How many guitarists or bassists get by with just ONE effects pedal, and how many tabletop arrangements work with just ONE device? Most applications start with multiple pedals or small devices, all of which need to be supplied with power - which means that all of the available sockets on the user's power strip are quickly taken. If detrimental influences such as the infamous high-frequency "whistle" are added to the mix, the recording or gig can ultimately be ruined, and it is precisely here that the ISO Power Block IEC comes into play: Equipped to power the entire pedal setup reliably, but also from just ONE mains connection, this solution makes tangles of power adapters and the associated issues a thing of the past. Incidentally, the V12 model is the largest of the range, with smaller setups catered for by power blocks equipped with 6 or 9 connections.
The RockBoard ISO Power Block V12 IEC is a DC multi-power adapter with twelve galvanically isolated and filtered power connections for pedals and small devices, and it is also equipped with a 5V USB port for devices with a corresponding power connection. The mains input is compatible with all common mains voltages worldwide. The device has four 9V outputs loadable to 250mA, four 9V outputs loadable to 500mA, and a further four outputs that can be switched from 9 to 18V and also deliver 500mA. The polarity of all connections is "centre negative", and each connection has a dedicated status LED that serves to indicate a short circuit, for example, subsequently resulting in the deactivation of the affected output while the remaining outputs continue to run. High-frequency noise is also eliminated thanks to the use of efficient filtering technology.
Investing in a reliable multi-power supply is a no-brainer for anyone looking for a clean and stable power supply, especially in recording situations – whether at home or in the studio – where problems with power supplies susceptible to interference can quickly spoil the mood. Valuable time is then spent searching high and low for the source of the problem, to the point where sometimes even the will to play is lost. This situation can be encountered in the rehearsal room as well as on the stage, and anyone who performs regularly is only too well aware of the importance of achieving a problem-free and fully-functional setup – a fact that applies in equal measure to the equipment itself, the cabling, and the power supply.
RockBoard is a brand belonging to Warwick Music Distribution GmbH, which is based in Markneukirchen in Germany's Vogtland region. RockBoard's range focuses on pedalboards, which are available in numerous different designs to suit any application and budget, and are complemented by an extensive range of pedalboard accessories, from slick patchbays for expanding the boards and high-quality patch cables for loss-free connection through to high-performance power adapters and the "QuickMount system" for rapid effect changes. In short, RockBoard offers virtually everything that players need to easily set up their own individual pedalboard.
A collection of individual pedals, a fixed pedalboard, or an arrangement of tabletop devices requires a correspondingly large number of power supplies. The ISO Power Block provides a central and space-saving alternative to an otherwise fully populated power strip and to the use of "daisy chain" systems, which not only require all of the devices involved to operate with the same voltage, but can also be rendered entirely inoperable in the event of a short circuit. With the ISO Power Block, both of these problems are eliminated. The 60cm-long connection cables included in the scope of delivery leave sufficient room for free-standing pedals to be arranged as required, and even setups comprising small drum machines, drone synthesizers, and grooveboxes can be reliably fed from a central power supply via the multi-power adapter. Depending on the scope of the setup, individual longer cables may be required, which can be purchased separately.