HX Stomp & Orange Micro Dark - Will I explode everything?

[GetFightedMikey]

Hi everyone, 

 

On a whim I bought myself one of those Orange Micro Dark mini amp heads. Its pretty cool but I am not using it loads because I'm finding the headphone out to be a bit harsh sounding. I don't currently own a cab, but I do have a Katana MKII which I am using as a powered cab for the stomp, I also have a regular pedal board connected to the stomps fx loop. 

 

What I was wondering was, could I run a cable from the Micro Darks fx send, into the right input of my stomp, then add an IR block, and have it still play out of my katana? Am I going to blow something/everything up doing this?

 

I'd appreciate any feedback from anyone who's done something similar, or knows that it is totally ridiculous and I shouldn't be allowed near guitar gear! 

 

Cheers! 

 

 

 

[MGW-Alberta]

There's no problem running an IR into a cab.  I do it myself sometimes to get certain sounds.  Make sure your input on the stomp is matched to the output of the fx send.

[rd2rk]

You won't blow anything up, but how you do it depends on how EXACTLY you currently have everything wired and what EXACTLY you want to accomplish.

Describe the configuration in detail and define your big-picture goals (not just "get the Orange into the Katana").

 

For instance: "I want to have everything set up so I don't have to rewire anything to go from using Stomp as 4cm FX processor to pedalboard (Stereo? Mono?) into Stomp amps into Katana power amp to Orange into Stomp into Katana - all just by switching presets!" - IOW - the "All I want is EVERYTHING!" configuration - AKA I shoulda bought the full fat Helix.

 

Maybe list your needs in order of importance?

 

[GetFightedMikey]

Yo appreciate the feedback so far! 

My setup is current like so : 

 

Guitar > OD Pedals > HX Stomp L input > HX Stomp FX loop send L > Chorus > Reverb > Delay > Looper> HX Stomp FX loop return L > HX Stomp out L > Katana Power amp in

 

This way I get to use a preamp on the stomp, retain my existing external pedals, as well as use any in the stomp, and then hear the noise out of my katana which is nothing more than a powered cab right now. 

 

Now I've got the Orange I'd like to add it in, but not integrate it fully if that makes sense? Like I don't want a whole massive 7 cable method setup or anything as I don't need that many options. So with that said, I was hoping to keep everything as is, and just run a cable from the Orange FX Send to the HX Stomp Input R so I can use the Orange, have a cab sim on the stomp and then hear the result out of the katana. So it'd be :

Guitar > Micro Dark input > Micro Dark FX Send > HX Stomp R input > IR Block (Possibly not needed?) > HX Stomp FX loop & pedals > HX Stomp out L > Katana Power amp in

Does this sound like it'd be ok? I think I am just getting myself worried as the Orange has a tube pre, but solid state power section, and didn't know whether I'd be risking blowing up the stomp as I'm basically trying to use it as an IR loadbox aren't i? Although I 100% know NOT to run anything from the 'Speaker out' socket into my stomp.

 

 

Cheers! 

 

 

On 5/16/2022 at 9:28 PM, rd2rk said:

You won't blow anything up, but how you do it depends on how EXACTLY you currently have everything wired and what EXACTLY you want to accomplish.

Describe the configuration in detail and define your big-picture goals (not just "get the Orange into the Katana").

 

For instance: "I want to have everything set up so I don't have to rewire anything to go from using Stomp as 4cm FX processor to pedalboard (Stereo? Mono?) into Stomp amps into Katana power amp to Orange into Stomp into Katana - all just by switching presets!" - IOW - the "All I want is EVERYTHING!" configuration - AKA I shoulda bought the full fat Helix.

 

Maybe list your needs in order of importance?

 

 

[rd2rk]

On 5/17/2022 at 3:24 PM, GetFightedMikey said:

I think I am just getting myself worried as the Orange has a tube pre, but solid state power section, and didn't know whether I'd be risking blowing up the stomp as I'm basically trying to use it as an IR loadbox aren't i?

 

No.

A "loadbox" takes it's input signal from an amplifier's "SPEAKER OUT", splits it, attenuates it (or not) and passes that SPEAKER LEVEL signal to a speaker cab

The other part of the split is converted to LINE LEVEL, an IR is applied (or not) and that signal can then be sent to a FOH Mixer or Audio Interface for processing in a DAW.

If you were to send a SPEAKER LEVEL signal to your Stomp, all of the magic smoke would escape. There could be shrapnel.

 

Before I suggest a solution, let me be sure that I understand what you want to do.

You want to be able to have your OD Pedal in front of the Stomp, feeding a Stomp amp/preamp and/or FX, out through an FX Loop which has external pedals in it (Chorus > Reverb > Delay > Looper), returning to the Stomp for final processing before being sent to the Katana FX Loop Return (Power Amp input) via the Stomp's L/Mono Output.

You would like to insert the Orange Preamp before the Stomp's amp/preamp(with bypass switch when using the Orange?)/FX/FX Loop, but don't require the OD pedal to feed the Orange.

