Octaver Issue - stumped

behndy · #1 07-30-2010, 09:01 AM

howdy all. i'm.... really boggled.

i just rewired my board. didn't really do anything but tidy up and move the physical location of some pedals.

my problem is that every time i engage an octaver, if the fuzz in front of it is on also, there's a HUGE volume jump.

the first pic is of my board, the second is me hooking up a different fuzz and octaver and filter to try to troubleshoot.

the order on the board is Pickle Pie B -> Aggy Octo -> MXR BEF -> Cata Helio -> DE OK -> EHX Freeze -> M9 -> VTD.

in the second pic, sitting in front of the original signal chain is a Swollen Pickle -> MXR BOD -> 3 Leaf GR.

i have everything on the board running on a Pedal Power 2. the loose pedals are running off of a One Spot.

i tried different cables, i tried a different fuzz and octaver, i tried different power supplies. the same thing keeps happening. if the octaver is running in front of a fuzz, then there is no volume jump. it just sounds kind of booty. and not in a good way.

if the octavers (both i own) are running after a fuzz, then there is a WAY large volume jump.

the fuzzes work fine with everything after them in the signal chain except the octavers.

i also tried turning on a fuzz, then having the octaver set with the octave down volume all the way off, so it SHOULD just be the signal coming through unmodulated. but it sounded normal with the fuzz off, too loud with the fuzz on. i was not having this problem before.

what am i doing wrong?

bongomania · #2 07-30-2010, 09:21 AM

Unless I missed it, it sounds like you didn't try running either/both of the octavers by themselves, nothing else in the chain. Try that, and report the results.

behndy · #3 07-30-2010, 09:46 AM

i did.... sorry. i wrote that last night before i passed out. i might've rambled a bit.

i ran both octavers by themselves, and they ran fine. they seemed to run fine with other effects in the chain too.

the other sort of weird thing, that i'm not sure if this is normal 'cause i've never tried it before, is with the Pickle Pie B - when the blend is turned full bass signal/no fuzz it's the same volume as with the Pickle Pie B off, but nudging it slightly into more fuzz blend the clean signal drops volume noticeably.

and again, the octavers jump the volume even if the octave section is set to gain off so that it SHOULD be a clean signal coming through.

i just realized.... the only thing new on the board is the VTD. i'm at work so i haven't tried running it without the VTD in the signal chain. but i WAS using a SansAmp PBDI before and it wasn't having that problem. i THINK i ran it with the VTD without problems, but i'm not totally sure.

any thoughts?

fitz420 · #4 07-30-2010, 10:04 AM

what about trying a buffered pedal after the fuzz and b4 the octaver. going out on a limb i know. weird issue

cheapbasslovin · #5 07-30-2010, 10:24 AM

My guess (and that is all it is) is that your VT is accentuating freqs that your ParaDriver attenuated. I'd try putting the ParaDriver back or tweak the VT to see if you can drop the spike you're getting.

Just a guess, though.

behndy · #6 07-30-2010, 10:26 AM

i don't know if i have any buffered pedals.

the thing is.... it worked fine before. again, i DID replace the PBDI with a VTD. but i THINK it ran ok with it before i did the rewiring.

soon as i get home i'm gonna try taking the VTD out of the chain, see if that helps.

seriously, i have NO idea what's going on.

behndy · #7 07-30-2010, 10:50 AM

huh. this is weird. i just ran home and ran Swollen Pickle -> MXR BOD -> SansAmp PBDI... no problem. same setup with the VTD at the end... volume jump problem.

the VTD works fine with all the other efx on my board (including the octaver) fine with just one efx turned on. just the fuzz into octaver combo seems to freak it out.

murrrrr?

gonna call Tech21... Tech Support later.... but any suggestions?

boomertech · #8 07-30-2010, 10:56 AM

Try one of the pedals with a battery to isolate a possible power issue.

behndy · #9 07-30-2010, 11:02 AM

hurm. i did try different pedals on a One Spot or different sections of the Pedal Power 2... didn't change anything.

i'd HATE taking the velcro off to get at the batter compartment's so i really don't want to try that. lol... i HOPE that's not the problem.

boomertech · #10 07-30-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by behndy

hurm. i did try different pedals on a One Spot or different sections of the Pedal Power 2... didn't change anything.

i'd HATE taking the velcro off to get at the batter compartment's so i really don't want to try that. lol... i HOPE that's not the problem.

OK, then use a single isolated PS. I have seen pedals that pass PS current (daisy-chain connections) thru the signal ground to other pedals. Most of the time this is not a problem, but sometimes it plays havoc with other pedals.

-Frank

behndy · #11 07-30-2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boomertech

OK, then use a single isolated PS. I have seen pedals that pass PS current (daisy-chain connections) thru the signal ground to other pedals. Most of the time this is not a problem, but sometimes it plays havoc with other pedals.

-Frank

well, each of the pedals on my board are on different channels of the Pedal Power 2. and each is s'posed to be it's own distinct output. so i don't THINK that would be the issue. it's just a huge pain to get the velcro off to get at the battery compartments.

behndy · #12 07-30-2010, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheapbasslovin

My guess (and that is all it is) is that your VT is accentuating freqs that your ParaDriver attenuated. I'd try putting the ParaDriver back or tweak the VT to see if you can drop the spike you're getting.

Just a guess, though.

yeah... i guess it has to be something like that. it's boosting the signal for some reason.

but i don't understand why the octaver by itself would be no problem, then the fuzz would be no problem, but together they would be horrible.

and only with the VTD. not the PBDI by itself. or the PBDI with a VT in front of it.

confused.

Eric! · #13 07-30-2010, 11:54 AM

What about just fuzz -> octaver -> amp?
And you're not using them on outputs 5 and 6 are you? I think sometimes those runs unregulated together..

behndy · #14 07-30-2010, 12:30 PM

i'm not sure what outputs they're on. i'll have to check.

just fuzz -> octaver -> amp works fine.

fuzz -> octaver -> VT (original pedal) -> PBDI -> amp works fine.

fuzz -> octaver -> PBDI -> amp works fine.

fuzz -> octaver -> VTD -> amp DESTROYS.

and i've tried One Spots singly, daisy chained, and different channels on PP2.

called Tech21. no techs are in today. they're s'posed to call me back monday.

Eric! · #15 07-30-2010, 12:46 PM

So it's not an octaver issue as much as it is an overhyped amp emulator? (bring on the hatin'!)er4444444444444

(my cat just included her piece as well)

behndy · #16 07-30-2010, 12:49 PM

yeah.... i guess...

and don't make me sit on your cat. i'm not afraid to squish a pussy.

....... yeah. i said it.

Eric! · #17 07-30-2010, 12:51 PM

So WHY AGAIN are you a veggie? It's obviously not for your love of all things winged and/or four-legged

behndy · #18 07-30-2010, 01:08 PM

meh..... dated a muslim girl for a hinute. that got me into no pork. then the meats just started tasting funny.

i'm a conundrum.

"he's an enigma.... wrapped in a mystery.... wrapped in a vest."

behndy · #19 07-30-2010, 01:30 PM

i always figured if animals are dumb enough for us to catch, they're dumb enough to be okay with being eaten.

BLAM. take THAT peta. you buncha nut-bags.

Jake of Bass · #20 07-30-2010, 05:14 PM

Might be super obvious but is the 1/4" boost button on the VTD pushed in? Just a thought.