Cross-Over (Crossover or Splitter) pedals

[BurningSkies]

Hello everyone,

first post here for me

I would like to replicate live what I do when I mix bass: Have a clean, quite compressed bottom end (smaller than ~250Hz) and a distorted >250Hz.
I already have a simple splitter to build the parallelism and a Radial JDI DI Box, which can be set into "merge" mode so that it combines both at the end (and at the same time would provide a DI, how awesome is that!).
So what I would need is simply one LPF and one HPF for each chain, preferably in small size factor and not 2 million dollars . However, I could not find such products. I know how to solder, so I would be able to make them myself also, but I would need instructions for that.

Can anybody recommend anything? Would my plan even work?
I think this would be a nice alternative to buying some expensive almost non-available crossover pedal, at least to see how it sounds at first.

Best,
Klaus

Well, I mean it would work but you'd have to bootstrap the build, and all of the pedals discussed here take care of the situation in a single somewhat more elegant solution? I mean you're basically asking "I'd like to do exactly what one of these pedals does, but without buying one of these pedals.

 

[oepoemoepoe]

Well, I mean it would work but you'd have to bootstrap the build, and all of the pedals discussed here take care of the situation in a single somewhat more elegant solution? I mean you're basically asking "I'd like to do exactly what one of these pedals does, but without buying one of these pedals.

Yes, that's exactly what I am saying
Everyone's use-case is a bit different, agreed? Since I already have the DI in use and that splitter already at hand, why not just try to find a cheap LPF and HPF? If I build them myself, they could even go into one tiny case. >200€ vs. probably <30€. I'd rather spend 170€ on lessons than on gear

 

[Fuzzonaut]

So what I would need is simply one LPF and one HPF for each chain, preferably in small size factor and not 2 million dollars . However, I could not find such products. I know how to solder, so I would be able to make them myself also, but I would need instructions for that.

I just put one of Schalltechnik's Mini Vong's together today (the HP). Has great instructions, doesn't cost too much (23,50€ full kit). Comes as HP an LP.
MINI-HP-VONG – Schalltechnik_04


There's also a cool Looper thing, that I might put together one day. It has a lot of bells and whistles.

 

[crguti]

I would like to replicate live what I do when I mix bass: Have a clean, quite compressed bottom end (smaller than ~250Hz) and a distorted >250Hz.
I already have a simple splitter to build the parallelism and a Radial JDI DI Box, which can be set into "merge" mode so that it combines both at the end (and at the same time would provide a DI, how awesome is that!).
So what I would need is simply one LPF and one HPF for each chain, preferably in small size factor and not 2 million dollars . However, I could not find such products. I know how to solder, so I would be able to make them myself also, but I would need instructions for that.

Can anybody recommend anything? Would my plan even work?
I think this would be a nice alternative to buying some expensive almost non-available crossover pedal, at least to see how it sounds at first.

check out KMA Audio Machines Tyler

 

[frankzap]

@oepoemoepoe
Both LPF and HPF filters can be calculated and made with simple passive components, especially if you want them at fixed frequencies. Just google low/high pass filter calculator. You would need some resistors and capacitors. The tone control in your instrument is a variable low pass filter, right? and it has a pot and a cap.

 

[JES]

Look up a 12db non-resonant filter on the DIY forum for Muffwiggler. People build these in Eurorack all the time. If you put it in a pedal box and used 1/4" cables you could easily split your signal as you like. There could be phase issues, IDK. I don't build stuff myself, so that's all the advice I have.

 

[sunbeast]

Hello everyone,

first post here for me

I would like to replicate live what I do when I mix bass: Have a clean, quite compressed bottom end (smaller than ~250Hz) and a distorted >250Hz.
I already have a simple splitter to build the parallelism and a Radial JDI DI Box, which can be set into "merge" mode so that it combines both at the end (and at the same time would provide a DI, how awesome is that!).
So what I would need is simply one LPF and one HPF for each chain, preferably in small size factor and not 2 million dollars . However, I could not find such products. I know how to solder, so I would be able to make them myself also, but I would need instructions for that.

Can anybody recommend anything? Would my plan even work?
I think this would be a nice alternative to buying some expensive almost non-available crossover pedal, at least to see how it sounds at first.

Best,
Klaus

I haven't tried one, but to me this thing looks like the ideal split/filter tool: BYTE HEAVEN SC-1 Singlecross Crossover Pedal
BYTE HEAVEN SC-1 Singlecross Crossover Pedal | BYTE HEAVEN | Reverb
The only downsides I can see vs what you are trying to do is not having the ability to overlap or scoop the two frequency bands and the lack of volume controls for the two bands (splitting will lower the gain for each band which may or may not work well with the drive/compression pedals you are using).

 

[sunbeast]

I just put one of Schalltechnik's Mini Vong's together today (the HP). Has great instructions, doesn't cost too much (23,50€ full kit). Comes as HP an LP.
MINI-HP-VONG – Schalltechnik_04


There's also a cool Looper thing, that I might put together one day. It has a lot of bells and whistles.

View attachment 3796584

Damn the Omnilooper looks perfect!

