Caline CP-81: Updated v3.0, PSU Noise Issue Corrected, Volume Fader Mod
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- This is the summation of 2 months worth of communication with Caline Technologies in China, working with the engineering team and Product Development Specialist contact.
- The PSU white noise hiss has been fixed!
- The volume fader was intentionally designed to limit the output gain. The reasoning from the Caline team was they wanted to prevent the EQ pedal from overdriving preamp sections of amplifiers. Makes perfect sense, but there are times where you would want to do that.
***To change the volume fader operation where it has 12db of true gain, you need to remove R59, a 4.7k ohm resistor, and replace it with a simple jumper wire/solder blob. This effectively removes the series resistance of the potentiometer, allowing the opamp to run 100%. This mod does NOT work for the v2.1 board.
The video camera's mic compensates for the audio signal changes, so the volume difference may not be heard drastically, but to my ears I can confirm the volume fader now operates like the gain fader, exactly how the MXR M108S works!
Thank you to everyone who has followed this project. A great big thank you to the Caline Team in China! Your customer service and support on this is immensely appreciated! I cannot tag their page on here for some reason. Info below.
Caline's CZcams Page and Social Media Contact Info:
/ @calinetechnology
Follow us on facebook: caline.technology
Instagram:calinetechnology
Check more on our website: www.calinemusic.com
Thanks Gary for fixing this problem! Caline CP-81 updated V 3.0 is availible in all platforms and from our retailers and distributors!
Thank you so much for the support!
Just the news I’ve been waiting for! Been waiting for the guarantee of getting the version 3 since I heard it was coming. Thank for updating the pedal.
@@rabbitholeofmoxie Hi It's availible on Aliexpress and our dealers and distributors. Where are you from?
@@CalineTechnology Hi, and thank you for updating to v3, but I'm wondering if you plan to release a V4 with the 'Volume Mod' already done..? ;)
@@telsutton It's the newest version at the moment.
Just received my CP-81 from AliExpress opened it up and the board is version 3.0 per Gary's video. Did the mod by removing resistor and added a wire jumper in it's place. Everything working great!! Thanks so much for the video Gary!!
Saved this 75 year young retired Rocker some cash.Need all the help I can get these days. Cheers!!!
Great to hear! Enjoy the pedal!
Love to see someone trying to help a brand get it right and the brand responding with the person to make sure the consumer gets a great product. As well as actually fixing the problem after the feedback and sending the new version to be tested first before production. This is amazing to witness I
Wish more people would listen to their consumers to make the product better and work correctly. Keep up the good work
Thank you for your kind words and for supporting the channel! Yeah its been a very positive interaction with the Caline Team!
Thanks for your demonstration, it is appreciated. I'm going to get this particular EQ pedal for reasons of they are actually putting the effort getting their products to function the way it was intended. I wish more and more companies would take such an approach. By the the way, version 3.0 is available in my home country the last time I checked.
Really glad I came across this video! I am from the northeast USA and was doing some research on this product for my online store. It's great to know that they were so responsive to you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience here
I am northeast USA as well! Thank you for watching!
Hi just got one of these and it's the V3 . Got to say absolutely fantastic no noise, doesn't effect your tone when on in the neutral position, volume and gain work as they should. Most of all it helps me dial in a great tone. Can't recommend this enough so versatile. Thankyou for all the time you have put into these videos. Cheers Martyn
Thank you very much for the review , the info AND the tip for the level mod!!!
Wow, props to Caline for doing this.
They're a great company to work with! Even their dealers are supportive as well they often make trips to the Shenzhen China facility for new product updates.
Nuttin like amplifying noise huh! The Bain of our existence!
Good Job!
That’s pretty awesome!! Now I just need to wait a while for the version 3.0 to get around. Nevertheless I love the way you look over the internal components for someone like me who has ( at least so far) limited knowledge on pedal circuitry.
I have limited knowledge too. I understand basic circuits and can read a schematic. The important thing is to keep learning! Thank you for watching!
@@Bassguitarist1985 will these fixes be on V3?
