Simultaneously control effect pedals and amp channels

[JohnClark]

Ah-Ha! There were a lot more pedals than I realized! But you have come up with a perfectly do-able solution with running a Commander, HEX, and Pedal Switcher to accomplish the switching! Right on!
Commander presets will control both the HEX and the Pedal Switcher simultaneously while also setting the correct Amp Channel, and the Pedal Switcher buttons will give you Instant Access buttons to turn those four pedals on or off at any time. Should be a pretty cool rig!

Let us know how it goes!

[joecar]

Ah-Ha! There were a lot more pedals than I realized! But you have come up with a perfectly do-able solution with running a Commander, HEX, and Pedal Switcher to accomplish the switching! Right on!
Commander presets will control both the HEX and the Pedal Switcher simultaneously while also setting the correct Amp Channel, and the Pedal Switcher buttons will give you Instant Access buttons to turn those four pedals on or off at any time. Should be a pretty cool rig!

Let us know how it goes!

Awesome, will do, and thank you to both of you gentlemen that have been providing advice here! Just placed an order for the pedal switcher, and should get everything early next week just in time for my custom Blackbird pedalboard to arrive as well. I know it sounds a little odd to be setting it up like this instead of just going GC Pro with a GCX... but the GC Pro is massive in size and would not allow me to keep the pedals out front with me. I prefer to keep them out there instead of offstage, so I can make quick tweaks and adjustments to the settings.

[joecar]

Ah-Ha! There were a lot more pedals than I realized! But you have come up with a perfectly do-able solution with running a Commander, HEX, and Pedal Switcher to accomplish the switching! Right on!
Commander presets will control both the HEX and the Pedal Switcher simultaneously while also setting the correct Amp Channel, and the Pedal Switcher buttons will give you Instant Access buttons to turn those four pedals on or off at any time. Should be a pretty cool rig!

Let us know how it goes!

John, quick question here, if you happen to know.... so with the set up I am planning on doing that I explained yesterday.... to actually connect everything, I would go from MIDI Out on Commander, to MIDI IN on Pedal Switcher, and MIDI out on Pedal Switcher to MIDI IN on HEX, and MIDI Out on Hex to MIDI IN on amp correct? Then when programming the Commander, I would follow the instructions on how to assign to a switch on the Commander with the MIDI commands from my amp's manual for channel changing, and then while setting the commander to change amp channels, instead of assigning the switch for the amp channel and immediately saving, I would also select the appropriate loops from the Hex and from the Pedal Switcher as well, and then clicking to 'save' on the Commander to capture the specific amp channel and desired effect combinations all assigned to each specific toggle switch, that a correct understanding? Again sorry, this is my first venture into the world of MIDI, but I am techy with computers (work in tech industry actually), I'm just trying to logically follow the signal chain. And if I am correct in my thoughts above... this is not nearly as complicated as it previously had seemed to me about 15 years ago when I first came across MIDI, which is the reason I have avoided it for all these years... figured I would give it another shot.

[JohnClark]

Your MIDI cable routing would be just fine!

For saving loop switch status of the Pedal Switcher and HEX you would follow the Commander Programming Presets instructions, where you will do as follows...
1. Press the loop buttons you want active on HEX and Pedal Switcher.
2. Press-and-Hold the Store button on Commander, then press the Preset button you want to save to.

For getting the amp channels set to go with these presets, you would follow the 5150III manual for setting the channels via MIDI where you will basically do as follows...
1. Press both Channel Select buttons on the amp to enter Learning Mode.
2. Press the Commander Preset button you want to save to.
3. On the amp, select the amp channel you want to be recalled.
4. Press both Channel Select buttons on the amp to exit Learning Mode.

Good Luck!

[joecar]

Your MIDI cable routing would be just fine!

For saving loop switch status of the Pedal Switcher and HEX you would follow the Commander Programming Presets instructions, where you will do as follows...
1. Press the loop buttons you want active on HEX and Pedal Switcher.
2. Press-and-Hold the Store button on Commander, then press the Preset button you want to save to.

For getting the amp channels set to go with these presets, you would follow the 5150III manual for setting the channels via MIDI where you will basically do as follows...
1. Press both Channel Select buttons on the amp to enter Learning Mode.
2. Press the Commander Preset button you want to save to.
3. On the amp, select the amp channel you want to be recalled.
4. Press both Channel Select buttons on the amp to exit Learning Mode.

