Peterson Strobostomp Mini

[mouthmw]

The Sonic Research Turbo Tuner has basically zero lag.

Yup, no lag on the Turbo Tuner. Strobostomp has a lag and an audible relay switching when you engage it.
Turbo Tuner would be interesting to me, but it doesn't have a buffer. I want my tuner to have a good buffer at the start of my board.

That said, I've read that the Strobostomp Mini has the same relay switching system, so it does have the same lag. Not a deal breaker for a lot of people, I know, but I'm used to instant switching.

I like this from factor is the hi quality buffer. It's seems you'll lose the buffer but gain some board real estate...

The Mini version does have the buffer and true bypass. Not sure if that's what you're saying.

 

[Derek Williams]

Yup, no lag on the Turbo Tuner. Strobostomp has a lag and an audible relay switching when you engage it.
Turbo Tuner would be interesting to me, but it doesn't have a buffer. I want my tuner to have a good buffer at the start of my board.

That said, I've read that the Strobostomp Mini has the same relay switching system, so it does have the same lag. Not a deal breaker for a lot of people, I know, but I'm used to instant switching.



The Mini version does have the buffer and true bypass. Not sure if that's what you're saying.

I never noticed any lag when using the Peterson in buffer mode. Definitely lag in true bypass mode. I should give it a try in buffered mode again.

 

[mouthmw]

I never noticed any lag when using the Peterson in buffer mode. Definitely lag in true bypass mode. I should give it a try in buffered mode again.

Interesting thing about Polytune 3 (standard, non-mini version) is that is has a slight lag in buffered bypass, while its switching is instant in true bypass mode. I had a mini version (noir) and I've never noticed any lag in buffered bypass mode, so I have a feeling they actually improved the switching on the mini version of Polytune 3.

The lag is, to be fair, about 0.3 seconds, but it's enough that I've accidentally plucked on my string right after hitting the tuner switch, and some of that audio got through to my amp. It's just a slight annoyance for live use IMO.

Here's a solid review video (not my video) where the lag is demonstrated:

 

[Derek Williams]

Interesting thing about Polytune 3 (standard, non-mini version) is that is has a slight lag in buffered bypass, while its switching is instant in true bypass mode. I had a mini version (noir) and I've never noticed any lag in buffered bypass mode, so I have a feeling they actually improved the switching on the mini version of Polytune 3.

The lag is, to be fair, about 0.3 seconds, but it's enough that I've accidentally plucked on my string right after hitting the tuner switch, and some of that audio got through to my amp. It's just a slight annoyance for live use IMO.

Here's a solid review video (not my video) where the lag is demonstrated:

Since that video seemed useless, I just tried it. In buffered mode (which he doesn't test), there is zero lag when enabling the tuner, and when bypassing the tuner it switches on button release with zero lag. If you only care about true bypass then yes, it lags, but I have a hard time believing that there is a downside to using it buffered if you really care about the lag.

 

[odarellmc]

Yup, no lag on the Turbo Tuner. Strobostomp has a lag and an audible relay switching when you engage it.
Turbo Tuner would be interesting to me, but it doesn't have a buffer. I want my tuner to have a good buffer at the start of my board.

That said, I've read that the Strobostomp Mini has the same relay switching system, so it does have the same lag. Not a deal breaker for a lot of people, I know, but I'm used to instant switching.



The Mini version does have the buffer and true bypass. Not sure if that's what you're saying.

Ok I need to look again but I was sure it didn't have a buffer.

Edit: you're right. it does have a buffer.

 

[landrybass]

I thought the relay switch was to prevent it from having that audible popping noise. The lag is a tiny bit annoying but it’s fine unless you use it for songs in some way. I guess mine is set to true bypass too, I wanna try buffered mode and see if the lag persists.

I had a buffered splitter at the end of my board going to 2 amps one time and the high output of active basses were overloading it causing really annoying pops so I stay away from most buffered stuff.

 

[mouthmw]

Since that video seemed useless, I just tried it. In buffered mode (which he doesn't test), there is zero lag when enabling the tuner, and when bypassing the tuner it switches on button release with zero lag. If you only care about true bypass then yes, it lags, but I have a hard time believing that there is a downside to using it buffered if you really care about the lag.

I'd only use it in buffered mode to be honest. Zero lag there you say? That's great then!

 

[HelpImaRock]

Yup, no lag on the Turbo Tuner. Strobostomp has a lag and an audible relay switching when you engage it.
Turbo Tuner would be interesting to me, but it doesn't have a buffer. I want my tuner to have a good buffer at the start of my board.

