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8 Step Program - will it damage a pedal ?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 10:57 am
by Paul_C
As you might expect, I'm asking this question AFTER I've tried it out with my pedals
Having done no harm so far (that I'm aware of), I thought I better ask before I use it next.
I've plugged it into:
Count To 5
BitQuest
Rainbow Machine
Grazer
Particle
. . . and they all appeared to work fine, has anyone blown anything up using one ? It would be a shame not to use it because I had a lot of fun, but better to be safe than sorry while they're all still working
Re: 8 Step Program - will it damage a pedal ?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 10:58 am
by Jwar
A sequencer? Nah. They will be fine.
Re: 8 Step Program - will it damage a pedal ?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 11:35 am
by echorec
I think Aen said it won't work with Dwarfcraft pedals. Individual pedal builders don't generally list voltage tolerances online, so I've e-mailed a few of them before buying pedals (works with OBNE delays, won't work with Hungry Robot). Many builders aren't using dual ports (EXP only, not EXP/CV combo), but it will likely work with all Chase Bliss devices.
https://www.ehx.com/assets/8-step-compa ... -list.html
Re: 8 Step Program - will it damage a pedal ?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 11:54 am
by digi2t
8 Step, great tool, depending on the application. Use it with my PLL, but there's a caveat...
There's no "kill output" when the sequence is stopped on this. I pointed this out to the EHX folks on their forum, but I don't think that they've done anything to rectify the problem yet.
By "kill output" I mean that when you stop the sequencer, if you happen to stop it on a note in the sequence, that note will continue to output. What you get is a constant drone (if you're using it as I am). If you're lucky, and hit stop between two notes, you're fine, but that's hard to do at times. The other option is hitting bypass on the effect, but that's not what I wanted. I wanted to introduce preset arpeggios over top what I was playing through the effect. In this case, having the unit stop on a droning note was not an option.
Anywho...
I modded my 8 Step to kill the output when stopped. The mod works around a toggle switch, which allows you to use the mod function, or not (original trim). Here's a quick video of the mod in action;
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDxBXTF2oi4[/youtube]
I published the mod a while back, but the picture links disappeared in the Great Photobucket Debacle. If anyone wants to do it though, let me know, and I'll re-up the procedure.
Re: 8 Step Program - will it damage a pedal ?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 12:10 pm
by Paul_C
echorec wrote:I think Aen said it won't work with Dwarfcraft pedals. Individual pedal builders don't generally list voltage tolerances online, so I've e-mailed a few of them before buying pedals (works with OBNE delays, won't work with Hungry Robot). Many builders aren't using dual ports (EXP only, not EXP/CV combo), but it will likely work with all Chase Bliss devices.
https://www.ehx.com/assets/8-step-compa ... -list.html
I better message everyone then.
The Grazer "worked", but if it's going to be broken sooner or later then I'd prefer not to use it
For some reason I thought I'd be using it with lots of pedals, but apart from the ones I tried earlier I've only got an EHX Pitch Fork, a Syntax Error and a drolo Stamme[n] that take an expression pedal.
Re: 8 Step Program - will it damage a pedal ?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 12:32 pm
by Jwar
Most expression jacks can take low voltages even if it's not recommended. I used a CV controller with the FMeron and Taylor told me while he would advise against it, that it was generally ok.
But I would contact the builders if you're worried for sure.
Re: 8 Step Program - will it damage a pedal ?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 12:33 pm
by echorec
aens_wife wrote:baremountain wrote:Hey Ben, do you have any experience using an EHX 8-Step Program with the Happiness?
I got one yesterday and it *sorta* works on the LFO EXP input - best I could tell it was sending two different rates, fast or slow, rather than any intermediate rates. Also it only produces a stationary filter position with a TRS in the FREQ EXP in or with the FREQ CV in using a TRS to 1/8" mono cable (which I've been successfully using to hook the LFO CV out to other pedals). To further help in troubleshooting, it works perfectly fine with an expression pedal and a TRS cable running into the FREQ EXP jack.
