EP-2 Static?

[metron]

Hi everyone,

I noticed recently that sometimes my EP-2 pedals make a static sound when rocking back and forth. It doesn't seem to happen so much with my Voyager but when controlling certain CV inputs on my foogers it's driving me nuts. It doesn't do it with all CV inputs though. It is probably the worst when controlling the filter cutoff on the MF-101. I don't suspect it's dirty because a few of my EP-2s are brand new. Anyone have this problem? Is there an easy fix?

[willi]

Are you sure the jack isn't dirty? You can spray electronic contact cleaner in there, slide the plug in a couple times, and see if that clears it up... just disconnect the power first and make sure it is contact cleaner, not surface cleaner (like fancy Windex or something.. you want real electronic contact cleaner).

[metron]

The jacks are definitely not dirty. These pedals are basically brand new. Noone has heard static while sweeping their EP-2 pedals?

[wetpenny]

yes i have!!!

i just posted a new thread on the subject before doing a search!!
my bad

basically im only getting it when in 4 pole mode (MF101)

[wetpenny]

Are you sure the jack isn't dirty? You can spray electronic contact cleaner in there, slide the plug in a couple times, and see if that clears it up... just disconnect the power first and make sure it is contact cleaner, not surface cleaner (like fancy Windex or something.. you want real electronic contact cleaner).

yep, worked for me

[willi]

http://www.geofex.com/article_folders/p ... tscret.htm

This page has some excellent info about pots (perhaps more than you might want to know), & about half way down the page it explains some failure modes - including transient DC shorts that could cause noise.

[moremagic]

I haven't had much static but I have had one die on me and another functions basically only as an on/off switch. For something as simple as an expression pedal these things have been such a headache. At least the 104z was easy to fix and the fix took!

[gutbag]

A few weeks ago I had a similar problem when using my EP-2 to control the mix on my Ring Mod. A few squirts of switch/electrical contact cleaner fixed it.

[wetpenny]

i returned my ep2 in the end!! the "static" noise kept returning!! its being repaired at the minute..
i brought another one from a different supplier (hell, you can never have too many and there was NO way i was going to be without one for 3-4 weeks!!!!) and im getting the exact same problem!!!!!
this ones going straight back for a refund but what is going on??? is there a rogue batch or am i just VERY unlucky???
will i have to buy an ernie ball volume pedal and get it modded??? i f*****g hope not!!!!

[cliffman]

Hmm.. the pedal is nothing more than a pot wired up. and since it's
controlling a CV path, it's very odd you would hear noise in the audio path.

What happens if you drive the CV in with an slow LFO from the voyager, or a CV from
somewhere else? The Roland EV-5 pedal is a direct replacement afaik, you could always
try another source.

The pedal itself is just a dirt-simple thing. If you have the same problem with two pedals it's likely
the real issue is something that you didn't change. You could also build a test replacement
with a pot and and a TRS plug.

How's your power/grounding in general?

[wetpenny]

i believe my power/grounding to be satisfactory.... i power 2 pedals with a 1spot and the moogs i use the standard PSU`s
i only have a small fx chain really : boss OC-2>iron ether oxide fuzz>MF103>MF101/CP251... klotz patch cables

weird thing is : if i control the LFO of the CP251 with "the" ep2 everythings fine.. the "static" is really noticable controlling the cutoff of the 101 (especially pronounced in 4 pole) and the sweep of the 103 and it seems to be getting worse (this one is getting picked up & exchanged for a new one on monday) , if i drive the cutoff CV with an LFO from the 251 theres no noise either..
ive tried different basses / different leads etc but get the same results

[metron]

i returned my ep2 in the end!! the "static" noise kept returning!! its being repaired at the minute..
i brought another one from a different supplier (hell, you can never have too many and there was NO way i was going to be without one for 3-4 weeks!!!!) and im getting the exact same problem!!!!!
this ones going straight back for a refund but what is going on??? is there a rogue batch or am i just VERY unlucky???
will i have to buy an ernie ball volume pedal and get it modded??? i f*****g hope not!!!!

Find out what the "repair" is if you can. I can probably fix them myself. All my pedals are doing the same as yours and it's driving me nuts. Different CV sources will not have the static, only the EP-2.

[wetpenny]

i returned my ep2 in the end!! the "static" noise kept returning!! its being repaired at the minute..
i brought another one from a different supplier (hell, you can never have too many and there was NO way i was going to be without one for 3-4 weeks!!!!) and im getting the exact same problem!!!!!
this ones going straight back for a refund but what is going on??? is there a rogue batch or am i just VERY unlucky???
will i have to buy an ernie ball volume pedal and get it modded??? i f*****g hope not!!!!

Find out what the "repair" is if you can. I can probably fix them myself. All my pedals are doing the same as yours and it's driving me nuts. Different CV sources will not have the static, only the EP-2.

i shall let the "repair" be known as and when it returns...

[the_carl]

Any updates on this situation? I just bought a used MF-101 and am having the same problem of scratchiness using an ep-2, but only when into the cutoff CV input in 4 pole mode. My ep-2 has never given me any problems with my Freqbox, so I thought my ep-2 was fine. Is this a problem with the MF-101's, or the ep-2's? I guess I'll try cleaning the contacts...

[Pantherairsoft]

yes i have!!!

i just posted a new thread on the subject before doing a search!!
my bad

basically im only getting it when in 4 pole mode (MF101)

I have exactly the same issue on 4-pole mode, but not on 2 pole