Stop the presses, I have found peak pedalboard (Earthboard)

[getBAK]

Just got back from NAMM - as usual there was a ton of cool stuff. Earthboard stood out. This is an absolutely brilliant design using magnets to both secure the pedals to the board and transmit electricity
Rare Earth Music LLC
Seriously - take a look

 

[TOOL460002]

Just got back from NAMM - as usual there was a ton of cool stuff. Earthboard stood out. This is an absolutely brilliant design using magnets to both secure the pedals to the board and transmit electricity
Rare Earth Music LLC
Seriously - take a look

Only a grand with the options and case! I'll need to be convinced on this one. Eh... watch me buy this when it comes out... it's pedal porn... Thanks for the link and future wallet hit!

 

[Smurf-o-Deth]

It's neat, for sure, but…quite niche. Not just because of the cost, but also the weight. It's also worth noting that the standard battery only pumps out about 1.25A, so anyone using high draw pedals will be SOL with it. Even the wall adapter tops out at 3A, so it's not for people using, say, a Quad Cortex with other pedals. Seems like a really expensive way to power some Boss pedals and a Timefactor or something, too, so I'm not really sure who this is for.

Still neat, though.

 

[getBAK]

I actually asked about this. You can power from both sides and get a full 6amps off AC power

 

[lomo]

Looks amazing, but I did not see actual board dimensions listed on the site????? I'd also like a ballpark figure for about how long a 20amp deluxe battery will last if the board is loaded with an average mix of pedals used in average fashion.
I realize this can vary very widely but a rough range would be useful.

EDIT: their PDF says the updgraded battery should provide plenty of life (around 8-9 hours on avge), but I didn't see actual board dimensions listed????

 

[Smurf-o-Deth]

Looks amazing, but I did not see actual board dimensions listed on the site????? I'd also like a ballpark figure for about how long a 20amp deluxe battery will last if the board is loaded with an average mix of pedals used in average fashion.
I realize this can vary very widely but a rough range would be useful.

The double is PT Jr.-ish in size (20"x12"), and the single is about like a Metro (20"x7").

 

[lomo]

The double is PT Jr.-ish in size, and the single is about like a Metro.

Thanks-yeah I can get a rough idea by looking at the pics, but the actual size matters to me. I want to know how many anchor plates I'd want. I also would have loved a smaller board option. Very cool nonetheless.

 

[eyvindwa]

Interesting and cool!

 

[No Malarky]

Cool and all, but they can fire the presses back up.

 

[ole Jason]

Neat idea but I don't see this catching on at all

 

[DarkStar90]

Putting together a pedalboard is the only thing that sucks about pedals. This just seems like a more tedious and expensive way to do that. Besides isn't the whole point of getting a power supply to have isolated power going to each pedal?

For over ten years I've been using a large pedalboard i made in my basement with scrap pallets, velcro and spray-paint. The pedals and power supply have never fallen off or disconnected. I really don't see the point of this over-engineered concept.

 

[mikewalker]

... I really don't see the point of this over-engineered concept.

It's the 21st Century! "Gotta move with the fashion, or be outcast"...
** Next month they will offer a new bluetooth monitoring app for it...

 

[Killing Floor]

I'm not first in line.

on their website it shows Velcro securing the pedal to the "boot" and the boot held to the board with magnets. As a mechanical engineer I believe the boot plus the Velcro does the same task as "just the Velcro". Prove me wrong.

Also, having studied science I am keenly aware of some common issues associated with introducing magnetic fields to electronic guitar effect pedals.

I like the idea of removing a power supply but in this case it triples the cost of the system and adds risk.

Follow up after a year.

 

[Killing Floor]

It's the 21st Century! "Gotta move with the fashion, or be outcast"...
** Next month they will offer a new bluetooth monitoring app for it...

100% of the noise problems in pedals are caused by some form of electromagnetic interference from internal, connected or environmental sources. Solution, very high powered magnets focused on the pedal.

 

[cnltb]

Interesting idea.