@@bluwng yes
Saw your video and few minuntes later made the mod!!! Thanks for your content and job!!!
My pleasure glad I could help!
Thank you for all
Fantastic follow-up video. Thank you for the great explanations! I just ordered it 🙌 Thank you Caline, for fixing the issue!
WoW at least a gear reviewer that know what is talking about. Awsome man!
Thank you for watching! Glad to help!
Glad I found your channel, recommended by James Condon.
Thank you for watching and the support! James a great guy!!!
Just ordered a v3 from aliexpress, thank you for making this
You are very welcome! Good call on Ali, Amazon here in the USA still has v2.1 as NOS.
Hello! I just aquired this pedal, thanks to this review. I must tell the eq has the +/- 12 in the input and output just like each band. I had to use a dedicated power supply for this, cause the power comming from a supply feeding other pedals was not enough to power it. Its quiet, and sounds really good.
Thank you gor watching! Yes it is 9vdc 300mA
Works fine with my 9v Onespot daisy chain.
Thanks for such a detailed follow up.
You are very welcome
BRO thank you!
great job, we got a better pedal thanks to you
Excellent work. Hopefully there will be a way to distinguish the V3 when it hits the retailers.
Yes, by opening up the pedal and looking at the board version
@@Bassguitarist1985 Hoping there'll be an external visual clue for pre-purchase too.
@@JohnJohnnyUtah i dont think so unfortunately
Hi, I was playing and had a energy fail, when it came back, the cp81 was so noise that I had to take it out of the signal chain. I open it, but I need the schematic. Would you mind sharing it? I have no clue about what might be. Thanks in advance.
Apologies I dont have the new v3.0 schematic, only the v1.0-v2.1 version. sounds like one of the components inside went bad after the power failure
I was planning to use this pedal as a 'cut boost' to work as a master volume (kinda) so I can use at home a very loud amp I have. Regarding the volume issue and resistor 59, does it affect its capability to cut down volume as it comes from the factory? Thank you for your work, Gary, this is very helpful!
It still cuts on the volume fader, r59 is a series resistor that limits the boost. Bypass it, operates like the other faders.
Thank you, I own the v 3.0, it came without the noise problem, but I will have to fix the volume thing.
Add a jumper wire between R59 and that will correct the volume fader issue so that it boosts the signal.
@@Bassguitarist1985 thank you. It must be jumped? Won't work just removing r59?
@@ZombieBath correct yes. Needs to be bypassed
Ok great, we are over a year past this vid, so:
1] - this is available as v3.0 now everywhere?
2] - did they fix the volume and gain faders operate as this video - or do I need to break out the solder iron and remove resistor/make a jumper?
Version 3.0 is available everywhere however the volume fader does not operate the way the MXR does without removing the r59 resistor. Basic solder skills and you can easily get this changed over.
Mine stopped working with my power supply. It only works with an external 9V battery. Any fix ideas?
You using a 9v or 18v psu?
The part that you removed for the volume fader, is that where the blob of solder is? I plan on buying this pedal, I noticed it mainly because it is 10 band and has pre and post fader gain adjustment, so I would like to have that volume fader working all the way up and down. I'm a musician, not a technician, but I do know how to handle a soldering iron. I have 3: a 15W, 30W and a 60W iron, which do you recommend I use?
the 15W should be fine. yes R59 on the board is where I put the solder blob to short the pads together.
@@Bassguitarist1985 OK thanks a bunch! It should arrive soon, I'll test it first to see if it's working OK at factory default, then i'll tweak it 😉
@@Bassguitarist1985 Ps: just to make sure, will it suffice to simply put some solder on top of the resistor connecting its 2 poles to short it or should I completely remove it?
@@peter333 you can short it
@@Bassguitarist1985 🤘🤘
Hello, man!
I have the same eq v3.0, but... C1 is 100mF, 16V (not 25). Is it seems that I have to change C1 with 25V cap?
