gcx and ground control - how do these work?

Mr. BassmanPT · #1 12-28-2010, 10:45 AM

i searched before posting but never really found the answer i want to.

how can these voodoo midi units "tell" to the effect stomp boxes they are to be turned on when desired? how can this happen if the switch isn't pressed?

i believe the effects are always on and the only thing these units do is "open" the respective channel, allowing the effect to be heard? is this how these units operate? the ground control orders channel 1 to be heard and the gcx only controls these channels?

also, is a looper pedal like the boss rc-2 usable with the voodoo ground control and the gcx? how does the pedal know when to start recording and when does it know when it should stop recording and start playing the loop?

i am interested in these units but would like to know these details before committing to an expensive purchase.

regards

rockstarbassist · #2 12-28-2010, 10:57 AM

AFAIK, yes those control units only "open/close" respective signal chains. They don't turn off/on the individual pedals. That's why for people with just a few pedals (like a lot of bassists have- just for some taste) they aren't worth the $$$.

They make sense to guitards and their rigs b/c they incorporate amp and channel switching + variations and different combos of those channels + pedals, rack effects, etc. on the fly. That's where they're really cool and shine. But for just say 1 or 2 different "loops" or chains of FX there are plenty of cheaper options like the Boss LS-2 or various custom makers here on TB.

And I believe the GCX would hit the RC-2 whenever you depressed the channel as "On". As far as the other stuff if it's not MIDI-capable, it probably can't do the rest of that stuff w/ the GCX.

Check out Rig-Talk, Harmony Central, The Gear Page, etc. if you want some down and dirty on the GCX units.

Swift713 · #3 12-28-2010, 11:08 AM

The gcx and ground control are like switchboards. You keep your pedals/effects turned on. They are connected to the switching unit via send/return cables and the switching unit is controlled by a midi pedal. There are numerous simpler, smaller, and less expensive units similar to this depending on your needs.

The RC-2 starts recording when you stomp on it and then switches from record to play when you stomp on it again. It has a mode where it quantizes the loop so that the timing is kept to a regular meter. Stomp again for record, again for play and then I believe undo is accomplished by holding the pedal down for 2 seconds.

Mr. BassmanPT · #4 12-28-2010, 11:20 AM

i see the effect loop pedal is not usable with these midi controlling units then. thanks for that explanation.

about the gcx being too much, i agree, i just want to connect 4 or 5 pedals, no more than that. the thing is that the gcx allows me to have all the pedals sttored inside the rack. i do not want to have pedals on the floor.

if there is a cheaper option that allows me to control the pedals and keep them stored inside the rack please let me know!

KimGT99 · #5 12-28-2010, 11:53 AM

Hi. Haven't tried it yet but will go for a buy probably: Rocktron Patchmate 8 in combination with a Rocktron midi mate. Less spectacular, less operating options, less bucks... Only the missing buffer could be a trap. Got some good reviews and should satisfy my needs.

Mr. BassmanPT · #6 12-28-2010, 12:04 PM

just compared that option with the voodoo labs, about 100 euros less. thanks for pointing this option mate. but for the price difference maybe the voodoo is a better option? i am still learning about it so keep the options coming as long as the pedals stay in the rack!

s_mcsleazy · #7 12-28-2010, 12:06 PM

what happend to just having pedals on the floor

Mr. BassmanPT · #8 12-28-2010, 12:08 PM

sorry, the rocktron is 250 euros less!! will take a deep read into it too

does it have true bypass?

Jared Lash · #9 12-28-2010, 12:10 PM

I've really only found ground control useful when I'm attempting to contact Major Tom.

rockstarbassist · #10 12-28-2010, 12:10 PM

I believe the Patchmate is T.B.

Mr. BassmanPT · #11 12-28-2010, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_mcsleazy

what happend to just having pedals on the floor

not for me.. nothing against the ones that have them in there!

Mr. BassmanPT · #12 12-28-2010, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

I believe the Patchmate is T.B.

thanks

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #13 12-28-2010, 01:13 PM

There are a ton of options for MIDI switchers/loopers. I've been using them for a long time- my looper is MIDI-controllable, so I can use the same MIDI foot controller to control both my looper and my effects. If you have just a few pedals to put in a rack, a good choice might be the G-Lab M4L- it has 4 loops and is very compact. It's not programmable though, so if your MIDI controller is not programmable, it may not work for you. You'll have to use a MIDI foot controller no matter which MIDI switching interface you use though, so a pedalboard with just 4-5 pedals may be smaller and more convenient than the MIDI foot controller you'd need to control the pedals in your rack.

Mr. BassmanPT · #14 12-28-2010, 02:44 PM

i really prefer to have everything in the rack, this is a pretty fixed idea. i am looking into the rocktron stuff, it seems it is pretty good.

no confirmation about the bypass form though.

what looper pedal do you have by the way?

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #15 12-28-2010, 03:08 PM

I use a Looperlative rackmount looper.

If you're set on racking your pedals and using a MIDI foot controller to switch them, then you can choose from any number of rackmount MIDI switchers. You can use other MIDI controllers with the GCX other than the Ground Control as well if you choose.

Mr. BassmanPT · #16 12-28-2010, 03:13 PM

been searching and the only 2 rackmount midi switchers i can buy is the voodoo labs gcx and the rocktron patchmate. will buy from thomann.

the rocktron is cheaper but i still do not know if it influences the sound... do you know anything about it? been reading about it and some say it adds noise, others say it is transparent.

Swift713 · #17 12-28-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

I've really only found ground control useful when I'm attempting to contact Major Tom.

I don't think it's very reliable though. Last I'd heard his circuit was dead, there was something wrong.

Mr. BassmanPT · #18 12-28-2010, 03:20 PM

haha, i had to google who major tom was... remember many of us live outside us!!!

now come on guys, lets keep up with the subject here

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #19 12-28-2010, 03:23 PM

I don't personally know about how the GCX or Rocktron sound- if they're built well, they should not alter your sound at all and add very little to no noise. Here's a link to a compilation of different rack switchers:
http://www.metalguitarist.org/forum/...ntrollers.html

Jared Lash · #20 12-28-2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmaranhao

haha, i had to google who major tom was... remember many of us live outside us!!!

now come on guys, lets keep up with the subject here

I can't ever agree to stay on topic.

How's this for compromise though - I can give you the song in Portuguese.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVeD-...eature=related