Darkglass Microtubes Infinity...doesn't work?

[mmbongo]

Yes. What is amiss is my COVID-addled brain. I mentally swapped one brand for another. It's a D'Addario accessory sold by them.

By the way, I have a One Spot on my big board. I have thought about upgrading it many times, but the truth is it's worked like a charm for years. Problem in this case is my board is somewhere where I am not. At least until next Tuesday.

Ahh, makes sense now. If you look on the actual power supply you'll see it's only 500ma so likely not quite enough power for the Darkglass as it might not even be 500ma.

 

[scottfeldstein]

What do we think of this, folks?

 

[mmbongo]

What do we think of this, folks?

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No that should be 800ma! Interesting that the picture on their website shows 500ma. I still say this is your whole issue though.

 

[Smurf-o-Deth]

Darkglass pedals, especially ones with digital components, can be quite finicky about how they are powered. The only power supplies I’ve never had issues with are Cioks supplies. Even the One Spot Pro supplies had fits with some Darkglass effects (specifically, the Hyper Luminal), which is when I switched to Cioks. To make a long story long, I’m corroborating the notion that your problem is quite likely just the power supply.

 

[HP Hovercraft]

No that should be 800ma!

His is labelled 800mA (.8A)

 

[Redshift Crilly]

@scottfeldstein This is akin to torture!
You can't just leave just us hanging like this. Is it the DG pedal or the power supply?!
To borrow the famous line from Dirty Harry: "I gots to know!"

 

[mmbongo]

His is labelled 800mA (.8A)

yeah I was agreeing that .8 A is 800 mA

 

[scottfeldstein]

Ok, folks. An update. I left the unit in the studio all week. Earlier today I got a text message: a picture of it powered on successfully using the guitar players pedalboard power supply. I have not had a chance to use it yet, though. I just ordered a new adapter: 9v 500ma center neg. It arrives tomorrow. If that fails to do the trick I'll buy a more expensive one that explicitly says it's compatible with that unit. (Strange that Darkglass doesn't even sell power adapters on their website.)

 

[mcnach]

Ok, folks. An update. I left the unit in the studio all week. Earlier today I got a text message: a picture of it powered on successfully using the guitar players pedalboard power supply. I have not had a chance to use it yet, though. I just ordered a new adapter: 9v 500ma center neg. It arrives tomorrow. If that fails to do the trick I'll buy a more expensive one that explicitly says it's compatible with that unit. (Strange that Darkglass doesn't even sell power adapters on their website.)

probably best to get a couple different plugs only, it sounds like it's going to be a matter of how the plug fits in the socket: some seem to have a 'bigger hole' than others, by design.

 

[sunbeast]

Ok, folks. An update. I left the unit in the studio all week. Earlier today I got a text message: a picture of it powered on successfully using the guitar players pedalboard power supply. I have not had a chance to use it yet, though. I just ordered a new adapter: 9v 500ma center neg. It arrives tomorrow. If that fails to do the trick I'll buy a more expensive one that explicitly says it's compatible with that unit. (Strange that Darkglass doesn't even sell power adapters on their website.)

The pedal says it requires a minimum of 500mA, and since you’ve already had issues it seems sensible to me to err on the side of a more powerful supply. Just grab a One-Spot, which Doug from Darkglass has said in the past that all their pedals are tested with and can be picked up at any Guitar Center for not too much and provides over 1000mA

 

[mmbongo]

Ok, folks. An update. I left the unit in the studio all week. Earlier today I got a text message: a picture of it powered on successfully using the guitar players pedalboard power supply. I have not had a chance to use it yet, though. I just ordered a new adapter: 9v 500ma center neg. It arrives tomorrow. If that fails to do the trick I'll buy a more expensive one that explicitly says it's compatible with that unit. (Strange that Darkglass doesn't even sell power adapters on their website.)

There's no use for Darkglass (or any other pedal company) to go to the expense of trying to sell power adapters when One Spot's are readily available everywhere. Hopefully that's what you ordered but it sounds like you ordered the same thing you already have.

 

[SteveC]

Buy once, cry once. Get a CIOKS. You will never have power issues again. I am on my 2nd because I didn’t learn the first time. They fit under any board and power almost anything.

 

[scottfeldstein]

There's no use for Darkglass (or any other pedal company) to go to the expense of trying to sell power adapters when One Spot's are readily available everywhere. Hopefully that's what you ordered but it sounds like you ordered the same thing you already have.

I have been using a 1-Spot for a decade on my board. This pedal, however, I bought for use off-board. I need an individual power adapter for it. The first one I got says 800ma. The manual for the pedal specifically says not to use something over 500. So This time I got one that is 500. We'll see.

