Voodoo Lab

Hey guys I know this question gets brought up a lot but I really just need a clear cut explanation on how to run 2 heads simultaneously into the GCX with the ability to switch on/off with the ground control similar to the capabilities an A/B box has. I run 2 amps into 2 cabs live and I would really like to utilize my GCX instead of a radial ABY switcher. I have tried using they Y cable method but couldn't get it to work just right. Any input would be much appreciated

cmdoom wrote:Hey guys I know this question gets brought up a lot but I really just need a clear cut explanation on how to run 2 heads simultaneously into the GCX with the ability to switch on/off with the ground control similar to the capabilities an A/B box has. I run 2 amps into 2 cabs live and I would really like to utilize my GCX instead of a radial ABY switcher. I have tried using they Y cable method but couldn't get it to work just right. Any input would be much appreciated

If you have your GCX Owner's Manual handy, take a look at the diagram in the middle of Page 8. If you don't have the manual download it here.

Referring to the diagram, the Audio In represents your guitar signal. Activating the loop in question will route your signal to Amp-2; when the loop is inactive, Amp-1 will be live. Needless to say, if there are any effects pedals you prefer to run in front of your amps, they should be in loops ahead of the amp selector loop. This routing, however, will only let you switch between amps and not let you use them simultaneously. If you want to A/B/Y, you have to use two loops; just follow the signal routing diagram on Page 9.

Here's a neat little trick I picked up a few years back, illustrated by the diagram on the bottom of Page 8. This loop should be first in your signal chain, and the effect we're connecting here is your tuner. When the loop is On, your signal is fed to the tuner and nowhere else, so you get silent tuning. When the loop is off, the tuner is bypassed entirely.

Hope this helps...

Make sure the Y Cable you are using in in fact a Y Cable and not an Insert Cable.

A Y Cable is used for splitting a single mono output to feed two mono inputs and has all three ends mono.

Regarding the last post about the Y cables i have a question...

I have a Lexicon MPX1 and it has left/right send and a left/right return, but it does not say that one of them is Mono.. does this mean that the effects are running out in stereo and i m only hearing one side if i only have a left send and a left return plugged into my gcx? should i be using y cables to connect the mpx 1 to the gcx?

I just got my gcx yesterday and im just setting everything up now...

weblogik wrote:Regarding the last post about the Y cables i have a question...

I have a Lexicon MPX1 and it has left/right send and a left/right return, but it does not say that one of them is Mono.. does this mean that the effects are running out in stereo and i m only hearing one side if i only have a left send and a left return plugged into my gcx? should i be using y cables to connect the mpx 1 to the gcx?

I just got my gcx yesterday and im just setting everything up now...

According to Page 1-4 of your MPX1 manual, yes, you should:

"Mono Applications: Using the MPX 1 Outputs with Mono Return Virtually all of the MPX 1 programs generate stereo or dual output signals, even when driven by a mono source. For the best sonic results, the MPX 1 outputs should be connected in stereo. If you are using the MPX 1 in a mono system with only a single input, use a simple 2 x 1 mixer or a Y-connector to combine both outputs.

NOTE
Individual programs can be optimized for mono input by simply inserting a mono effect, such as Volume (M), into the last block of the routing map. See Chapter 3: Editing for more information on routing. See Chapter 7: The Effects and Parameters for more information on individual effects."

FWIW, there is a GCX stereo mod available, just in case you weren't aware. I believe you have to contact tech support for info.

Hope this helps...