Here's an image from a while back, The MXR El Grande is next to the TCe Corona. You can see the mini pot's shaft next to the stomper switch. Sorry i don't have a better picture.
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My DIY Pedalboard
- Thread starter GMC
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- diy pedalboard
The El Grande is pretty much a bright high gain muff with a few other controls. I had a swollen Pickle (also based on a Muff) and I could dial in the Swollen pickle to sound just like the El Grande, which is why I sold it, it was too similar to my Pickle. However, it required very specific settings to get that particular high gain sound. Great for soloing. Both of these I can pretty much nail with my SA Aftershock, very easily. A woolly Mammoth is a gated fuzz and that's slightly different.
Today, I've been tidying my "Undercroft" again. A lot of reorganising of the myriad of cables. I like things to look very neat, but also serviceable. Most of my interlinks are now EBS or Rockboard flats, depending on what I available. My Midi cables are nearly all EBS Blue dot flats, which are the best Midi cables available IMHO. My SA 160 TRRS cables have arrived from Germany, of all places !?! Now that's here, I've connected my new Spectrum to my Neuro Hub and replaced a not quite right cable attached to my Lunar. That's all 5 ports filled. If SA bring out any more gear...I'll need another hub. Which I've been thinking about for a while. My current hub is very focussed on my Aftershock. If I get a 2nd, I'll make it a Lunar focussed controller.
I have a new 8 port powered USB HUB coming over the weekend and 4 new angled USB cables. The current 4 way hub isn't enough for me any more. I need 8 ports now. I also need the hub to be independently switched, so that I can switch off / on every port. That's really important with SA gear.
It's great having my Spectrum connected to my Neuro Hub. It's surprising me a lot that I'm using it mostly as a dedicated filter pedal. I thought I'd use to to thin down some of the patch burden on my C4...but I'm finding that I like it just before my modulation as a drop in filter. I still have my EQ2 on the end of my chain performing swells, wah and 4 pole low pass filters. I never realised how much I like a filter and a foot controlled low pass at the same time. Drop in an octave down and it's seriously funky sounds. I've stacked my Ojai units and neatened all my power feeds. It's looking a lot neater!
It also leaves me some room to finally put some patch in / out / TRS sockets on this board.
This is without the shelf and expression pedal
Here's a close up with the Expression pedal fitted.
Here's a close up with the Shelf and Expression pedal fitted.
I have a new 8 port powered USB HUB coming over the weekend and 4 new angled USB cables. The current 4 way hub isn't enough for me any more. I need 8 ports now. I also need the hub to be independently switched, so that I can switch off / on every port. That's really important with SA gear.
It's great having my Spectrum connected to my Neuro Hub. It's surprising me a lot that I'm using it mostly as a dedicated filter pedal. I thought I'd use to to thin down some of the patch burden on my C4...but I'm finding that I like it just before my modulation as a drop in filter. I still have my EQ2 on the end of my chain performing swells, wah and 4 pole low pass filters. I never realised how much I like a filter and a foot controlled low pass at the same time. Drop in an octave down and it's seriously funky sounds. I've stacked my Ojai units and neatened all my power feeds. It's looking a lot neater!
It also leaves me some room to finally put some patch in / out / TRS sockets on this board.
This is without the shelf and expression pedal
Here's a close up with the Expression pedal fitted.
Here's a close up with the Shelf and Expression pedal fitted.
Do you have a preferred USB cable for wiring up all your SA pedals? I’d like to add a USB hub to my board as well, but I haven’t really looked for a good mini usb cable at shorter lengths with a right angle. I’ve considered finding a custom cable maker to build me what I need, which might be best.
These are the angled Mini B USB to USB A cables I've been using, the "up angle" versions. They are 1m in length.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00FSVHXQU
I've been using this very neat 4 port hub:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00JX1ZS5O
It's very good, but only 4 ports. So I've just ordered this (it's an Amazon Choice):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07KFGY2CR
My Faderfox PC4 is here, and it's on the board. Just waiting for a 2nd TRS B to Midi 5 pin din adapter to arrive.
Because it's displaced my Expression pedal...there's no room for coffee anymore...
