EHX Synth 9 (9 series) pedals with Pedal Power 2 +

[tragicmagic]

I'm having issues with powering my Synth9 with a Voo Doo Labs Pedal Power 2+, and from what I hear it is common to the 9 series when used with power supplies other than what came with it.

When everything is plugged in already on the pedal (cables on input and synth out, DC jack), and then the Pedal Power 2 + is plugged into the outlet:
1) Bypass works fine

2) When you activate the footswitch, the LED turns on but all sound is gone. There is power to the pedal but the pedal is silent, no dry signal, no synth signal, volume knobs for each are up, so it isn't that.

3) If i unplug the DC jack and plug it back in, the pedal works again. I can bypass it, and activate via footswitch and it will work like it should. It seems that if I do this sequence, the pedal works like one would reasonably expect it to.

4) If I unplug the power supply at the outlet, and plug it back in, the pedal stops working (again) - it reverts to the same behavior as #1 and #2. Repeating #3 fixes it.

Synth 9 needs 9v and 100ma - theoretically any regulated power supply that meets those requirements should work, but apparently Pedal Power 2+ ramps up the voltage when first turned on but it's too slow, causing the Synth9 to stall. There is no warning about this on the EHX page nor the instruction manual.

Since my pedalboard is all tetris'd together, it's very inconvenient to have to unplug and replug the DC jack for that one pedal each time I set up to play (have to remove other pedals to access it), and there's a decent chance of forgetting to do that extra step at a gig. I don't have room for a wallwart either.

Those of you with an EHX 9-series pedal (Key9, B9, C9, Synth9), have you tried it with a third party power supply? What are your experiences?

 

[Adamixoye]

My Mel9 has never had a problem with my MXR ISO Brick. I have seen this sort of problem on my Meris Ottobit Jr. with my ISO Brick.

 

[tragicmagic]

My Mel9 has never had a problem with my MXR ISO Brick. I have seen this sort of problem on my Meris Ottobit Jr. with my ISO Brick.

I wonder if ISO brick ramps up voltage faster than PP2, or if not all 9 series are affected the same wau.

Does the Meris Ottobit Jr work with the ISO brick if you unplug and replug the DC cable?

 

[Adamixoye]

Does the Meris Ottobit Jr work with the ISO brick if you unplug and replug the DC cable?

Yes, it sounds like it's exactly the same problem.

 

[EastCoastThump]

I'm guessing you have your PP 2+ under your board, so it would be inconvenient to pull the power on that end, yes? If re-arranging your pedalboard isn't an option, maybe consider powering the EHX via an extension. Just secure the ends for extension and the EHX's power feed from PP2 somewhere manageable and visible (so you don't forget to reconnect them).

Or buy a different power supply (or bigger pedalboard, or a keyboard synth, or...).

 

[tragicmagic]

I'm guessing you have your PP 2+ under your board, so it would be inconvenient to pull the power on that end, yes? If re-arranging your pedalboard isn't an option, maybe consider powering the EHX via an extension. Just secure the ends for extension and the EHX's power feed from PP2 somewhere manageable and visible (so you don't forget to reconnect them).

Yes, my PP2+ is under the board, and the DC cables can't be removed on that without unscrewing the mounting brackets because of the beam on the Pedaltrain Jr limits the access.

I was thinking of putting together a DIY killswitch for power. Basically an SPST normally closed momentary switch, and a couple of DC jacks. The switch will connect the center pins - pressing it will cut the power, letting it go will resume the power. I can mount it underneath the board, but still reachable from the side without needing to lift the pedalboard up from the floor. It'll probably be more reliable than fumbling w/ tiny cables on a dark stage.

Or buy a different power supply (or bigger pedalboard, or a keyboard synth, or...).

I'd consider other power supplies but there's no way to tell just from reading the specs whether it'll work any different than the PP2+. Synth 9 needs 9v regulated 100ma DC. Pedal Power 2+ published specs meet that criteria.

That's partially why I started this thread, to see if others have the same issue w/ 3rd party supplies, and if not, which ones worked fine.

When I have time, I'm going to send the pedal back to EHX for inspection/fix (not sure if they actually do have a solution) but maybe if there's enough people affected it can be higher priority for them to come up with something, or at the very least put warnings on their website & instruction manuals regarding usage of 3rd party supplies despite meeting the published power requirements.

 

[Schopes]

Yes, my PP2+ is under the board, and the DC cables can't be removed on that without unscrewing the mounting brackets because of the beam on the Pedaltrain Jr limits the access.

I was thinking of putting together a DIY killswitch for power. Basically an SPST normally closed momentary switch, and a couple of DC jacks. The switch will connect the center pins - pressing it will cut the power, letting it go will resume the power. I can mount it underneath the board, but still reachable from the side without needing to lift the pedalboard up from the floor. It'll probably be more reliable than fumbling w/ tiny cables on a dark stage.


I'd consider other power supplies but there's no way to tell just from reading the specs whether it'll work any different than the PP2+. Synth 9 needs 9v regulated 100ma DC. Pedal Power 2+ published specs meet that criteria.

That's partially why I started this thread, to see if others have the same issue w/ 3rd party supplies, and if not, which ones worked fine.

When I have time, I'm going to send the pedal back to EHX for inspection/fix (not sure if they actually do have a solution) but maybe if there's enough people affected it can be higher priority for them to come up with something, or at the very least put warnings on their website & instruction manuals regarding usage of 3rd party supplies despite meeting the published power requirements.

I just got myself a Synth9 today, and it has the exact same issue! It works just fine with the plugin from EHX, but it just lights up when turned on (without sound going through) after it powers up via my Voodoo Lab Mondo. It works again when I unplug and replug in the DC cable from the Mondo.

