Voodoo Lab

Dude - where did you get those labels?

Is it possible to send midi program changes to your effects processor while bypassing your preamp?

I'd like to use my Pod as an effects processor in 10 preset mode, where a few of the GCP channels could mimic instant access. For example, if I've set channel 1-3 to change my JMP-1 presets, I'd like to use ch#4 for modulation type 1, 5 for modulation type 2 and 6 for modulation type 3, without having to worry about setting the midi channel for my preamp (I.e., bypass the preamp so that it doesn't change unless I stomp on 1, 2, or 3.

midifail wrote:

JohnClark wrote: By the way, is there a certain function you want from an update?

Is this a kind of feature request?
If so, what about:

• 12 IA Mode with Bank up and Bank down switching Presets
• More than one CC per IA
• Expression Pedal Signal to more than one Destination at a time
• Display NOT showing Preset Number to free up Display Space for Names
• A special IA-Button-Mode for Tap Tempo (sending midi Clock or CCs to more than one Destination) with its LED flashing in Sync

I'd definitely second the last two requests!

How did you take off the power supply? Any damage to the pedal board?

I was thinking about doing it, if for no other reason than the thing is heavy as hell when fully loaded with gear.

VncRockstar wrote:Tom,
Good day. I didn't realize that I failed to update my final victory over this DTR-2 Tuner issue. The final fix and solution is really funny and didn't require the $550+ in accessories (George L's solderless custom size cables, Hear-O's rack ear isolators, and other misc stuff) and hardware (Voodoo Lab Power Plus2) that I Invested in to solver the problem; which ironically didn't not solve it. I am however, very happy I persued a much cleaner tone path.

Are you ready for it? Simply clip or unsoldier the "ground" lead on your 1/4inch cable going into the Korg DTR-2 and isolated it with electrical tape. That's it my friend! After that, just a little Voodoo. Haha.

BTW. Here's how I had mine connected:
GCX 2 (my 2nd one, which is also active) Guitar THRU to Korg DTR-2 rear input
So there was a constant (muted) clean signal running to the tuner at all times.

Of course, since the "Persuit of Tone" is a never ending journey and growing life experience, I eventually ditched the Korg, replacing it with a TC Electrronic Polytune, the Tuner function on the TC G-Major2 (which I now use for Harmony) and also use a handheld tuner and expanded my setup with more pedals and insane GCX and wiring setups. I find mine to be one of the most fascinating Voodoo Lab wiring/diagrams I've ever seen. I will post a couple sample pictures and we can exchange E-mails if you're still looking for advice.

Oh man hope this came out right. I did it all from my cell phone.

Reuben
VncRockstar

Reuben

Thanks dude! That was gonna be my last resort, but didn't wanna try it until I had heard something from someone that actually did it.

thanks man!

and yeah - I'd definitely be interested is checking out some of you rack/gear pics/diagrams

Thanks again

Tom

Josh Fiden wrote:

VncRockstar wrote:Josh,
It's gone! Holy s*** as soon as I took the Korg tuner out of the the "Feed Through" it was gone. I also tried to send [To: tuner] with the "Guitar Out" and the noise came back (tried different cables too).

Now I need to know how to get a tuner in the loop. I thought that was the best way. I guess not. I would assume the DTR-2 is an industry standard that even Voodoo Lab techs use for the Pros racks; any suggestions to solving that problem?

Also, thank you for the quick response.

-Reuben-
Vncrockstar

Good work! You're almost done. The problem is a ground loop with the tuner completing the circuit. The tuner has 3 possible connections to ground: audio input, rack rails, and power (AC line input). Try isolating from the rack rails and/or cutting the ground on the audio input cable.

Josh Fiden
Founder / CEO

Josh - I have this exact same problem (with my Korg DTR-2). I've isolated the unit from the rack and I'm 99.9% sure its not due to the AC line, which would appear to leave the problem at the audio input. If that is true, what would you suggest as the best remedy?

Ultimately, I'd prefer the DTR first in the signal chain to make use of its MUTE capability for silent tuning. Conversely, if I were to just run a split signal from the GCX to the DTR and not have the signal return to the patch that would feed the poweramp, should that eliminate any grounding hum?

thanks!

