Effect of splitter on tone

OriginalCrash · #1 03-07-2009, 08:50 AM

So do y-splitters (cable or box) degrade your signal any noticeable amount? Specifically, has anyone split their signal into three different paths and noticed any tone loss or other negative effect?

Brian

bongomania · #2 03-07-2009, 09:05 AM

There will always be some effect, however subtle. It depends on the quality of the components and design of the splitter, as well as the relative impedances of the devices connected at all inputs and outputs. Most of the time careful planning and execution will get you comfortably "close enough for rock'n'roll", where the changes are not objectionable, and where some people would not even hear it. But you have to start with the assumption that it will degrade the signal, and then do the homework necessary to determine what arrangement will have the least negative impact given the specific equipment you are connecting.

Hint: isolation (buffer or transformer) is your friend.

OriginalCrash · #3 03-07-2009, 09:17 AM

I do know there would definitely be some effect on it... at the very least, on a technical level/on paper sort of thing. I was just wondering if anyone had tried it with a quality, well made box or cable and noticed it to the point that it had a negative impact on their tone. Of course, that does depend on how picky you are, too...

Brian

P.S. Quick context as to why I'm asking. I have a Pigtronix EP-1 and a Moog FreqBox. First split of the signal would be to send a feed straight off my bass into the trigger input on the EP-1. Second split would be to send one into the (very small right now) line of effects and still have a clean, uneffected signal. That way I could do a sort of "master" clean blend at the end... or use some effects on one line and others on the other. Example... the FreqBox has a mix knob but no separate output for your clean tone... This way I could use the FreqBox on one line and then something else (like a Pollyanna octave... just a random example) on the other and then blend them back together. Of course, if there's a better way to accomplish all that, you have plenty of time to tell me... The buying of more pedals is probably gonna have to be on hold for a while now. But that's it.

P.P.S. I hate it when a postscript is considerably longer than the actual message...

JohnDavisNYC · #4 03-07-2009, 09:49 AM

i split my signal to have a clean trigger input for my WMD FatMan envelope filter... i have noticed no negative impact on my tone from a single split into a key input... depending on what is next in line, you may have issues, dunno...

as for the seperate clean blend, it sound like you want a looper/blender. Barge and Xotic seem to be the best, as far as i have read on here, and Lehle is also very highly regarded... they all make products that will allow you to blend in clean signal along side a processed signal. also, the boss ls2 does that, and has even more capabilities, i think.

there are experts on this stuff, i am not one of them.

capt. tone suck,

john

OriginalCrash · #5 03-07-2009, 09:58 AM

Yeah, I had forgotten about the Barge blenders... Actually, I didn't forget them, I just forgot to mention it. If I wanted to go the clean blend route, I agree, that'd be the way to go (after splitting my signal for the EP-1's trigger input, of course). More than likely, though, as I continue adding to what I have, I may find myself wanting to have the FreqBox signal and then a separate signal that I could do other things to. Then the ability to choose between the two or mix them both together would make it all very versatile (and pretty complicated), I think. Anyway, just tossing ideas around. But it seems that (at least for live use) splitting your signal once shouldn't hurt anything. Has anyone split it three ways?

Brian

nbtone · #6 03-07-2009, 10:11 AM

I'm not sure what you are asking about. Are you just using an A B box to split the signal between different amps or effects, or are you trying to splt the frequencies to different devices? A B boxes don't do anything noticeable to the signal sound, but active crossovers will.

OriginalCrash · #7 03-07-2009, 11:05 AM

I'm talking about a splitter, not an AB box. Something that will take an input signal and split it into three identical, on-all-the-time signals.

Brian

Slax · #8 03-07-2009, 11:14 AM

My guitarist takes his output and uses stacked splitters (splitter inside of splitter) to have four outputs from his head which go to different cabs and the mixing board. I'm sure there's some tonal loss, but the advantage of having the larger spectrum of speakers outweighs it. Sounds great to my ears.

anyonefortennis · #9 03-07-2009, 12:55 PM

there are more expensive alternatives to splitting that are buffered if you want no loss. Lehle , axxess , and framptone make high quality (and high dollar) splitters. Lehle has one that requires no battery but has a passive transformer called the p split that is excellent.

nbtone · #10 03-07-2009, 06:16 PM

Sorry, I've never heard of one. I'll have to look into it. My A B Box will take the input signal and split it into two identical on-all-the-time signals, but I guess that's not what you're talking about?

OriginalCrash · #11 03-07-2009, 07:58 PM

An AB box like that would work (as long as it does allow for both sides to be "on" at the same time, instead of just switching between the two). It's just that I don't know I'd need an actual AB box (with the capability to do switching) when a simple splitter would do.

Brian

OriginalCrash · #12 03-24-2009, 07:21 AM

Curious... I was looking at the Framptone Three Banger and the Lehle 1at3... Are there any high quality, buffered splitters like that that are just on all the time, instead of switching the outputs on or off?

Brian