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Boss LS-2: best budget option for effects blending?

#21
I think that would be my ideal solution. If I could get the functionality of the LS-2 as a blender with separate volume controls for the dry and loop signals (but I don't need all of the other A+B, A-B, AxB2, A+B+C>2 amps, etc), but true bypass without the coloration of the LS-2, it would be just lovely. Perhaps that's available in the Wounded Paw blender, but I wonder if Josh could make one cheaper. I'll have to reach out to him.
 
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#23
jacoby75 said:
I think that would be my ideal solution. If I could get the functionality of the LS-2 as a blender with separate volume controls for the dry and loop signals (but I don't need all of the other A+B, A-B, AxB2, A+B+C>2 amps, etc), but true bypass without the coloration of the LS-2, it would be just lovely. Perhaps that's available in the Wounded Paw blender, but I wonder if Josh could make one cheaper. I'll have to reach out to him.
Click to expand...
I've given this idea a lot of thought and I think there are so many variations that are interesting to different people that it's hard to land on a single idea. I haven't been taking custom orders for a while but I would like your input on something like this. What I'm thinking as of now is a single channel FX loop, with level controls for both clean and FX, ranging from off to +20dB. A phase switch on the FX path is a must. For added fun I've considered placing a LPF on both signal paths so that you can take off the high end of either the clean or FX if needed (or just leave it wide open for no filtering). Of course the design would be true bypass. I've considered making it in a 125B enclosure with top jacks to try and make the wiring as tidy as possible. I'd love to hear suggestions on this. Here's a rudimentary layout for conceptual purposes.

upload_2018-2-7_10-24-39.png
 
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#25
Azure Skies said:
I've given this idea a lot of thought and I think there are so many variations that are interesting to different people that it's hard to land on a single idea. I haven't been taking custom orders for a while but I would like your input on something like this. What I'm thinking as of now is a single channel FX loop, with level controls for both clean and FX, ranging from off to +20dB. A phase switch on the FX path is a must. For added fun I've considered placing a LPF on both signal paths so that you can take off the high end of either the clean or FX if needed (or just leave it wide open for no filtering). Of course the design would be true bypass. I've considered making it in a 125B enclosure with top jacks to try and make the wiring as tidy as possible. I'd love to hear suggestions on this. Here's a rudimentary layout for conceptual purposes.

View attachment 2905873
Click to expand...

Yes, this. Very much this. If it's cost-effective as well, it would be precisely what I'm looking for, plus the added bonus of the filter, which is also something I'm in the market for.
 
#27
I'm no effects guru, but it looks like with a layout like that you could increase the size and continue to add loop options for multiple loops, but isn't that essentially what the Wounded Paw stuff is? If you could do it for less, though, that would be a good thing. My bank account and I don't typically see eye-to-eye. But yes, I would only need one loop for effects.
 
#28
And from what I've read, don't some of these blender doo-dads benefit from being specifically made to accommodate bass frequencies? I don't know if the Wounded Paw stuff does that. I think it was Saturnworks I was looking into the other day where it said you could specify if you looking for a looper for bass purposes, as the looper would be crafted in a way to "let in bass frequencies."
 
#29
The LS-2 doesn't have a polarity (phase) flip option. If you use a blender that does (the One Control one is small, and does have a polarity flip), you'll quickly realize that's a pretty serious limitation - LOTS of overdrive pedals need a polarity flip to make the low end come out right.
 
#30
micguy said:
The LS-2 doesn't have a polarity (phase) flip option. If you use a blender that does (the One Control one is small, and does have a polarity flip), you'll quickly realize that's a pretty serious limitation - LOTS of overdrive pedals need a polarity flip to make the low end come out right.
Click to expand...

I have read that, and that's definitely a factor. I'm not smart enough to know which ones would need a phase flip, but I wouldn't want to limit myself to what kind of pedals I could put in a looper based on whether or not phasing was an issue. But soooooooo many bassists use the LS-2, is that really an issue? Or is it just an issue and nobody realizes it? Or they do realize it but don't think it's a BIG issue or they don't care?
 
