Expression pedals, 25K vs 10k - what's the difference?

Teetonetal

Well? Enlighten me please... why would I pick one over the other?

GavRichList

About 15k

frankus

It's to do with sensitivity - @GavHaus s just awful at that.

I don't know if it varies from pedal to pedal, or whether a greater variation is easier or harder to interpret , so I am interested in this thread - sorry I can't add to it

GavRichList

I think the majority are 10k. I don't understand it either, but I checked the manuals for the pedals I wanted to use my expression with, and they both recommended 10k. Just couldn't resist the previous answer.

Teetonetal

GavHaus;589667" said:

About 15k

Phew, I was worried there might be some long technical explanation of why you should use 10k with some devices and 25k with others

Teetonetal

frankus;589672" said:

It's to do with sensitivity - @GavHaus s just awful at that.



I don't know if it varies from pedal to pedal, or whether a greater variation is easier or harder to interpret , so I am interested in this thread - sorry I can't add to it

I assume that the range is defined by the effect unit, but the pot resistance affects the sweep through the range? I'm curious as mission list their 25k pedal as for strymon, eventide and @GavHaus MF wonderbox only.

GavRichList

10k works on the Moog too

Teetonetal

GavHaus;589687" said:

10k works on the Moog too

This is why I am curious... Mission explicitly list MF 104 as requiring 25k.. Or at least recommending a 25k

GavRichList

Wonder if that's not the M?

frankus

Most of these pedals you do a toe down and toe up reading and it interprets it, that's the case for my m5 and Eventide...

So if you've a 25k pot and you stick a shim of wood under one side it's not going to go to 25k but that's okay when you calibrate it, it'll take whatever the top value is as it's top value.

If you're talking non-digital pedals they use voltage controlled inputs for their effects pedals so for them the actual value of the resistor is probably more significant.

ICBM

If it's used as a potential divider - stereo plug - then it shouldn't make any difference because it's the ratio of resistance that matters not the absolute value.

If it's used as a simple variable resistance (mono plug) then the 25K will stop doing much when it gets above 10K on a system designed for 10K and a 10K will only give 40% of the range on a system designed for 25K.

Teetonetal

@ICBM interesting.. I had no idea that you had to be careful about such things.. so how do I know if I am using a stereo plug (where it would work) and a mono where I need to match?

Teetonetal

Teetonetal said:

@ICBM interesting.. I had no idea that you had to be careful about such things.. so how do I know if I am using a stereo plug (where it would work) and a mono where I need to match?

In the meantime I am going to write to Neunaber and Empress... and ask them

ICBM

Teetonetal said:

@ICBM interesting.. I had no idea that you had to be careful about such things.. so how do I know if I am using a stereo plug (where it would work) and a mono where I need to match?

Try it, usually. I can't think of any case where it would cause any harm - if it does it's a very badly-designed unit. Or have a look inside either the unit or the pedal and see how many connections the jack has.

Teetonetal

ICBM said:

Teetonetal said:

@ICBM interesting.. I had no idea that you had to be careful about such things.. so how do I know if I am using a stereo plug (where it would work) and a mono where I need to match?

Try it, usually. I can't think of any case where it would cause any harm - if it does it's a very badly-designed unit. Or have a look inside either the unit or the pedal and see how many connections the jack has.

Ah, you see here, I am looking at buying the expression pedal in auction.. don't really want to buy if it's the wrong thing.

ICBM

Teetonetal said:

Ah, you see here, I am looking at buying the expression pedal in auction.. don't really want to buy if it's the wrong thing.

What make is it? Does it have a captive cable, or a jack?

Teetonetal

It's a Mission SP1-25k

http://missionengineering.com/?product=ep-25k

It's Jacks.

ICBM

It has TRS jacks so it will work with anything that needs the potential-divider type.

Teetonetal

So I think both units also require TRS cable.. so it should work?

ICBM

Yes, although there is one remaining potential bugbear, which is the order of the tip and ring connections - but at least you know that the pedal physically contains the right components, so it would be simple to rewire if necessary.

Teetonetal

lol, WHY can't they make this stuff easy

Will look into that too then!