Simultaneously connect Stomp XL to amp and FRFR cab?

[DdC441]

I have a traditional tube amp and separate 2x12 cab. I have also have a Fender FR12 FRFR powered speaker. I would like to use my Stomp XL's effects with my amp, so I have it connected it with my other pedals into the front of my amp using its standard Audio In/Out jacks.

 

I also want the ability to use the amp/cab modeling of the Stomp. Now, as I understand it, you're not supposed to run amp/cab blocks into the front of a real amp, correct? I did this accidentally once, and it made a horrible noise. That's why I want to connect to the FR12 as well.

 

I want to keep the Stomp XL going with the other pedals into the front of the amp but be able to turn off my amp and run amp/cab presets to the FR12 without changing cables and switching global settings, etc. So, I've connected the "Send" jack on the Stomp to the FR12's input jack and changed the global line level setting for "Send" to "Line" level. In order for this to work I have to use a block at the end of a preset to direct the signal to the Send jack. Is that right? It seems to work, but I hate losing that precious block.

 

Does anyone have a better way to do this? I don't want to run the FR12 and my real amp at the same time. I just don't want to go to the hassle of unplugging one cable, plugging in another, and changing output level for the Stomp's audio out to Line Level each time I switch.

 

Any ideas and/or help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

PS: Sorry for the rambling post. I tried to get an AI to rewrite it more clearly, and the results were worse! Hope the above is intelligible. 

[rd2rk]

The problem with this configuration is getting any desired POST FX (delay, reverb) to both the guitar amp and the FR12 without wasting blocks duplicating them on each path.

 

Other than that, I would go the opposite way - use the SEND at INSTRUMENT level for the guitar amp.

That way the balanced MAIN OUTS could serve double duty to your FR12 or, with a 1/4" to XLR adapter, go to FOH or, if your signal paths are MONO, both.

 

Another option if your guitar amp has an FX Loop would be to use the same HX AMP for both. Using the SEND as above, place the HX AMP and all (pre and post) fx before the SEND and put the HX CAB (or IR) after the SEND. This way the AMP and all FX go to both, the CAB only goes to the FR12/FOH from the balanced MAIN Outs, and your stage sound is more like what the audience hears. The only "wasted" block is the SEND, no duplication.

 

Another option like the above would be to do it the same way except pull down the CAB to create a SPLIT after the HX AMP/FX. Pull down the MIX Block to have the Path B Output be the SENDS (LINE LEVEL) which go to the FR12/FOH with the MAIN Outs (INSTRUMENT LEVEL) going to the guitar amp. This saves the wasted SEND block. The drawback being that if there's a long cable run to FOH you would need a DI to get the balanced signal, unless you can use the XLR Out on the FR12 which I assume is balanced, but it would have to be independent of the FR12 Volume control (your stage level) or the FOH tech would hate you. There're other workarounds I suppose, but I'm tired of typing...