EXPEDITION ELECTRONICS

sonic adventures!

Dimensions

The box is based on the Hammond 1550G. Yes, it's big.

I/O

  • Input jack
  • Output jack
  • Expression pedal control of delay time, can use the output side of a volume pedal with a simple 2 conductor (mono) cable. Korg EXP-2 works well (50k). Can also take CV, 0-5V is expected but up to 15V should be safe. However, voltages above 5V may push the clock faster than it's intended to go at which point the analog to digital and digital to analog converters start to show their limitations.
  • Labeled but unused. Hole is plugged.

Knobs

Note: the knobs ship with thin plastic protectors over the chrome centers. If your knob looks scratched you can probably peel that off.
  • Level
  • Blend of wet and dry; can go 100% wet (clockwise)
  • Speed of LFO used for modulation
  • Depth of LFO modulation of delay time (sine-ish wave) for chorus/flange/detune etc.
  • A.K.A repeats, feedback. How much output gets fed back to the input. Can go into self oscillation.
  • Level, recommended is max level without too much clipping (as indicated by LED). LED coming on once in a while is no problem, but it's up to your ears. In general, you want the highest input level without objectionable distortion to get the best noise performance.
  • Unlabeled large knob in the middle controls delay time. Counter clockwise is slower, longer delay time. Clockwise then faster, shorter delay time.

Switches

  • Clock

    • slower speed used for max 60 second delay time
    • clock runs exactly twice as fast as Slow, half delay time but double sample rate
    • automatically switches back and forth from Fast to Slow settings based on LFO Speed, creates octave jumping effects
  • Range

    • uses all available memory for max 60 second delay time
    • less memory, ~4 seconds max
    • less still, ~250mS

Footswitches

  • When on, whatever has been recorded will repeat infinitely. No new material is recorded.
  • Alternates the direction of playback, reversing audio etc.
  • Bypass, On/Off, etc. The pedal is always listening no matter the state of this switch (like the original EHX 16 Sec.)

Power

12V center positive 2.5mm barrel plug. If you're familiar with the Pedal Power units this is the Red tipped plug. Not the standard Boss type.

Current required: 150mA. Pedal Power ISO5 12V jack works fine, but the Pedal Power 2 Plus does not work (not enough current on 12V). The pedal comes with a 600mA switching supply which is more than enough but was chosen based on availability, capacity, and most importantly noise performance.

Speaking of noise...

When powered up the memory in the delay contains random bits which sound like white noise. This noise will fade out over time as it cycles through the delay (just like any normal signal that gets fed back via the Regen knob). If you're in a hurry, turn the Regen down and the Delay knob (the big one) up.

One thing to note is that when in Echo and Flange ranges there are areas of memory that are not accessed. So even if the noise has cleared in Echo range there is still noise in the extended memory areas used by the Loop range. Something to consider if you plan on switching ranges during performance. In the case that you will be using Loop or Echo range make sure to clear the noise after power up while in that range or just be safe and switch the Range to Loop until the noise has cleared itself out.