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Connecting output of 2 pedals in parallel.

darwin-bass

darwin-bass

Supporting Member
Mar 29, 2013
5,454
9,156
Salem OR
#1
Are pedals generally "bad user" protected? Can you connect the output from 2 pedals together with no harm to either?

Specifically I'm looking at the Digitech CabDryVr which has 2 outputs from the one input. The specs say the output impedance is 1K ohm which suggests there is a series resistor in there. Wondering if I'm safe plugging both outputs into the in/thru jacks on a DI box, which would wire-OR the outputs, or if I need to run the outputs through a mixer(*) first.

(*)Mixer in this case could be as simple as series R for each output, right?
 
#3
With most electronics, I believe the stages that output voltage are not good at tolerating voltage being driven into them. If I run two pedals in parallel each will be driving voltage into the output stage of the other.

It could be that as long as it is only voltage (not power) and that the voltage driven into the output stage doesn't exceed the voltage the output stage can drive maybe it is fine?

I'm sure an EE will wander by soon and educate me.
 
#6
ProfFrink said:
Perhaps we could help you better if we knew what you're trying to achieve
Click to expand...

I have a new CabDryVr cabinet simulation pedal which produces 2 separate cab sim outputs from one input. I'm not love with any single sim but I like what I'm hearing when I run both sims together (via a mixer so far). The easy way to run both sims together is to plug them both into the two 1/4 inputs on a direct box.

The specs say the output impedance is 1k ohms which suggests to me they have some series resistance to protect this exact scenario but that is just a guess.
 
#8
I've designed a lot of electronics. An output impedance of 1K doesn't necessarily mean there's a build out resistor there (that's the term for such a thing). Although the world won't end if you connect those two outputs together, I'd suggest you ask Digitech before you do it - it might be perfectly OK, it might not.
 
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#11
micguy said:
I've designed a lot of electronics. An output impedance of 1K doesn't necessarily mean there's a build out resistor there (that's the term for such a thing). Although the world won't end if you connect those two outputs together, I'd suggest you ask Digitech before you do it - it might be perfectly OK, it might not.
Click to expand...
Digitech was my first stop. They have not replied.
 
#12
I would just get a mixer, they're phenomenally useful anyway. I picked up a DOD 240 Resistance Mixer- they're passive and cheap as hell, I think they made them forever (they come with a bunch of different graphics).
 
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#13
SFX makes the Micro Mix which is very useful as a 2 into. One buffered mixer. I’ve used mine for 2 active basses into a single effects chain or combining 2 effects chains into a single output. Works great!

Also the Radial DI’s with Merge of course.
 

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