#flat patch cables

Being a guitarist, you will always feel the impact of pedals across your guitar pedalboard cables. However, you may now reconsider staying away from the conventional battery-backed power supply and want to upgrade to a more robust form of electric power supply. We can explain  options to get the right source of power supply.

Why Do People Need the Power Supply for Pedals?

Once you use a reliable power source for your guitar pedals, the sound quality of the instrument gets improved, and you can then use the pedals to their full capacity. The use of 9V battery support does not hold well when it comes to powering a host of pedals on the pedalboard. If you are a musician by profession, we advise you not to opt for battery power. An electrical power supply always allows you to maintain the right amount of voltage through the pedalboard, provided there is no interruption. Unlike 9v batteries, you can leave your instrument plugged in because it will not consume any power.  

What is the Voltage Requirement?

These days, the majority of pedal linked guitars have the capacity of 9V. However, some of the pedalboards are compatible with a range of 12V, 18V, and even 24V voltage support. You should always check the voltage capacity before buying a pedal power supply source. Large numbers of pedals are best suited for the usual 9V power. In contrast, some may require an upgraded power supply, like the older versions of Electro Harmonix pedals. Generally, it’s up to the manufacturer to decide what voltage of power supply is admissible for a certain grade of pedals.

What About the Current Consumption?

Before assessing the voltage requirement, check the power consumption needed to power the pedal. The measuring unit, in this case, is mA (milliamps). However, some of the pedals with analog distortion will require low power consumption, which is somewhere around 20 mA or even less. The idea is to consult a checklist for your specific requirement. You don't need to worry about excessive current supply as too much flow of current will not damage the pedals. However, you must ensure that all pedals on the pedalboards are of professional-grade. As a result, all the pedals get a uniform amount of power supply irrespective of active pedals strewn on your instrument.  

What is an Isolated Supply?

It’s primarily engaged to reduce unwanted noise that may occur due to low-quality voltage supply. It means each power output is fully isolated and also ensures that each pedal is getting an uninterrupted electricity supply. Otherwise, a daisy chain of pedalboard wiring may push the power flow through one lead into a solitary pedal. It may dilute the power along the way and degrade the sound quality in the process.  

Which is the Perfect Power Supply?

As a musician, you may discover that you have a pedal that requires a voltage specification of 9V and 250mA to 300mA voltage output. Alternatively, you have scores of regular pedals that consume only a bit of electricity. Either way, you must monitor that each pedal is fed with the right amount of power supply. If it doesn’t happen, you will not get the right sound out of the flat pedal cables. You get 10 inputs with varying current consumption.

The Bottom Line 

If you want to extend your sound horizons and the amplifier tones make you feel limited, then pedalboard patch cables are right for you. When you are a beginner, you are unaware of a lot of things, for example- matching ohms, or cables, or the right kind of pedalboard wiring. There are many options in the market, but choosing the suitable patch cable depends upon a number of factors, and this article aims to make that process easier for you with the help of a thorough guide.

 What Kind of a Pedalboard Should I Begin With?

There are many types of pedalboards used by seasoned players and even beginners. “Distortion pedals” are more flexible than the others as they will let you create your own tones and come with volume controls. “Overdrive pedals” are known for delivering a moderate-gain crunch. Next comes the “Wah Pedal”, which is known for providing a kind of crying sound that seems like it is animated. The use of the Wah pedal becomes more accented with the help of a distortion and overdrive pedal. But if you ask what kind of pedalboard should you begin with, then the answer is- “Tuner pedal”. A tuner pedal is the basic kind of pedal you should have because it keeps you in tune, and that is most important. The Boss TU-3 or the “polytune pedals” from TC Electronic are some of the best tuner pedals.

Importance of a Patch Cable and the Right Way to Connect Pedalboard?

Patch cables are used to connect one pedal with another, and it helps in shortening the total signal length. Needlessto say, if you think of it this way- your guitar, the amplifier, and the pedals are a circuit, and if your signal needs more cable, it will gradually become weaker. A pedalboard patch cable shortens this time. Instead of using a full-length cord of six feet size, patch cables, which are usually six to twelve inches long, do the job more efficiently. If you want to use a simple as well as small pedalboard, then a patch cable would be more useful. But if you wish to have an all-encompassing and larger pedalboard, then you will definitely need to customize the cable lengths according to the pedalboards. Modern patch cables are made in such a way so that the space between pedals is less.

How Should I Power the Pedalboard of My Guitar? 

Power supplies are usually provided with the pedals, but you can easily buy one if you are not supplied with power supplies. You only have to make sure that the power supply you are buying matches the pedal’s power requirements. The power supplies convert the alternating current (AC) power from your switchboard to direct current (DC). Most pedals need a minimum voltage of 9V and an electrical current that is less than 100 mA. And you should make sure of the following three things:

Voltage: The most common pedals require a voltage of 9V, but pedals that are larger in size might require about 18V power because of their complex circuitry. 

Current: Wah or overdrive pedals require much less current than the digital pedals. However, there is nothing to worry about if the current flow is more than what you need. It does not affect the pedal at all.

Polarity: Vintage pedals used to have positive polarity, but modern pedals have a negative polarity. The polarity is always marked on the pedals.

 Concluding Words

If you are a professional guitar player or playing guitar is your hobby, you will have to choose between the types of guitar cables needed. Coming across several different types of cables is very common for electric guitar players. Unless you are using wireless equipment,  you have to acquaint yourself with the proper type of cables.  Guitar pedalboard cables play an essential part when using an electric guitar. You can choose from different types including:   

XLR Plugs –

If you want durable plugs, then this is the one which yields best results. From home studios to professional studios, most of them may be equipped with this plug. You can avoid the separation of the patch cord with the catch mechanism of this plug. It’s divided into two phases – one phase transmits mass and the other two transfer audio cables. To pull out the XLR plug you have to press on the release mechanism.

Jack Plugs –

These plugs are mainly used to connect other audio instruments with the guitar. There are many different sizes when it comes to Jacks which include:

3.5mm mono – these are used in small microphones or Line-in or Line out audio devices.

3.5mm stereo – these are used in headphones or  Line-in or Line out audio devices.

6.3mm mono – It is used in larger audio devices or Line- in or Line out such as a microphone. Send or return effects and loudspeakers. These cables are used the most to connect a guitar with any sound equipment.

6.3mm stereo – It is used in combining return and send with many effects devices. Headphones or stereo microphone.

Polyphonic Guitar Cables –

Polyphonic guitar cables are used to transfer strings to the guitar-synth. It was introduced by a famous company, after which it became a standard cable to be used. It is mainly used to connect the guitar to any sound system or amplifier.

MIDI Cables –

These cables are used for data transfer. But, these cables were introduced in the market to be used with high-quality stereo equipment. Nowadays these cables are used to transmit MIDI control signals from MIDI transmitting music instruments to computers or amplifiers. This cable does not depend on fast data transmission.

Pedal Board Cables –

If you are thinking that pedal board cables have something to do with pedals then you are absolutely right. Pedalboard Patch Cables are used mainly to connect one pedal to the other. They lessen the amount of length that the signal requires to travel. The lesser the length of the cable the stronger the signal remains.