ABY box?

Bjazzman · #1 04-09-2008, 07:06 AM

is it possible to have an aby box where a and b are always on so i can use my bass and keyboard at the same time but mute the bass if i want?

would i run into grounding issues or something?

ehque · #2 04-09-2008, 07:26 AM

You're looking at a ABY box.

Passive ABYs tend not to do so well with 2 instruments of different output levels. I recommend an active blender <- that's the term you should be searching for, and the Barge Concepts VFB-jr is one of them.

Bjazzman · #3 04-09-2008, 07:40 AM

i will be comming out of a radial jdi duplex.. can't i set the levels there? i know i can set the level of my microkorg but sometimes i like to fiddle with the volume on my bass. that vfb-jr doesen't look like i can mute the bass if i want

Bjazzman · #4 04-09-2008, 07:47 AM

im thinking maybe the radial i/o in a smaller footprint?

Bjazzman · #5 04-09-2008, 09:56 AM

the only thing about the radial i/o is that you can't play both at once

Bjazzman · #6 04-09-2008, 07:40 PM

i've been chatting back and forth with brian from loop-master. he said "Well, in my honest opinion, using two instruments at the same time will yield some problems due to shared grounds. Long story short, if both are on and you turn one off, you'll turn the other off too. I'd stick with an A/B box without the Y part."

so really, is there no way to play both at the same time? or would i have to get a mini-mixer? im not really into that. i just want a small box to switch between the two

ehque · #7 04-09-2008, 08:51 PM

Get the VFB-jr. Keys into "INPUT", Bass into "RECEIVE". OUTPUT goes to your amp.

Turn it on and blend to volume match. When you step on it (turning the blend off) you'll get pure Keyboard signal, and your bass will be muted.

Bjazzman · #8 04-09-2008, 08:56 PM

but would i be able to run both at the same time?

ehque · #9 04-10-2008, 09:51 AM

Yes, when it is on, the VFB-jr blends both inputs according to the 1 knob. When it is off, it only lets 1 input through at full volume. Sounds like exactly what you need.

kevteop · #10 04-10-2008, 09:56 AM

A Boss LS-2 would let you blend two inputs, with a separate volume knob for each. You wouldn't be able to mute just one of them though - maybe have a volume pedal handy for your bass?