@@abrajmek_zalilov ideally yes. It should work as it's right at the limit, but I'd change it
@@Bassguitarist1985 OK... The correct capacitors are ordered ;)
Is there a way to midigate the noise without adding or removing something from the board? Like is there an adapter I can buy that fits my current 9v power to make it 8.5? I play death metal and such and it’s making my palm mutes kinda muddy. My noise gate (fortin Zuul) is getting most but not all.
Check the other videos about this issue. You can build a variable drop resistor, or use an adjustable buck converter. However you would need a higher voltage like 12V or 18V to bring the output of the converter to 8.5V.
You can also grab the new v3.0 unit. They are readily available now.
do you know the actual power comsumption of the v.3? somes places says 500ma and other ones 300ma. the mxr uses 48 ma
Its very low. Under 100mA. I forget how much exactly. I believe it is a typo on their website.
Hello. Thank you for all the hard work on this project. I just want to be clear before I modify R59.
I see you say use a jumper wire OR just place a blob of solder. If I understand you correctly, can I JUST place a blob of solder on R59 for the volume fader mod? Or do I have to place the solder AND use the jumper wire. To be honest, I would much rather just drop some solder on R59 and be done with it. Please clarify! I want to thank you again, I bought this pedal because of your videos and REALLY didnt want those obnoxious lights from the MXR blinding me :P
Yes remove r59 and put a solder blob. That will give you volume fader boost like the mxr!
@@Bassguitarist1985 Ok thank you so much!
@@Snuff_Porn you are welcome let me know if you have any issues
Hello! I just got this pedal, but when i engage it, even with all the faders on flat, it already changes the sound, like giving more hig mids to it, is that how it's supposed to work? I checked and it's the version 3.0
No it should be transparent. It is true bypass so if your signal chain is not properly buffered without it in the chain, that would explain what you are experiencing. How are you using it? Efx loop? Ehat pedals are before and after it? How long a cable run from your pedal board to your amp head?
Hi nice video. Can u simply remove the R59 for the volume boost or does the jumper have to be in place? I see that you simply put a solder blob for a jumper. I'm guessing that I could just leave the R59 in place and put a solder blob over the resistor which would touch both ends of the resistor same as a wire would do. These smd components are so small I'd rather not try and remove them if I can simply solder over them.
R59 needs to be shorted. Yes you can do a solder blob over them
FYI: The volume mod isn't a quick "pop the bottom off and go" thing. You have to detach the nuts for the jacks and switch, and remove the board from both sides of the enclosure. I may do it in the future, but not during my lunch break from work! 😉
Removing the board from the enclosure is the easy part 😁
Awesome. I have a problem with my caline 10 band eq. Since aprox a month ago every time i press the footswitch, the gain and overall volume drops to the half. I dont know whats wrong with the pedal.
Sounds like you might have a defect in the pedal. If all the faders are in the middle and you are losing gain definitely something internal unfortunately.
Awesome video!!! Thanks for taking the time to address and correct these issues! Do you have a link to where I can purchase the v3 pedal?
All the vendors should have the v3.0 now
@@Bassguitarist1985 ok I'm just concerned if I order from Amazon I'll still get the v2.1...
@@rtbemt understood and yes I agree. There have been a few people that have reported that exact issue. I can't imagine that there's many of the old version left. I did wind up modifying my v 2.1 to basically bypass the up converter circuitry and run it on an 18 volt power supply which completely gets rid of the noise. It does involve destructing some of the board to do so
To modify the volume fader so that it can boost, you can just put a blob of solder after removing the resistor? Or you can just leave the resistor and put the blob of solder over it enough to connect the two points? I don’t know much about electronics.
Yes you can do either or you can take a very small piece of wire and solder to each side of the resistor essentially bypassing it
@@Bassguitarist1985 Thanks man… You’ve been kind to help both the company and all us users 🍻
Can any mods be done on v2.1 to fix the volume slider?
You can try removing r59 and replacing it with a jumper wire or solder blob. When I tried it on my 2.1 board it did not change the fader operation, it only worked on the new 3.0 version
@@Bassguitarist1985 ok, thanks for the reply. Nice work on this btw.
