ToneDexter Maiden Voyage - Page 2

Br1ck · #16 04-15-2018, 01:55 PM

Another SM 81 fan. I have two.

The whole point of Tonedexter is to get a great mic tone onstage.

Much as I like SM57s, not the tool for the job.

Steely Glen · #17 04-18-2018, 05:00 AM

So to update, I received the SM81 yesterday and did a round of wavemaps on my three main acoustics (the Martins in my sig line), all K&K-equipped. The results were stellar. I started with the SM81 down below the sound hole, but found that I prefer it at fretboard level, out about a foot and pointed at the 14th fret.

Once the wavemaps were created, I EQ'd it slightly and am loving the results. Very natural tone but still has the punch of a pickup, so I'm not worried about getting swallowed up in a mix. I'm experimenting with the character knob as well to dial in what I like there.

I did try to power the ToneDexter from my Cioks Adam power supply on my acoustic pedalboard and the TD did not like that. Is anyone else powering the TD from a source other than the wall wart?

buzzardwhiskey · #18 04-18-2018, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Glen

So to update, I received the SM81 yesterday and did a round of wavemaps on my three main acoustics (the Martins in my sig line), all K&K-equipped. The results were stellar. I started with the SM81 down below the sound hole, but found that I prefer it at fretboard level, out about a foot and pointed at the 14th fret.

Once the wavemaps were created, I EQ'd it slightly and am loving the results. Very natural tone but still has the punch of a pickup, so I'm not worried about getting swallowed up in a mix. I'm experimenting with the character knob as well to dial in what I like there.

I did try to power the ToneDexter from my Cioks Adam power supply on my acoustic pedalboard and the TD did not like that. Is anyone else powering the TD from a source other than the wall wart?

Yes. I tried the Tonedexter on a cheap serial 9v supply and it sounded awful. Now I use a Strymon R30 and it's dead quiet.

Steely Glen · #19 04-18-2018, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzardwhiskey

Yes. I tried the Tonedexter on a cheap serial 9v supply and it sounded awful. Now I use a Strymon R30 and it's dead quiet.

Is it fed from a standard 9V outlet on the R30? I used a Cioks Adam brick with a standard 9V DC current and it was causing all kinds of crazy noise/interference. I was concerned that the Cioks was not giving enough juice.

varmonter · #20 04-18-2018, 04:53 PM

Mxl603s are great low cost condensers.
actually a best kept secret.
https://m.ebay.com/itm/Marshall-MXL6...IAAOSw93Zaw8Cv

I have a matched pair and they are great for
what you pay for them. I have an sm81 as well.
also a great choice.

buzzardwhiskey · #21 04-18-2018, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Glen

Is it fed from a standard 9V outlet on the R30? I used a Cioks Adam brick with a standard 9V DC current and it was causing all kinds of crazy noise/interference. I was concerned that the Cioks was not giving enough juice.

Yes. Just 9v, 500mA. I don't know much about electronics but it works beautifully and is super small.

Steely Glen · #22 04-20-2018, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzardwhiskey

Yes. Just 9v, 500mA. I don't know much about electronics but it works beautifully and is super small.

I’ll need to revisit this on my board. This Cioks Adam is a small brick but it’s quality so that shouldn’t be the issue. Perhaps the noise was a one-time thing. I’m still demo’ing the TD and haven’t yet taken it out to a gig.

Gordon Currie · #23 04-20-2018, 10:43 AM

The CIOKS ADAM only supplies 700ma across all four power nodes.

It sounds like your problem is insufficient current.

philjs · #24 04-20-2018, 11:23 AM

James May, in a thread about power supplies for TD, has said that 500ma @ 9v should be enough depending on the start up characteristics of the supply. See this thread: Pedalboard power supplies for ToneDexter

I'm now using a 2A 9V simple one-spot type Power All to power my small board (Korg Pitchblack+ tuner/switch, TD, mini HoF and Corona (in TD loop) and Baggs Session DI) and it works well.

Phil

Steely Glen · #25 04-20-2018, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Currie

The CIOKS ADAM only supplies 700ma across all four power nodes.

It sounds like your problem is insufficient current.

Quote:

Originally Posted by philjs

James May, in a thread about power supplies for TD, has said that 500ma @ 9v should be enough depending on the start up characteristics of the supply. See this thread: Pedalboard power supplies for ToneDexter

I'm now using a 2A 9V simple one-spot type Power All to power my small board (Korg Pitchblack+ tuner/switch, TD, mini HoF and Corona (in TD loop) and Baggs Session DI) and it works well.

Phil

Great info here, gents. I think the Cioks Adam must be the issue. I’ll look into another option.

The Kid! · #26 05-19-2018, 09:21 AM

I want one so bad, but it seems like so much work. I wish I could just buy one with a bunch of great wave maps of J45's built in.

gfirob · #27 05-19-2018, 11:56 AM

It is so much not a lot of work, considering what you get out of it, though the quality of the microphone is fairly important, I think. My best luck has been with a borrowed Ear Trumpet Edwina condenser mike, and I liked it so much I bought one. I'm not clear on why battery power would be required much of the time, except maybe when outdoors. If you have an amplifier working, you have to have 110 volt power nearby. Maybe I am missing something. It wouldn't be the first time.