?? about Digitech BSW

[RBasss]

So I A/B'd the Digitech BSW vs. a Boss OC-3 tonight at one of the local shops. I was very impressed with the BSW and found that it actually tracked better than the OC-3. I am mostly going to buy it for the sub octave but thought that the other modes might come in handy at some point too. One thing I forgot to do though was see if there was a noticeable volume difference from when the pedal is in bypass and when it is on. Since the BSW doesn't have an effects blend in the octave mode I want to make sure that I'm not going to have a dip in volume when I turn the BSW on. Can any BSW users answer this? Also, have any of you ever tried using a "Y" cable to run the direct and effected outputs to the rest of your signal chain?

 

[syciprider]

There is no perceptible volume drop. The BSW rawks as an octaver and env filter.

 

[EricF]

No volume dip that I've noticed. Great octave function - a bit synthy sounding compared to others, but very good tracking. I don't dig the most of the filter effects, but that's just my opinion.

 

[David Wilson]

You can balance the on/off volume modes using the octave/clean levels. I agree it's a great octaver.

 

[RBasss]

Cool, yeah I'm probably going to pick it up this weekend. I think some of the synth sounds could be useful as long as it's in a looper with the original signal blended. So I take it no one has tried the Y cable to join the two outputs together?

 

[bongomania]

You can't use a Y cable as a mixer. It doesn't work, it will just f up your sound. If you want to combine two outputs, you have to use a proper small mixer like the Rolls or DOD mini-mixers.

 

[Adam Barkley]

I actually found the opposite. Both BSW that I've owned have had noticeable volume increases. I could control it in the octave setting, but the synths were unusable for me live because they jacked up the volume a ton.

As a pure octaver, there isn't a better tracking model in it's price point. In fact, the only octaver I've found that tracks better than the BSW is the POG, which is four times larger and four times more expensive.

 

[RBasss]

You can't use a Y cable as a mixer. It doesn't work, it will just f up your sound. If you want to combine two outputs, you have to use a proper small mixer like the Rolls or DOD mini-mixers.

How does it f up the sound? Would you suggest something like the Boss LS-2 or Barge concepts instead of one of the mini mixers or do they do the job adequately?

 

[niftydog]

How does it f up the sound?

I could bore you with my engineers drivel, but suffice to say it's just not a good practice. It's like Y splitting a fire hose and then expecting to be able to douse twice the flames, you're just gonna get burnt.

PS: another one for the FAQ methinks, "Why Y splits suck tone."