 

[sunbeast]

I have been using a 1-Spot for a decade on my board. This pedal, however, I bought for use off-board. I need an individual power adapter for it. The first one I got says 800ma. The manual for the pedal specifically says not to use something over 500. So This time I got one that is 500. We'll see.

The manual probably says not to use more than 9 volts- too much voltage will damage something unable to handle it. With current (mA), the pedal just draws what it needs and doesn’t care how much is available (as long as there is enough available of course!)

 

[mcnach]

I have been using a 1-Spot for a decade on my board. This pedal, however, I bought for use off-board. I need an individual power adapter for it. The first one I got says 800ma. The manual for the pedal specifically says not to use something over 500. So This time I got one that is 500. We'll see.

I doubt the manual says that. When a power supply says 500mA, it means it can deliver *up to* 500mA, but the pedals will draw what they need, no more. You could use a 5A if you like.

The voltage is another matter.

Your problem is not in whether it's 500 or 800mA. It's either the polarity (which now looks like it wasn't the problem) or, and I'm not a betting kind of guy but... check the plug! I said it and others said it before as well but you seem to have ignored that (it's your pedal and your money 'though ) Although at a glance they may look identical... some sockets have a thicker middle pin than others, and some plugs have a slightly larger 'hole' than others. When you get "thin pin and wide hole", connection can be erratic or not work at all. I've had that, that's how I know.

So... I'd check the plug/socket before continuing throwing money at power supplies, but that's just me.

 

[eniac]

I have been using a 1-Spot for a decade on my board. This pedal, however, I bought for use off-board. I need an individual power adapter for it. The first one I got says 800ma. The manual for the pedal specifically says not to use something over 500. So This time I got one that is 500. We'll see.

Where in the manual does it say not to use something that can supply over 500 mA? I couldn't find such a warning. Besides, it would make no sense. A power source doesn't impose a current draw on the load connected to it; it merely makes a certain amount of current available should the load require it.

 

[scottfeldstein]

Where in the manual does it say not to use something that can supply over 500 mA? I couldn't find such a warning. Besides, it would make no sense. A power source doesn't impose a current draw on the load connected to it; it merely makes a certain amount of current available should the load require it.

It doesn't say this in the manual. It says it on the website. Only, not really. As others have pointed out, it actually was about the voltage and not the amps. I just misremembered.

 

[Derek Williams]

I have been using a 1-Spot for a decade on my board. This pedal, however, I bought for use off-board. I need an individual power adapter for it. The first one I got says 800ma. The manual for the pedal specifically says not to use something over 500. So This time I got one that is 500. We'll see.

This isn't individual enough? 1 SPOT® – Truetone

 

[scottfeldstein]

You are not going to believe how dumb I am. No, really. You won't believe this coming from a man who's been playing this instrument for four decades and has done both studio and stage work and is...fairly technical?

No idea why the first power supply didn't work. Guy in studio got it to work on guitar pedal board power supply. SECOND power supply no worky. And then I relented and bought a Donner pedal board power supply. I read the manual. I thought I understood it. I powered it up and...voila! The Darkglass Microtubes Infinity powered up and in my cheap earbuds sounded great.

Here comes the extra stupid part. And I would remind you: I'm a dummy in many situations, but generally regarded as a pretty bright person. I thought for a hot minute about not disclosing any of this, but I thought if my stupidity could save even one person from making this same mistake, well, the humiliation is worth it.

So, the Donner power supply is meant for a pedal board. It has seven 100 mA outputs and one 500 Ma output. I chose the wire up the correct 500 one to my pedal which was great. And then I thought... why do I have this chonky thing sitting on my desk? Let's try to plug the power adapter for the supply itself directly to the pedal!

Which of course didn't work. And it fried my Darkglass unit because that power adapter was 18 volts. Far above the 9 the pedal is meant to use.

Alcohol may have been a factor! But regardless, don't let this happen to you. I may not be a shining example in this story, but at least I can ba a warning. Don't do what I did.

Now what solution am I looking for to replace the unit I fried? Anything that sounds great with a headphone out and that an idiot can't blow up? Open to suggestions! #humiliation #dummy #fulldisclosure

 

[Smurf-o-Deth]

Exceeding voltage can always lead to magic smoke. I don’t know what your needs are from a unit, but there are lots of options: something all analogue, like the Genzler Magellan Pre, or something digital that includes its own power supply, like a Two Notes Opus, and countless more. Hell, if you have a passive DI, you could use a Rolls PM50 for silent practice. You’ll need to state your desired feature set before solid recommendations can be provided.