Electronics are an important part of today's music scene, whether the tunes are a career for you or a hobby. And one thing we all know only too well is that it doesn't just come from anywhere! Some of our gear takes batteries, some of it plugs into the wall. Some can even work both ways, and for that gear as well as some of the plug-in-only equipment, there are power supplies. Designed to process the high-voltage alternating current at the outlet into component-friendly DC power, these are essential accessories for any musician who uses amps, keyboards or pro audio hardware - not to mention guitarists who would rather not be replacing pedal batteries constantly.
Speaking of pedals, they certainly account for the biggest share of power supplies and accessories in this section. They range from compact wall plugs and cables like the Visual Sound 1 Spot system to bigger units such as the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power Mondo. Those larger models tend to be much more feature-packed, too. For example, check out the MXR M238 ISO-Brick Power Supply Unit: its outlets can handle all kinds of different voltage and current requirements, and it even offers variable outputs that can replicate the effects of voltage sag from drained batteries.
For your other gear, the type of power supply you need will naturally depend on what that gear is. There's the Yamaha Survival Kit D2 and B2 for instance, which includes power supplies among other hardware and accessories for your keyboard. If you're an audio specialist using high-end microphones that require phantom power, you'll find models like the Nady SMPS-1X Phantom Power Supply ready to deliver it. And these are only the tip of the iceberg!
There are about as many power supplies out there as there are components that need them... which probably makes a lot of sense. There are also lots of different reasons why you might be looking for one. Pre-connect your pedalboard to a shared power supply to make setup and teardown easier; replace a worn-out wall adapter for your digital piano; provide much-needed juice to a studio microphone; and more! It starts with identifying your power needs, and from there, finding the best power supplies to meet them is a piece of cake.
