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This is a point of interest to me because I've always experienced difficulties with volume pedals, and as far as guitar work, it's a very important part of the chain. I've had DeArmond and Boss "passive" pedals, which are just a pot in a box, and almost immediately they become scratchy and I always feel the bottom end is never quite "off". Much better results with a Boss ME-8 I had where I could use a pedal as control input to electronic volume control, but in a stand-alone pedal I don't know what would be acceptable. I've thought about Morleys but have never tried one. Right now I have a CEM chip based VCA I built which I control via pedal and it is beautiful; the only problem is that the VCA is part of a clunky older thang I built some time ago and wish I just had the VCA in a little box; don't know whether to build a new one, or find an "active" pedal. Does anyone have a recommendation? "Passive" pedals are simply out of the question, in my experience.... David Myers >Hey there, Michael, > > The first majour difference betwixt active and passive volume pedals >will >be the active pedals all use some form of power supply in order to add a >bit >of amplification to the line level, whereas a passive volume pedal won't. > A >better analogy would be a passive volume pedal would act more like the >volume >control on your guitar, whereas the active would be a little bit more like >the volume control on your pre-amp. > > I understand that this isn't totally 100% on the ball as far as how >they >work internally, but this is just the quick explanation for it. >Personally, >I prefer the passive volume controls and use one both at the begainning of >the effects loop and at the end (should I have the spare). This has more >to >do with using line level effects in my effects loop and also because I'd >rather not deal with something loosing it's battery on me during a gig... >Been there once and didn't have a spare... > > As far as I can tell you there are a few differences betwixt a volume >pedal and an expression pedal, mostly having to do with one is a mono or >pair >of mono inputs, and the other is going to be at least a single stereo 1/4" >and maybe some mono inputs, too. The latter pedal will control more than >just the overall volume of an effect or keyboard, and really matters upon >pre-programming and effects/voices being run. Typically, I tend to set >mine >to velocities and frequencies of the voice. Just makes things easier >from a >playing stand point. > > Your last question, I really can't answer off the top of my head, ... >typically I'm the only one on stage, and I tend to use the tuner that is >in >either my Zoom 2100 or a Korg DT-1... Now that I have a GR-30, I'll >probably >be using it instead. One thing you may want to look for in a tuner is >something that is rack mountable and bypassible. Hope this helps out. > > Tchus, > > Lee-ohki.