Boss LS-2 Problem

[amfmsb]

I bought 2 LS-2s. I'm trying to accomplish a tri-amp-emulating pedal board. In the first LS-2, loop A has a clean settup (a punch factory and an EQ pedal) and loop B contains a second LS-2. The second LS-2 has an overdrive and distortion setup in channels A and B, respectively. The clean and overdrive are always on, and I use a mute switch to click in the distortion channel. Both LS-2's are in A+B mix mode.

Here's the thing- I want every channel to be heard, similar to running 3 amps. However when I kick in the heavy distortion channel (with little bottom end) it steals some sound from the low end-heavy clean channel. I thought these pedals kept their A and B loops seperate, like a mixer.

Anyone one have suggestions on how to fix the low end dropout when a louder pedal with less low end is mixed in?

[B.C.]

Originally Posted by amfmsb

I bought 2 LS-2s. I'm trying to accomplish a tri-amp-emulating pedal board. In the first LS-2, loop A has a clean settup (a punch factory and an EQ pedal) and loop B contains a second LS-2. The second LS-2 has an overdrive and distortion setup in channels A and B, respectively. The clean and overdrive are always on, and I use a mute switch to click in the distortion channel. Both LS-2's are in A+B mix mode.

Here's the thing- I want every channel to be heard, similar to running 3 amps. However when I kick in the heavy distortion channel (with little bottom end) it steals some sound from the low end-heavy clean channel. I thought these pedals kept their A and B loops seperate, like a mixer.

Anyone one have suggestions on how to fix the low end dropout when a louder pedal with less low end is mixed in?

Hm, they should be seperate. I think the problem lies in the distortion settings.

What do you mean by "steals part of clean channel?" Is it to much low end?

Let us know and we can go from there

[amfmsb]

thanks for the help. To keep things simple, Lets just say I had one LS-2, with one channel clean and one dirty. The clean channel has lots of bass, the dirty one, not as much, but plenty of volume.

I have both volumes on the Ls-2 set at 12 o'clock, and in A+B mix mode. I would like the clean sound at the same volume all the time, and when I want to, I un-mute (the distortion channel runs into a mute box before it gets back to the LS-2) the distortion channel. When I do this, I hear a noticable decrease in my bassy clean sound.

I think this is because the output on the distortion pedal is higher than the clean channel. idealy, I want that distortion to be added to my clean sound, but this is not the case.

I can turn the clean channel up, but then I hear it overpower the distortion. It seems the LS-2 is behaving more like a blend than a mixer.

I'm thiking of putting a mini-Makie mixer on my board if I can't figure this out.

[pedrodelawasp]

It's an unusual set up (not a bad thing, you understand...)

You've basically got the LS-2 constantly switched on the A+B mix, yeah? So, you have your clean signal mixed with a muted signal from your OD. Have I got that right? If both A and B are at 12 o'clock, thery're both supposed to come through at around the original level prior to the LS-2 (ie. not boosted or cut). What you might find then is that your getting an awfully loud overall/combined output signal, so perhaps the clean is clipping, sounding overdriven and, to the ear, swallowed up in the dirty sound. That's a guess anyway. Sorry if I've misunderstood your set up.

Edit: Is it not possible for you to use the LS-2 as the switch between your clean and the blended sound? I presume you've already tried without the mute switch, just putting the distortion in the A loop? That way you use A to set the amount of the distortion signal you want to come through and B to set the clean... So 'A+B MIX' is the blended and 'BYPASS' clean on its own. (I bet you've done that already. If that doesn't suit you, could you explain why not and maybe that'll trigger some more ideas).

[pedrodelawasp]

Going over your original post, I think I'm getting where you're coming from, maybe...

You're looking to get the clean, overdrive and distortion all coming through as three distinct sounds, but you're using one amp rather than the far more costly and cumbersome option of three amps. I think the unfortunate answer is that, whenever you're combining signals, putting them through ultimately one cable into one rig, you'll never get two, let alone three sounds completely distinct from one another. I've had some good results using an LS-2 to combine clean with various ODs and distortions (EHX LBM, Marshall Guv'nor, SD-1) and you do get the impression of two signals, but not like you'd get when bi-amping. Sorry I can't be of more help, dude...

[amfmsb]

Here is PDF that shows the the layout so you guys get can see what I'm doing- a few things have changed, but you'll get the idea.

[B.C.]

Ok, now we can get somewhere.

Give me a little time to go over it and I'll get back to ya.

[amfmsb]

looks like unmarked black pedal and wah got cut off. The black box is the distortion muter, and the wah...well it doesn't really have any relevance.

[cheapbasslovin]

Have you tried cutting back on the output of both distortion channels heading back into the #1 LS-2. Just bringing them back a shade. It may make your OD channel a little dim, but it shouldn't overpower your clean.

One other idea (much harder to implement) is to make a dual channel mute/ pad. When you kick the distortion on it pads the OD just enough. I'm pretty sure a 3pdt switch and a pot will do it.

[amfmsb]

Here's what I found. I split my signal 3 ways using the LS-2s I have. I then ran these seperate channels into a Mackie mixer. I mixed my clean, slightly overdriven (SABDDI), and distoriton (Sansamp GT2) levels to my taste - clean and OD about the same, and distortion a bit louder. My clean and OD are on all the time. I used a mute switch in-line from my GT2 to the mixer to turn it on and off. When I unmute the dirty channel, guess what- the low end from the clean and OD channels drop out. I don't know much about the science of sound, but it seems similar to having 2 halves of a pie and wanting a third piece the same size as your first 2- you need another pie to cut into.

To compensate for the diminished levels of the cleaner sounds, I have to turn them up when the distoriton channel comes in. So it seems I can't just find the perfect mix of 3 sounds and use a footswitch to bring one in and out. The solution is finding the perfect mix of my clean and over drive, AND a seperate mix of all three sounds.

What do you guys think?

[niftydog]

I was thinking it might be a phase issue.

Out of curiosity, try using the mixer to completely remove the low end from the dirty channel (so it doesn't "destructively interfere" with the signal from the other pedals) and see how that impacts the overall mix.

[amfmsb]

I tried that. The clean channels had lows and the dirty channel had them cut. Still, the lows drop out when the dirty channel is engaged.