Because it's displaced my Expression pedal...there's no room for coffee anymore...
Currently, I have the top row assigned to various Aftershock Midi CC controls.
I then have the pots assigned in columns per device.
Row 1 (closet) is my H9 ambience row, Output, input, 3 control items - Very sweet.
Row 2 is my Lunar controls: Output, Treble level, Bass level, Mix, Low Retain.
Row 3 is my C4's controls: Output level, Treble level, Bass level, Mix, Voice 1 Tremolo level
Row 4 is my Spectrum's controls: Output level, Treble level, Bass level, Mix, Low Retain.
I might split my Column 1 between my H9-ambinece and my Ultrawave. I have a few patches on my ultrawave that could benefit from a few extra controls.
I'm super happy about having a dedicated output level controls (volume knob) for my Spectrum, C4 and Lunar. These are controls that help keep my signal path from clipping between chained pedals and clipping down the line. My Lunar patches seem to be very bad at being very low volume with just a chorus, but crazy hot if I kick on an octaver from my C4.
I then have the pots assigned in columns per device.
Row 1 (closet) is my H9 ambience row, Output, input, 3 control items - Very sweet.
Row 2 is my Lunar controls: Output, Treble level, Bass level, Mix, Low Retain.
Row 3 is my C4's controls: Output level, Treble level, Bass level, Mix, Voice 1 Tremolo level
Row 4 is my Spectrum's controls: Output level, Treble level, Bass level, Mix, Low Retain.
I might split my Column 1 between my H9-ambinece and my Ultrawave. I have a few patches on my ultrawave that could benefit from a few extra controls.
I'm super happy about having a dedicated output level controls (volume knob) for my Spectrum, C4 and Lunar. These are controls that help keep my signal path from clipping between chained pedals and clipping down the line. My Lunar patches seem to be very bad at being very low volume with just a chorus, but crazy hot if I kick on an octaver from my C4.
I noticed that too, I’m using your chorus presets as a base, but had to make a few tweaks (volume, treble, and lo retain) between my plain chorus scene and my “Sledgehammer” octave chorus scene. Sounds great though, and doesn’t take much to adapt it to different settings.
That faderfox thing looks great. I don’t think I’d want it on my board, but I could see myself getting one to sit on my desk (but I should really just get around to creating MIDI controller views on my ipad for my pedals instead).
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Got the 10 port hub hooked up on my board, my Cioks power works perfect with it too (requires 12V centre positive, no idea how many ma). Everything on my board is now going through a single hub except for the MC8 and EQ2 (need to order more cables). It’s all going through a ground lift USB adapter to cut down on noise when it’s plugged in as well. Cables are a mess… but I’ll get that cleaned up. Thanks for the pointers!
Powering the Faderfox PC4 is a bit of an issue. Unfortunately it doesn't have any external power source other than a 5v USB feed. Which highlights that this device wasn't designed for pedalboards. Most midi devices can use the Midi 5 pin din's 5v feed. However, this unit can't.
I think my only options are the Temple Audio's USB power output module, very nice, if a bit bid and clunky. Or the Rock Stock Bright Switch, which is more of a small pedal.
I'm also rather taken with the Temple Audio's 4x mod. It looks like a nice way to add an array of TRS in/outs to my board without adding a lot of bulk and weight. It's also fully shielded. I can use one of these to manage my three expression cables and tuner out to my external SDRUM unit.
Another project that I need to think about is making a nice functional enclosure for my three expression pedals and managing the cables for them.
Thanks, that's appreciated. Yes the Faderfox isn't for everyone. I kind of think I'm one of the first to actually try to integrate it into a pedal board.
I think my only options are the Temple Audio's USB power output module, very nice, if a bit bid and clunky. Or the Rock Stock Bright Switch, which is more of a small pedal.
I'm also rather taken with the Temple Audio's 4x mod. It looks like a nice way to add an array of TRS in/outs to my board without adding a lot of bulk and weight. It's also fully shielded. I can use one of these to manage my three expression cables and tuner out to my external SDRUM unit.
Another project that I need to think about is making a nice functional enclosure for my three expression pedals and managing the cables for them.
