jimbobothy

Hey folks, I recently bought a Korg Pitchblack mini for a new build as my older full fat Pitchblack is still holding up well. However I’ve noticed that the mini seems very sensitive to any switching or ‘electrical noise’ I suppose eg. When I click from passive to active on my bass the display sweeps around for a bit, before settling back down. Had anyone else experienced this with their unit or is it a lemon that needs to go back? It does seem to tune ok, just seems a lot more sensitive than my older full fat vartiant. Cheers.

Now onto my second board, an uber simple Pedaltrain Nano build to complement the HX Stomp Nano + build I did a while ago (quoted above). This is similar to that, just no HX Stomp involved lol. I've got a Korg Pitchblack Mini on that now, using the full fat Pitch Black on the nano. I thought it'd be easier having everything on one board, quicker set up and less prone to damage. The tuner and instrument selector both battery powered so no need for any power leads. The later is passive, just has a battery to power the LEDs that are actually useful. It uses a batter box with switch underneath (I had to modify it, replaced the straight lead for a right angled on and changed the center + to center - in the process). It is a bit ironic having a pedal board with no effects, but I don't always need them I suppose! They are all mounted using 10 mm 3M Dual Lock pads, by previous build used 15 mm 3M pads that I think are more appropriate. The 10 mm pads still work, you just need more of them lol. Pics below:

... sorry to hear that. I once snapped a truss rod on a newly acquired used Warwick Streamer LX Jazzman. Great bass but the neck had an unnoticed slight twist. Had it nearly perfect then the good old ‘just a bit more’ and snap!!! Jon Shuker worked wonders on it though.

.... on a different note: I've just got a Yamaha MD BT01 Bluetooh MIDI controller and the Touch OSC app for my iPhone SE. I've managed to get most things working, however I can't work out a way to have a bank up/bank down command. The preset up down works via emulating FS 1 and FS 2, but I can't find a way of going up banks as opposed to presets. Anyone managed to do this?

Cheers, makes sense to me now as I’m sure it wasn’t there before lol 😆

.... I’m trying to use GarageBand as the DAW on my iPhone. I’ve got a laptop and Reaper but want a super simple solution for recording when practicing.

... when using the Apple Camera kit I’ve had to turn down the USB 1/2 trim as it was way too loud compared to my bass (ow set at -20 db). However need to look at some of the suggested options, cheers.

.... same here Luke, anyone know how to get a better signal into GarageBand (using an iPhone SE into HX Stomp via an Apple camera kit).

Thanks, just hadn’t noticed it before lol!

Cheers

... anyone updated to 2.9 yet? Also does anyone know whey there is a small E next to a patch name, especially when using the snapshot functions? Not noticed it before and just wondering if it’s due to updating this morning?

Hey folks, I was just reading a bit of a book called 'The Practice of Practice' by Jonathan Harnum and he mentioned the website SoundSlice as a good practice tool. I've just checked this website out for the first time today and there is loads of great stuff on there, including this: https://www.soundslice.com/slices/ZR-Vc/ Eerr, a bit too advanced for me ha ha, but impressed by the technical abilities shown and the website in general!!

PM'd you.

.... got a response from them today. Basically the way the Radial Bassbone Tonebone is earthed doesn't work well with switching class PSUs, hence the noise. Cioks know about it and are working on a solution, maybe in a couple of months time. It was suggested using the original Radial PSU until they sort the issue out. Least they got back to me on the issue 👍

Hey glassmoon, The Bassbone manual (just read it again) suggests this: 'You can also use the powerbooster circuit as a ‘mute’ to turn off the output to your guitar amp while the signal continues to drive the tuner. This can be done by turning off the power boost volume in boost mode' so for a silent tune, just turn off the boost volume when tuning, making a note of where is was before you turned it down lol. Cioks got back to me today regarding the DC7 and basically said the Tonebone Bassbone circuit design doesn't work well with switching power supplies and that they are working on the noise issue (something about 2 different kinds of grounding used in the Bassbone??) Doesn't really help me in going back to my version 1 setup, but least they got back to me and will help folks in the future 😁.

Hey glassmoon, It's straight forward and couldn't think of any decent alternative really. Either 1 or 2 basses into the Radial Bigshot I/O instrument selector, that has a dedicated tuner out (that is mutable). Then output of selector into IN of HX Stomp, OUT of HX Stomp into input of Radial JDi, then through out of DI to FOH and Thru to amp/cab etc. For practice or recording I just use the USB into my laptop, so DI not used then. As I mentioned my first attempt was using a Radial Tonebone Bassbone, with the HX Stomp in it's effects loop (using a dedicated TRS to x2 TS cable). It also has a dedicated tuner out. That was the ideal setup as the Tonebone has 2 inputs, both with eq, and the HX Stomp could be clicked in and out at will. However for some reason the Cioks DC7 didn't like powering both units as I got all sorts of weird electrical noises. I put a post on the Helix thread on here (and emailed Cioks about it, but not reply from them as of yet). Both set ups are good, but the second one, even though it is not quite as versatile, is still great and as you may know, all sorts of stuff is available from the HX Stomp anyhow! On a side note the Evidence Audio SIS plug system is very easy to work with and great that it's very quick to get the cables spot on.

... pics of my fairly recent first build (version 2). The first version had a Radial Tonebone Bassbone in place of the DI and instrument switcher, however it was far from silent for some unknown reason. Hence this layout, less extra electronics and as quiet as it should be. There is also a Cioks DC7 underneath the Nano + powering it all.

Yup, I actually bought 3 with the thought to get 2.6A if needed, however Cioks support said only 1 parallel cable was needed. The only thing that could be an issue (that I can’t see really how) is the red connector used for the Tonebone. It’s a fairly short L connector that does turn the unit on, but you can get a variant that has a slightly longer connector end. However as it powers the unit fine I’m not sure how that would help. Thanks for the suggestion though folks 👍🏼, much appreciated.

Tried all sorts of variants, it does seem better (but not perfect) using both the original PSU supplies, or just the Tonebone original PSU. It seems the issue is when both the HX Stomp and Tonebone are powered together using the DC7. The whole point of getting the Cioks was to use with the Tonebone due to the switchable outputs. I’ll wait for a reply from them. Must have spent at least 4 hrs last night/ early morning doing as many variants as I could lol!!

Not just me then! I’ve emailed Cioks support and see what they come up with. Cheers.

Cheers folks, I’ll retest at some point to try and diagnose the source. Open one door and see a hundred more lol!!

Hey all, I mentioned a few weeks back that I’d finished my first pedal board build (Radial Tonebone Bassbone, Korg Pitch Black tuner, HX Stomp all running off a Cioks DC7). I have found using the above I’m getting all sorts of weird electrical noises that kind of make it not overly useable. To test I maxed out the physical volume knobs to magnify any noise present and I’ve found the noise inconsistent, quieter at times but still not acceptable and not what I’d expect from the equipment. Switching to power the Radial Tonebone with it’s original PSU does help matters a fair bit, so does that suggest the Cioks DC7 unit is not working as it should isolating properly, or am I expecting too much from it?? As it’s my first build I don’t know what to expect from the equipment I’ve gone for. Last night I switched the board around to a Radial Bigshot I/O instrument selector, Korg Pitch Black tuner and a Radial JDi (still using the Cioks DC7) and the HX Stomp. This was to minimise the amount of active circuitry and as a result all appears to be with this set up. Any suggestions folks, has anyone else has a similar experience please? Peace.