@@IronAidanOnline thank you! I can try removing the resistor on the 2.1v and get back to you. Swapping out the components in the power supply while doable (i got the schematic to repair) I don't expect many will do so or be interested. You can expect the newer 3.0 version in 6 months hopefully.
Just (July 2024) bought one of these off Amazon, v3, same design date of 2021/10/15. High pitched whine from the metal pedal box itself (doesn't get transmitted to the the amp, the noise is from the actual pedal itself if you put your ear near the pedal), whether running from battery or mains 9v (from a TC Electronics G System, which powers every other 9v pedal I've ever tried with no issues). Whine is there with the pedal on and off. The eq slider lights are faint, the two outside ights flash when switched on. Battery dies very quickly. Sent the first one back, got a different one from a different supplier and ... exactly the same problem, so it's also going back for a refund. Pretty frustrating!! Quality control?...
@@Username89039 Sorry to hear you are having a problem. Are you powering the pedal with a 9 volt power supply or 18?
@@Bassguitarist1985 That was fast! 9 volt. Tip negative. Same issue whether battery or mains supply. And this is the second pedal it's happened on, 2 different Amazon suppliers. V3 model.
@@Username89039 any chance you can make a video of the noise?
I received mine yesterday, it has the green V3 board but there is a slight increase in volume when I turn it up on the VOL slider. I still have to try it in FX loop to see if the change is more significant, it should be. Not sure if I'll do the tweak, if I do it it's for the hell of it or if I really need that extra volume (which I probably won't).
Cool! Thats exactly the reasoning why they limited the volume fader. That being said the tweak is very simple
@@Bassguitarist1985 I can imagine some less experienced folks blowing up their power amp by connecting it to FX loop and setting both volume sliders all the way up LMFAO!! I checked the resistor, should be a piece of cake to do, just a tiny blob of solder on top and voila, done. Thanks again for your help and comments! 🤘😎🤘
@@peter333 my pleasure thank you for watching and supporting the channel!
Hi from Spain, great content, keep it up. So I have bought the Caline cp81 a few months ago and I have to arrange the issue with the noise, the 8.5 volts thing, my father knows something about circuitry but I dont know If we can solve the noise problem properly. So the question is: do you think Caline could interchange the old pedal for the new version? (I bought it on Aliexpress btw) I mean, are there any possibility they do that thing? As you mentioned is a flaw in design and they claimed the pedal is silent. I will probably buy a noise gate in the end so this problem should probably be solved by that device eventually, but I ask you this because you communicate with Caline guys and they seem very nice and communicative. Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas
Hello and thank you for watching! I cannot speak for them but my initial thought without asking them would be no. The new version should be available on the market within 5 to 6 months from the original post of this video.
@@Bassguitarist1985 Thanks for the response. You are probably right. I´ll try the method with the buck converter.
Could you tell us which comparators do they use?
For the step up converter?
Thank you for the great video. Can this pedal be used for vocal mic? If so, how and what is needed so that it can work?
Sure, but you need a mixer with a mic preamp and an effects insert point. The EQ would go into the effects insert point. 😁
Can the mic go direct to the Pedal EQ to the mix channel for individual control? I think the mic needs some sort of Hz converter to go to the Pedal EQ. Would this work ? If not what do you suggest?
@@vic12551 that is possible but not recommended. Those LowZ XLR-F to HighZ 1/4" Male adapters intentionally cut a lot of low end out. Use the EQ as an insert effect is best.
@@Bassguitarist1985 thank you for your responses. Can you think of any way to use this guitar EQ for a live performance other than using it as an effect and directly to the mic input of the mixer? How about to a Bose S1 speaker?
Great job man. Maybe you can help them fix the High Chief pedal next.
What's going on with the high chief?
@@Bassguitarist1985 people are reporting that the right side of the high chief has an issue with the resistors that prevents the gain knob from functioning and renders the dip switches useless. There are videos demonstrating the problem and a man named Frank Clarke has a blog post discussing it.
@@DimitriLeeBX ill bring it up to my contact at Caline, hoping they are already aware of the issue. I'm currently working on the CP-59
@@DimitriLeeBX can you send me a link to the videos now I'm curious.
