I posted this diagram on a different blog page ages ago, but I had so many emails about it that I wanted to post an update and some new pictures of a smaller enclosure.
The original was posted on January 5, 2009 and I think I did this mod (if you can call it that) during Christmas 2008. This is the original video I posted on youtube back then.
and this is the materials I used:
POT: 16mm B10K
DPDT switch
1/4 in stereo jack open
Of course some wire, soldering iron and a small gold enclosure (a used box of candies!)
It’s basically a volume pot in a box where the switch inverts the external tags of the pot and allows you to double the amount of presets on your Line6 MM4 and DL4 ( and should also work on AM4 and DM4) using the ‘Expression pedal morphing’ feature that already exists on this series of pedals. For the switch to work together with the pot, the pot has to be set at ‘0’ or ’10’.
I did use an external enclosure as I did not want to ruin the original box, but I have seen on youtube some guys that did this mod by drilling the enclosure at the top and placing the footswitch directly onto the case. Other further mods include adding a Status LED (you need a battery and a 3PDT switch for that. If you drill the case you should be able to take the power from the unit itself).
This is the rough diagram I uploaded a while ago, still valid:
I am still using this box with my MM4 but as I need more space in my pedalboard I am now using a smaller enclosure:
Not the cleanest wiring job, but it has been working flawlessly for over one year, so I am going to leave it as it is…if it is not broken, don’t fix it!
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Line 6, I did this for personal use and enjoyment. If you decide to do this, I will not be held responsible to any damage to your equipment or injuries.
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dom
4 Nov 2010hi.
I am very interested in your pedal and articles in general. i was wondering whether this kind of modulation works on the m9 stompbix by line 6…
also, do you have the schematics for the normal line 6 expression pedal? it seems to be working only on line 6 products, is that so?
best, D
Gianni
4 Nov 2010I am not sure it would work on the m9…it’s a possibility as I guess the logic would be the same. I don’t have the exact schematics for the expression pedal what I built was made by gathering info around the net… having said that the box in this article IS the expression pedal…just without the ‘rocking pedal’ part, here replaced by the knob.
allan
13 Nov 2010Why is it a stereo jack? Is the lead stereo as well and the expression input jack is it stereo also therefore answering my questions? Allan
Gianni
14 Nov 2010the jack on the pedal is stereo and the patch cable is a regular mono patch cable. The reason is that there are 3 tags on the potentiometer and 3 tags on a stereo jack. The switch flips which ‘side’ of the pot’s trace goes to ground (two of the tags will be connected to the ‘ground’ of the mono jack). hope that explains it…
Jeff
15 Dec 2010Great tutorials! Keep up the good work.
Quick question – where did you get your BK10 tone pot please?
Jeff
15 Dec 2010Sorry, and the tone knob too please!
Gianni
15 Dec 2010both the knob and pot can be found in electronics stores like Maplin (Uk)or Radio Shak (Us)… on-line you can find them at Mouser.com or smallbearelec.com and many other shops.
Jeffersone
29 Dec 2010Hi Gianni, would you please kindly send me an instructions like the the same one above with the status LED? Thank you i will greatly appreciate it, by the way i am a beginner so extra info will greatly help, thank you.
Gianni
29 Dec 2010all you have to do is use a battery or 9v input jack, and a 3pdt switch instead of a 2pdt…look at this very clear scheme on the beavisaudio site:
http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/StompboxWiring/
it’s very similar if you think about it.
Jefferson
29 Dec 2010Hi Gianni thanks for the reply i really appreciated it but i still can’t get it im so sorry, im still kinda confused about it actually its my first time to do one, i did whatever is posted in your line 6 mod without the status LED it worked great last night, now i was just thinking how do it with LED but i will try to understand the guide you posted. Thank you
allanbruce
29 Dec 2010Could someone show a picture or a simple drawing of the line 6 substitute expression pedal with stereo jack, 3pdt switch, battery, LED, and 10k pot? For the life of me I cannot find one complete easy to follow schematic or picture or drawing that a layperson could follow. A lot of people would be very grateful as I have searched for days and cannot find one. Allan
allanbruce
29 Dec 2010Another wiring diagram that would be great is with how to wire a momentary switch (or 3dpt whichever is best) with led on top and a pot mounted onto the side of the line 6 pedal DL4 or the DM4 pedal. This would be a good one saving on an extra separate box. I know I am asking a lot as someone is probably making money doing the mods but us DIY’s would love to do it ourselves.
Allan
Jefferson
29 Dec 2010Hi Gianni, um can you like really show it for me? Thank you, coz i still don’t get it im still nuisance bout this stuff
Gianni
30 Dec 2010Guys, as allanbruce already said, these mods are a way to generate income for some people, so I might refrain to post full schematics for the mod with the LED and the mod on the pedal.
