Hi,
Could anyone please take a look at my worksheet and tell me if this will work? My main concern is Loop #7 (s.pic.)--does this make any sense at all?
I'm trying to figure out whether I can switch the effects loop between those two amps with just one GCX loop or if I really need to add a second GCX to this setup (since I would run out of available GCX loops).
I've been reading thru many posts in this forum and found this here:
"In order to share effects between two amplifier effects loops you will need at least two free GCX loops. One will A/B which amplifier effect send will feed the effects and the other GCX loop will A/B which amplifier effect return receives the effected signal. This is shown in the GCX manual in the A/B Switching section under Audio Loops. Example 1 would be how you would connect the amplifier effect sends and Example 2 would be how you would connect the amplifier effect returns. I hope that helps!"
This basically would tell me that it is not working... right? I am very confused about the whole signal path right now. Please help me! I am also very open to suggestion for improvement.
Thank you in advance!
Best,
Dennis
GCX 2 Amps / 1 FX Loop
GCX 2 Amps / 1 FX Loop
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Re: GCX 2 Amps / 1 FX Loop
You're right to be concerned about Loop 7 because it will not work as pictured, and unfortunately, it looks like you will be one loop short.
With regard to Loop 7, you've got the Vox FX Send connected to the Loop 7 Send, which won't do anything at all. The Vox FX Send needs to connect to the Loop 4 Return, so that Loop 4 will switch between the Vox and HiWatt FX Loops.
So, for the time being, forget about using Loop 8 for channel switching on the HiWatt, and shift your Viper, Zen Drive and RC Booster over one loop each so they occupy Loops 5, 6, and 7 instead of 4, 5, and 6. The Loop 7 Out will go to the Loop 8 In, the Loop 8 Send goes to the HiWatt FX Return and the Loop 8 Out goes to the Vox FX Return. Configure Loops 4 and 8 to be active when Loop 3 is active and the end result will be the appropriate FX loop being active depending upon which amp you choose to play through.
Now about that extra loop you need, there are a few ways you can get around this. You can, of course, invest in a second GCX, or if you'd like a less expensive option you could invest in a Voodoo Lab Pedal Switcher, which you could run from within a single GCX Loop. The least expensive solution is the most obvious one, that being to take one of your pedals out of a GCX loop, and if I were you, I'd consider moving two pedals, the Zen Drive and Xotic Boost.
Now I always tell people to place their effects in whatever order sounds best to their ears, but personally, I would never place an OD pedal in the FX Loop of any amp, which is a general rule of thumb most players follow. If I were you I would consider taking the Zen Drive out of Loop 5 and putting it in Loop 3 and using Loop 4 for switching between amplifiers.
Use Loop 5 for the FX Sends, Loop 6 for the Viper, Loop 7 for the FX Returns, and Loop 8 for channel switching on the Hiwatt, but here's the twist. Run the Loop 6 Out to the RC Booster In and the RC Booster Out to the Loop 8 In. This keeps the Booster in the FX Loops without occupying a GCX Loop. You'll just have to make room for it on your pedal board.
On the other hand, you could forget about the FX Loops entirely, and run everything in front of your amps which, given your diagram, would free up two GCX loops. Decisions, decisions.
Again, this is your gear, so do whatever sounds best to you. I'm just offering suggestions for you to consider while designing your rig.
With regard to Loop 7, you've got the Vox FX Send connected to the Loop 7 Send, which won't do anything at all. The Vox FX Send needs to connect to the Loop 4 Return, so that Loop 4 will switch between the Vox and HiWatt FX Loops.
So, for the time being, forget about using Loop 8 for channel switching on the HiWatt, and shift your Viper, Zen Drive and RC Booster over one loop each so they occupy Loops 5, 6, and 7 instead of 4, 5, and 6. The Loop 7 Out will go to the Loop 8 In, the Loop 8 Send goes to the HiWatt FX Return and the Loop 8 Out goes to the Vox FX Return. Configure Loops 4 and 8 to be active when Loop 3 is active and the end result will be the appropriate FX loop being active depending upon which amp you choose to play through.
Now about that extra loop you need, there are a few ways you can get around this. You can, of course, invest in a second GCX, or if you'd like a less expensive option you could invest in a Voodoo Lab Pedal Switcher, which you could run from within a single GCX Loop. The least expensive solution is the most obvious one, that being to take one of your pedals out of a GCX loop, and if I were you, I'd consider moving two pedals, the Zen Drive and Xotic Boost.
Now I always tell people to place their effects in whatever order sounds best to their ears, but personally, I would never place an OD pedal in the FX Loop of any amp, which is a general rule of thumb most players follow. If I were you I would consider taking the Zen Drive out of Loop 5 and putting it in Loop 3 and using Loop 4 for switching between amplifiers.
Use Loop 5 for the FX Sends, Loop 6 for the Viper, Loop 7 for the FX Returns, and Loop 8 for channel switching on the Hiwatt, but here's the twist. Run the Loop 6 Out to the RC Booster In and the RC Booster Out to the Loop 8 In. This keeps the Booster in the FX Loops without occupying a GCX Loop. You'll just have to make room for it on your pedal board.
On the other hand, you could forget about the FX Loops entirely, and run everything in front of your amps which, given your diagram, would free up two GCX loops. Decisions, decisions.
Again, this is your gear, so do whatever sounds best to you. I'm just offering suggestions for you to consider while designing your rig.
For Sale: Original DMC GCX in Excellent Condition ($275) and a far more versatile SoundSculpture GL also in Excellent Condition ($1750). Free CONUS Shipping.