#31
Can't you just flip a patch cable if phase is inverted from a specific pedal? Not that that is particularly elegant, but I don't have any inverted fuzz pedals. I read about inverted pedal outputs a lot in forums though.
 
#32
micguy said:
The LS-2 doesn't have a polarity (phase) flip option. If you use a blender that does (the One Control one is small, and does have a polarity flip), you'll quickly realize that's a pretty serious limitation - LOTS of overdrive pedals need a polarity flip to make the low end come out right.
Click to expand...

And on a side note, I'm not exactly sure if I HAVE to have a blender with two volume knobs, or if one master "dry/wet" blend knob would suffice, or what the difference is in function. I guess it would be good to have the separate volume option in case there is volume loss/gain when you blend in the wet channel?
 
#33
Hi, from across the pond, everybody!
I've been building my first pedalboard around the same idea, just now. Off course, with all of the same questions, so really interested in your experiences.
Initially I was going to get Boss LS-2, but then I thought, what if it could do this, or this... So, I had custom looper/mixer made for this purpose, with volumes for each loop, phase invert switch for one of the loops, true bypass, a built in buffer when is ON, and MUTE (ON/OFF) switch for both loops... and a tuner out.
Local pedal builder custom made this box with quality parts, so it ended up not being cheap. But to see my idea come to life was worth it.
I just wired the whole board together... so we'll see how is this going to work.
2018-02-07 17.43.51.jpg The Loop Mix.jpg
 
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#34
jacoby75 said:
And on a side note, I'm not exactly sure if I HAVE to have a blender with two volume knobs, or if one master "dry/wet" blend knob would suffice, or what the difference is in function.
Click to expand...

A blend knob and a polarity inversion is much more useful than two volume knobs. Ideally, a pedal would have both, as blending in sone dirty from the loop does mean that you're attenuating the clean a bit, but in practice, that's a much smaller deal than having things in the wrong polarity. I have One control Mosquite blender, and aside from a bit of noise in the loop part of the blend, it's a great pedal.
 
#35
Azure Skies said:
I've given this idea a lot of thought and I think there are so many variations that are interesting to different people that it's hard to land on a single idea. I haven't been taking custom orders for a while but I would like your input on something like this. What I'm thinking as of now is a single channel FX loop, with level controls for both clean and FX, ranging from off to +20dB. A phase switch on the FX path is a must. For added fun I've considered placing a LPF on both signal paths so that you can take off the high end of either the clean or FX if needed (or just leave it wide open for no filtering). Of course the design would be true bypass. I've considered making it in a 125B enclosure with top jacks to try and make the wiring as tidy as possible. I'd love to hear suggestions on this. Here's a rudimentary layout for conceptual purposes.

View attachment 2905873
Click to expand...
I want this and it addresses some of what I was emailing you about recently, but...
Bassbeater said:
2 channel version. :D
Click to expand...
This for sure.

The Badger Schism was this for many people, and is a great option, but is no longer made AFAIK and I would love your take on it with the filters and such. If it has to be in a horizontal 1590BB that's fine (actually with the 125B in that orientation, the space above it is kind of useless anyway on most rail based pedalboards). 2 loops + I/O gets kind of crowded for all top jacks (though the Schism did it) so I'd be fine if main I/O was on the left and right side and the 4 loop S/R jacks were on top.
 
#37
Azure Skies said:
For added fun I've considered placing a LPF on both signal paths so that you can take off the high end of either the clean or FX if needed (or just leave it wide open for no filtering).
Click to expand...

An HPF could be useful too, to take off the bottom end from the effect to leave it clean (à la Boss Bass Chorus)... why not both on concentric pots? That could be a terrific customizable crossover.
 
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#39
I'm thinking about starting with something relatively simple like this. A bass blender booster looper:
True Bypass Looper | Saturnworks Pedals | USA
If phase inversion becomes an issue, I could always cross that bridge when I come to it. I've been looking for LS-2's used, but haven't seen them for less than $80 lately, and then you have the buffer color to worry about. I'm more of a true bypass guy if/when I can help it.
 
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