@@Bassguitarist1985 i spent time trying to troubleshoot this thing and have similar findings i still use the right side at the end of my drive chain because it gives a light boost and compression that thickens the sound a tiny bit.
If I own an older CP-24 10-Band EQ equalizer is there a plug and play step down option? Thx
I don't have any experience with the older version. I'm not sure of what chips are inside that equalizer and if they are capable of being run on 18 volts
does this volume slider mod work on v2.1?
You would need to add an additional 2 kohm resistor to the u4 chip that operates the volume fader in addition to removing r59. A little cumbersome when dealing with surface mount parts but it is doable.
@@Bassguitarist1985 I didn’t see your message until after, But I just soldered R39 together. The volume slider works now! Do I still need to replace a resistor
@@undonesweater9112 ahh sweet maybe i didnt need to do the 2k resistor. Glad it worked out!
@@Bassguitarist1985 Yep it sounds good! I’m lucky because my power supply has one output that has a voltage knob… I found that about 5 volts makes the noise disappear! Thanks for the informative video, otherwise I’d have no idea it was even possible to fix so easy.
Hi, thank you for your video and I just received mine today. I did open up and the circuit board is the same as your ver 3,0(same date as well). I saw the R59 resistor is still there. So what you had mentioned in your video, all we need to do is bypass the resistor from 4.7k ohm to 0 ohms(saw you did it using the solder lead top of the resistor), right? If yes, then I will modify mine as well later.
Hey Michael yes you are absolutely right. If you make that modification the volume fader will work exactly as the pre gain fader
@@Bassguitarist1985 thank you man
So all it takes is a little blob of lead on top of the resistor, connecting its 2 poles to bypass it? I'd hate to ruin the pedal once it's arrived.
You did an awesome job and the brand was great too. Now, the question is: will they specify somewhere that the version which i'm going to buy is the 3.0? I mean: how can I check BEFORE to buy It which version is that?
Unfortunately there will be no way to tell unless you open up the pedal and look at the board version which is printed on the lower left hand corner.
I'd imagine they will sell off the rest of the old inventory before they start shipping the new ones.
I messaged the seller and asked, he assured me it is the V3 that I'm getting after ordering.
Interesting video. Now, I'm curious what your findings would be on the Caline CP-71 (6-band EQ) which I believe is a clone of the Maxon GE601
Does that one have a noise issue too? I havent gotton that one yet to review. If it does let me know and I can reach out to Caline. I have a direct line with them
@@Bassguitarist1985 To be honest, I never noticed any noise, but then again, I never noticed any noise issues on the CP-81 either. That could be because I tend to use modelers like the Iridium, ACS-1, and now the UAFX Dream '65. I was hoping to find out that the CP-71 is also the exact copy of the Maxon GE601 :D
@@quiksilver78 I can ask and check. My contact gave me a lost of all their pedals and what the circuit is based on. I'll get to you.
@@Bassguitarist1985 i have the pedal so I guess I can open it up but I can’t compare it to the Maxon GE601 or what to look for in the PCB of the CP-71
@@quiksilver78 yeah unless it has a background noise issue I dont see the need. When i get on my vomputer ill check the list on what the clone is based off of
you know, there is a quick fix to this delimer, quite simple also... that is lower the power adapter, ive lowered mine from 9v to 3.6 v , no noise absolutely, the eq works perfect..
Cool, just keep in mind a lower voltage means more current. Long as it can handle it. The chips run at 18v regardless of the input voltage due to the step up converter chip
What's the difference between out 1 and 2? Are they the same? How can I use them together?
You mean version 1 and 2? I dont follow
@@Bassguitarist1985
There are two output jacks: out1 and out2. They are on the left of the power supply connector. There is only one input, but two outputs.
@@ManyattaYokatta correct yea. One input, two outputs in parallel
I bought v3 and fixed the volume Thanx to your vid. I tested it with a battery supply and it works perfect. I bought a 9v 1A power supply but it does not turn it on. The box lightly lights up and clips. Can you help me how I can use a power supply for this?
