Order of effects in multi preamp/processor?

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 13 Sep 2001 6:07 am

You can bounce the effects in any order in many multi effects preamp/processors. So how would you set up the signal chain such as preamp/reverb/delay/EQ, etc?

mtulbert · Post by **mtulbert** » 13 Sep 2001 7:16 am

Good Morning Lee,

The order of effects is as follows. Preamp,EQ,delay,reverb.

The reason for the order is because I want the reverb to accent all of the other effects.

Also, if you use reverb before eq, you will wind up eqing the return of the reverb, which could make the reverb sound lousy. You might want to consider putting the delay at the end of the chain, but you would then be delaying the reverb itself which might be ok in some cases and bizarre in others.

Hope this helps.

Mark T.

Tony Palmer · Post by **Tony Palmer** » 17 Sep 2001 7:52 am

Hi Len,
In addition to the sequence, there's also the option of running effects in series or parallel.......any thoughts on that guys?

Mark Cohen · Post by **Mark Cohen** » 17 Sep 2001 12:28 pm

It's just an opinion, of course:
<ol>
[*]Compressor
[*]Distortion (fuzz tone)
[*]Pitch
[*]Delays
[*]EQ
[*]Leslie/Chorus/Flange
[*]Distortion (amp simulation)
[*]Speaker simulators
[*]Volume control
[*]Reverb
[/list]
Another simple comment - If you are able to do so, make sure that your volume pedal precedes the reverb.

Parallel is nice if you have effects that create multiple voices and want them to be manipulated separately.
<DIV align=right><FONT size=1><img src="http://www.brainmapping.org/Steel/MiniME.jpg" width="64" height="64" border=0>
mscohen@ucla.edu</FONT></DIV>

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 17 Sep 2001 1:40 pm

Thanks guys! I use the parrallel rather than the series in my GP-100. It seems to create more definition in the sound of the effects.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 17 Sep 2001 3:01 pm

Mark is absolutely right on. (Hi Mark!!)
You forgot my favorite effects: envelope filters and wah pedal! They go right after the compressor (IMHO).

One additional thing that the parallel loop can be used for is if you are using two amps, it can be great to have an effect only on one of the amps, so that you always have a present, dry tone. This is especially useful with reverb, I have found, because it can wash out the tone (IMHO). Also, if for instance you are using a small tube amp plus a more powerful clean one, it can be great to drive the small one, but keep the more powerful one very clean.

I usually place the volume pedal the very last thing before the amp, or an amp distortion like pedal (like the FullTone FullDrive 2) because I like the dynamics of backing the volume off the amp.

If I had roadies I would use a setup like I have done on a few gigs: a small tube head like my THD Univalve, an efx processor, a stereo VHT tube power amp, a small single 12" speaker cab, and a stereo THD 2X12" cab. I would put the envelope filter and wah pedal (and volume pedal) before the THD head, which would power the single 12" cab. Then I would go to a signal processor (stereo) and do time based effects and reverb, which would then go to the VHT power amp and into the stereo cab. This is especially important for reverb, because I hate the sound of a signal with reverb which is subsequently overdriven. The rock guitar gods have similar setups (for a lot more money), and it does make sense, but only if you don't have to carry it.

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www.tyacktunes.com

Mark Cohen · Post by **Mark Cohen** » 17 Sep 2001 9:17 pm

(And Hi, Dan...) None of this is beyond the amp manufacturers power to create. Peavey came pretty close (also IMHO) with their Sesssion 2000. I would love to see something like the Peavey PX 300 with a 2U rack space for the user's choice of processors. Forget the roadies, though, we all need an amp that we can get in and out of the car all by ourselves.<DIV align=right><FONT size=1><img src="http://www.brainmapping.org/Steel/MiniME.jpg" width="64" height="64" border=0>
mscohen@ucla.edu</FONT></DIV>