HX Effects send / return loops - with analogue effects

[conradkriel]

Hi All 

 

Can anyone advise what method / how the switching works on the HX 's two send / return loops - (the ones you use for analogue pedals)

 

The reason i ask is that the loops seem to change the character of my drives. They are not as crisp or "analogue" sounding - they have this hint of digital flavouring to them (even with no other effects in the chain whatsoever) ?

 

Does anyone know :

 

1) How the HX routes the signal - e.g. does it go 

• guitar to input - to analogue loop
• back to HX
• TO AMP ?

 

2) In this routing does HX convert the analogue drive signal to digital? i wouldn't see any reason for it to have to do this as I imagine you could (like the true bypass option) just send the signal via relay switching from the guitar to the loop and back to the amp (maintaining an all analogue signal until it hits the loop) 

 

LASTLY :  Am i correct in assuming that in 4 cable method you cannot access "true bypass" as you need to have the fx loop active in 4 CM ? If there is a work around id appreciate your feedback 

[phil_m]

The HX's FX loops do indeed add a layer a D/A-A/D conversion, but I doubt that's what you're actually hearing. More likely you're hearing differences because of different input and output impedances and/or buffers. This is especially true if you had those pedals first in your chain before. The converters used in the HX FX are very good (same ones used in the Axe FX, for instance). The fact that the loops are digital means you can separate them and place them anywhere in the signal chain, independently from each other.

 

And, yes, if you're using the 4CM, true bypass isn't an option.