I know the 8-Step isn't compatible with everything, but I got it with primarily Happiness-related uses in mind so any suggestions/troubleshooting would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry we missed this last week. I don't think it will work well because the EHX is only going to go 0-5v and the Happiness does 0-12v internally. You'll be able to use it for some stuff, but not all. We don't have an 8 Step here, so I am not sure all what will/wont' work, but it will have limitations : (
Baremountain went on to build a convertor box to make them more compatible.
baremountain wrote:Finished the CV amplifier this weekend! Voltage regulators are en route and they're the last part I need. I'm working out how to get power boards in the future, but hit me up if you're interested in turning 0-5V CV into -/+12V CV compatible w the Happiness/Twin Stags/ARF!!
Here's a pic of how mine turned out
Re: 8 Step Program - will it damage a pedal ?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 12:38 pm
by echorec
You're not necessarily going to make the pedal unusable, but in a certain situation it might be possible to damage the expression port.
A lot of pedals come with built-in safeguards against accidental mismatches (like 9v ports that won't ruin your pedal if you accidentally use the wrong polarity), but manufacturers have to discourage deliberate mismatching for fear of fires/damages/warranty/legal issues.
Like Jwar said, if you're worried, then there's no harm in seeking advice from the builders.
Re: 8 Step Program - will it damage a pedal ?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 1:04 pm
by baremountain
Paul_C wrote:echorec wrote:I think Aen said it won't work with Dwarfcraft pedals. Individual pedal builders don't generally list voltage tolerances online, so I've e-mailed a few of them before buying pedals (works with OBNE delays, won't work with Hungry Robot). Many builders aren't using dual ports (EXP only, not EXP/CV combo), but it will likely work with all Chase Bliss devices.
https://www.ehx.com/assets/8-step-compa ... -list.html
I better message everyone then.
The Grazer "worked", but if it's going to be broken sooner or later then I'd prefer not to use it
For some reason I thought I'd be using it with lots of pedals, but apart from the ones I tried earlier I've only got an EHX Pitch Fork, a Syntax Error and a drolo Stamme[n] that take an expression pedal.
Grazer operates at 3.3V according to a post in the Grazer thread. You'll be fine, but the full swing of the voltage stops about ~66% of the way up the sliders, so keep it below that point. To test where the swing fully stops, pause it on a step & adjust that step's voltage from low to high until you don't hear any further change, and that'll be where the cap is. Same with the Count to 5 and the Particle if I'm not mistaken.
Re: 8 Step Program - will it damage a pedal ?
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2018 2:02 pm
by oldangelmidnight
I haven't damaged anything with my 8 Step but I've been cautious with it. My understanding is that at full depth, it'll put out 5 volts. Many pedals only want 3.3 volts.
Here's what Montreal Assembly Scott had to say about it:
multi_s wrote:the ct5 is only happy up to 3.3VDC. THere is some protection/tolerance a bit above but i really do not recommend using a cv if you are not clamping the input voltage somehow. If you blow the cpu this way i will not warranty it since i do not advertise it as a cv in/ there is not much protection/it expects a pot and only a pot/sorry that is the design for now. You could hack some parts onto the small pcb holding the expression jack (on rev j and up) or onto the panel mounted expression jack (revh,i) to make it safer but as it is it's nto super well protected from excessive voltage on teh expression input.
from the 8 step manual though:
EXP/CV OUT Jack
The 8-STEP’s sequence is output through this jack. When connecting to the Expression
input on an external pedal or other device, normally you will want to connect the TRS cable
that came supplied with the 8-STEP to the 8-STEP’s EXP/CV jack. If you are connecting the
8-STEP to a CV input, use a standard ¼” mono/TS instrument cable instead, the same type
of cable you would plug into a guitar. When a TRS cable is plugged into the EXP/CV OUT
jack, the 8-STEP works as a replacement for a typical expression pedal with the following
connections: TIP = potentiometer wiper or output signal, RING = Toe position and
SLEEVE = Heel position. This is the standard polarity for the TRS plug of an expression
pedal that many in the industry follow including all EHX products as well as Boss®
/Roland® ,Moog®, Nord® etc. Tip: To work properly with devices that accept 3.3V as their maximum,
such as Eventide® products, set DEPTH to 5.
regarding 7v, again ymmv. there is some protection but not much. Anything over 3v will be the same as toe down on expression pedal and may damage the device.
s