expression pedal to 2-3 effects

[bumblefingers]

I have 2 wmd pedals (super fatman and geiger counter) with CV inputs. Thinking about picking up another pedal which can also be controlled via CV. I have an MOOG EP2 expression pedal.

I have been told I can control both with one expression pedal if I use a y-cable between the pedals and the EP-2. Is there any trick to this? Any issues with splitting the potentiometer in the pedal 2 ways etc.?

And if I add another CV pedal is there anywhere I can get a Y with 1 female and 3 male cables? Or would I need to daisy chain 2 y's together to get the 3 cv outputs?

[x-ray specs]

A bit expensive, but the Moog MP201 can handle it.

[bumblefingers]

Found out that it takes a stereo cv to control it so a stereo to mono splitter won't work, need a stereo to stereo splitter. If anyone has ever heard of a 1to3 stereo splitter, can they throw it up here?

yeah that moog multi pedal is sort of a last resort at $500 :)

[elevenstrings]

Something I've been working on...

Expressionator (http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f36/coming-soon-expressionator-797290/)

[drbob1]

The Moog pedal and the WMDs use a 0-5v signal, sent on the tip of a TRS plug for CV. You could certainly build a splitter, I'm just not sure if the current from one of them is up to sending power to all 3 (you'd have the ring of the CV connected to the pedal on only one of the 3 "outputs", the other two would have only the tip and the ground connected). Moog are the only people I'd trust to answer that question.

The other alternative would be to build a 5v DC power supply, run that into the CV pedal and output the resulting 0-5v signal to the other pedals. Wouldn't be hard, or perhaps even could use the power supply from a telephone or something like that. Just be sure to wire it right. Dan at This1sMyne does good work with custom wiring.

Elevenstrings: I replied to your thread on Talkbass, there are a few gotchas working with multiple companies CV systems...

[bumblefingers]

Thats pretty cool, might have to get me one if it makes it to production. Being able to customize the sweeps by channel would be really cool. PM me if it gets to production so I know when it's available.

[bumblefingers]

I ordered a TRS splitter today and will try it out early next week. William M told me this afternoon that it will work so we shall see. Will report back. and then maybe I try to daisy chain 2 together and see if I can get 3 pedals to work simultaneously.

[elevenstrings]

The Moog pedal and the WMDs use a 0-5v signal, sent on the tip of a TRS plug for CV. You could certainly build a splitter, I'm just sure if the current from one of them is up to sending power to all 3 (you'd have the ring of the CV connected to the pedal on only one of the 3 "outputs", the other two would have only the tip and the ground connected). Moog are the only people I'd trust to answer that question.

The other alternative would be to build a 5v DC power supply, run that into the CV pedal and output the resulting 0-5v signal to the other pedals. Wouldn't be hard, or perhaps even could use the power supply from a telephone or something like that. Just be sure to wire it right. Dan at This1sMyne does good work with custom wiring.

Elevenstrings: I replied to your thread on Talkbass, there are a few gotchas working with multiple companies CV systems...

I'm forwarding your message to the engineer (I sent you an email too). Yeah, there doesn't seem to be any standard for CV... we were gonna shoot for 5v.

[BIGRIGG]

Mission pedals makes an expression for 2 pedals with LED for each channel. Mission SP-2 great stuff. I control my El Cap and Ring thing with it.

[x-ray specs]

Mission pedals makes an expression for 2 pedals with LED for each channel. Mission SP-2 great stuff. I control my El Cap and Ring thing with it.

Too bad the Mission SP-2 couldn't be used as a volume pedal as well. I just wouldn't have enough room on board for yet another wah sized pedal.

