madbeanpedals::forum

Dear MBP Fellows,

I just wanted to say thank you to all who are on this journey together with me and complete the massive build.

(https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1000/1*fp7BnSjqSh46zFjZN-UwhQ.jpeg)

It has been a fun, entertaining, and challenging in the past 3 months. I believe we are on this together as the DIY Pedal builders community.

I'd like to ask Y'all for the favor whether we should do YouTube video live to see this happens. There are three reasons why we should do it live:

1. There is going to be a quick Q&A section and I try to keep it open for the sharing new idea on the spot.
2. Immediate demo request for each of the pedals. What it does and what the limitations are.
3. Giveaway surprise at the end of the session.

I tend to keep it short, fun, and informative. I am thinking live for 15-30 mins max and showing the functionality of each pedal and the chain. The date is going to be June 30, which it's a Saturday and I'll be open for any time frame (US standard time zone- EST, PST, CST). It's just for now until find the solid time that everyone will be able to join in.

I am going to do this if the Poll shows at least 5 people will join the chat /live on June 30. Please help me out with the vote. I really hope we can do this together.

(https://image.ibb.co/f3u6HJ/vfeee.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)



You also can join the slack channel

https://join.slack.com/t/intotheswirl/shared_invite/enQtMzgxMTQxMDMyOTI4LTNjN2M2NzhjNGJhYzFmMDE2OTlmYjhkNDM3MmJhZWUyZWJiNWYwZDA5YzBhNzg3MjFlMjlkODQzOWIyOWY1MWI]https://join.slack.com/t/intotheswirl/shared_invite/enQtMzgxMTQxMDMyOTI4LTNjN2M2NzhjNGJhYzFmMDE2OTlmYjhkNDM3MmJhZWUyZWJiNWYwZDA5YzBhNzg3MjFlMjlkODQzOWIyOWY1MWI

I'll be open questions for more details or have some early discussion before we start.

I'd be keen to see it if I can (considering the time zone difference).

Thanks, Cooder! The time is TBD though I am trying to accommodate flexibility. I know you're out of US.

Would we be able to watch it later, i.e., non-live?

I would be quite interested in hearing your thought process behind this. This is a monster!

While I will be travelling on the 30th and won't be able to see it live, I think it's a nice idea.

Are you planning on labeling the knobs and switches beforehand?

@Aentons

I just did with Sharpie. The DYMO label won't fit so I decided just go with a sharpie.

@m-Kresol @EBK

No worries, I'll share the link once it's done.

@cooder @diablochris6

Awesome, thank you for the support!

Anyone who is crazy enough to build this deserves 30 minutes of my time as long as it is a reasonable hour for me.

Quote from: bsoncini on June 07, 2018, 11:49:34 AM
Anyone who is crazy enough to build this deserves 30 minutes of my time as long as it is a reasonable hour for me.

Thank you! As a matter of fact, here's how the labeling goes

(https://preview.ibb.co/fMGp8T/A09_DA7_C0_3734_4_D8_D_AAD5_6_D3_E8_DC03129.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ewOEa8)

Looks awesome to the max and I'm sure you're little one is loving the graphics too!
Anyway, apart from sound demo I'm specifically curious about the
-switching system: I count 18 'normal' footswitches and 6 in front, are those looper like channels? I might have missed the explanation of this as I noticed your project a bit late to the party, maybe you can point me if you have already discussed this.
-powering the lot: any issues with heterodyning, hissing or so and how did you do power supply for this?
- how do you like and rate the sound and practicality of it in comparison with stuff like AxeFX which I believe you said you have too?
Cheers!

Quote from: cooder on June 07, 2018, 10:25:21 PM
Looks awesome to the max and I'm sure you're little one is loving the graphics too!
Anyway, apart from sound demo I'm specifically curious about the
-switching system: I count 18 'normal' footswitches and 6 in front, are those looper like channels? I might have missed the explanation of this as I noticed your project a bit late to the party, maybe you can point me if you have already discussed this.
-powering the lot: any issues with heterodyning, hissing or so and how did you do power supply for this?
- how do you like and rate the sound and practicality of it in comparison with stuff like AxeFX which I believe you said you have too?
Cheers!

1. Switching system:

I explained the switching here (https://medium.com/@swirl.fx.pedals/recreating-vfe-mega-pedal-part-2-95244f22753)

Short answer, yes it works like looper channels. First from the left is the COMP, second is the DRIVE, third is DIST/FUZZ, fourth is the MODULATION, the fifth is the DELAY/VERB and last one is the TAP TEMPO.

2. POWER
There are 6 DC out for this. Peter suggested using One SPOT 1.7A daisy chained. I bought that one and got a hissing while using the DELAY/VERB. I debugged the issue and changed to Voodoo Lab Pedal Power PLUS 2 and one Planet Waves 300 mA. The current draw for Blueprint itself is 100mA. I decided to use 300mA just to power the DELAY/VERB. To boot up the uC, it requires 30mA each.

I split the power for DELAY/VERB. I use 2 DC Jacks one is dedicated to powering on the relay switches and the other one is to power on the main board (Blueprint). I will explain this better on YouTube Live.