I'm just wondering if you figured out a better solution than what I currently am doing.

 

[tragicmagic]

I just got myself a Synth9 today, and it has the exact same issue! It works just fine with the plugin from EHX, but it just lights up when turned on (without sound going through) after it powers up via my Voodoo Lab Mondo. It works again when I unplug and replug in the DC cable from the Mondo.

I'm just wondering if you figured out a better solution than what I currently am doing.

I've sent my Synth9 to EHX because that's what their support guy said to do. A week later I got my pedal back with no notes and it still has that issue, so I guess they consider it "normal". I did end up building that killswitch and it works well, much more convenient than unplugging and plugging the DC cable.

 

[Schopes]

I've sent my Synth9 to EHX because that's what their support guy said to do. A week later I got my pedal back with no notes and it still has that issue, so I guess they consider it "normal". I did end up building that killswitch and it works well, much more convenient than unplugging and plugging the DC cable.

Thanks for letting me know! I'll just have to get used to turning my pedalboard on in this odd new way.

 

[Being and Bass]

Have you tried another brick power supply, like a 1Spot or Cioks? It might be a Voodoo specific thing. I've a tonne of EHX pedals and have never had the issue you describe with the Synth9, but I have avoided the 9 series with my HOG so it might be a unique problem.

 

[tragicmagic]

Have you tried another brick power supply, like a 1Spot or Cioks? It might be a Voodoo specific thing. I've a tonne of EHX pedals and have never had the issue you describe with the Synth9, but I have avoided the 9 series with my HOG so it might be a unique problem.

I don't have other power bricks to test with, I started the thread hoping someone else might chime in. None of my other EHX pedals (Super Ego, Bass Clone, Canyon, Holy Grail) have any issue with the voodoo labs pedal power 2, only the Synth9.

 

[Schopes]

I do have another power brick. One from 1spot. I'll give that a try later today.

It's not an EHX problem in general with Voodoo, I have a Mel 9, POG 2, Canyon, and Battalion. Those all work just fine with the my Voodoo Mondo.

I'll see if the 1spot brick works good. Problem is...if it does....I will only have 5 power cables instead of my current 12!

 

[mannysilvers]

Yes the 9 series pedals often have an issue with certain power supplies (such as the Pedal Power) where when the power supply is turned on, it's voltage doesn't ramp up fast enough to properly "turn on" the DSP in the 9 series pedals. Unfortunately there is no solution other than to unplug and re-plug in the power jack into the pedal. We've worked on a revision that fixes this issue, and future units of all of the 9 series pedals won't have this problem, but unfortunately with the current units there isn't really a way around it (aside from using a different power supply).

 

[Schopes]

Yes the 9 series pedals often have an issue with certain power supplies (such as the Pedal Power) where when the power supply is turned on, it's voltage doesn't ramp up fast enough to properly "turn on" the DSP in the 9 series pedals. Unfortunately there is no solution other than to unplug and re-plug in the power jack into the pedal. We've worked on a revision that fixes this issue, and future units of all of the 9 series pedals won't have this problem, but unfortunately with the current units there isn't really a way around it (aside from using a different power supply).

Thanks for the info.

I did try it out with the my 1spot CS6. The first time it worked but made my entire come out with less volume...?

Second try it worked just fine.

With my current setup I'll just stick with my Mondo and just plug the cable in after powering up. The pedal is on my board in an easy place to do that. After a few runs it will become just part of the setup procedure.

Love the pedal so it's worth the extra step.

P.S.
I may be becoming addicted to EHX. I'm just waiting till they finally put out some kind of tuner pedal with some odd/cool extra feature.

 

[tragicmagic]

Just an update: I switched from the Pedal Power 2+ to a Truetone CS12 and the Synth 9 works fine on it. No more rebooting via killswitch or unplugging/replugging.

 

[BassJuju]

Yes the 9 series pedals often have an issue with certain power supplies (such as the Pedal Power) where when the power supply is turned on, it's voltage doesn't ramp up fast enough to properly "turn on" the DSP in the 9 series pedals. Unfortunately there is no solution other than to unplug and re-plug in the power jack into the pedal. We've worked on a revision that fixes this issue, and future units of all of the 9 series pedals won't have this problem, but unfortunately with the current units there isn't really a way around it (aside from using a different power supply).

I just bought a Synth 9 today. Is this still an issue or has the fix you mentioned been implemented?

 

[mannysilvers]

I just bought a Synth 9 today. Is this still an issue or has the fix you mentioned been implemented?

I'm pretty sure it was implemented by now, though it depends how old the unit you bought is (as far as when it was shipped out of our factory). If you open the unit up somewhere on the circuit board there should be a label "Rev _" with a letter. That would say whether it's a new unit with the fix or not.

 

[BassJuju]

I'm pretty sure it was implemented by now, though it depends how old the unit you bought is (as far as when it was shipped out of our factory). If you open the unit up somewhere on the circuit board there should be a label "Rev _" with a letter. That would say whether it's a new unit with the fix or not.

It looks like it it reads Rev. D in the bottom left hand corner of the board. Is this to what you were referring?

 

[mannysilvers]

It looks like it it reads Rev. D in the bottom left hand corner of the board. Is this to what you were referring?
View attachment 3164880

Yes that's what I'm referring to. I don't know the different Revs and exactly what changes they have off the top of my head (I can check on Monday when I'm back in the office) but my guess based on looking at that is that it does not have the power/reset fix update on it. Either way, the issue only happens sometimes with some units and power supplies so if you aren't having any issues with it I wouldn't sweat it.