaking, rather for calibration. The pedal uses a photo transistor (or something optical) - don't know if those need calibration to be happy or not... It's also in nightly use for a few more weeks, so I haven't tried just turning them to find out yet. Maybe in a month if no one knows. I googled and found nothing.

I wrote Aphex a couple weeks ago and haven't heard anything back yet.

Thanks for any help.

KarateKid25 · #2 04-19-2008, 12:30 AM

I don't know exactly what they would be controlling, but you would be right in thinking that they are for factory calibration of the punch factory.

Baleen · #3 04-20-2008, 07:34 AM

Thanks for your thoughts. Hoping Aphex will respond. I also asked about noise I get when using phantom power, noise that corresponds to the led meter changing segments. The board is stamped 2004, and the manual says that boards after Feb 2004 can use phantom reliably. Trying to figure out I can expect that or if mine if screwed up. Battery and 9V (Boss PS) work just fine. Probably should've posted all this the first time...

KarateKid25 · #4 04-20-2008, 07:38 AM

I got interested after reading your original post, as I also own a punch factory and wouldn't mind knowing exactly what they control. I had a look around on the net...
A google search for 'Punch Factory trim pots' came up with very little really, but I did find another forum where you asked the same question

petersenbass · #5 04-23-2008, 12:18 AM

I like my Punch Factory. It seems like it isn't as loud as it used to be, and the input isn't as sensitive. This could just be me getting used to the pedal. I've had it awhile now.

I'm interested to see what the trim pots do as well.

keb · #6 04-23-2008, 06:41 AM

Hmm interesting, I have a Punch Factory laying around here not being used at the moment... I may crack it open this weekend to see if mine has those trimpots, and experiment.

Baleen · #7 05-13-2008, 07:00 PM

Aphex responded to my second email, saying:

Quote:

If your pedal does not say 48v by the XLR it is not designed for phantom power. If it does say 48v your unit needs to be repaired.

VR1. Is the Ratio trim pot
VR2. Is the Threshold trim pot.

The manual says the ratio is 3.7:1.

As for phantom on mine, I just got it back home, finally removed the velcro strips the previous owner had stuck on, and there on the back it says that phantom is not recommended. Mine also doesn't say 48v, so despite its being from 2004, it is apparently not supposed to work with phantom. You can, however, use pretty much any AC or DC pedal power supply (it has a Boss-style jack).

bongomania · #8 05-13-2008, 07:02 PM

Errr... DC only I would think.

KarateKid25 · #9 05-13-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Errr... DC only I would think.

The Punch Factory will accept AC or DC and just about any adaptor will work:

5-32 VAC
7-48 VDC
+48v Phantom

KarateKid25 · #10 05-22-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keb

Hmm interesting, I have a Punch Factory laying around here not being used at the moment... I may crack it open this weekend to see if mine has those trimpots, and experiment.

Did you end up playing with your Trim Pots?

asherthemachine · #11 05-22-2008, 07:14 PM

very interested. i would love tyo know if anybody tries this. im too afraid to f mine up.

keb · #12 05-24-2008, 08:47 AM

Oops, I had forgotten about this thread...

Anyway, I opened mine up and found the trimpots... the ratio pot was already maxed out, but the threshold one was about halfway through its travel. I just maxed it out as well to see what would happen, and it seems to give the Drive knob more of a "range" after all is said and done. Seems to make the extreme settings a bit squishier. So I guess if you're looking for a little more squish out of this pedal, it may be worth goosing up that threshold trimpot inside. But as always, your mileage may vary and I cannot be held responsible if your Punch Factory suddenly explodes!

And be careful while opening it up... the jacks and stuff are soldered directly to the circuitboards inside and I did encounter some resistance while trying to guide the jacks/etc away from their holes on the outer case... I was waiting for the "crack" to come but fortunately it didn't.