Remote pedal for Neunaber mono pedals.
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 3:34 am
This is a WIP but i thought I would detail my thought process and plan as I go in hopes that it inspires someone!! If anything I say sounds stupid or is wrong... PLEASE tell me haha.
So while planning my new pedal rig, the thought occurred that I'd prefer to run my reverb and delay in my FX loop... but running an extra two cables etc etc. So I thought to myself... essentially a remote switch for a pedal (especially one like the Neunaber) that simply has a momentary switch can be easily remote switched by adding a cable from the two pads of the PCB, to a box with another momentary switch, losing no functionality on the original pedal in regards to resale value.
Then comes the issue of LED indication... if it was a latching switch then obviously it would be easy enough to make a separately powered LED come on when you hit the switch... but that doesn't help when it's momentary!
Then it hit me... the Neunaber echelon pulses so you know what tempo it's at... how could I get that remotely? By taking it off the same power source of course!! So change that TS plug for a TRS and you can pull power off a solder terminal.
Next step was to contact Brian Neunaber himself and ask if I was about to totally explode his pedals if I tried this. Now of course, this absolutely destroys any warranty you have. But he was actually extremely helpful! For the momentary switch he recommended adding a 470 ohm resistor in series and a 470pf capacitor tip to sleeve to protect from ESD. He said it wouldn't totally protect but will help.
For the LED he said that pin 5 of J5 which is next to the switch and run a series resistor for the LED (i'll be using 330ohm for blue and green LEDs)
So to get that signal to/from the remote! Now space is a little tight so using 1/8" 3.5mm jacks is a little easier, drill the hole in an appropriate place, run the cables internally.
Tip = momentary switch signal // Ring = LED voltage // Sleeve = ground
Then use whatever three conductor cable is handy, I'll be using some mogami dual mic cable (because I want to control two pedals and it fits in the 3.5mm plug)
At the other end, making a box, two momentary switches, two (preferably different coloured) LED's. Two TRS Jacks (I'm using full 1/4" because I have the space).
Run the tip to one end of the momentary switch, the ring to the long leg of the LED and the sleeve, one to the short leg and one to the other end of the switch!
For me, I'm getting my enclosure (a 1590BB) from mammoth electronics with the V22 (Two footpedals two LEDs) with top mounted jacks and a special request for no DC plug drilling (They got back to me really quick saying that it's not a problem) With a black sparkle finish. Going with them because for 2 bucks they do all the drilling! Price was right... and they had all the other parts! (though I forgot to get a 470ohm resistor... I'll just go to the local electronics shop)
I'm currently designing a faceplate for a transfer (probably use a clothes transfer as described here: http://www.kitrae.net/music/Custom_Pedal_Graphics.html) and I'll post it when it's done for fun!
TBC!
So while planning my new pedal rig, the thought occurred that I'd prefer to run my reverb and delay in my FX loop... but running an extra two cables etc etc. So I thought to myself... essentially a remote switch for a pedal (especially one like the Neunaber) that simply has a momentary switch can be easily remote switched by adding a cable from the two pads of the PCB, to a box with another momentary switch, losing no functionality on the original pedal in regards to resale value.
Then comes the issue of LED indication... if it was a latching switch then obviously it would be easy enough to make a separately powered LED come on when you hit the switch... but that doesn't help when it's momentary!
Then it hit me... the Neunaber echelon pulses so you know what tempo it's at... how could I get that remotely? By taking it off the same power source of course!! So change that TS plug for a TRS and you can pull power off a solder terminal.
Next step was to contact Brian Neunaber himself and ask if I was about to totally explode his pedals if I tried this. Now of course, this absolutely destroys any warranty you have. But he was actually extremely helpful! For the momentary switch he recommended adding a 470 ohm resistor in series and a 470pf capacitor tip to sleeve to protect from ESD. He said it wouldn't totally protect but will help.
For the LED he said that pin 5 of J5 which is next to the switch and run a series resistor for the LED (i'll be using 330ohm for blue and green LEDs)
So to get that signal to/from the remote! Now space is a little tight so using 1/8" 3.5mm jacks is a little easier, drill the hole in an appropriate place, run the cables internally.
Tip = momentary switch signal // Ring = LED voltage // Sleeve = ground
Then use whatever three conductor cable is handy, I'll be using some mogami dual mic cable (because I want to control two pedals and it fits in the 3.5mm plug)
At the other end, making a box, two momentary switches, two (preferably different coloured) LED's. Two TRS Jacks (I'm using full 1/4" because I have the space).
Run the tip to one end of the momentary switch, the ring to the long leg of the LED and the sleeve, one to the short leg and one to the other end of the switch!
For me, I'm getting my enclosure (a 1590BB) from mammoth electronics with the V22 (Two footpedals two LEDs) with top mounted jacks and a special request for no DC plug drilling (They got back to me really quick saying that it's not a problem) With a black sparkle finish. Going with them because for 2 bucks they do all the drilling! Price was right... and they had all the other parts! (though I forgot to get a 470ohm resistor... I'll just go to the local electronics shop)
I'm currently designing a faceplate for a transfer (probably use a clothes transfer as described here: http://www.kitrae.net/music/Custom_Pedal_Graphics.html) and I'll post it when it's done for fun!
TBC!