Effects Chain Send Style

[yeroc]

Hi all!

Had an idea for a guitar setup, wondering how to do it / what routing / boxes are needed to do so. The idea is recreating live how I'd mix a guitar in a DAW session with any modulation, time based effects blended in with a fader on sends (time based effects on full wet) rather than being directly in the signal path. The modulation and time based effects are always on, but are blended in on the fly with their own dedicated volume pedal (essentially their own fader). The other catch as well is I want to do it with amps that dont have an effects loop. What exists to make this sort of thing possible?

Just for fun

Guitar -> Pedalboard -> Amp

Within the pedalboard I'd want the signal path to be something like

Guitar -> Master Volume Pedal -> Tuner, Overdrive, Compressor -> Amp
______________________________|
______________________________|->Volume Pedal, Reverbs -> Amp
______________________________|
______________________________|->Volume Pedal, Delays, etc -> Amp

[Wonks]

You need to split the signal into three, and then the three signal chains (the direct feed will just be a cable link) go into a small mixer, which then feeds into the amp.

Something like this will actively split the signal 3 ways and also provide transformer isolation for two of the outputs.

https://brightonion.co.uk/products/thre ... ed-outputs

It’s a bit OTT as you don’t really need the foot selector switches, but the isolators are required to stop ground loops between the three signal streams.

If there’s an ‘always on’ pedal before the split that’s providing a low impedance active output, you could simply do a passive signal split just using cables (or make up a basic 1 in 3 out passive splitter box) but you’d still need isolation for two outputs. But you could use an isolation box like a Behringer HD400 or ART DTI on the outputs.

If you have some electronics knowledge, you could even incorporate a buffer circuit and the guts of an HD400 into a standard enclosure to give a 1 in 3 out solution.

Mixing the three signals back together again could be done with a simple passive mixer e.g. ART split mix, but you will drop the output level by around 6dB, so a simple active mixer is best e.g. Behringer MX400.

[Wonks]

And as you said ‘amps’, then if you are doing a wet/dry/wet thing with three amps rather than one, then you won’t need the final mixer but you’ll definitely need isolators in or after the splitter box on two of the outputs. One output needs to be hardwired as normal to provide a solid ground for the guitar.

[yeroc]

And as you said ‘amps’, then if you are doing a wet/dry/wet thing with three amps rather than one, then you won’t need the final mixer but you’ll definitely need isolators in or after the splitter box on two of the outputs. One output needs to be hardwired as normal to provide a solid ground for the guitar.

Wonks,

Thank you so much for the super thoughtful and informative post. I meant any 'mono' amp I used but thank you for recognizing that!

After looking, realize OBNE might have already made the solution for me!

https://www.oldbloodnoise.com/pedals/signal-blender

[Murray B]

The Boss LS2 might get you some way to where you want to get - it's got a lot of flexibility for routing.

[DC-Choppah]

You can also use a rackmount efx unit like a Lexicon in your guitar rig. These have the signal routing like you describe built in. These give you studio like controls in your live rig and they sound great!

Nobody wants these anymore since everyone wants plugins so they come reasonably priced.

[ef37a]

Wonks mentioned the HA400 as an active splitter and the necessity for some ground isolation. I have recently put one of the transformers from this.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AV-Link-Ground ... 046&sr=8-6

into a die cast box, jack in, XLR out and sent it to my son for possible use feeding a PA. I tested the box out using a feed from my ZED10 mixer and on my Tannoys it sounded fine on wideband music. I would think at the -10dBV levels used in guitar FX and with the limited LF reach of the electric guitar it should also perform quite well.

The transformers do need to be driven from a low resistance source and a headphone amp is the very chap!

Dave.

[Wonks]

Wonks mentioned the HA400 as an active splitter and the necessity for some ground isolation.

Isolation yes, but HA400 no. HD400 which is the twin line isolator box.

MX400 as an active mixer (to avoid any signal strength loss), but the Glass Onion unit as the active splitter as it also contains isolation on two outputs, and phase reversal (if necessary).