Tom

John - thanks for all the help. After going through everything and spending a lot of time tweaking various settings, everything sounds great (at moderate volume levels). I have practice tonight so I'll be cranking it up... I'll let you know how it all goes down at stage level.

thx

Well, I rerouted things and the signal definitely sounds a lot cleaner (less hum/buzz).

However, when I really crank the volume on the OD channel (and disengage the Hush and NS-2, still notice a noticable amount of hum/buzz. Is this just a natural byproduct of "being loud", or is there still some ground loop issue that I may be having.

I'm thinking about picking up a few packs of the HumFrees (assuming it can't hurt).

When the Hush and NS-2 are engaged, I have them set to where there doesn't seem (to my ears) to be any noticable degredation of sustain/tone and that seems to take care of the hum/buzz within the levels I'd most likely be playing at (i.e., stage volume).

Am I just being too nit-picky? I think I'm getting to the point of a few of my previous questions:

Also (for someone with no real electrical background, who is new to the concept), how do you tell the difference between ground loop buzz/hum vs. buzz/hum/feedback because you're playing distorted and loud?

When using noise suppressors how do you "find the line" between killing the hum but not killing your tone/level?

Here's the latest and greatest diagram...

JohnClark wrote:Now lets try running the Out of GCX Loop 8 directly to the Input of the little Aligator. If this eliminates the buzz then you can either isolate the GCX from the rack rails or lift the internal ground connection for the Guitar In/Out and Feedthru.

Having all your devices with a three prong, grounded plug, all connected to the same outlet strip is in fact desirable and itself will not create a ground loop. A ground loop is created once you introduce ground path between these devices as well as having the common connection point at the power strip.

Thanks. I will try that as soon as I get home. A few questions though...

1) practically speaking, how would I "isolate the GCX" - what do I actually do?

2) whats does "lift the internal ground connection" mean?

thanks!

OK - so I re-routed the chain as follows:

Wah --> amp input (as per your suggestion John). That did seem to "clean-up" the signal (not too much, but enough that I could tell).

I also changed to following:

1) took the Hush out of the chain that runs in FRONT of the amp. Instead of using the NS-2 as mute, I'm using that as the noise suppressor for the pedals in front of amp.

2) ran a line to the mute switch in the Korg Tuner, using a Boss footswitch to activate the mute

I also tried NOT using the compression on the distortion channel, using it only for CLEAN and LEAD DISTORTION. While that didn't necessitate a path change, NOT using the CS-3 on the distorted channel seemed to help with some of the feedback issues...

I've attached an updated diagram: Here are the three big things I noted after all of this:

1) there still seems to be some ground loop issues somewhere, but the use of the Hush in the FX Loop seems to take care of this fairly OK... (not sure if this "fixes" the problem, or if its just a band-aid)

2) Using only the tuner, NS-2 and BBE, when I engage the OD channel on the AVT (with the gain at about 1 o'clock), I only get to about 8 or 9 o'clock (about 2 or 3 of 10) and it's LOUD. Granted, I'm testing this without bass drums, yadda yadda... But I have a feeling that when I do kick this in and get it up to about 4, it's gonna be REALLY LOUD OR it's gonna feedback like a mo-fo...

3) (this is not anything "noted" per se, but rather to provide some additional information).
I use a Furman power conditioner, that is plugged into a power-strip/surge protector. The following are plugged into the Furman:
-The Hush
-The BBE
-The ART
-The TCE

The Amp and the Tuner are both also plugged into the same surge protector.

Each of the stomp boxes are powered by a VL Pedal Power. The Pedal Power is plugged into the same power-strip/surge protector.

The Morley pedals sit with the GCP on an SKB powered pedal-board. That pedal-board is also plugged into the same surge protector. (I'm not powering the GCP externally - I'm using the phantom power from the GCX)

From what I understand about ground loops, as long as the outlet is properly grounded, putting all of these things into the power-strip wouldn't necessarily create a ground loop - but like I said before, I'm kinda fuzzy on this, so I could be totally wrong...

Thoughts?

Thanks!!!