GigRig Power

Philtre

I put together a GigRig power setup for my bigger board last year. It consists of a Generator, 1 Distributor, 3 Isolators and a Timelord. But I bought these second hand from FB members. Not sure if I would have paid full whack, and I was sorely torn between this setup and a Strymon Zuma. I do find it a bit messy under the board - there are six boxes and a lot of wires under there, and it's probably overkill for my needs. But I wanted to give the system a try as Dan makes it look so appealing in his YT videos. One downside is I don't feel like buying another high current pedal because I don't want to shell out for another Timelord.

peteri

Actually there's another point in the favour, you know they are fully isolated etc.

I had a decent (not top end) power supply before the Gigrig, and despite being 'fully isolated' - there is absolutely no doubt that without changing anything else the Gigrig system was quieter.

And once you're in - the flexibility is useful, but as I said - at a cost

meltedbuzzbox

Honest question, do you hear the noise when you are playing?

vasselmeyer

You get what you pay for in terms of quality. I've got a Gigrig system which goes as follows:
Generator > Distributor
The Distributor feeds a BOSS ES-8 switcher, three Isolators and two TimeLords.
Off the Timelords are a Mobius and a Source Audio Nemesis
Off the Isolators are my analogue pedals and my Smoothhound Wireless system.
The board is completely silent. There is no hum or buzz anywhere. It's amazing.

However, it is expansive when you need to expand. I'm in the same position as @Philtre said above. I've just bought a new digital pedal which replaces one of my analogue effects and I have to work out how to power it. The Isolators don't supply enough current and my distributor is maxed out. In theory I need another distributor and another Timeline. I'm going to experiment with a bodge and see what happens, but I suspect I'll end up shelling out for some extra bits.

peteri

meltedbuzzbox said:

Honest question, do you hear the noise when you are playing?

Fair point, when you're not playing (meaning all gear on - not when you're in the bath ) - yes, it's subtle but it's there.

When you're playing, obviously not so much - but there was a definite feeling of increased 'purity' in the tone, we're getting into 'transparent overdrive' territory here - would the audience notice? No, but I definitely felt the whole thing just felt a little 'better', like there was more headroom and fidelity

I'm not saying this is the only power solution that would get there - I upgraded from a MXR Iso Brick and definitely felt it all sounded better, which I put down to better isolation,and stable current delivery.

dangriffiths

I have it and like - makes adding/changing easy.  My main beef is some pedals are noisy based on proximity to the Generator. Compressors for example have a varying noise based on where it is under my board...not ideal

pmg

dangriffiths said:

I have it and like - makes adding/changing easy.  My main beef is some pedals are noisy based on proximity to the Generator. Compressors for example have a varying noise based on where it is under my board...not ideal

Interesting.  I experienced this with voodoolabs PP units and various pedals (dmm, comps to name but a few) but have not had this with a generator.  I’ve been using gigrig for about 3 years.  

dangriffiths

I need to try and work out if it is anything odd about my power or cables etc as its a right pain. Comps are noisy I know but it is almost unusable.

GavRichList

dangriffiths said:

I need to try and work out if it is anything odd about my power or cables etc as its a right pain. Comps are noisy I know but it is almost unusable.

This is pertinent to my experiences of late. I’ve had some board noise issues.... was starting to convince myself it was power related. Turns out one of my pedals was just on the blink. The company sent me a second unit to A/B and everything is as quiet as a mouse... to the extent that I needn’t have bought the new Pigtronix gate... (slightly annoying.) the company are sorting a replacement for me as I type, and are going to transfer all my presets across for me. 

Gulliver

I use a CAE MC403 power supply.  It's MASSIVE  (it comes with plates to Rack-mount it)  It's also HEAVY. I was originally worried about the weight of my board and portability. 



Then I decided to just man the fuck up and deal with it.

meltedbuzzbox

peteri said:

meltedbuzzbox said:

Honest question, do you hear the noise when you are playing?

Fair point, when you're not playing (meaning all gear on - not when you're in the bath ) - yes, it's subtle but it's there.

When you're playing, obviously not so much - but there was a definite feeling of increased 'purity' in the tone, we're getting into 'transparent overdrive' territory here - would the audience notice? No, but I definitely felt the whole thing just felt a little 'better', like there was more headroom and fidelity

I'm not saying this is the only power solution that would get there - I upgraded from a MXR Iso Brick and definitely felt it all sounded better, which I put down to better isolation,and stable current delivery.

A friend has said very similar things since making the jump to gigrig. 
I also thought something similar when I moved to cioks tbh

Having purchased a quartermaster I know the quality of the gigrig stuff, it is great, it's just a bit ouch financially for what it is

robinbowes

A few things...

1. You can bulk-buy the high current adapters for a reduced price - £51.22 each if you buy 3 or more
   
2. You get a discount if you're a G2 owner - 10%, I think it was
3. The isolator powers most conventional pedals
4. You can power some pedals directly from the distributor. You only need an adapter if that approach proves noisy, or you need something other than 9V

I sold my G2 (and Generator) and use an Helix these days, but I kept all the other GigRig power supply stuff and find it really easy to throw together a board on the odd occasion I might need one.

R.

GavRichList

On point 3, I beg to differ unfortunately. Underpowered for over half my board. 

meltedbuzzbox

GavRichList said:

On point 3, I beg to differ unfortunately. Underpowered for over half my board.


 I had the same issue

Teetonetal

dangriffiths said:

I have it and like - makes adding/changing easy.  My main beef is some pedals are noisy based on proximity to the Generator. Compressors for example have a varying noise based on where it is under my board...not ideal

That's completely normal. That german chap did a video with the Cioks guy to demonstrate. 

Gadget

People also often cite how light weight the GigRig system is, but the numbers tell a different story...

To get 8 isolated outlets from the GigRig system, you'd need a Generator (340g), Distributor (110g) and 2 x Isolators (2 x 95g) + the weight of the wiring between that little lot (say generously 25g?). If you also need a couple of 12V or 18V outputs, then that's another 2 x 50g. So, all in 765g.

By comparison, the Strymon Zuma is only 545g for 9 x 500mA outputs, two of which will switch to 12v / 18V.

pmg

Gadget said:

People also often cite how light weight the GigRig system is, but the numbers tell a different story...

To get 8 isolated outlets from the GigRig system, you'd need a Generator (340g), Distributor (110g) and 2 x Isolators (2 x 95g) + the weight of the wiring between that little lot (say generously 25g?). If you also need a couple of 12V or 18V outputs, then that's another 2 x 50g. So, all in 765g.

By comparison, the Strymon Zuma is only 545g for 9 x 500mA outputs, two of which will switch to 12v / 18V.

I suppose it depends on your setup.  In my experience it was notably lighter than 2 voodoolabs units.  Also, does weight distribution play a factor?

GavRichList

I just tilled mine up:

1x Basepack 2
3x Isolator
2x doubler
5x Timelord
1x Evenflo
1x Supanova
1x reverse polarity cable 

Factoring in the bulk buy discounts....

£773.64

Gadget

GavRichList said:

I just tilled mine up:

1x Basepack 2
3x Isolator
2x doubler
5x Timelord
1x Evenflo
1x Supanova
1x reverse polarity cable 

Factoring in the bulk buy discounts....

£773.64

I'll raise you some... mine came in at £902, without AC options.

GavRichList

Does that not seem a little.... batshit?