line mixer and gcx

Q & A for building and interfacing your rack gear with Ground Control Pro and GCX-based systems.
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boogie1
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 4:04 pm

line mixer and gcx

Post by boogie1 »

This is a question for those in the know
for simplicity sake..lets say i have four amps, a gcx, a 8 channel line mixer, a amp selector and one processor.
I want to use the processor in the loops of all amps, none will run at same time, but want to be able to switch between amps and have different effects with each amp as they are running.
Can i do (just the effects into all amps with line mixer) this with a line mixer
hope this isnt confusing how it is written..just dont want to buy a bunch of processors
Thanks
Lee

nyteowl
Posts: 1389
Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:53 am

Re: line mixer and gcx

Post by nyteowl »

All depends on whether or not the line mixer in question has an Aux Send feature.

Personally, I'd pass on using an Amp Selector (assuming you're talking about the VL Amp Selector) because it's not MIDI Compatible. Instead I'd use four GCX loops to route your guitar signal to your four amps via each respective loop's Send jack, by expanding upon the diagram on Page 9 of the GCX Manual. If you don't have four loops open on your GCX, you could use a second GCX, or even a Pedal Switcher - which is less expensive than an Amp Selector - again using the Send jacks to feed your guitar signal to the individual amps.

The reason you need a MIDI compatible amp selector is because you mentioned the desire to change effects when you change amps, and to do that you'll need to program presets that will select the desired amp and at the same time change to the desired effect by sending a MIDI Program Change number to your processor .

So. Each amp's output would be run to an independent line mixer channel, either via a direct out if you're using four rack mount pre-amps, or by miking the cabinet if your using combos.

Your processor would connect to the line mixer's Aux Send just like a vocal FX processor connects to the FoH board. Again, as with a vocal FX processor, you would control the wet/dry FX mix for each amp channel via that channel's Aux Send. Program your presets and you should be good to go.
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boogie1
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 4:04 pm

Re: line mixer and gcx

Post by boogie1 »

Nyteowl, thanks for the response
well the actual rig is 8 heads, 3 GCX, 2 VL amp switchers and GCP
I run the amp switchers because I do combine some of the amps. usually two at a time for 4 basic sounds ( clean, dirty, 80s type metal, and ultra heavy) but I can run individuals, or combine more depending on mood. Im not a very effects heavy person, hence the four amp question..so 1 amp clean combined with a second clean with some effect if desired..and so on..anything using a processor will not be combined unless processor is bypassed completely..I was reading another thread about a line mixer and that got my brain thinking..now I am running two stereo processors with left to one head, right to another..running mono and not trying to combine it works well..
the actual line in order is as follows, the numbers correspond to GCX slots

guitar-gcx in-1 tuner-2 wah/volume-3 tube driver- 4 pre processor (for some VH type phase effect, and clean effects)- 5 amp selectors- 6,7,8, gcx 1,2,3,4,5 heads- 6 head fx loop + processor- 7 head loop + processor - 8 head fx loop + processor- gcx 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, channel switching

I am also looking at a couple of control switchers to open up gcx 3

I dont really even know what Im trying to accomplish :? , but Im having fun doing it :D

I am also open to ideas, as this is a work in progress

Thanks again
Lee

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