Blackhole pedal “forgets” preset settings after about an hour

[wabznasm]

Brand new Blackhole pedal just 4 days old, currently on firmware 1.0.4 and checked as up to date in EDM.

When a preset is selected and played for some time, without any knobs being touched the reverb sound changes in the same way as if a knob has been rotated and the overall reverb sound changes to match the current knob settings rather than the preset.

Tested using a 300mA output on the power brick that runs my other pedals, on a dedicated 500mA output on the same power brick, and using the Eventide provided wall-wart supply. Initially it was observed while playing and this has happened one more time since, otherwise the rig has been setup for testing with a negative gravity preset but with the gravity knob set to positive (as this is obvious when it changes) and I’ve checked it every 30 minutes. Each time, it’s “forgotten” the preset between 60 minutes and 90 minutes. This has happened 4 observed times now, and 3 times in the last 12 hours. Mains supply can be slightly unpredictable here though nothing obvious has happened during the tests, and I understand the Blackhole should remember its current settings even if it is power-cycled so even if there is a short brown-out the pedal should stay on the preset.

I don’t believe I’m misunderstanding the operation of the pedal, but it is new to me so there is that chance.

I expect you’ll suggest a full factory reset and firmware upgrade as the first approach to try, but thought i might as well confirm before doing that.

 

Thanks.

[tbskoglund]

Sorry for the issues you are having.

Yes, a factory reset would be good to try.

Do you have anything connected to the exp/MIDI or USB ports? Are you using EDM while this happens?

Can you make sure that the preset ladder is not indicating a new preset has been loaded when this happens? For example, if the top preset LED is lit, after you wait some time and the sound has changed, is the same top LED still lit?

[wabznasm]

Nothing else plugged in – no USB, MIDI or expression pedal. Not connected to EDM either.

And doing more testing today to be absolutely sure what’s happening with the preset ladder when this happens, I’ve been completely unable to replicate it. I’ve had the rig running for about 8 hours, checking back every 30 minutes or so, trying different variations of presets, freeze footswitch on and off, and it’s been absolutely fine. I’m quite sure I didn’t imagine it, but I’m not sure what else to say for now. So leave this with me and if it starts being weird again, I’ll try some more trouble-shooting and follow up here.

Though I would ask: the freeze feature is touted as an infinite freeze, but I’m finding it degrades after a few minutes (using the footswitch and not the Feedback knob). This seems to be the case whether modulation depth and rate are 0 or not. It seems reasonable but just want to check if this is how it is supposed to work?

Thanks

[tbskoglund]

That is a mystery, but glad to hear that you are not experiencing the issue anymore.

Yes, that is the case with freeze on the Blackhole stompbox, it will gradually fadeout.

[wabznasm]

Sounds fair about the freeze. Mystery about the preset resetting. Time will tell…

Love the pedal though 🙂

[Author]

Posts