Your guitar would be plugged into EITHER the Stomp or the Orange.

You would NOT be using the Katana's preamp or FX.

 

Does that sound right?

 

 

[GetFightedMikey]

Yes that’s exactly what I’m hoping to achieve!

[rd2rk]

Demo preset attached.

 

Note that this is NOT the way I'd do it, as it does not optimize use of either the gear or the DSP, but you asked for minimum cabling so here ya go!

 

The comp and eq are just there as placeholders, they're not essential.

For the Helix amp I used the "Mandarin Rocker" simply for comparison purposes.

FS3 switches from Helix amp to the Orange on Return R by bypassing one or the other.

You'll need to use the cable from the OD pedal (not guitar to OD) when you switch amps.

 

EDIT: set Return R to LINE in Global Settings>Ins/Outs

 

Mikey.hlx

[GetFightedMikey]

Dude this is amazing thanks, I was expecting just a few pointers here and there not a whole preset! Really grateful for this man! I’m gonna give it a whirl right now!

[GetFightedMikey]

I thought I'd just post a follow up for anyone else that's interested in running a similar set up.

 

Firstly, a massive thanks to you @rd2rkfor taking the time out to make a preset for me to get this up and running. It was because of this, it got the ball rolling for some experimentation and now I have got an even more versatile set up than I had previously imagined. 

 

I can use my HX stomp with my Micro Dark, with my existing external pedals, and feed it all through my boss Katana. I had a stereo Y cable laying around and have used it to split the FX loops between the Micro Dark and my pedals 

 

The hardware set up is as follows: 

Guitar > Pure Sky OD > Plumes OD > HXS Input L > HXS FX Send L (Y cable ring) > 3rd Dimension > Canyon > Mooer R7 > Ditto > HX FX Return L > HXS Output L > Katana Power Amp In.

 

Also at the same time I have :

 

 HX S FX Send R (Y Cable tip) > Micro Dark Input > Micro Dark FX Send > HXS FX Return R > HX Output R > Katana Amp Input (Optional if I have the HXS & Micro Dark powered off and want to just use the Katana on its own) 

 

My signal chain within the stomp is as follows : 

 

Spare Block > Spare Block > FX Loop R > Amp Block > Cab Block (Optional if using headphones on stomp) > FX Loop L >   Spare Block > Spare Block > 

 

I set a footswitch to toggle between FX Loop R and the Amp Block, this switches from say a clean amp to the Micro Dark, and allows me to run both my OD pedals through either a HX stomp amp or my Micro Dark, as well has having my external pedal board behind either the micro dark or software amp, with enough spare blocks either end to use FX inside the stomp too. I am so happy it all works, and it sounds great to my ears and I haven't picked up on any feedback or excessive noise. I do keep the cable from the HXS right output disconnected from the katana, unless both the stomp & Micro Dark are powered off, but its there if I ever want to run the katana on its own! 

 

Might not be of any use to anyone, but thought I'd share just in case! 

Cheers :D 

[billvsa]

Hi, im not much of a gear nerd but i found this topic and since i plan on buying a orange micro dark and line 6 hx stomp as well, i was wondering if its possible to have a simple setup as follows:

 

Use the line 6 stomp only for effects (no distortions, overdrives etc) so it would be pluggin it in fx send and return of the orange micro dark, and at the same time use the stomp's cab sim so i dont need to buy a cab or a guitar interface for my mac.

 

basically use the stomp for its reverbs, delays in the orange fx loop with line 6 cab sim and use headphones for silent playing in my room?

 

thanks

 

will

[rd2rk]

Unless the SS power section is ONLY used to power a speaker (adds no flavor to the sound), you'll be missing whatever it adds.

You would need a Load Box to use the Speaker Out on the amp with the HXS (otherwise the magic smoke will escape from the HXS).

I suspect that it's just a Class D amp and doesn't try to mimic power amp tubes, that function being combined with the preamp section so that the FX Loop Send is equivalent to a Line Out (how my Catalyst works), but I'd contact Orange support to verify that. At the same time verify that the amp can be used without a speaker. It SHOULD be OK since the power amp is SS, but if not you could blow it up. If all of that that is good then you'll only need the one cable from the Orange FX Send to the HXS L/Mono Input (probably set to LINE in Global Settings) UNLESS you want FX in FRONT of the Orange.

 

In that single cable configuration you'd want to use the HP Out on the HXS to get the benefit of the HXS FX and cabs.

 

As soon as you get the HXS, update it to v3.50 (FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!). The new cabs are MUCH better than the old ones.

 

Just a thought - you might want to get the HXS BEFORE you get the Orange. There's two Orange amps in the HXS (OR80 and Rockerverb 100 MkII Dirty Channel) and while I'm not an Orange guy, I've heard that they're quite good. If you ever decide to go for a real cab then all you'd need is a Class D power amp and those are pretty cheap.