HX Stomp + 2 guitar inputs, mono path to same output. Can you check my work?

[johnwnyc]

Hi everyone, I have two of the same electric guitar but they have different tunings. I switch between the two.

 

Playing live, I'd like to share the same exact signal path and I'm trying to avoid using a separate ABY box.

 

I own an HX Stomp.

 

Would this be the correct way to set up the signal path at the beginning?

 

I understand I am 'sacrificing' a block and the splits but my signal chain is fairly minimal.

 

Thanks for any help.

[johnwnyc]

Related to this — if I have an entirely mono path and use only one output, do I even need to do a collapse to mono like I describe?

[PaulTBaker]

I believe you would create another input block (instead of the gain block), set the main input to input 1 and the new input block to input2.  It would be the same for each guitar.  you could set a footswitch to mute one input source and turn on the other... and vice versa.

 

good luck.

 

I am doing something sort of (not really) similar.  I have a helix floor and play electric mostly, but need acoustic for some songs.  I have a preset for the electric and the acoustic.  the input on my electric preset is set to Guitar, the input on the Acoustic is set to Aux.  That way the whichever guitar I am using, the other guitar will not make any noise.

 

Because I don't like all the switching between snapshot/preset mode to get to another preset, I used the command center to assign a footswitch to go to the next or previous preset.  that works great.  I have both guitars plugged in all the time, I click on the footswitch to activate whichever preset I need.

 

In your case, you could do the same.  Get the chain the way you want it.  Set the input to input 1.  copy that preset and change the input to input 2.  Then use command center to make a footswitch go to the input 2 preset for the input 1 preset.  In the input 2 preset, use command center to go to the input 1 preset.  This would let you change depending on what guitar you are using.

 

The drawback of this approach is that if you change one preset then you would have to make the same change in the other preset if you want them to be the same.

 

 

[lou-kash]

On 1/16/2024 at 4:06 PM, johnwnyc said:

Would this be the correct way to set up the signal path at the beginning?

I understand I am 'sacrificing' a block and the splits but my signal chain is fairly minimal.

 

If both guitars will be using the same preset, you don't need to sacrifice a block at all.

1. Pull the first block you're actually using – or even all of your blocks – to path B.
2. Then use Split Y on the split block to switch one input to Right 100 and the other to Left 100, and vice versa. For this you might either have to "sacrifice" a footswitch, or you can switch the input balance via snapshots. Whatever suits you best.
3. On the Mixer block, set the A Level to -60 dB to mute it completely. You won't need the separate path A, as it's where you're dumping the guitar input currently not in use.

That's it, in fact. The issue here only is that the Split block cannot exist on its own, hence the need for path B at the beginning of the chain.

[johnwnyc]

On 1/16/2024 at 2:18 PM, lou-kash said:

 

If both guitars will be using the same preset, you don't need to sacrifice a block at all.

1. Pull the first block you're actually using – or even all of your blocks – to path B.
2. Then use Split Y on the split block to switch one input to Right 100 and the other to Left 100, and vice versa. For this you might either have to "sacrifice" a footswitch, or you can switch the input balance via snapshots. Whatever suits you best.
3. On the Mixer block, set the A Level to -60 dB to mute it completely. You won't need the separate path A, as it's where you're dumping the guitar input currently not in use.

That's it, in fact. The issue here only is that the Split block cannot exist on its own, hence the need for path B at the beginning of the chain.

 

Thanks. I tried this but I only heard one guitar.

 

I did try it a different way (see attached image) and was able to hear both guitars.

 

I plan on only have one output connected, which will go to FOH. 

 

The option on the right seems like the way to go, unless I'm missing something?

 

 

[johnwnyc]

Am I over thinking this? Do I even need the split path? If I only have one output. wouldn't everything naturally be collapsed into mono?

 

I did my best to describe my question in the image here:

[lou-kash]

On 1/16/2024 at 10:10 PM, johnwnyc said:

I tried this but I only heard one guitar.

 

Of course. That's the point, or not?
Or do you want to play both guitars at the same time?

As I have noted, you want to use a footswitch or a snapshot to switch between input L and input R.

 

On Split Y:

• Input L active: Balance A = R100, Balance B = L100 
• Input R active: Balance A = L100, Balance B = R100
• assign these values to a footswitch or to a snapshot
• if you want to open up both inputs for some reason, then both need to be R100

On Mixer:

• Level A = -60 dB to constantly mute path A
• the rest as you see fit

[lou-kash]

On 1/16/2024 at 10:20 PM, johnwnyc said:

Do I even need the split path?

 

Not necessarily. You can also simply just turn down the volume on the guitar which is not in use. 
But keep in mind that the cable can still pick up noise. That's why a mute on the Stomp is useful.

[lou-kash]

On 1/16/2024 at 4:06 PM, johnwnyc said:

they have different tunings

 

Just curious: which open tuning do you use?

I'm a total fool for open G, since many years on an acoustic with or without slide, to the excess that when I eventually (but temporarily) joined a band as an electric guitarist again a few years back, I realized that I almost forgot how standard tuning works… :D

[johnwnyc]

Thanks, @lou-kash, this is so helpful.

 

Only one guitar is being played at a time.

 

I'd imagined just rolling off the volume on the guitar not being played, rather than sacrificing blocks or splits. 

 

Good point about the cable.

[johnwnyc]

Open G and Open D are great! And yes, one is mostly for slide.

[lou-kash]

On 1/16/2024 at 10:49 PM, johnwnyc said:

Only one guitar is being played at a time.

 

It would be nice to have more controls e.g. directly on the input block where the noise gate is.

Perhaps it's been already requested on Ideascale?
Ah, there it is: https://line6.ideascale.com/c/idea/33459

 

On 1/16/2024 at 10:50 PM, johnwnyc said:

Open G and Open D are great! And yes, one is mostly for slide.

 

I've never tried open D, but in the 1980s I was experimenting with open E for some time while learning to play slide.
By the end of the 1990s I switched to bass guitar almost full time but "rediscovered" the guitar after both guitarists left our acoustic blues combo and I remained just with the singer. That's when I went full open G about 10 years ago. Eventually I brought in a guitarist from another band of mine, "forced" him to play open G (he soon started to love it!), and I switched back to acoustic bass guitar. But I also sometimes perform my solo program which is fully based on the acoustic open G with slide, although I call it "Lou Kash plays a kind of blues", hehe.

 

Since summer 2020 I run everything through the Stomp, sometimes even a vocal mic. The Stomp can handle so much! :)