Hmm is the polarity correct? It should be tip negative and barrel positive.
@@Bassguitarist1985 ye the barrel is correct. Could it be a bad power supply?
@@vic12551 that is possible yes. Try using a different power supply.
I got the exact same date as what ya received 2021/10/15. Version 3.0
The cap is still 16v instead of 25v.😢. I just bought it 2 weeks ago.
Ill bring this issue up with Caline. C1 you are referring to right?
yes, and also, the volume can only cut when cursor shifted down, no boost when shifting up.
The square thing shows a #220, how do we know it is the new or old?
Thank you
@@heavymetal11 yes the unit comes like that but if you bypass r59 it will allow the volume fader to boost
@@Bassguitarist1985thanks for the reply. I am not much of a circuitboard guy.
If i removed r59, do i need to like connect anything or just let it have the 2 holes there.
@@heavymetal11 a solder blob or a jumper wire
I have an mxr 10 band that has some horrible hum it was like it just started out of nowhere one day
Loss of shield ground at one of the jacks perhaps?
@@Bassguitarist1985 everything looks good but I’m not really sure how to tell with jacks soldered to the board. I need to purchase some deoxit and spray it in the jacks and do the same with a crate Excalibur gx900 head I have that quit producing sound after not being used for a long while
What about caline CP24?
I haven't tested it personally but I have seen the schematic and it is a different op amp chip and only designed to run at 9 volts. 18 volts is superior because you have a greater voltage swing between 0 volts and 18 versus 0 and 9.
You're like the Tom Scholz of the Bass guitar !
Thank you!!! Can't say I was ever a huge fan of Boston, but they are a big part of pop culture! I had to look the guy up and realized he invented a ton of cool gear!! Hopefully i can steer clear of any defamation lawsuits ha!
Not sure how legit it is, but I just ordered one listed as "version 3.0" off of AliExpress. When it arrives I'll pop it open to see if it is actually a 3.0! I might end up using it on the 18v out on my power supply. Not sure if I'll attempt to wire the volume up.
No need to power it at 18V. It will do that automatically. Run it at 9VDC with a min 300mA and you should be all set
Actually around this time as I'm responding to your comment they should be hitting the market. It's been about 5 to 6 months since I worked on fixing the updated 3.0 version
Could you give us an update? Is it actually 3.0? I was thinking of getting it on AliExpress as well.
@@StratEdition I was unable to quickly pull mine apart, there are screws to unscrew (easy enough!) But it also involved moving the washer/nut off the foot switch on the front, I didn't have the follow through to bother. I am typically powering it at 18v because I have the extra space on my power supply to do so, it seems to work fine at both 18 and 9v.
I can notice a volume increase on both the gain and volume controls. So I'm happy with my purchase!
@@nerdebynature Thanks for the update, as long as it doesn't have the hum it seems like it's the right one.
Here is the playlist for all the videos associated with this project.
czcams.com/play/PLV-Epq6Gp0DK2ANEVR8sJpwJFLWxwRNhJ.html
is it true bypass?
Yes it is
@@Bassguitarist1985 noice looking for 8 volt adapters unless it’s fixed by now after a year of the hiss problem
@@DeadOriginal its fixed! V3.0 is available now
Debí haber comprado el CP-81 en lugar del CP-24
El CP-81 tiene sus ventajas sobre el CP-24. ¡Ambos son pedales fiables!
Perdóname, usé el traductor de Google.
@@Bassguitarist1985 se entiende perfectamente tu respuesta. El cp-24 también mete ese ruido a pesar de usar un "isolated power supply"
@@deckomorales Había muchas versiones de la placa de circuito CP-24. Las primeras versiones también tenían problemas de ruido. Caline simplificó el diseño del circuito y no hubo más ruido. No es el mejor modelo pero utilizable el cp-24.
well i broke R45 off by accident trying to do this. I think I can fix it but I don't know what type of resistor I broke. Can you help me out?
R45 should be a 2.2kohm resistor