About to get my midi setup...

[Gambit]

Okey dokey, hi guys.

My needs: I run 2 amps simultanously, I dont need to be able to turn these amps on and off, I use both all of the time. I need to be able to run and control via midi all of my floor pedals and I need to be able to control rack FX.

I'm thinking for the sake of making my life easier, I run all of my pedals infront of the amps and run a different rack FX unit in each amps FX loop. Both FX units would also need to be controlled via midi.

So I'm thinking a GCP and 2 GCX's to start.

Could someone please explain to me the best way to set the loops so I can have most of my pedals infront of BOTH amps and certain pedals only infront of certain amps.

I've been debating wether its better for me to control my pedals via midi with GCX's or control them on the floor with pedal switchers.

As you can see im still a bit confused on the right route to go for my needs. please help!

thanks guys

[Gambit]

???

[JohnClark]

Splitting the signal out to two amplifiers can be done with a Y cable. This split can be placed after the pedals that are common to both amps. More pedals can be routed after the split to run off to the individual amplifiers. I suppose the decision between using the GCXs or the Pedal Switchers will largely depend on how many pedals you are talking about and if you want to rack mount all this stuff or have it on a pedal board.

[Gambit]

Hey John, thanks so much for your reply... please bare with me as im new to all this and still haven't gotten a great grasp on how everything works... ive read the manuals! a few questions:

1.) Wow John, I had no Idea a Y cable could handle the load and split effectively to two amps. Will signal loss be a problem or is there a specific cable you recommend?

2.) Tell me if this sounds about right:

Guitar -> GCX 1( the gcx would then have 8 pedals attached via loop) -> GCX 2 (GCX 2 has a few pedals attached and then with Y cable I send the outs to amp A and the other back into the GCX) -> Additional pedals only intended for amp B -> Out of GCX 2 to amp B. I run then two seperate FX units in each amps loop. Everything is controlled by the GCP.

3.) I have a few pedals that I need to adjust either during performance or in between songs... For example the line 6 pedals that have four different on/off switches for different FX.... moogerfooger etc.. I'm guessing that on these pedals those four nobs cannot be controlled via midi and I would have to get long cables and run them from the GCX onto my floorboard next to the GCP. OR would it be a better idea to get 1 pedal switcher and keep those four pedals in front of me since it can also be controlled via GCP?

4.) I imagine wah is often used in between guitar and GCX?


again thank you so much for your time, I definitely want to buy VooDoo labs products i just need a bit more info first!

[JohnClark]

1. Using the buffer in the GCX will allow you to split the signal with no degradation. The only problem you may encounter will be the possibility of ground loop buzzing. This can be solved with an appropriately lifted ground or by using isolation transformers before the amplifier inputs should there be a problem.

2. Your routing scenario looks to be correct.

3. The pedals that need to remain on the floor will be better handled by a Pedal Switcher or even a pedal board mounted GCX rather than running long cables for each one back to a rack mounted switcher.

4. Wahs are normally routed as one of the first things in the signal chain and are rarely included into a switching loop due to the need to have your foot on the pedal in order to use it anyway.

[Gambit]

1.) So at some point to deal with FX order (assuming I want all the pedal switcher FX in both amps), I would have to go out of the GCX before the amp Y cable split, into the pedal switcher, back into the GCX... and then split to Amp A.... route whatever other effect I want before Amp B.... and then go out into Amp B. Correct?

2.) Guitar plugs into buffered input. check. When I Y cable out of the GCX one of the cables has to go back in about an inch in distance and the other has to go a number of feet to my amp depending where it is in the show. Solutions? I'm thinking a Y attachment with one short cable and one long cable. Will that work?

thanks again john!

[JohnClark]

1.) So at some point to deal with FX order (assuming I want all the pedal switcher FX in both amps), I would have to go out of the GCX before the amp Y cable split, into the pedal switcher, back into the GCX... and then split to Amp A.... route whatever other effect I want before Amp B.... and then go out into Amp B. Correct?

This is correct

2.) Guitar plugs into buffered input. check. When I Y cable out of the GCX one of the cables has to go back in about an inch in distance and the other has to go a number of feet to my amp depending where it is in the show. Solutions? I'm thinking a Y attachment with one short cable and one long cable. Will that work?

Either a custom made cable or a Y Cable that terminates out to two cable mounted jacks would be fine.

[Gambit]

1.) Y cable that terminates to two cable mounted jacks? lol, please explain.


2.) Is there any way to be able to switch pedals like the line 6 filter modeler with 4 different functions with the GCX?

[JohnClark]

1.) Y cable that terminates to two cable mounted jacks? lol, please explain.

This would be a Y cable with a single Male TS plug that breaks out to two TS female jacks. One of the female jacks would get a short patch cable connected to it for the shorter run and the other one would get a longer cable connected to it for the long run.

2.) Is there any way to be able to switch pedals like the line 6 filter modeler with 4 different functions with the GCX?

The Line6 four button modeler pedals lack the ability to remotely control the four buttons.