Re: GCX 2 Amps / 1 FX Loop
First of all: wow! nyteowl, thank you so much for clearing things up in my head! This sure helps a lot! I attached the edited version of what you recommended me to do (the actual conclusion).
I see what you mean by recommending not to place an(y) OD in the FX loop--I know this might be the completely wrong forum to discuss this here, but let me give you a short explanation why I was "creating" this maverick combination: the Viper. Somehow I came up with the idea to have the Viper feeding an OD pedal--this is it.
And you're so right--decisions, decisions... options, options... cheeze! Luxury problems, basically!
Based on your 2nd last line I really have to reconsider the whole concept of the FX loop again. It is not so long ago I started to experiment with the FX loop; I just felt that the RC Booster is changing the tone. So in the FX loop it would just boost the overall sound. This also came up with the replacement to the FX loop of the Viper. Viper...
My original approach why I started thinking/dreaming (...) of buying the GCP/GCX setup was to have all my effects in seperate loops (a true bypass -> this really freaked me out once I got attached with the sound degradings between pedals in general) and, of course, the freedom to have the pedals stowed away securely and nicely too!
I'd rather spend the money in a more expensive solution (with options to enhance/modify/alter per se) before I buy tons of equipment, like loopers and amp switchers and blah-blah (well, yes, it might be cheaper for now, but in the long run...?) and as far as I've done my researches this is the best product out on the market these days in terms of flexibilty and stability. So, if I need a second GCX to fit my needs, I will just go for it!
Again, thank you so much for going thru my stuff!
I see what you mean by recommending not to place an(y) OD in the FX loop--I know this might be the completely wrong forum to discuss this here, but let me give you a short explanation why I was "creating" this maverick combination: the Viper. Somehow I came up with the idea to have the Viper feeding an OD pedal--this is it.
And you're so right--decisions, decisions... options, options... cheeze! Luxury problems, basically!
Based on your 2nd last line I really have to reconsider the whole concept of the FX loop again. It is not so long ago I started to experiment with the FX loop; I just felt that the RC Booster is changing the tone. So in the FX loop it would just boost the overall sound. This also came up with the replacement to the FX loop of the Viper. Viper...
My original approach why I started thinking/dreaming (...) of buying the GCP/GCX setup was to have all my effects in seperate loops (a true bypass -> this really freaked me out once I got attached with the sound degradings between pedals in general) and, of course, the freedom to have the pedals stowed away securely and nicely too!
I'd rather spend the money in a more expensive solution (with options to enhance/modify/alter per se) before I buy tons of equipment, like loopers and amp switchers and blah-blah (well, yes, it might be cheaper for now, but in the long run...?) and as far as I've done my researches this is the best product out on the market these days in terms of flexibilty and stability. So, if I need a second GCX to fit my needs, I will just go for it!
Again, thank you so much for going thru my stuff!
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Re: GCX 2 Amps / 1 FX Loop
Well, your new drawing still has an error in it, and it's good old Loop 7 again. A simple fix, though...
The drawing shows the Loop 7 Return going to the HiWatt FX Return, but what you really want is the Loop 7 Out to go to the HiWatt FX Return.
Personally, I'm at a crossroads. I don't have anywhere near enough loops to connect everything I want to run, and I really would like my rig to be smaller and lighter as opposed to getting bigger and heavier as it has been doing these last few years. A first world problem, to be sure, but for me at least, I think it's time for some major downsizing.
The drawing shows the Loop 7 Return going to the HiWatt FX Return, but what you really want is the Loop 7 Out to go to the HiWatt FX Return.
Personally, I'm at a crossroads. I don't have anywhere near enough loops to connect everything I want to run, and I really would like my rig to be smaller and lighter as opposed to getting bigger and heavier as it has been doing these last few years. A first world problem, to be sure, but for me at least, I think it's time for some major downsizing.
For Sale: Original DMC GCX in Excellent Condition ($275) and a far more versatile SoundSculpture GL also in Excellent Condition ($1750). Free CONUS Shipping.
Re: GCX 2 Amps / 1 FX Loop
Shizzl! Alright - corrected... thanks again!
Wuahhh?! Too much gear?? I'm curious - would you share?
A couple years back I started out with the claim "reduce to the max" and threw everything out which I wouldn't really need (sometimes tough decisions to live with
), because the road taught me not to bring everything on stage (depending on the size of the production/budget). So, I usually would travel with just a few pedals I really want to shape "a" sound (for right now this is the BB+, the RC Booster and the TU-2), since most of the times the venues provide several amps to choose from (from cheezy to ok). Festival venues here around generally allow you 15min. to get ready--just enough for a line check and some adjustments.
But today? And at home...? Completely different story there... Moving to a new and bigger house brings up new options as for example the hunter-gatherer in me! And maybe the GCP/GCX gear helps me to bring back more versatility to my live sound...? We'll see.
Wuahhh?! Too much gear?? I'm curious - would you share?
A couple years back I started out with the claim "reduce to the max" and threw everything out which I wouldn't really need (sometimes tough decisions to live with
), because the road taught me not to bring everything on stage (depending on the size of the production/budget). So, I usually would travel with just a few pedals I really want to shape "a" sound (for right now this is the BB+, the RC Booster and the TU-2), since most of the times the venues provide several amps to choose from (from cheezy to ok). Festival venues here around generally allow you 15min. to get ready--just enough for a line check and some adjustments.But today? And at home...? Completely different story there... Moving to a new and bigger house brings up new options as for example the hunter-gatherer in me!
And maybe the GCP/GCX gear helps me to bring back more versatility to my live sound...? We'll see.- Attachments
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