strymon - The Ultimate Pedalboard Build Series - Episode V - The Big Build Part I - Strymon
The video provides a comprehensive guide on assembling a pedalboard, focusing on the setup and wiring of various components. The presenter discusses changes in the initial plan, such as using one Zuma and four Ohio R30s for space efficiency and power management. The importance of keeping AC and audio cables separate to avoid interference is emphasized. The presenter also explains the decision to replace the HX Stomp with individual pedals like Compadre and UltraViolet for better functionality and ease of use. Practical tips include using bike chain links for securing pedals and ensuring proper cable routing to prevent shorts. The video also covers the process of soldering and heat shrinking connections to ensure safety and reliability. The presenter highlights the importance of testing connections and planning for future expansions by wiring all potential channels, even if not immediately needed.
Key Points:
- Use one Zuma and four Ohio R30s for efficient space and power management.
- Keep AC and audio cables separate to avoid interference.
- Replace HX Stomp with individual pedals for better functionality.
- Use bike chain links to securely mount pedals to the board.
- Test all connections and plan for future expansions by wiring all channels.
Details:
1. 🎬 Episode 5 Introduction: The Build Begins
- The build phase for the board is starting after extensive preparation.
- Multiple cameras are set up to capture different angles including the board and soldering station.
- The setup allows for detailed focus on specific tasks, enhancing the instructional quality.
2. 🔄 Power Supply Adjustments and Planning
2.1. Power Supply Configuration
2.2. Audio Input Port Considerations
2.3. Effects Setup and Adjustments
2.4. Expression Pedal Management
3. 🔗 Crafting Connections: Soldering and Routing
3.1. Efficient Cable Direction and Routing
3.2. Minimizing Interference
4. 🔌 Speakon Jack Installation and Cable Management
4.1. Speakon Jack Installation
4.2. Cable Management and Safety Practices
5. 🔍 Testing Connections for Safety and Reliability
5.1. Identifying and Testing Connections
5.2. Preparing and Securing Connections
6. 🔩 Securely Mounting the Zuma Power Supply
6.1. Modifying and Mounting the Zuma Power Supply
6.2. Securing the R30s with Brackets and Zip Ties
7. ✂️ Customizing Cable Lengths and Connections
- Cut cables slightly longer to provide slack, making handling and connection easier, and ensuring they mate properly.
- Ensure soldered connections are secure and insulated to prevent short circuits, eliminating the need for wire nuts.
- Use shrink tubing to cover connections, providing insulation, enhancing safety, and improving aesthetics.
- Prevent wires from touching to avoid short circuits by ensuring they are properly insulated and routed.
- Adjust cable lengths to reduce clutter, maintaining a clean setup while ensuring safety and functionality.
- Handle fragile connectors, like plastic 2.5 mm heads, with care to prevent damage.
- Carefully plan the routing of DC connections on the board, considering cable lengths and connection points for optimal setup.
8. 🔌 Integrating DC Components and Powering Up
- Utilize existing cables by channeling them along the board, ensuring a neat and efficient setup.
- Trim, solder, and shrink the cables securely, following a detailed step-by-step process to ensure reliability.
- Differentiate between shielded wire and drain or ground, crucial for preventing electrical issues.
- Verify wire orientation using a meter, particularly noting that guitar pedals usually run on negative tip, to avoid reverse polarity.
- Recognize the color coding differences between DC and AC, with DC's red as positive and black as ground, to prevent improper connections.
- Secure cables with screw bits and zips to maintain stability and prevent movement.
- Avoid common mistakes like misidentifying cable ends or neglecting to test connections with a meter before finalizing.
9. 🔧 Pedal Mounting and Securing Techniques
- Using bike chain links as a mounting technique for pedals involves taking a screw out of the pedal, placing a bike chain link, and screwing it back in. This provides a strong hold, but caution is needed when altering screw lengths as it may damage internal components.
- Bike chain links may not fit all products due to varying screw lengths and positions. For instance, if screws are too short, longer replacements that fit the device threads are necessary, but care must be taken to avoid piercing internal circuit boards.
- When bending metal links, bend slowly to prevent snapping. This ensures a durable and secure fit when mounting pedals.
- Ensure enough space for USB ports and other connections when securing pedals to avoid obstructing functionality.
- Plan cable management for power and MIDI connections, ensuring a clean and organized setup. Pre-planning soldering can prevent future complications, such as needing to resolder connections.
- Consider alternative mounting options such as adhesive Velcro, which can offer flexibility and ease of repositioning without requiring hardware modifications.
- Explore specific examples or case studies where these techniques have been successfully implemented to offer practical application insights.
10. 🎛️ Finalizing Connections and Ensuring Functionality
- The ml10 XS are now completely solid, ensuring stable connections for future operations.
- Instead of using an external loop for the ml10 X, most pedals have been integrated directly into the board, simplifying the setup.
- The first Jack is repurposed as the input jack for the entire board, transitioning from stereo to mono input by connecting both the tip and ring to the same signal.
- Even though the setup is mono, signals are mapped to both input A and B to prevent user error when selecting inputs.
- The importance of testing every connection is emphasized to ensure correct functionality, with a focus on verifying tip, ring, and ground connections.