Help!! Please Explain Stereo Pedals

CliftonBonney · #1 02-19-2008, 07:58 PM

I'm fairly new to the pedal stuff, but now I'm addicted. I recently purchased The Clone Theory and the Micro Pog. Both of these pedals are stereo. What does this mean?

Can I split my signal? It looks like I can send a dry signal and an effected signal. How do I do this? Do I need two amps and two cabinets? Any help is GREATLY appreciated!!!

Clifton

PocketGroove82 · #2 02-19-2008, 08:08 PM

Imagine the sound bouncing back and forth between your left and right headphone.
It seems to be more useful with instruments other than bass.

bongomania · #3 02-19-2008, 08:10 PM

Stereo pedals have two outputs. You need two amps and two cabinets, or two channels of a mixer (or blender pedal), in order to use both outputs.

Some stereo effects also have two inputs, but that doesn't change the need for two channels of amplification or mixing. Some stereo pedals only offer "wet" and "dry" as the two output signals, while some others offer panning (L-R "movement") or other different effects or qualities in each channel.

I use a stereo chorus and run it into two channels of a mixer; the resulting sound is much thicker, fatter, and has more apparent "motion" than just the effected channel by itself.

CliftonBonney · #4 02-19-2008, 08:16 PM

Wow!! Thanks!! That was fast. So, I do need two amps and two cabinets. Bongomania, you say you run both the dry and wet signal into a mixer. Do you then run the mixer back to your cabinet or amp? How does that work?

bongomania · #5 02-19-2008, 08:20 PM

Oh, with the mixer I either listen on headphones or I use a stereo amp and two speakers.

RickenBoogie · #6 02-20-2008, 08:23 AM

If you have two amps, you can get great effects left to right. I do this when there's enough room for two rigs, but have to admit, it don't happen often.

Swimming Bird · #7 02-20-2008, 08:34 AM

If you have a pedal with stereo inputs is there a general rule on separation of the two signals or does it depend on the pedal?

bongomania · #8 02-20-2008, 08:38 AM

Depends. But in general the only ones with stereo inputs that I've seen are digital processors which run both channels through independent processing paths; I haven't seen one where one side of the stereo inputs was "just" a clean pass-through.

fishtx · #9 02-20-2008, 09:56 AM

Bongo...the Chorus pedal you are talking about...is it the TC Electronic SCF? I use this pedal (in mono mode) and love it's subtlety...but have heard it really opens up when ran stereo...

I just don't really have an application that makes sense for using it in stereo mode...

bongomania · #10 02-20-2008, 09:59 AM

Yes it's the TC SCF. While I love the sound of it in stereo, IMO the only time it really makes sense to use it is in recording or at-home noodling. On stage the stereo effect would be totally lost IMO, even with two amps.

Atomik Rooster · #11 02-21-2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Yes it's the TC SCF. While I love the sound of it in stereo, IMO the only time it really makes sense to use it is in recording or at-home noodling. On stage the stereo effect would be totally lost IMO, even with two amps.

Not totally lost, but, given the frequencies involved, the effect is subtle. That said, stereo chorus tweaked to accent higher freqs sounds very lush if you have some separation between the amps. Someone sitting in the sweet spot might be in for some very cool sounding bass, even if they're not sure what it is they're hearing. I've been using stereo chorus and stereo delay for years, and have been very happy with both effects. I just started using a Line 6 Roto-Machine for even more of the raised eyebrow effect. I love it, 'cause it turns heads, but no one ever looks at me. They think it's one of the guitarists or the keyboardist. Heh heh . . .