That said, I've read that the Strobostomp Mini has the same relay switching system, so it does have the same lag. Not a deal breaker for a lot of people, I know, but I'm used to instant switching.



The Mini version does have the buffer and true bypass. Not sure if that's what you're saying.

FWIW, I haven't found that needing a tuner buffer first is 100% necessary. That said, my second pedal is a BOSS, so I get that buffer immediately after. YMMV and all that.

 

[odarellmc]

FWIW, I haven't found that needing a tuner buffer first is 100% necessary. That said, my second pedal is a BOSS, so I get that buffer immediately after. YMMV and all that.

Agreed. I doubt the majority of us have cable runs that would justify a buffer. Just another GAS item. With that being said a buffer is definitely needed for touring bassists.

 

[Erithon]

With that being said a buffer is definitely needed for touring bassists.

Why?

 

[odarellmc]

Why?

They require much longer cable runs...

 

[Erithon]

They require much longer cable runs...

Right. But why a buffer in the tuner specifically?

 

[HelpImaRock]

Agreed. I doubt the majority of us have cable runs that would justify a buffer. Just another GAS item. With that being said a buffer is definitely needed for touring bassists.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you have other buffers in the signal chain, having another one in your tuner isn't really necessary. The reverse is also true.

 

[odarellmc]

Right. But why a buffer in the tuner specifically?

Would you use your board real estate with a tuner and a buffer? Or kill two birds.....

 

[mouthmw]

FWIW, I haven't found that needing a tuner buffer first is 100% necessary. That said, my second pedal is a BOSS, so I get that buffer immediately after. YMMV and all that.

Sure, it's not needed, it depends on the size of the board and personal needs/wants. It's just the way I have my pedalboard set. My first and last pedals are buffered, everything in between is true bypass, 9 pedals in total. It's not a huge pedalboard, but I like how my signal sounds with buffers at the start and the end of the board.

 

[HelpImaRock]

Sure, it's not needed, it depends on the size of the board and personal needs/wants. It's just the way I have my pedalboard set. My first and last pedals are buffered, everything in between is true bypass, 9 pedals in total. It's not a huge pedalboard, but I like how my signal sounds with buffers at the start and the end of the board.

Hence, "YMMV and all that"

 

[Erithon]

Would you use your board real estate with a tuner and a buffer? Or kill two birds.....

I play active bass, have an always-on compressor, and run through a [sfx] micro-thumpinator so my signal is plenty buffered. (I keep the buffer in my tuner off.) I wasn't sure if you were articulating something specific to buffered tuners and touring rigs, but I understand your point now: you are just talking about buffers and long signal chains (capacitance) in general. Thanks for clarifying

 

[amper]

But top mounted jacks leave it up to the user, while side jacks have the designer making the choice for you.

Not really. Human feet are all within a certain size range, which means there's effectively a minimum distance pedal switches should really be placed for optimal use. The classic Boss BCB boxes, for instance, place pedals 100 mm on center, and I've found that anything less rapidly gets difficult to manage on stage. Boss is one of the few manufacturers that seems to have actually put some thought into the ergonomics of pedals and pedalboards for live performance.

There's probably a lot of players nowadays who don't actually play live gigs, so hitting the wrong button in the heat of the moment maybe isn't as much of an issue for them, if they are even switching pedals with their feet, at all, let alone on the fly while singing and wearing high heels on a dimly-lit stage.

 

[Derek Williams]

Not really. Human feet are all within a certain size range, which means there's effectively a minimum distance pedal switches should really be placed for optimal use. The classic Boss BCB boxes, for instance, place pedals 100 mm on center, and I've found that anything less rapidly gets difficult to manage on stage. Boss is one of the few manufacturers that seems to have actually put some thought into the ergonomics of pedals and pedalboards for live performance.

There's probably a lot of players nowadays who don't actually play live gigs, so hitting the wrong button in the heat of the moment maybe isn't as much of an issue for them, if they are even switching pedals with their feet, at all, let alone on the fly while singing and wearing high heels on a dimly-lit stage.

How is that a “Not really”? You didn’t address the comment at all. With top jacks we can space pedals out further if we need to, or put them close together if that works better. With side jacks we don’t get a choice.

 

[amper]

How is that a “Not really”? You didn’t address the comment at all. With top jacks we can space pedals out further if we need to, or put them close together if that works better. With side jacks we don’t get a choice.

I addressed the comment specifically. If you can't understand why there is an effective minimum distance you can place pedals together before it becomes a problem, that's not my fault.