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Setting up PedalTrain Mini - Please help

socialleper

socialleper

Bringer of doom and top shelf beer
May 31, 2009
10,158
13,690
Canyon Country, CA
#1
I've ordered a PedalTrain Mini and now I need a little help trying to figure out how to power everything. I've been using pedals for years, but never bothered delving into the voodoo that is pedal board power supplies.
First, can someone explain how the pass through on the Korg Pitchblack (which I will be ordering after my next paycheck) works? What do I need to use it and is it even worth the trouble?

Next, I have a Aguilar Tone Hammer that requires 18v. I know a lot of you players have this on your boards, so I need some suggestions on ways to power it.

Thanks in advance.
 
#2
I had the Aggie TH pedal too. I used the Voodoo Labs ISO 5 power supplies for all of my pedals. It has regular 9v and it has one 18 volt you could use for the TH.
I have never owned the Korg Pitchblack, but I used a tuner pedal. It hooked up to one of the 9v jacks in the ISO 5 and then you just hook all of the pedals together.
 
#3
I've been running a PT Mini for a while now. My Bass Drive is in there all the time, as well as the Pitchblack. I'll swap the phaser, envelope, fuzz, and chorus as needed. I currently run all of these with a 1-spot, but also have used my Voodoo Labs pedal power. I just have one less pedal if I use the pedal power.
 
#6
I've got both Pitchblack and Tone Hammer on my PT Mini (along with FEA Opti-FET comp and Boss OC-2 octave pedal). You will need a power supply which has a dedicated 18V out. I recommend Voodoo Lab ISO-5. But you may buy something cheaper, like Dunlop DC-Brick. It's compact, but does not have isolatad outputs.
 
#7
Low_blow said:
I've got both Pitchblack and Tone Hammer on my PT Mini (along with FEA Opti-FET comp and Boss OC-2 octave pedal). You will need a power supply which has a dedicated 18V out. I recommend Voodoo Lab ISO-5. But you may buy something cheaper, like Dunlop DC-Brick. It's compact, but does not have isolatad outputs.
Click to expand...

For the record, please tell me what the joy of isolated outputs will do for me. The electrical end of this stuff makes my head hurt.
 
#8
thatbasskid597 said:
The Pitchblack is nice, but I can't see mine at all during the day in sunlight. But on a dark stage, it works perfect. It's built like a tank too. I'm looking at getting a PolyTune to replace it.
Click to expand...

I did the same thing, much prefer the TC Polytuner. You can get the Polytune Mini for $60 on ebay, perfect for a Pedaltrain Mini board.
 
#9
the isolated outputs of the iso-5 will decrease noise due to electrical problems from the wiring of the building you're in. from what i understand that is. i use just a 1-spot power supply and a 1-spot daisy chain. It works quite well for me, and i dont notice a whole lot of noise. Though i have also never tried the ISO-5 or any other sort of power supply/brick device.
 
#10
I used a 1spot for a long time and thought everything was fine, but I just upgraded to a MXR MC403 (isolatedpower supply) and in my case it made a noticable difference and now everything is crystal clear and hum/buzz free. nowyou don't need to go that big, but the MC403 has 8-9vdc, 4-18vdv, 2-9vac and 2 adjustable outputs. That should cover me for a while, including my IEM. Goodbye wall warts and ground loops :)

sorry, now thinking about it, the mc403 is too big for PT-mini (haha, they are about the same size), but the concept of isolated power supply holds true
 
#11
socialleper said:
Out of curiosity, why are you leaning towards the Polytune?

Did you ever use the power pass through on the pedal?
Click to expand...

For the reason I stated in my OP. When playing outdoors, the display is impossible for me to see. But other than that, it's a great unit. I'm not sure what the power pass through is, but if its the output to power another 9V pedal, then yes I have, it worked perfect.
 
#14
I've been looking at the 1Spot in conjunction with my Aguilar PSU on a regular old power strip. The science of the 1Spot makes me nervous. I get how the amps would work seeing how as its rated @ 1700mA, but how does it generate or pass 9v to up to 8 devices at the same time without burning up?

Does anyone have experience with the Dunlop Brick? I think it has 18v ports doesn't it? I can't tell if it has isolated ports.
 
#15
The T-Rex Fuel Tank Chameleon fits nicely into the front tray and it has an 18v out.
I also have an ISO 5 and it doesn't fit...just a hair too thick.
PTsmall.gif


I bought the Polytune purely for its size but after using a lot of tuners over the years both for myself and doing other people's guitars I gotta say that in terms of smoothness and accuracy it's one of the best stompbox stage tuners I've ever used. TC really nailed it hard with this thing.
 
#16
jeffbonny said:
The T-Rex Fuel Tank Chameleon fits nicely into the front tray and it has an 18v out.
I also have an ISO 5 and it doesn't fit...just a hair too thick.
PTsmall.gif


I bought the Polytune purely for its size but after using a lot of tuners over the years both for myself and doing other people's guitars I gotta say that in terms of smoothness and accuracy it's one of the best stompbox stage tuners I've ever used. TC really nailed it hard with this thing.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about that PSU too because it seems very flexible. It's one of the more expensive units, but might be worth it to avoid headaches.
 
#17
Seeing a lot more love for the Polytune than I thought I would. It seems like A LOT of boards have the Korg on it around here, but I hear what you guys are saying about the display on the TCE being better for outside. I've never played outside once in 21 years so I've never given it any thought.
 
#19
TC Polytune mini seems to be a good solution for compact/tight pedalboards. I don't use it for one reason: I put my tuner first in the chain (so I can unplug my bass without a pop between sets, in the "tuning" mode). I even bought a TC mini, but did not like the power jack on the right side. So, I'm still using my old Pitchblack. As for display, yes, the display on the TC is a bit brighter, but, in fact, almost no problem for me (except for open-air gigs on direct sunlight).
socialleper: some pedals tend to produce noise and to affect other pedals when they share the same "ground" (typical daisy-chain). It depends on the situation. Sometimes it's nice to have a transformer-based power supply with isolated outputs, sometimes - no extra need for it.
 
#20
Thanks for all the info.

The one thing I haven't received a response about is the power passthrough on the tuners and what it takes to make it work. I like the idea of being able to save one of the power outs on a PSU for a real pedal instead of wasting it on a tuner. I've seen multiple connection power daisy chains, but are there some that are just one to go from the tuner to another pedal?
 

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