Thanks, that's appreciated. Yes the Faderfox isn't for everyone. I kind of think I'm one of the first to actually try to integrate it into a pedal board.
Congrats with the 10 port, I wished I'd done the same...I've nearly outgrown my new 7 port unit already!
Your board is looking good! I love the GT-1000 Core and MC8 combo. What are the verbs and delays like?
Sourcing good midi cables is a bit of headache at the moment. especially weird midi to trrs cables. I ended up ordering a Widi cable..only to find they were 2.5mm trs and not 3.5mm...so I have an adapter on order....lol.
Even regular midi cables are quite hard to source. Yes you can get generic "value" midi cables no problem. But anything neat is quite hard to source in the UK. I want neat, low profile and right angled plugs.
Rockboard flat midi cables are good and by far the lowest profile. These are right / left angled plugs at either ends, but the plugs ends can't be swivelled and they have different fitments at either end. At one end they are a left turn and at the other they are a right turn. These are great on an Eventide H9 but don't work very well on Strymon's panels (like the Mobius). You get a cable end that points up and the other side points down...or worse one plug covers the other midi socket. It's great if the stock cable works for you. If not...it's a bit of a headache.
I had to cut most of mine and solder a regular Midi socket on the ends to they fitted my Quadra Thru, Neuro hub or ES-5's midi ports. i've only got one of these one my board still. I'm slowly replacing them.
I've not tried the new Rockboard Midi Flax cables. These seem to be flappable up / down. But at least they are available in the UK and in some useful lengths too.
By far the most versatile and low profile (we want it ALL...right) are the EBS Blue Dot midi cables. These can be rotated any which way you like, which makes them super-versatile and they are quite low profile. They are available in a variety of different lengths and are quite reasonable in price. Unfortunately there's no UK supply at the moment.
Rockboard flat midi cables are good and by far the lowest profile. These are right / left angled plugs at either ends, but the plugs ends can't be swivelled and they have different fitments at either end. At one end they are a left turn and at the other they are a right turn. These are great on an Eventide H9 but don't work very well on Strymon's panels (like the Mobius). You get a cable end that points up and the other side points down...or worse one plug covers the other midi socket. It's great if the stock cable works for you. If not...it's a bit of a headache.
I had to cut most of mine and solder a regular Midi socket on the ends to they fitted my Quadra Thru, Neuro hub or ES-5's midi ports. i've only got one of these one my board still. I'm slowly replacing them.
I've not tried the new Rockboard Midi Flax cables. These seem to be flappable up / down. But at least they are available in the UK and in some useful lengths too.
By far the most versatile and low profile (we want it ALL...right) are the EBS Blue Dot midi cables. These can be rotated any which way you like, which makes them super-versatile and they are quite low profile. They are available in a variety of different lengths and are quite reasonable in price. Unfortunately there's no UK supply at the moment.
I’ve only tried simple hall reverb so far, if I use it I am looking for subtle. I’m sure that will change when I eventually go deeper with the C4. Haven’t tried the delay at all yet.
I’m thankful that the SA pedals use those 3.5mm TRRS, I only have one real MIDI cable on my board and that’s to connect to the Neuro Hub (using a Rockboard Flat for that). The Boss is also 3.5mm TRS, so those are nice and neat too.
Another option would be a USB-9volt Cable. There are several options available. I have used the Link Removed and Birdcord. The main idea is to power pedals using a USB power pack but I don't know why it wouldn't work in your application. Just plug it into an open port on your power supply.
While I have not tried them and cannot speak to their availability (UK or elsewhere), the Free The Tone Midi cables could be an interesting solution for your Faderfox. Right angle on both TRS and 5pin ends which I have not seen on other cables. Plus the 5-pin end is rotatable 360 degrees, also a very nice, uncommon feature.
That unfortunately powers the wrong war around. This takes a USB 5v and jumps it up to 9v to power a pedal. What I need is the reverse. A 9v pedal feed that jumps down to a USB 5v.
Be careful with your TRS to Midi cables, there's an A and B wiring! The Boss TRS is an A type I think. Which is more common than the B type.
Good call, unfortunately that's a TRS A type to Midi cable. I need a B Type.
