Hi all,

I've just built a pepper from the kit bought directly from Bela.io. I can use the IDE to upload to the "Getting Started" pure data example to the Bela board fine, and the digital outs (LEDs) and ins (Buttons) are working correctly. I don't get any test tone from the audio outputs, or passthrough from the audio inputs, or and pass through from the analog I/O. I also can't see anything on the IDE scope.

If I remove the bela board, run the same project and connect headphones I can hear the test tone, so it seems like it must be something to do with my Pepper build 🙁

I have looked at the schematic and can't see anything obviously wrong with my build. Using a meter I can see that the IC is connected correctly to the IO and the Bela board. I can also see that the analog IO appears to be connected to the analog IO pins, and the supply voltages all seem to be correct.

This make me think I'm missing something obvious or doing something stupid, does anyone have any idea what I could be doing wrong here?

are you powering pepper from Eurorack power ? If powering from USB, you won't get anything from the analog inputs or on the audio outputs

Yes I set the startup project to getting started, currently running in a eurorack. Same situation, digital works, analog doesn’t.

I also tried connecting usb at the same time as eurorack, I hope I didn’t break anything?

Thanks, here’s a pic. The cap on the wrong side of the board is a replacement of the same value, the provided cap was far too wide for the pcb and I broke a leg trying to fit it. Power all seems to be working tho.

It looks like the analog io is actually working, I thought the knobs were offset but it seems like they scale the input?

Still nothing from audio io though.

Thanks again

For the audio outputs, did you install the 4x1 socket header on J9 on the Bela cape ? See step 24 here

For the analog inputs, did you use the longer pin headers on Pepper as described at step 17?

I installed the header on the Bela board, and used the long pins on the pepper board. I’ve just checked with just the bela cape connected to pepper and i think it’s an open circuit between the header and the socket. I’ve resolved both sides and I don’t think it’s dry joints, any advice?

Got it! It was simple after all. I soldered the socket on the bela board in the wrong place. Thanks for the help troubleshooting it.

what about the analog inputs?

They're all working apart from one, which I guess is probably a cold joint somewhere.

The left channel has a large DC offset and is very quiet and clipped. I'm going to take it apart tomorrow and have another look if I get time. I suppose its probably one of the caps around the amp IC, either a cold joint or a broken leg. I haven't touched a soldering iron in years so my skills are rusty at best.

Thanks for the help