CLUSTER 1
White Horse -> 30 mA
Bumblebee -> 40 mA
TOTAL -> 60 mA Switching + 70 mA —> Voodoo Lab 100 mA

CLUSTER 2
Merman ->  20 mA
Pale Horse -> 35 mA
Blues King -> 15 mA
Scream -> 10mA
Rocket EQ -> 40 mA

TOTAL ->  120 mA + Switching 150 mA —> Voodoo Lab 250 mA

CLUSTER 3
Alpha Dog -> 5mA
Triplet ->  20 mA
Fiery Red Horse ->15 mA
Focus -> 30 mA

TOTAL -> Switching 120 mA + 70 mA —> Voodoo lab 250 mA

CLUSTER 4
Tractor Beam -> 40 mA
Old School -> 25 mA
Choral Reef -> 20 mA

TOTAL —> Switching 90 mA + 85 mA —> Voodoo Lab 100 mA

CLUSTER 5
Blueprint -> 50 mA
Mobius Strip -> 70 mA
Yodeler -> 100 mA
Mini Mu -> 25 mA

TOTAL —> Switching 120 mA + 220 mA —> Voodoo lab 250 mA + Planet Waves 300mA (TAP TEMPO)

3. How do I like it?
Honestly, I love it. It seems way much concrete and old-school knobs style. AX8/Fractal is something that I love as well. However, I try to put my shoes on a working musician or a session guitar player. They might not have an audio engineer to tweak all the preset for their Fractal and the unit demands the player to explore. No one has a time for that.

No matter what, the tone is in player hands. I love both of them in comparison how they sound. However, for flexibility, I love this Mega Pedal. It serves its purpose for what I need. The OD can works as boost, from BASS to TREBLE , MID RANGE, SLOPE etc. The DIST can be shaped as well with the EQ. Modulation so far works the best. The delay is amazing. Though, it's noisy when I turn all everything ON.

IMHO, I would trade my Mini-Mu with Whirlybird or Lesliesque VFE pedal. Lesliesque is just like a Vomit Comet. Honestly, I don't play Auto-wah/Filter that much. If I can plan it better, that is probably I'd like to do.

85% percent (6 people) already said they will attend. I created the link for the YouTube Live.

June 30th, 1:00 PM PST, 3:00 PM CST, 4:00 EST. Stephan/cooder, NZ time is 8:00 AM. Hopefully, it's going to work out with you. Bsoncini, Paris France is 10:00 PM.

Great, thanks so much for such a detailed reply and all the info! Much appreciated the time you put into getting this across, cheers!
The switching system makes sense, very good. What looper did you use for this? Did you create it yourself, is it relay / micro controller based I assume?
Cheers for even checking already out the local time in NZ for the youtube video thingy, you're onto it...!

Quote from: cooder on June 07, 2018, 11:43:06 PM
Great, thanks so much for such a detailed reply and all the info! Much appreciated the time you put into getting this across, cheers!
The switching system makes sense, very good. What looper did you use for this? Did you create it yourself, is it relay / micro controller based I assume?
Cheers for even checking already out the local time in NZ for the youtube video thingy, you're onto it...!

It is actually from Josh 1776 Fx, the Finish Line Relay Bypass.

Ah yes I remember you saying that...
I love using the 1776 finish line as well. I just thought it was a programmable looper like the JMK 'epic looper' or so.
Cheers

Just quick reminder for everyone. I'll be streaming in a short moment

(https://image.ibb.co/f3u6HJ/vfeee.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)



You also can join the slack channel

https://join.slack.com/t/intotheswirl/shared_invite/enQtMzgxMTQxMDMyOTI4LTNjN2M2NzhjNGJhYzFmMDE2OTlmYjhkNDM3MmJhZWUyZWJiNWYwZDA5YzBhNzg3MjFlMjlkODQzOWIyOWY1MWI]https://join.slack.com/t/intotheswirl/shared_invite/enQtMzgxMTQxMDMyOTI4LTNjN2M2NzhjNGJhYzFmMDE2OTlmYjhkNDM3MmJhZWUyZWJiNWYwZDA5YzBhNzg3MjFlMjlkODQzOWIyOWY1MWI

I'll be open questions for more details or have some early discussion before we start.

Thanks for the demo. That thing is so impressive. Some questions:
-How similar are the Pale Horse and The Scream?
-Best sounding stacking combos you found for your style?
-My video cut out when you were discussing the Mini Mu.  You added a buffer because of it's position in the chain, but do you think it's fine as-is when alone?

* edit * got my answers from fair.child:
"- Pale Horse is quite different than the Scream. The Scream is more tube screamerish with filter control. AFAIK Pale Horse is a great boost. I like them both. My best config actually Pale Horse Merman or Scream Blues king
- I like white horse on with blues king and Scream then go to Alpha Dog Focus. For delay I just keep turn the blueprint with tap tempo. Modulation just only Choral Reef. I think that works the best for me all the time.
- For the buffer, it's going to lose some signal integrity if there's no buffer within the chain. It's 18 pedals at once and there is a high possibility it'd get high frequency attenuation. Adding the buffer I/O solved the problem."

Damn. With all the world cup fever I totally forgot about this.

I was busy yesterday during the live feed, but watched the replay this morning.  Thanks very much for putting that together.  You were also very fluid at adjusting multiple effects when you taking new effects in and out of the chain.   

Seeing the demo makes it clear how useful it is to have organized the effects with their own group switching too.

Thanks for putting this together, awesome to see and great presentation!
Great to see you happy with the mega pedal, what an achievement!

For those who watched til the end, I'd like to say Thank You! Also, I still have unclaimed two giveaways;

1. Bumblebee main board
2. Focus main board

I think Steve was there and Chris also watched the live. If you guys can ping me which giveaway you want and your addy, that would be awesome!

I am planning to create another YouTube video to explain more details each of them. So, please stay tuned. I have been busy with family and 4th of July so I'll plan to send out the giveaway within this week.

Thank you everyone! I do appreciate the love, thoughts, and opinion!

Just got around to watching the video. Thanks for putting that together. You are a mad man to have even thought about building this beast.