strymon - The Ultimate Pedalboard Build Series - Episode IV - Connectors and Cables - Strymon
The video provides a detailed guide on building a pedal board, emphasizing the importance of planning and organizing cables and connections. It suggests listing all devices and their jacks to ensure nothing is missed during the build. The speaker highlights the importance of using angled connectors to save space and prevent cable flexing, which can lead to failure. They also stress the necessity of reading device manuals to avoid connectivity issues, sharing personal experiences where not doing so led to problems. The video covers the types of cables and connectors used, including high-quality audio cables, MIDI cables, and USB cables, and offers tips on organizing and securing cables for a clean setup. Practical advice includes using heat shrink for protection, testing cables with a multimeter, and cutting cables to length for a tidy arrangement. The speaker outlines a step-by-step plan for assembling the board, starting with the most complex connections and working outwards.
Key Points:
- List all devices and jacks before starting to ensure complete setup.
- Use angled connectors to save space and prevent cable flexing.
- Read device manuals to avoid connectivity issues.
- Test all cables with a multimeter before installation.
- Organize cables by type and use heat shrink for protection.
Details:
1. 🎸 Introduction to Episode 4
- The episode continues the series on building the ultimate pedal board.
- Since the last episode, significant changes have been made to the gear complement and layout.
- Specific changes include the addition of new pedals and reconfigurations to optimize sound and functionality.
2. 🔌 Planning Your Pedal Board Setup
- Start by listing all components and devices you plan to use, ensuring no interruptions during the build process.
- Use a paper or digital spreadsheet to organize your devices and identify necessary jacks for your setup.
- Ensure each pedal has its own DC power tap to maintain quiet and secure operation, but if sharing, group non-signal path devices with low current requirements.
- For complex devices, consult the manual thoroughly to understand connection needs and requirements.
3. 📖 Importance of Reading Manuals
3.1. Phase Issue with Pigtronix Echolution 2
3.2. MIDI Setup Synchronization
4. 🛠️ Choosing the Right Cables and Connectors
- Opt for cables with angled ends on pedal boards to minimize space between pedals, allowing more pedals to fit.
- Angled connectors prevent cable flexing and reduce the space needed between pedals, enabling the addition of two or three more pedals.
- Use angled USB-C to USB-C connectors when connecting devices like the mc6 pro, reducing space and cable stress.
- Route connectors like IEC power cables and 2.1 mm DC Jacks in a specific direction to avoid unnecessary winding and maintain organization.
5. 🔧 Cable Management and Soldering Tips
- Using high-quality Square plug connectors in TS and TRS configurations enhances both cable management and connectivity.
- Adjustable five-pin Barrel connectors are ideal for MIDI connections due to their flexible cable orientation, despite being costly.
- Mammi 2254 wire is recommended for audio connections because of its reliability and sound quality, especially in pedal boards.
- Repurposing individual channels from a 24-pair recording snake for balanced TRS and XLR audio connections offers resource maximization.
- Employing heat shrink wrap in soldering ensures secure and durable connections, although it requires additional time and effort.
- In professional setups, pre-cutting DC cables to the needed length and terminating with new connectors is standard practice, often secured with zip ties.
- Purchasing various pre-made USB-C cables avoids the complexity of soldering, with different configurations chosen to meet specific needs.
6. 🎛️ Pedal Order Considerations
- Consider the signal flow when not using reorderable loops like ml10 X; determine pedal order to achieve the desired sound.
- Account for Mono and Stereo differences; ensure post-effects that are in Stereo are not followed by Mono effects to maintain stereo integrity.
- Split devices like the Mobius so parts of the signal path can be in front of the amp's preamp and others in the loop, allowing modulation and EQ before adding Ambience or delay.
- Understand interaction with devices; for example, some pedals like Cletus fuzz can be 'set and forget,' while others, such as non-MIDI devices, may require frequent adjustments.
- For two-tiered systems, place 'set and forget' pedals underneath and frequently adjusted pedals on top for easy access.
7. 🎚️ Configuring the Morning Star MC6 Pro
- The Morning Star MC6 Pro acts as the central control hub, seamlessly integrating various functions in a compact form.
- A key component of the setup is replacing a Bogner MIDI pedal with a full-size Bogner pedal for channel switching, using relay B for Bogner red pedal channel changes and relay A for amplifier channel switching.
- The configuration includes two expression pedal inputs and a switch input for three switches on an expression pedal, providing enhanced control capabilities.
- Integration features a dedicated MIDI input for clock synchronization with Protools or synthesizers, forming a MIDI loop with the ml10 x's, crucial for time-based effects.
- The setup efficiently uses space with a 3.5mm MIDI input connected to the Rocktron MIDI Mate and a 3.5mm output to the enika's MIDI input, facilitating streamlined routing.
- Despite complex routing and wiring, the setup maximizes functionality, establishing the MC6 Pro as the nerve center, even when commands are externally sourced.
8. 🧹 Clean Wiring and Testing Cables
- Use blue tape to guide cable wiring; it's not very sticky and leaves no residue.
- Organize cables by type (audio, MIDI, DC power) to ease troubleshooting.
- Utilize heat shrink on connections to prevent shorts from loose objects.
- Test every connection after organizing and securing all cables.