Nice Rack NYC | Rack Deconstruction Pedalboard
Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 12:53 pm
10 years ago this pedalboard system should have / would have been a rack system build. In the age of Bank of America playing a large role in the new economics of the concert industry (highest ever revenues for shareholders, insulting wages for crew and pay cuts to artists) the "fly date" one off gig (i.e. the "good paying gig") has become a staple for artists of all levels. This fact combined with the TSA 50 pound cut off for checked luggage, made building this rig as a rack system impossible.
I "deconstructed" the switching rack concept into separate pedal boards with adherence to a rigid criteria for tone, weight & dimensions, and functionality. Each board and it's mated Pelican case had to fly at under 50 pounds. Pelican cases weigh roughly 50% of their comparable size case made of ABS & Plywood Laminate, allowing for more gear inside the case, rather than case around the gear. Pelican cases do not yield structural integrity in the pursuit of the weight, they are as strong if not stronger than a ABS & Plywood case. I've seen air cargo handlers destroy more "flight" cases than Pelican cases.
The "Control" board sits on stage with the player, the "Dynamics" & "Wet" boards are designed to sit offstage. The Loop Station board is used as a writing tool and if added to the live show, it's functionality can be addressed sufficiently via MIDI that it too can remain offstage. This allows the stage environment to remain as clean as possible with the least amount of gear and cabling onstage.
The Control Board consists of a Fractal Audio MFC101 Midi Foot Controller, 2x Ernie Ball 25k VP JR's being used as Expression Pedals, Dunlop "Dimebag" Wah, TC Electronics PolyTune, all devices except the MFC are powered by a Voodoo Labs Pedal Power Iso 5.
The Dynamics Board consists of 3x RJM Music Mini Effects Gizmo's routing audio to and from a Foxrox Zim, DOD 250, Fulltone GT500, DenTone Octavia Clone, Way Huge Swollen Pickle, Z Vex Fuzz Factory, Blackout Effects TwoSome, Death By Audio Interstellar Overdrive, Boss Metal Zone, Boss GE-7 Graphic EQ & Boss DD3 Digital Delay. All devices on this board are powered by 2x Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2.
The Wah's placement in the signal chain is after the Fuzz Factory and before the TwoSome. Even with the Wah pedal having a true bypass circuit, the load of 50' feet of cable to and from the Wah would be an unpleasant artifact to add to the tone path. The Wah pedal was modified with a new switch and a extra 1/4" TS jack as was the Mini Effect Gizmo housing the Wah loop. By adding a control cable to the audio send and return from the Wah pedal, I'm able to have the Wah's internal switch activate or deactivate the Wah's loop. The send and return cabling to the Wah are only added to the tone path when the Wah is in use.
The Wet Board consists of 2 RJM Mini Effects Gizmo's in parallel routing audio to and from the Stereo In & Outs on the Eventide PitchFactor, Eventide ModFactor, Eventide TimeFactor & Eventide Space. The Left Mini Effect Gizmo's Output is routing to the Left 1 Input on a RJM Music Mini Line Mixer. The Right Mini Effect Gizmo's Output is routed to an A/B Box. The A option is routed the "Right" signal to the Mini Line Mixer's Right 1 Input. The B Option is routed to the Mini Line Mixer's Left 2 Input. When engaged the "Right" signal is summed with the "Left" signal for a full bandwidth & image feed to a single amp rather than the intended Stereo Amp setup. The Eventides are powered by a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power Digital.
The Wet Board's output can be routed to & from a RC-50 Loop Station before passing on to the Amplifier's Input. If the RC-50 is not in use a mechanical switch on the "Wet" board interface will bypass the send and receive points for the RC-50.
Nice Rack NYC
Custom Cables, Racks & Pedalboards
WEB: http://www.NiceRackNYC.com
EMAIL: info@NiceRackNYC.com
I "deconstructed" the switching rack concept into separate pedal boards with adherence to a rigid criteria for tone, weight & dimensions, and functionality. Each board and it's mated Pelican case had to fly at under 50 pounds. Pelican cases weigh roughly 50% of their comparable size case made of ABS & Plywood Laminate, allowing for more gear inside the case, rather than case around the gear. Pelican cases do not yield structural integrity in the pursuit of the weight, they are as strong if not stronger than a ABS & Plywood case. I've seen air cargo handlers destroy more "flight" cases than Pelican cases.
The "Control" board sits on stage with the player, the "Dynamics" & "Wet" boards are designed to sit offstage. The Loop Station board is used as a writing tool and if added to the live show, it's functionality can be addressed sufficiently via MIDI that it too can remain offstage. This allows the stage environment to remain as clean as possible with the least amount of gear and cabling onstage.
The Control Board consists of a Fractal Audio MFC101 Midi Foot Controller, 2x Ernie Ball 25k VP JR's being used as Expression Pedals, Dunlop "Dimebag" Wah, TC Electronics PolyTune, all devices except the MFC are powered by a Voodoo Labs Pedal Power Iso 5.
The Dynamics Board consists of 3x RJM Music Mini Effects Gizmo's routing audio to and from a Foxrox Zim, DOD 250, Fulltone GT500, DenTone Octavia Clone, Way Huge Swollen Pickle, Z Vex Fuzz Factory, Blackout Effects TwoSome, Death By Audio Interstellar Overdrive, Boss Metal Zone, Boss GE-7 Graphic EQ & Boss DD3 Digital Delay. All devices on this board are powered by 2x Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2.
The Wah's placement in the signal chain is after the Fuzz Factory and before the TwoSome. Even with the Wah pedal having a true bypass circuit, the load of 50' feet of cable to and from the Wah would be an unpleasant artifact to add to the tone path. The Wah pedal was modified with a new switch and a extra 1/4" TS jack as was the Mini Effect Gizmo housing the Wah loop. By adding a control cable to the audio send and return from the Wah pedal, I'm able to have the Wah's internal switch activate or deactivate the Wah's loop. The send and return cabling to the Wah are only added to the tone path when the Wah is in use.
The Wet Board consists of 2 RJM Mini Effects Gizmo's in parallel routing audio to and from the Stereo In & Outs on the Eventide PitchFactor, Eventide ModFactor, Eventide TimeFactor & Eventide Space. The Left Mini Effect Gizmo's Output is routing to the Left 1 Input on a RJM Music Mini Line Mixer. The Right Mini Effect Gizmo's Output is routed to an A/B Box. The A option is routed the "Right" signal to the Mini Line Mixer's Right 1 Input. The B Option is routed to the Mini Line Mixer's Left 2 Input. When engaged the "Right" signal is summed with the "Left" signal for a full bandwidth & image feed to a single amp rather than the intended Stereo Amp setup. The Eventides are powered by a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power Digital.
The Wet Board's output can be routed to & from a RC-50 Loop Station before passing on to the Amplifier's Input. If the RC-50 is not in use a mechanical switch on the "Wet" board interface will bypass the send and receive points for the RC-50.
Nice Rack NYC
Custom Cables, Racks & Pedalboards
WEB: http://www.NiceRackNYC.com
EMAIL: info@NiceRackNYC.com
