Supportive Questions
We receive a lot of questions and have collected some responses for you!
If yours isn't answered below, write to us service@whimsicalraps.com.
If you're looking for service details or replacement parts, head to the whimsical wiki for part numbers.
Orders
- When will _________ be available?
- What is Whimsical Raps' return policy?
- Can orders be held until another module is back in stock?
- What is the repair and warranty policy?
Shipping
- Has my order shipped?
- My order is stuck in customs. What do I do?
- Tracking shows my order as delivered, but I have not received it. What do I do?
- Can I pick up my order in-person?
- Are VAT fees or import duties avoidable?
Mangrove
- My Mangrove just died. What do I do?
- My Mangrove does not respond to BARREL/FORMANT/AIR.
- Do I need to calibrate Mangrove?
- How do I calibrate it?
Three Sisters
- My Three Sisters just died. What do I do?
- Do I need to calibrate Three Sisters?
- How do I calibrate it?
- I hear some distortion. Is this normal?
Cold Mac
RIP
Just Friends
- Do I need to update the firmware on my Just Friends?
- What are the differences among the firmwares?
- How do I update the firmware?
- Sine and square seem to be swapped on the CURVE knob?
- What are the differences among the hardware versions?
- Does my Just Friends need the RUN jack upgrade?
- How do I initiate a RUN jack upgrade?
- The INTONE knob does not seemed to be aligned correctly. What do I do?
- Does my Just Friends need to be calibrated?
- How do I calibrate Just Friends?
W/
- Do I need to update the firmware on my W/?
- What are the differences among the firmwares?
- How do I update the firmware?
- A screw fell out! Where can I find a replacement?
- What does it mean if the orange LED above RECORD is blinking three times?
- Can I load or retrieve audio files from the SD card?
- My W/ seems frozen. What do I do?
- How do I clear a tape?
- Are there any W/ tutorials?
Â
Orders
When will _____________________ be available? (Top)
Please check the Future page for our best estimate of when it will be back in stock.
What is Whimsical Raps' return policy? (Top)
We accept returns within 30 days of purchase, for a full refund, less a 10% re-stocking fee.
Can orders be held until another module is available? (Top)
Unfortunately not!
What is the repair and warranty policy? (Top)
We are happy to service modules that are not functioning properly. If we determine that a module has been subject to damage through misuse, we will still help, but require payment of a reasonable repair fee & shipping.
Â
Shipping
Has my order shipped? (Top)
We ship Wednesdays! That means only once per week, typically early afternoon each Wednesday EST. You will receive an automated e-mail with your tracking number once your order is ready to ship. (Check your spam folder too!)
My order is stuck in customs. What should I do? (Top)
Once an order has shipped, we have no more knowledge about its whereabouts than you. If it appears to be stuck in customs, it usually magically clears & is delivered within a week. If a week passes let us know and we will open an inquiry with USPS or UPS to locate your package.
Tracking shows my order as delivered, but I have not received it. What do I do? (Top)
Oftentimes a seemingly lost package will inexplicably show up within 3 days of saying 'delivered'. If there's no sign after this time, contact us and we will start an inquiry with USPS or UPS.
Can I pick up my order in-person? (Top)
Yes! Please contact us as soon as your order is placed and be mindful that we are only able to offer pick-ups Monday through Wednesday.
Are VAT fees or import duties avoidable? (Top)
No, please don't ask us to doctor customs forms. It's illegal and can result in a *massive* fine for us.
Â
Mangrove
My Mangrove just died. What do I do? (Top)
If you purchased Mangrove before June 2017, it is likely that the issue is with the fuses in the module's power supply. Have no fear though! Please refer to this guide for instructions on getting your module back to normal in no time!
My Mangrove does not respond to AIR/BARREL/FORMANT. (Top)
The SQUARE output does not respond to the waveshaping controls (BARREL/AIR/FORMANT), only PITCH and FINE. For the FORMANT output to make sound, AIR must be turned up (CW) in order to open the AIR VCA. Once the FORMANT output is making sound, try using BARREL and FORMANT to adjust the waveshape! See the Mangrove Technical Map for more info!
Do I need to calibrate Mangrove? (Top)
Each module is factory calibrated, so there's no need to re-calibrate unless the tuning sounds out!
Â
Three Sisters
My Three Sisters just died. What do I do? (Top)
If you purchased Three Sisters before June 2017, it is likely that the issue is with the fuses in the module's power supply. Have no fear though! Please refer to this guide for instructions on getting your module back to normal in no time!
Do I need to calibrate Three Sisters? (Top)
Each module is factory calibrated, so there's no need to re-calibrate unless the tuning sounds out!
