GETTING YOUR FX IN ORDER PART 2

Multi FX's Pedalboards (Example 3)

If you do not have an FX loop in the pedal board, I would advise not using the compression/distortion in the Pedalboard, but getting separate pedals to do that (stage 2: i.e. go between the guitar and the pre-amp), and placing the pedalboard in the FX loop). Think of the multiFX's pedal board as a multi FX unit in the last method (on the Rack) taking the position of the second compressor, delay, modulation and reverb stage.

SENDING A STEREO FEED TO THE PA

Sending the stereo signal to the PA from the end of stage 4 will keep the quality of the FX (as most PA's have a higher bandwidth and dynamic range then the power amp stage in guitar amps.

To get a stereo sound to the PA from the above methods you could split the output from the last pedal/unit in the amps FX loop (stage4), via a splitter box that splits one stereo out into one stereo and one mix output (or two stereo outs). The first stereo out would go to a stereo input on the PA and the mix out put to drive the power amp (or two power amps via the second stereo out).

You could add further enhancements to the stereo out of stage 4 before it goes to the PA by passing it through a STEREO 'valve' EQ, compressor/limiter To add more definition to the sound going to the PA you could add a STEREO enhancer or sonic maximiser to the stereo mix coming into the PA.

If you have an amp with an FX 'through send' like a Fender 'the twin' ect you could feed the FX that go in the loop and just take their out puts straight to the PA desk.

SUB-MIX-IT (Example 4)

In this method we use the same chain as example 2 up to the output of the second compressor. Here we take the output from the second compressor into one of the channels of the submixer (something like a small mackie, or spirit would do the job well).

With this method we have much more control over the FX's, and to a degree can mimic the studios send and returns (from the Mixing desk). The delay, modulation and reverb (stage 4) are fed from the FX 'send' on the sub mixer. The outputs of these FX's are returned to the sub mixers FX returns.

Another advantage of this method is that the EQ on the desk can also help to control/sweeten the pre-amp signal coming into the desk, the FX returns, and the out put of the desk separately.

The output of the desk can go to:

a) the input of the power amp (your amps fx loop 'return') you can either mix your stereo channels on the desk down to mono and send it back to the power amp (your amps fx loop 'return'), or you can send the stereo signal to two power amps on stage.

b) As most submixers (like the Mackie 12 and Soundcraft spirit have two stereo outs) you can also send a separate (stereo) mix directly to the PA desk at the same time. This also helps to stop your FX (i.e. delay, chorus and REVERB) from distorting, with the additional benefit of being able to EQ the mix going to the PA separately.

GOOD CONNECTIONS

In all the above methods good quality leads are essential! try to make your leads as short as possible, the signal gets weaker through long leads. Check that your jack plugs etc are in good order.

Finally a word of warning, DON'T put any pedal/unit in the chain that is a) not serving a useful function, or B) degrades the sound to a point where you loose a lot of the qualities gained by the rest of your system. Cheap digital pedals are notorious for having low quality A/D D/A (analogue to digital etc) converters in them and can often be responsible for blocking a lot of the dynamic range and tone.

There is an old saying that nothing sounds as good as a guitar plugged straight into a good amp. Listen to the sound of your guitar straight into the amp (paying attention to the treble, mid and bass, also notice the noise level (of hums and buzzes). Good use of effects should not lower the quality but raise it. If your sound lowers in quality after the FX units have been added, go through the chain removing one at a time to isolate which one is causing the main problem, Then put it back in the chain and experiment with the levels (of the input and output) of that pedal. If it still doesn't hack it stick it in the draw :) and forget it.

By Kevin De Souza