Good Luck!

Hey John,

Thanks for this... one final question (as I am waiting on another delivery or two this week prior to being able to start getting this together on the board and making it work) so if I am assigning loops to the same switch as I am assigning amp channels to, I assume I just simultaneously work through the aforementioned, i.e. get the amp in learning mode, and get the commander set up to assign, then choose the effects I want and amp channel I want, and click to save them all to the first preset at the same time?

Second, on the Hex, loop 1 is isolated.... Does that essentially mean I could run just loop 1 by itself out in front, and then run loop 2-6 through the FX loop, off the same HEX, and use the MIDI out to control amp channel? If so that then means I should be able to use loops 2-6 on the hex, and all 4 on the pedal switcher in the FX loop (where I prefer most to all of my FX) .... and leave just the first loop on the HEX in front of the amp for the OD and EQ pedal to control the volume gaps on the 5150 III 2x12 COMBO amps.

[JohnClark]

I think you will want to save loops and amp channels separately in order to be completely successful. Follow the instructions I posted above and it will work correctly every time.


Yes, Loop 1 on HEX can be routed differently than the other loops. No problem to have HEX Loop 1 in front of the amp then run HEX Loops 2-6 as well as the Pedal Switcher in the effects loop of the same amp.

Good Luck!

[joecar]

I think you will want to save loops and amp channels separately in order to be completely successful. Follow the instructions I posted above and it will work correctly every time.


Yes, Loop 1 on HEX can be routed differently than the other loops. No problem to have HEX Loop 1 in front of the amp then run HEX Loops 2-6 as well as the Pedal Switcher in the effects loop of the same amp.

Good Luck!

thought of one more question, is it possible to use 1 pedal switcher, and have it control pedals both out front and in fx loop?

[joecar]

I think you will want to save loops and amp channels separately in order to be completely successful. Follow the instructions I posted above and it will work correctly every time.


Yes, Loop 1 on HEX can be routed differently than the other loops. No problem to have HEX Loop 1 in front of the amp then run HEX Loops 2-6 as well as the Pedal Switcher in the effects loop of the same amp.

Good Luck!

John so I think I am going a different route here to allow me more future flexibility as well.... I purchased a second Pedal Switcher, so I now have 2 Pedal Switchers, and a Commander.... going to return the Hex. I also ordered a 5150 III 50 watt head, and 2x12 cab, and am going to sell my 2x12 combo... different story... BUT so with the 2 pedal switchers and the commander, if I have understood what you have said in the chain... I should be able to change amp channels off of the commander itself, use the pedal switchers to control all my pedals, either 4 in the FX loop and 4 out in front.... all 8 in FX loop, or all 8 out front... but at the end of the day I don't actually need the HEX or control switcher to change the amp channel on the 5150 III whether 50 watt head or combo... the Commander itself as minimalistic as it is with midi functions, has enough midi ability to change the amp channels, correct?

[JohnClark]

I think you will want to save loops and amp channels separately in order to be completely successful. Follow the instructions I posted above and it will work correctly every time.


Yes, Loop 1 on HEX can be routed differently than the other loops. No problem to have HEX Loop 1 in front of the amp then run HEX Loops 2-6 as well as the Pedal Switcher in the effects loop of the same amp.

Good Luck!

John so I think I am going a different route here to allow me more future flexibility as well.... I purchased a second Pedal Switcher, so I now have 2 Pedal Switchers, and a Commander.... going to return the Hex. I also ordered a 5150 III 50 watt head, and 2x12 cab, and am going to sell my 2x12 combo... different story... BUT so with the 2 pedal switchers and the commander, if I have understood what you have said in the chain... I should be able to change amp channels off of the commander itself, use the pedal switchers to control all my pedals, either 4 in the FX loop and 4 out in front.... all 8 in FX loop, or all 8 out front... but at the end of the day I don't actually need the HEX or control switcher to change the amp channel on the 5150 III whether 50 watt head or combo... the Commander itself as minimalistic as it is with midi functions, has enough midi ability to change the amp channels, correct?

You got it! Commander will directly control the channels on the MIDI capable 5150III amps.