The ALL output sounds distorted. What's up with that? (Top)
The ALL jack is mixing together the three filter outputs without attenuation. Three 10v peak-to-peak signals can easily clip your +/-12v power supply! Try attenuating your incoming signals before Three Sisters. If Three Sisters is oscillating in self-resonance, then the clipping is expected! Three 10V p2p signals can add up to +/-15V which just doesn't fit in the Eurorack power world. The good news is our modules support passive-mixing of the output jacks, so if the distortion is unpleasing to your ears, just mult the individual outputs together for a clean combination!
Â
Cold Mac
The FADE section doesn't close all the way. Is something wrong? (Top)
Nothing's wrong! Due to the design of the module the crossfader may not fully close in one direction. Try switching left & right (both input and output) if you'd prefer the 'other end' to close fully. This will likely be more prominent with higher-frequency content material.
Â
RIP
Will you be making RIP again? (Top)
Unfortunately, no! However, we recently open-sourced the files so you can make your own. Head to the lines forum if you want to get in on a group-buy for the transformers.
How do I overdrive RIP? (Top)
Mix a DC offset with your audio signal before sending it to RIP. Try sweeping the DC offset up from 0v to find your sweet spot!
Â
Just Friends
Do I need to update the firmware on my Just Friends? (Top)
If you have never updated your module and bought it pre-July 2018, we recommend that you update to firmware v3.0.5. If you bought it July 2018 or later, then you will have the appropriate version for that hardware (v3.1.1). You can confirm which version is recommended for your module by peeking between the circuitboards. Look between the back-artboard with the clouds and the main circuitboard; if you see lots of electrical components on the side which the jacks are NOT on, then use v3.0.5! If you do not see lots of electrical components, just the solder pads for the through-hole jacks, then your module should use v3.1.1.
Sine and square seem to be swapped on the CURVE knob? (Top)
This is normal! Since version 3 of the firmware, these shapes changed sides which results in a more natural transition into the square waveshape.
What are the differences among the hardware versions? (Top)
There are no functional differences between the hardware versions. The first version can be identified by silver clouds on the backboard. Subsequent modules have gold clouds on the backboard.
Does my Just Friends need the RUN jack upgrade? (Top)
If it has Silver Clouds on the backboard and no 'highheel' emoji sticker on the side of the RUN jack, then it can be upgraded. If it has Gold Clouds on the backboard, or if it has Silver Clouds and the highheel emoji sticker on the side of the RUN jack, then it does not need the RUN jack upgrade. If you think you need the upgrade, see this page for more information.
The INTONE knob jumps strangely around noon on the dial. Is something wrong? (Top)
Sounds like you need to calibrate your module! See below:
Â
W/
Do I need to update the firmware on my W/? (Top)
If you bought it in the initial run of modules (April 2018) and have not done so already, get the new firmware with a mountain of fixes & improvements! Did you know that W/ now has a CV Selector for new modulation possibilities in LIVE Mode? If not, head on over to get the newest firmware!
What are the differences among the firmwares? (Top)
Just a steady set of bug fixes & functional improvements, as well as adding a major new feature, a CV Selector for new modulation possibilities in LIVE Mode! We highly recommend the newest version! See the changelog for finer details.
A screw fell out! Where can I find a replacement? (Top)
Front Panel bolts can be found here. PCB bolts can be found here.
What does it mean if the orange LED above RECORD Is blinking three times? (Top)
That means the SD card is not being recognized! Remove the module from your case, gently push the SD card and it will spring back toward you, then gently push it back in until it latches into place. No SD card in the slot? Have a look around your case as it might have fallen out! When you power your module on again, it should be back to normal functionality.
Can I load or retrieve audio files from the SD card? (Top)
Nope! It does not store audio in a standard format, the card doesn't even have a filesystem! Read and write raw data for ~maximum speed~!
My W/ seems frozen. What do I do? (Top)
First, try restarting your synthesizer! Next, try clearing the tape (see below). If that does not solve the problem, try updating your firmware to the latest version, and then clearing the tape. If that still does not work, see these instructions for re-imaging your SD card.
How do I clear a tape? (Top)
- Turn off your synthesizer.
- Hold the TOGGLE down while simultaneously holding RECORD.
- Power on your synthesizer while still holding the buttons. You should now see the PLAY orange LED slowly pulsing.
- Press PLAY, followed by RECORD, followed by LOOP (follow the lights).
- Congrats, you just cleared a tape!
Are there any W/ tutorials? (Top)
Please check out this video! We should hopefully have more on the way soon. There's also lots of in-depth discussion at lines.
Â
Generalities
My module has a scratchy pot. What can I do? (Top)
If you've got some DIY skills, you'll just need some edge cutters, a soldering iron, solder braid, and a replacement 10k linear pot! Cut the legs of the scratchy potentiometer one-by-one (including the side-mounts). Then use your iron to heat up each pad individually so that the solder melts and you are able to dislodge the clipped portion of the leg. Use the solder braid to clean out all excess solder. Finally, place your new pot & solder it in! If you do not want to DIY, have no fear! Send us an email and we'll sort it out!