[this1smyne]

you can build splitters and stuff, but generally speaking you don't want them connecting through the same cable, so a Y stereo cable into two pedals essentially ties the two pedals together internally, its just asking for something to go wrong if they're both supplying 5v and one has different levels and takes 7 and fries something.... yeah, there are a lot of different variables that are going on when you merge two units like that. the best way would be as was posted up there, disconnect the tip and swap it between the different outputs to control different ones at different times. another option to the 'ground out the tip' is to re-route the tip to a small pot where you can set a set level when its not seeing the expression pedal..... that way if you're controling repeats on a delay you can express all the way to feedback but when you turn the exp to another unit you don't get 0 feedback on your delay, you can set the second pot to say 4 repeats and alternate between 4 and the expression treadle. lots of fun options in the EXP world.

[bumblefingers]

you can build splitters and stuff, but generally speaking you don't want them connecting through the same cable, so a Y stereo cable into two pedals essentially ties the two pedals together internally, its just asking for something to go wrong if they're both supplying 5v and one has different levels and takes 7 and fries something.... yeah, there are a lot of different variables that are going on when you merge two units like that. the best way would be as was posted up there, disconnect the tip and swap it between the different outputs to control different ones at different times. another option to the 'ground out the tip' is to re-route the tip to a small pot where you can set a set level when its not seeing the expression pedal..... that way if you're controling repeats on a delay you can express all the way to feedback but when you turn the exp to another unit you don't get 0 feedback on your delay, you can set the second pot to say 4 repeats and alternate between 4 and the expression treadle. lots of fun options in the EXP world.

OK I think i understand this but let me make sure. So lets say pedal A has a CV range of +10 volts and pedal B has a range of +5 volts. The expression pedal is passive resistance at say 10 ohms. So what you are concerned about using a Y splitter is that the 10 volts would bleed over into the 5V pedal? And if the 5 volt pedal couldn't handle the additional power it could burn something up inside?

So if that is right, it would explain why with 2 of the same design pedals I shouldn't have any problems, but mixing different brands and circuit architecture could???

[bumblefingers]

Mission pedals makes an expression for 2 pedals with LED for each channel. Mission SP-2 great stuff. I control my El Cap and Ring thing with it.

I actually talked to the main guy there yesterday. The sp2 would only control 1 or the other, not both. They have a product which could control both at once depending on the pedals etc. But they were waiting on parts for those, plus it could never do 3 pedals at once which is something I was hoping for.

[drbob1]

OK I think i understand this but let me make sure. So lets say pedal A has a CV range of +10 volts and pedal B has a range of +5 volts. The expression pedal is passive resistance at say 10 ohms. So what you are concerned about using a Y splitter is that the 10 volts would bleed over into the 5V pedal? And if the 5 volt pedal couldn't handle the additional power it could burn something up inside?

So if that is right, it would explain why with 2 of the same design pedals I shouldn't have any problems, but mixing different brands and circuit architecture could???


This is exactly right! Plus using 10v into a pedal expecting 5v means that the 5v pedals is going to be maxed most of the time (or the 10v pedal will never get over 1/2 way up if you use vice versa). You can actually test the B+ voltage a pedal uses for cv by connecting a resistance between the hot (usually the ring) and ground and measuring the voltage drop.

The pot is acting as a voltage divider. That means the full 10k is present between B+ and ground at all times and the wiper caries 0-5v depending if it's at the top end (5v) or bottom end (0v) of its sweep. Of course, some units like SIB and Roland rack units use the pot as a resistor and can't be controlled by CV at all...

[skjallma]

and does it work? I have the same problem. I've got 7 effect pedals with expr. in and I dont want to buy so much expr. pedals.

[The Villano Dude]

and does it work? I have the same problem. I've got 7 effect pedals with expr. in and I dont want to buy so much expr. pedals.

The Expressionator might be your best bet.

[gutbag]

This is my solution:

http://zaardvark.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/multi-output-expression-pedal.html

[NHBluesMan]

The Expressionator might be your best bet.

:agree

[The Villano Dude]

This is my solution:

http://zaardvark.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/multi-output-expression-pedal.html

Holy smokes, that is awesome!

[bumblefingers]

I'm going to order an experssionator today. The Y cable was a massive fail.