 

[lomo]

100% of the noise problems in pedals are caused by some form of electromagnetic interference from internal, connected or environmental sources. Solution, very high powered magnets focused on the pedal.

their website asserts that 90% of the magnetic field is directed down into the board away from the pedals. I presume they have tested this fairly extensively, but time will tell…

 

[lomo]

I'm not first in line.


I like the idea of removing a power supply but in this case it triples the cost of the system and adds risk.

Follow up after a year.

I like the idea of removing a power supply but in this case it triples the cost of the system and adds risk.

It not only removes the power supply, but also makes the power cord go away. That, and itself, is pretty special, but I am certain with a huge weight penalty.

 

[Kendescending]

100% of the noise problems in pedals are caused by some form of electromagnetic interference from internal, connected or environmental sources. Solution, very high powered magnets focused on the pedal.

I've also had "noisy" batteries in basses/pedals and other MI equipment, with most of those being rechargeable batteries. Not sure I'd trust a battery powered pedalboard. I don't trust like that.

 

[Alien8]

Unfortunately this design seems to be the counter solution to all of the issues that a pedalboard has proven to solve, at the expense of the impression of flexibility.

Let's begin with a well thought out homespun pedalboard. There is a rigid, lightweight frame, some method of attaching pedals securely, again usually lightweight and simple. The whole point of this is to prevent cable movement and the need to setup & tear down. Next we add a form of cabling for audio and usually a power solution with usolated power lines, all for the purpose of reducing noise and again having a reliable, portable setup. Simple.

Here's a list:
1) Magnets on a pedalboard create two issues; sliding and magnetic interference. Movement reduces cable reliability, adds stress. Movement and noise are bad.

2) Power isolation is not possible. Noise is bad.

3) Ferrous metal to allow magnets to adhere usually results in oxidzing, rust etc. Given that this is how power is also applied, age means more chance for noise and reduced power transmission. More noise and reduced reliability is bad.

4) Weight with additional plates to attach to pedals. But wait; the original method to attach pedals to plates is also still there? Now we are adding cost and redundancy, along with an added point of possible failure!

5) Someone said $1k to set this up? If someone started new using the current standard, $1k gets you some of the best equipment out there. Excellenr power supplies, rigid boards with good cases etc. Price is really high...

This gives you a board with a daisy chain and a solution that rivals loose zip ties holding pedals to a heavy board. One hard step and you knock all the pedals off your board and will be lucky if nothing breaks. Sorry I'm so negative about this design, but it's just wrong, stay away.

 

[BassBrass]

Unfortunately this design seems to be the counter solution to all of the issues that a pedalboard has proven to solve, at the expense of the impression of flexibility.

Let's begin with a well thought out homespun pedalboard. There is a rigid, lightweight frame, some method of attaching pedals securely, again usually lightweight and simple. The whole point of this is to prevent cable movement and the need to setup & tear down. Next we add a form of cabling for audio and usually a power solution with usolated power lines, all for the purpose of reducing noise and again having a reliable, portable setup. Simple.

Here's a list:
1) Magnets on a pedalboard create two issues; sliding and magnetic interference. Movement reduces cable reliability, adds stress. Movement and noise are bad.

2) Power isolation is not possible. Noise is bad.

3) Ferrous metal to allow magnets to adhere usually results in oxidzing, rust etc. Given that this is how power is also applied, age means more chance for noise and reduced power transmission. More noise and reduced reliability is bad.

4) Weight with additional plates to attach to pedals. But wait; the original method to attach pedals to plates is also still there? Now we are adding cost and redundancy, along with an added point of possible failure!

5) Someone said $1k to set this up? If someone started new using the current standard, $1k gets you some of the best equipment out there. Excellenr power supplies, rigid boards with good cases etc. Price is really high...

This gives you a board with a daisy chain and a solution that rivals loose zip ties holding pedals to a heavy board. One hard step and you knock all the pedals off your board and will be lucky if nothing breaks. Sorry I'm so negative about this design, but it's just wrong, stay away.

I agree, it seems to come out heavily on the side of More Things that can go wrong, whereas Less Things that can go wrong is what you want in the field.