GCX with Laney IRT60H

[axeman8]

John,

I want to use my GCX to control the channel, reverb, and boost switching on my new Laney IronHeart and am unsure of what I need to do. Instead of trying to find a cable for the footswitch to GCX, like the Peavey ones, should I be looking at the Amp Selector? I am not sure how to accomplish this all with the GCX only. Do I connect the Amp Selector to the GCX then?

Thanks for the help,

Vince

[domct203]

It looks like your amp has 1/4" TRS (stereo) jacks for external switching of these features.
You can simply use Insert Cables to connect directly to the GCX loops for switching.

The first TRS jack on the amp is LEAD/CLEAN with LEAD on tip, CLEAN on ring. The other TRS jack is REVERB/BOOST with REVERB on tip, and BOOST on ring.

From pg 13 of the amp's manual:

8. FOOTSWITCH CONNECTIONS All Ironheart amps are equipped with a 5 pin DIN socket for the connection of the
supplied FS4-IRT footswitch, allowing remote operation of the following functions: Channel, Clean, Reverb, and Boost. Two 1/4"
stereo jack sockets are also provided for the connection of an FS2 or equivalent footswitch, with Channel & Clean on one socket,
and Reverb & Boost on the other. In order to use any footswitches, set Pre-Boost and Clean switches to ON, and Channel to Lead.

Dom

[axeman8]

Thanks for the help, Dom. I greatly appreciate it.

This is good news for me!

[axeman8]

Dom, the link that you provided is a 2 to 1 insert cable. How does this work with my GCX? I am assuming the 2 go into the Laney and the 1 gets split in 2 channels of the GCX? Was this just an example of the type of cable I would need? 2 separate cables, each one going into its own channel on the GCX?

[domct203]

That is the exact type of cable you will need, and you need two of them.

The TRS (stereo) plugs goes into the amp, the mono plugs go into the GCX loops switching jack, most likely the N.O. Jack. The mono ends of the cable are labeled "tip" & "ring", match that to the diagram on the back of the amp to determine what function is tip, & what is ring, so you'll know what each GCX loop is controlling.

Dom

[axeman8]

This will only take up 2 GCX loops, correct?

[domct203]

You'll need one GCX loop per function you want to switch. If you want to control all four functions available at the two TRS jacks on the amp you will need four GCX loops.

FWIW- I found using a Control Switcher for functions like this a better (and cheaper) option, I did not want to waste 4 GCX audio loops on channel switching my Mesa Roadster.

Dom

[axeman8]

Dom,

I don't know what I was thinking. I meant 2 GCX loops just to switch the channels. The other 2 would be for the boost / reverb. I follow. The Control Switcher is more for multiple amps, no? It looks to me like you still need to use 4 GCX loops with it and one amp. I'm new to all of this stuff, so I am not sure if I am missing something here...

I really appreicate your assistance and insight.

Thanks again.

[domct203]

The Control Switcher was designed to do exactly what you are doing, and works (almost) exactly the same as using a GCX for switching. It even sets up in the GCP as a second GCX with only 4 loops.

Check it out here: http://www.voodoolab.com/controlswitcher.htm

My Mesa Roadster has External Switching jacks simular to your Laney, except each function is a seperate 1/4" jack. I use a Control Switcher with these External Switching jacks to change the channels on the amp and it works great.

Dom

[axeman8]

Dom,

I wanted to thank you for your help with this. I finally got around to connecting everything and it works great. Taking up 4 instant access slots kinda sucks, but it's better to use one vehicle for tap-dancing than two. Thanks again.