Question about pedal power and supply

[nilorius]

Just about the only time I see anyone using a pedal with a battery is a tuner.

I use a COIKS AC10 power supply that feeds several DC pedals and one AC pedal. Most of mine don't even run on a battery (that I'm aware of).

I, for one, would have no use for a battery option.

Apply, i use the same system.

 

[SoulReflection]

I'd love to see future amps having pedal power built in...wish my current ones did.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

It depends on where the pedal is expected to go. If it is going to be part of a multi-pedal setup, then (for me) it would be more likely be setup with a power supply, whereas if it a pedal that I would use on its own, I would prefer the option of having it battery operated as well. It would have to last a minimum of 4 hours, but even that would be really low.

My current mini board setup consists of 4 pedals and I power it with a couple of power supplies.

A battery powered pedal would be useful for stuff like a jam night, where you may only go up for a few tunes and want to be on and off stage quickly.

 

[egarcia]

This works fine for me.
Powerbank with 3usb outputs and Mugig Power Supply with 4 regulated 9V outputs.

 

[Lowendtech]

I have two multi-port multi/voltage power supplies. On lives in my gig bag and one stays at home.
I’d only use batteries on a travelling silent practice type of tool.

 

[BassinCT]

I have no need for battery operation in preamp and effect pedals, as the options for power supplies are more convenient, provide peace of mind, and are not wasteful. The only exception would be for tuners, which I frequently need to use independently from a pedalboard.

I would opt for a less expensive, battery free option every time. Thanks for asking!

 

[higain617]

I'm only running a single overdrive right now, and still use a power supply. The industry, outside of Boss et al, seems to be moving away from batteries.

 

[Diddywah]

No batteries in my pedalboard. A Yankee PS drives 9&15&18 volt pedals and wireless receiver. Only batteries I need are for the preamps in the basses and the wireless transmitter. Wish I could do without them too, but thats just not possible....

 

[xnewyorka]

Pedal boards and power supplies are the norm around here. My guitarist says that his fuzz box needs a battery though. Can't remember the reason. Maybe it was because germanium transistors need a different polarity.

Certain fuzz pedals like the analogman sunface will not accept external power. The circuit design is extremely sensitive to clean power, and the only way to guarantee perfect results is to use a battery.

 

[Selios]

I'm a gigging player who uses amps and cabinets.

I don't have a lot of pedals, but I appreciate having the battery option for the ones that I have. If I have use for my pedalboard, then it's all powered off one power supply and it's all good. However I honestly usually only use a pedal tuner, and having it run off a battery is much more convenient for me. By comparison, my TC Electronic Spectracomp does not have a battery and needs a power supply instead; in the cases where the TC is the only pedal I'm bringing besides the tuner, having to run a power adapter is more of an inconvenience to me than being able to throw 2 battery pedals on the floor and be done with it.

For what it's worth, I recently saw one of those Rig Rundown videos with Zakk Wylde who explains that his whole pedalboard worth of toys runs all on their batteries. He had a couple reasons for it, so there's one big-time touring professional's opinion on your question.

 

[Systolic]

Nope. No batteries on my board, many of my pedals don't even have the option.

 

[honeyiscool]

I honestly don’t really see battery as important these days. Lot of people who would have just used a battery powered tuners are just using Snark now. Of the many players I know who use effects on stage, only one I know bothers to use batteries for multiple pedals.

 

[808P123]

I rarely use pedals for bass; being on a wireless system 50% of the time I prefer not to use batteries, it's one more thing I have to check before a gig, especially if it's a busy 150+ gig year.

 

[jerry]

I don't use batteries in my pedals either.

 

[jmone]

Don't use batteries at all for a few reasons:

1) It's too risky when I don't know how much time I have left on them which can be catastrophic given the situation.

2) Replacing batteries periodically is inconvenient. Most pedals you need to rip off the board and unscrew the enclosure to get to them.

3) Batteries get expensive quickly. Doesn't take long to offset the cost of just having a power supply.

4) Disposable batteries are just simply bad for the environment. I don't think I'm personally saving the world here but there's simply no need for disposable anything.

I have most of the pedals I want on my bass board but I'm starting to accumulate some 1-off pedals for home studio use and I'm likely going to get a power supply to sit on my desk so I can plug in pedals as I please. I really can't think of a situation where I'd use batteries.

 

[FugaziBomb]

One situation where I view battery power as more convenient is when I'm running sound for a show that has multiple acts with quick changeovers every 20 minutes or so. Guys that drag up a pedal board with 25 pedals that all have individual power supplies make me cringe when they request an AC distro to plug all this crap into for a 20 minute spot. Once this is finally hooked up, then they have to start troubleshooting their signal path on stage while everyone is waiting.

I couldn't imagine telling a guitarist/bassist at sound check that they need to tear their pedal board apart (since many battery compartments access from the bottom) and supply (25) 9v batteries essentially from "hammer space" on the spot, all for a twenty minute spot. I'm sure there are valid reasons for needing optional 9v supplies, but this can't be one of them...

 

[foolforthecity]

This is why I asked this question here, looking for gigging users of pedals rather than collectors and aficionados. IME, this forum has a better representation of a cross-section of players.

Gigging player. No longer using batteries at all. Have a backup supply in the event primary fails

 

[Al Kraft]

Battery power can be cleaner with less chance of induced noise.

A lot of P/S these days are cheap switching types. A regulated one is much better.

You can easily tell the difference, the switching type is light weight while the regulated type makes a good paper weight.

I actually own both types (and in higher end brands). I can't say I truly notice a difference, but I also have high end effects/boxes that tend to be well thought-out in design and built with real world power supply variability in mind. I'll agree that cheaper generic power supplies (of all types), especially those from years back could be pretty noisy in certain situations.

 

[ArtechnikA]

Same for me as a lot of prior responses...
I don't use batteries in pedal effects.
In an open-mike 3-song setting, I don't use pedals. But neither have I gone wanting a place to plug in a 1-Spot - there's always been an onstage outlet of some sort. I even have a short 'tap' cable that can add an outlet and pass through the original outlet. If the amp's plugged in, there is power... (I am surprised more amps don't have a switched power outlet - used to be common in consumer audio...)
But I rely on an inline tuner for a variety of reasons, and I wouldn't buy one that wouldn't run on a good ol' 9V.
Don't talk to me about clip-ons... They don't fit my headstocks, they're not accurate on my low B where they do fit, they are sensitive to ambient noise, and they won't mute the signal while you tune.

 

[Downunderwonder]

There have been a few discussions about pedals and pedalboards lately and it SEEMS as though most players aren't really using batteries anymore but instead are using either a stand alone power supply or a multi-output (and sometimes multi-voltage) power supply integrated into their pedalboard.

These days, how important is it that a pedal operate from a 9V battery (acknowledging that some simply can not) and is it worth paying more for a pedal that can support battery operation (even if it means <20 hours of battery life)?

As a follow-up, how many of you guys would suggest that the days of using 9V batteries is coming to an end?

I'm looking for comments from a player's perspective, one who uses amps and cabinets and not somebody who mostly uses them at home with their studio.

The only thing that's worse than battery power is noise off the bloody power supply then paying up for fancy noiseless supply and finding it is still noisy.

If I was King I would make all pedals 12v and run off a real battery.