But I must say, they are not really that far off what is posted here: if you replace the 2pdt footswich on my drawing with a 3pdt and copy this:
http://www.beavisaudio.com/techpages/StompboxWiring/
the first row on the left of the 3pdt is what you need to add/copy with the ‘purple’ wire going to battery/jack ‘black’, and the red is as is (minus the circuit board obviously). The last two row of the 3pdt are like on my drawing on this page.
the mod inside the pedal is more involved, and I would not attempt it if you are not sure of what you are doing. The logic is the same, just draw power from the power input jack on the board inside the pedal, and solder directly on the expression pedal input jack…I think from the top of the board it is sleeve, ring, tip. I have not tried this last mod, do it at your own risk.
hope this has helped
allanbruce
30 Dec 2010So what you are saying is the 2pdt switch as drawing above looks the same on the 3pdt switch only the 3 points on the left of 3pdt are as wired on the stomp box pedal picture? This would just turn on the LED when the switch is depressed. I was just uncertain of the working of the 2 different switches and how the pot connected in with the switch.
Gianni
30 Dec 2010yes. the switches work exactly the same way, the 3pdt has an extra row of 3 contact ‘pins’
allanbruce
30 Dec 2010Thanks I will give it a try. I tried the 2dpt switch for the double switch mod and it seemed to work but the pot didn’t seem to be doing anything that is why I wanted to try with the 3pdt switch and why I was uncertain of the pot connections. Thanks for your help I hate giving up after spending the money on the parts and box. I have both the DM4 and DL4 but damaged the dl4 when I connected the US power supply in Australia. Usually they will work on 240v as well but this one didn’t and burned the transformer and something on the DL4 circuit board. Allan
Jefferson
30 Dec 2010I think i know the reason why your DPDT switch is not working when you engage the switch i had that problem before i did something to it
allanbruce
30 Dec 2010Sorry didn’t catch that Jefferson. I am still recovering from back surgery so I can only do a bit each day. So I will have another try later. I might try with the 3dpt switch without the led first and get it to work before I add the led and battery. Thanks guys for your patients. These little projects are great for my recovery from chronic pain I have had for 10 years.
Jefferson
30 Dec 2010hey allanbruce if you notice Gianni’s DPDT switch? there are 2 contact on the last row that are empty? just connect the 2 together with a wire and you are all set. That is the only missing link from what was posted and thats why you are having wondering why whenever you press the switch you thought its not working well you are correct
Jefferson
30 Dec 2010sorry for the wrong grammar hehehe im not really good in english but im trying to, but anyways all credits still goes to GIanni
allanbruce
11 Jan 2011One last question.I have got that together in my mind now but as I don’t really understand the wiring of the POT I found if I put power in the centre pole the outer ones alternate with the knob power from one to the other. Is this (centre tab) the positive or ground as marked on some schematics. Then I would still follow the first diagram DPDT foot-switch above? Centre tab to ring.
Thanks.
Allan
Jefferson
31 Jan 2011Yes you are right its very simple as that, all credits to Gianni, you can email me if you want me to draw a schematics for you. Just give me your email here n i’ll email you back
Nacho
3 Feb 2011Hi there Gianni, greetings from Argentina. As you say, this mods is functional with the DL4. What I want to ask is what will change on my delay sound? Obviusly not the type of the delay, but can I asign it to any other control of the Delay? Thanks, and I’ll be waiting for your answer.
Gianni
3 Feb 2011This little box replaces the expression pedal, so whatever you can do with the expression pedal, you can do this this box (if this makes sense). I just used it as the ‘morph’ feature, to go instantly from one preset to the other…there might be a way to control other parameters, but I did not look into that…I’d say refer to the line6 manual.
Nacho
3 Feb 2011Great!!! I’ll go directly to it. Once again, thanks a lot for your information and help!!
Nacho
3 Feb 2011Gianni, one more question… the Pot is B10K or B100K? Thanks a lot dude!!
Gianni
3 Feb 201110k as written in the article
jose
2 Apr 2011hey thanks for the video and information you offering, i really like your small enclosure, where could i buy one? can’t find one, Hope to hear from you and thanks again
max
4 Jul 2011Hi, sorry if I ask you that, but since I’m quite unable to do something like that, I was wondering if there was a product (like an external switch) that could allow me to have this result.
Thanks
Gianni
7 Jul 2011I am not aware of something that does that off the shelf, that is why I decided to build it in the first place. I guess you could go for the original Line 6 idea and get the expression pedal…