Home › Forums › Help/Technical Questions › Stereo Memory Man With Hazarai – Noisy switches
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April 22, 2010 at 12:13 pm #79183ntc1010Member
I just bought an Electro Harmonix Memory Man with Hazarai. I’m amazed how loud the footswitches are. I mean when I step on them, or even press them with a finger as softly as I can, they produce a very noticeable mechanical click.
As far as I’m concerned, this renders the pedal completely unsuitable to be used in a live setting. I understand that other people’s music may have enough decibels to drown the clicking, but most times I play soft music, or at least with very soft moments, and I often play solo.
Of the two switches on the pedal, the right side one (bypass) is the worst offender. It must be pressed really hard, and makes a loud clunk, louder than a drummer’s rim shot. I even think it may be defective.
But the left switch (record/tap) is also too loud, enough for the whole audience to hear me tap a tempo.
Is there a way to reduce the noise or replace the switches with silent ones without voiding the warranty?
I’m on a 30-day trial period, and I’ll return the pedal if I can’t solve this. That would be a pity, because I think it’s a nice pedal otherwise.
Thanks.April 22, 2010 at 5:52 pm #91341Kevin DemuthMemberQuote:I just bought an Electro Harmonix Memory Man with Hazarai. I’m amazed how loud the footswitches are. I mean when I step on them, or even press them with a finger as softly as I can, they produce a very noticeable mechanical click.
As far as I’m concerned, this renders the pedal completely unsuitable to be used in a live setting. I understand that other people’s music may have enough decibels to drown the clicking, but most times I play soft music, or at least with very soft moments, and I often play solo.
Of the two switches on the pedal, the right side one (bypass) is the worst offender. It must be pressed really hard, and makes a loud clunk, louder than a drummer’s rim shot. I even think it may be defective.
But the left switch (record/tap) is also too loud, enough for the whole audience to hear me tap a tempo.
Is there a way to reduce the noise or replace the switches with silent ones without voiding the warranty?
I’m on a 30-day trial period, and I’ll return the pedal if I can’t solve this. That would be a pity, because I think it’s a nice pedal otherwise.
Thanks.the left (tap/record) footswitch can be easily replaced with a ‘soft-touch’ switch. but that will immediately void your warranty.
but, truthfully, are you exaggerating the level of the click just a little bit?
April 22, 2010 at 6:37 pm #91280Mr.GrimMemberyeah its the nature of the switch, i would say theres nothing you can do, thats just how it is, its a mechanism, there will me expected noise, like all simple mechanisms locking a door, turning on a light…ect..
April 22, 2010 at 6:50 pm #91239Bad ChileParticipantAm I the only one that thought, “If it’s too loud, you’re too old?”
PS: My MXR and EHX pedals are both pretty loud. I just turn up the amp louder when it starts to bug me. Heck, my tuner pedal (Sonic Research Turbo Tuner) is really the loudest of the bunch.
April 27, 2010 at 6:21 pm #103335ntc1010MemberSorry, I don’t think I’m exaggerating, but I do concede that different people have different needs regarding their musical instruments.
I did find other threads on this and other forums where users are complaining about the same problem with ehx footswitches.
I wonder how much more would it cost to produce the pedals with better switches, like other manufacturers do. We’re talking about music after all, and in my view effect units shouldn’t produce unwanted noise (nor force people to turn their amps louder).Anyway, can you guys please confirm that the right footswitch is supposed to be louder than the left one?
Quote:the left (tap/record) footswitch can be easily replaced with a ‘soft-touch’ switch. but that will immediately void your warranty.Why just the left footswitch? Can’t the right one be replaced too?
Thank you all for your help and comments.
April 27, 2010 at 7:00 pm #102281Mr.GrimMemberthe two switches may look the same on the outside but they are compleaty different, and operate internally differently, so the noise from the mechanical operation will obviously be different.
April 27, 2010 at 7:09 pm #102274The Ghost of Sim TutMemberQuote:Sorry, I don’t think I’m exaggerating, but I do concede that different people have different needs regarding their musical instruments.
I did find other threads on this and other forums where users are complaining about the same problem with ehx footswitches.
I wonder how much more would it cost to produce the pedals with better switches, like other manufacturers do. We’re talking about music after all, and in my view effect units shouldn’t produce unwanted noise (nor force people to turn their amps louder).Anyway, can you guys please confirm that the right footswitch is supposed to be louder than the left one?
Quote:the left (tap/record) footswitch can be easily replaced with a ‘soft-touch’ switch. but that will immediately void your warranty.Why just the left footswitch? Can’t the right one be replaced too?
Thank you all for your help and comments.
Like Grim said, the right switch is latching, and is louder. The left switch is momentary (non-latching), and has no “click” because its not meant to latch. I can hear the switches but have no problem with it. You’ve gotta be making some quiet music there if the sound of the switches is interfering. I’d like to hear it! I enjoy quiet.
April 27, 2010 at 8:51 pm #101952Kevin DemuthMemberQuote:I wonder how much more would it cost to produce the pedals with better switches, like other manufacturers do. We’re talking about music after all, and in my view effect units shouldn’t produce unwanted noise (nor force people to turn their amps louder).Which other manufacturers are you referring to?
You’ll find that a lot of boutique and higher-end manufacturers use the SAME type of footswitches as EHX.
April 28, 2010 at 1:39 am #96750dibletMemberQuote:Quote:I wonder how much more would it cost to produce the pedals with better switches, like other manufacturers do. We’re talking about music after all, and in my view effect units shouldn’t produce unwanted noise (nor force people to turn their amps louder).Which other manufacturers are you referring to?
You’ll find that a lot of boutique and higher-end manufacturers use the SAME type of footswitches as EHX.
probably cusack? but his switching system is proprietary… he will be coming out with a drop in replacement kit soonish
i would love to see more manufactures go this route – softtouch w true bypass…
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