Voodoo Lab

Thanx John.

My GCX (first version, still labelled Digital Music Corp) will phantom power a first serie Ground Control (non pro) with v.1.01 software. Will the power requirement of this combination be the same? I also plan on using the Ground Control in IA mode with 2 expression pedals attached, this shouldn't make any difference to the power consumption I assume...

Thanx

Hi

I'm trying to find the best way to power everything in my setup the best way possible in order to avoid noise, issues and ground loops.
If I'm not mistaken the GCX and SM+ should draw 1A each at 9VAC, is this correct or I can get away with a lesser current draw? I'm trying to choose if the best way to power them would be using their standard wall warts plugged into a power strip and outlet from a Furman power conditioner, or if I need to get myself a dedicated power supply like the Pedal Power AC or similar units (Ciok, CAE, etc..).

I also have several other pedals and devices in the rack that run on different voltages (9VDC, 18VDC and 6VDC) with different power draws (from as low as 3.1mA to 500mA), which would need a second dedicated power supply, like the ISO5...

Getting 2 dedicated power supplies is a bit of an hassle as much as I know it would be the best solution...

Is using the standard wall warts on GCX and SM+ a guarantee for noise and ground loops?

What do you think could be good compromise?

Thanx

Just did it! Worked like a charm, now everything is as it should; I'm enjoying my GCX a lot!

Ok, I'll take a look at it, and provided they are swapped, is it as simple as unplugging and putting them back in the reverse (but standard) order?

Thanx

OK, I sorted it out: it looks strange, but seems like the previous owner had some kind of different programming in the internal GCX chip, as loops 1-4 correspond to switches 5-8 on my Ground Control and 5-8 on GCX correspond to 1-4...
The seller told me about that, but only for the IA capability, not mentioning it extends also to the standard programming. Once I figured this out the behaviour is fine.
I may patch things to the GCX in this reversed order, but it feels a bit awkward...
Is there a way to have this back to standard matching?

Yes, it's exactly what I'm trying to do; right now I'm not splitting the signal with an Y cable to run the guitar to both preamps at the same time; I just hooked up the two preamps to two different loops, just to check everything; I did the same with a stompbox, running the output of the first loop to the input of the amp. I get the straight tone of the amp, but no FX from the stomp when the loop is active...

I'll be checking the unit for modifications but the seller didn't mention anything about it.

Hi all

I've purchased a first serie GCX (still labelled Digital Music Corp) to be used with my Ground Control (V 1.01).
I've hooked it up to my system but I have an issue with audio loops: everything seems to be connected right (I've checked both manuals) and is as follows: Guitar into front panel "Guitar in">Guitar Out on back panel to Loop In 1>Send to Amp in>FX Send from Amp>GCX Loop 1 Return> GCX Loop 1 out to amp FX Return. All I get is the sound of the Guitar straight to power amp, no distortion coming from the preamp, it seems that no matter what loop is enabled no audio is routed thru that loop.
I did this just as a test to verify the system's functionality.
Ground Control and GCX seem to communicate as they should, as I've saved a patch where loop 1 is active: the "Active" led and "Loop 1" on the GCX's front panel are correctly lit when I select that patch (I've also tried other loops, same result). Loops are set as "Normal", not as "Momentary".
I've tried with a simple stomp box in loop 1 (connected in the loop's send and return) and output of the loop going to the input of the amp: I get the straight amp tone (clean or distoretd) but no pedal even though it's active and the loop is selected.
I've tried other loops and combinations, but the result is always the same...as none of the 8 Loops is working.
My only doubt is that the GCX isn't the first device connected to the Ground Control as I don't have a wired 5 pin MIDI cable at hand to connect it, so I've plugged the Ground Control to my Triaxis preamp and used its MIDI thru to connect to the GCX; I used a 7 pin midi cable from the Triaxis to the Ground Control plugging Ground Control's wall wart into the auxiliary DC socket on Triaxis' back: that's the last option I have, even though the GC and GCX seem to be communicating the right way...could it be that these issues are due to the GC not being plugged straight in the GCX's "Pedal IN"?

Thanx

The FX loop on my DC3 actually works like this: you have to plug a cable into the send even if you aren't using the preamp section: the manual states that the power section can be used as a straight power amp if the loop level is 100% wet. I tried that and I got some strange behaviour, so I got the schematics and noted that the send output must be isolated from the circuit by simply plugging a cable into it (it doesn't have to necessarily lead anywhere as it does in my setup, it just has to break the connection) and the loop becomes serial, the two sections are isolated. I tried it by plugging my Triaxis in to the FX return with the send isolated that way and it works great.
In my case I have the preamp send go to a loop return on the GCX for preamp selection, so it should work as planned; I'll have my GCX delivered in a few days so I'll be testing and reporting.

I'm putting together a similar setup.

I have a Mesa DC3 and I'm looking for a Mesa Maverick. Both are 35W EL84 amps (so the power sections are very similar as they both are Dynawatt Technology based), while the preamps are voiced quite differently.

My plan is to tap the signal at the FX loops (running them 100% wet to make them serial) and use the GCX to choose which pre and which channel should be used for any given patch. Oh, I also threw a Triaxis in for some extra sounds...
Then after the amps I have a few pedals hooked up to the GCX and the last loop goes to the mono in on a DMC System Mix Plus for 2 parallel FX units (Eventide Eclipse and Lexicon MPX-1). The stereo L/R output of the mixer goes back to the two FX returns so I have a stereo power section. From there to speakers.

I'm still missing the Maverick (they are quite hard to come by at a reasonable price and the size I need) but the rest is about to be completed.
If you are interested I'll post back my results as soon as I have the rig up and running.

L.G.

OK, cool.

Le me see if I got this right: with 4 GCX loops modified to stereo I can run the Lex in stereo, go LR from it's stereo switcher out to the VCA on the DMC stereo in. Then stereo in to the Mix 1 In 1 and use two Y cables from the 2 passive splits so that the 2 L channels go to the L inputs on FX 1 & 2 and the 2 R channels go to the R inputs on FX 1 & 2. Is that correct?

Do you think that splitting the signal with the Y cables will cause any issues to the signal: noise, ground loops, s/n ratio...?

Thanx, that looks like a solution.