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Wish list: Multi power supply

Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 5:52 pm
by toryjames
A single power supply for multiple Moogerfooger pedals. It could be a daisy chained cord like the Boss system, with enough amperage to run 4-6 pedals. So we don't have so many wall wart plugs in our setup.

Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 9:21 pm
by latigid on
Larger transformer generally equals more hum.

These are analog pedals we are talking about here, which tend to draw a lot more current than their digital counterparts. You could probably run a whole board of digi pedals off one wart, but I have found using an old Sega Master System adaptor (unregulated, "9VDC" 800mA), that I can power 3 Moog pedals with little noise. You should use a regulated supply for the MuRF though, as the CPU in it needs a steady voltage, I figure. (You will notice a Boss DD-3 will not run on an unregulated supply.)

The other problem with a multi-supply is that often one unit will affect another via the daisy chain. A good example is a Crybaby Wah (Fasel inductor) which absolutely needs an independent supply. The other option would be to add diodes in series with the positive rails' input on each unit, but that will drop the voltage at each diode, so overall, you will need a higher power to start with.

Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 11:18 pm
by toryjames
Damn.

Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 4:08 pm
by Henfield
A multi-effect power supply? I would be happy if Moog would at least put their name on the current power supplies. I have so many adapters it is sometimes difficult to remember what goes where when my rig is disassembled!

Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:14 pm
by Tibbon
As long as it's the right polarity, and voltage... and can draw enough current (you can't over current a pedal, it will only take what it needs) then you're fine.

Truthfully, these little switching power supplies leave a bit to be desired. You'd be much better off with a transformer based one really. Digital switching is so.... eww?

There's plenty of power solutions out there. One of my favorites is the Voodoo Labs Pedal Power II.

It's also not that hard to build your own if you've got some time and soldering skills.

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:58 am
by GregAE
Henfield wrote:A multi-effect power supply? I would be happy if Moog would at least put their name on the current power supplies. I have so many adapters it is sometimes difficult to remember what goes where when my rig is disassembled!
I'd suggest that you put a label on each one to identify it with the gear it goes with. Often, the AC Adapter furnished with pedals and other gear still has the OEM label (i.e. the maker of the adapter, not the maker of the gear). After buying a few devices, you can quickly develop a collection of undiscernable power supplies, making the situation nearly impossible to sort out. After wrestling with this problem myself for many years ("is this the adapter that goes with that pedal?") I finally realized that the answer was simple: label 'em!

Now whenever I get a piece of gear that comes with an AC adapter I immediately put a label on the adapter. While the idea might seem a bit organizationally excessive (some might use the term 'anal retentive'), doing this will eliminate the adapter identity problem and make your set-up and tear down go a lot smoother.

--G

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 7:50 am
by Henfield
Label the power supplies? For the premium that we all pay for the Moogerfooger pedals, I think that the least that Moog can do is put their name on them. Come on, even Boss and Digitech label the power supplies for their cheapest pedals.

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 1:15 pm
by GregAE
Henfield wrote:Label the power supplies? For the premium that we all pay for the Moogerfooger pedals, I think that the least that Moog can do is put their name on them. Come on, even Boss and Digitech label the power supplies for their cheapest pedals.
You're missing the point. A 'Boss' label on an adapter only means that it came from Roland - it doesn't tell you what device(s) it works with. Moogerfoogers (most notably the MuRF) have slightly different current needs, and the adapter Moog supplies is intended for the product it is shipped with. Given this, simply having a 'Moog' label on the adapter wouldn't be sufficient to keep things sorted out (FWIW - I believe that Moog has since standardized their AC Adapters so that any supplied adapter will work with any 'Fooger, eliminating this problem and simplifying their inventory).

Taking a look around my studio, the AC adapters that came with my Dave Smith Evolver, CreamWare Minimax and Prodyssey, as well as the CME UF-5 MIDI controller, are not re-labeled by the respective manufacturers. These days it seems to be fairly common practice to supply gear with a non-descript power adapter. I'm not saying it's right - I'm just stating that it happens with many other manufacturers, not just Moog. Since this is the case, labeling the adapters is the best way to keep things in order. It will also save you time and prevent you from potentially damaging your gear because you used the wrong adapter (rare, I admit, but it happens).

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 8:14 pm
by Henfield
GregAE wrote:
Henfield wrote:(FWIW - I believe that Moog has since standardized their AC Adapters so that any supplied adapter will work with any 'Fooger, eliminating this problem and simplifying their inventory).
Exactly my point, my MF 101 and my MF 105B have the exact same adapter, why couldn't they have their Chinese manufacturer put the Moog logo on thier power supplies, especially as Moog is definitely more mainstream than the other manufacturers that you use as examples.

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:53 am
by GregAE
Henfield wrote: Why couldn't they have their Chinese manufacturer put the Moog logo on thier power supplies...
It's a fair question. You'll have to ask them.
Henfield wrote:... especially as Moog is definitely more mainstream than the other manufacturers that you use as examples.
Well, not exactly. Although the 'Moog' brand has been with us for quite a while, these days Moog is considered to be a 'boutique' synth manufacturer, as is Dave Smith Instruments (Evolver, PolyEvolver). Their products are not for everyone, and the sales are indicative of that fact. Although Moog is a larger organization than DSI, Moog's worldwide sales are nowhere near that of manufacturing giants like Roland (Boss) - now THAT's mainstream.

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:20 pm
by electrical_engineer_gEEk
I work for a guitar effects pedal company (www.pigtronix.com) and all of our wall bricks have our Pigtronix logo imprinted on them....
and our pedals don't sell near the quantity of Moog.....

i'm sure it's just a matter of time...

Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:46 am
by GregAE
electrical_engineer_gEEk wrote:I work for a guitar effects pedal company (www.pigtronix.com) and all of our wall bricks have our Pigtronix logo imprinted on them....
and our pedals don't sell near the quantity of Moog.....

i'm sure it's just a matter of time...
You're probably right. Henfield's complaint is a valid one, and I'm sure that the Moog folks who monitor these boards will take his comment into consideration.

Is the Pigtronix logo applied by the vendor who supplies the bricks, or does Pigtronix label this themselves?

Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 1:49 pm
by electrical_engineer_gEEk
they are printed by the company who makes the bricks, it looks very professional