 

[madmaskbass]

Just made a covid board (cardboard box lol) so i could have some fun with the Tyler. Running it in the effects loop of my Lebass which is the last dirt before my amp. Chucked all my pedals on it for a lash. I will say only after a few mins mucking that the Death Metal is not friendly even with Tyler lol. On the other hand that $30 Black rat is a serious pedal! Added the nice round punch with the low and comp. Can't wait to crank the hell out of that. I am also thinking about using the Tyler as a Biamp rig as I have a Lovely Greenboy style 2x12 that has the best bass I have ever heard and the Mid and top of my Mesa 8x10 is the best I have ever heard. One day I would love to combine the beasts and see what crazy can be achieved.

Here's my main board and extension play. The Aftershock covers my fuzz needs because in all honesty it is good enough for the amount of fuzz I use at this stage. The zues sat on my board for a long time before it because that thing is awesome aswell. Anyway this is my crossover fun at this stage. I will post again if I run the Biamp rig one day.

 

[BurningSkies]

I haven't tried one, but to me this thing looks like the ideal split/filter tool: BYTE HEAVEN SC-1 Singlecross Crossover Pedal
BYTE HEAVEN SC-1 Singlecross Crossover Pedal | BYTE HEAVEN | Reverb
The only downsides I can see vs what you are trying to do is not having the ability to overlap or scoop the two frequency bands and the lack of volume controls for the two bands (splitting will lower the gain for each band which may or may not work well with the drive/compression pedals you are using).

I hadn't seen that one yet but I have his first crossover pedal, the "sugar britches". I can vouch for him building nice stuff. This is a good looking little splitter. And if you're likely to put a fuzz on the high side of things, the phase switch is indeed useful.

 

[oepoemoepoe]

Thank you all for your help, suggestions and ideas! You're awesome.

@Fuzzonaut This Omnilooper is just too good, why does not everyone use it? I just ordered it even though it was not how I planned things. However, it has all the handy features like flipping polarity, and even a third loop, which I both would not have had. And it is <100€ in a quite small form factor. That insert cable is an awesome idea, all pedal makers should immediately start to use that! I even already use both GUMAs of schalltechnik04 regularly and can highly recommend them and the shop.

 

[gh0st42]

Just made a covid board (cardboard box lol) so i could have some fun with the Tyler. Running it in the effects loop of my Lebass which is the last dirt before my amp. Chucked all my pedals on it for a lash. I will say only after a few mins mucking that the Death Metal is not friendly even with Tyler lol. On the other hand that $30 Black rat is a serious pedal! Added the nice round punch with the low and comp. Can't wait to crank the hell out of that. I am also thinking about using the Tyler as a Biamp rig as I have a Lovely Greenboy style 2x12 that has the best bass I have ever heard and the Mid and top of my Mesa 8x10 is the best I have ever heard. One day I would love to combine the beasts and see what crazy can be achieved. View attachment 3797474 View attachment 3797473

Here's my main board and extension play. The Aftershock covers my fuzz needs because in all honesty it is good enough for the amount of fuzz I use at this stage. The zues sat on my board for a long time before it because that thing is awesome aswell. Anyway this is my crossover fun at this stage. I will post again if I run the Biamp rig one day.

Question about the Tyler, as I've been eyeballing it.

It has the Wood and Steel buttons for Lows and High Passed signal loops.

Does it maintain a Clean audio channel that each of those is added to?

So if I do Steel, do I get Cleans and Steel Loop, or just Steel Loop?

If I hit both Steel and Wood, is it those two loops layered on top of cleans?

 

[madmaskbass]

Question about the Tyler, as I've been eyeballing it.

It has the Wood and Steel buttons for Lows and High Passed signal loops.

Does it maintain a Clean audio channel that each of those is added to?

So if I do Steel, do I get Cleans and Steel Loop, or just Steel Loop?

If I hit both Steel and Wood, is it those two loops layered on top of cleans?

So sorry i missed replying to this one...I am not 100% sure but i just made a big board with Tyler as a centerpiece so I will know more soon but at the moment i only have a loop in the steel side and i am still able to dial a low pass signal based on the bypassed clean signal (nothing in the wood side) but it is not effected by the steel loop effects...I don't think that they would stack on top of each other though.

I am still working on the crossover points especially to try to not make the overall tone scoop in the middle as @BurningSkies alluded to about the Tyler at the start of this thread (just re-read it lol). At the moment i am finding i have a much cleaner and defined signal but because of the way I set drives I am not used to hearing so much bass in my mix but it is lacking the low-mid presence because i think i am scooping some of it . I am unsure if that is my ear or if i am still not getting the points right. This stuff hurts my brain but I know now that the more tweakble a pedal the longer it takes to learn it so i need to just be patient. I am hoping i can keep the clarity but ensure i can still get the e.q levels where i want them.

 

[lucas303]

I'm thinking about getting a crossover pedal that can also just split the signal into two parallel signals. Does anyone know of a pedal that can do both adjustable crossover and run-of-the-mill signal split (though not both at the same time)? Also, invert phase?

 

[BunchyMutt]

I'm thinking about getting a crossover pedal that can also just split the signal into two parallel signals. Does anyone know of a pedal that can do both adjustable crossover and run-of-the-mill signal split (though not both at the same time)? Also, invert phase?

Not sure what you mean by the underlined portion.

This is an unavailable custom pedal but do you mean like this:

 

[lucas303]

Not sure what you mean by the underlined portion.

This is an unavailable custom pedal but do you mean like this:
View attachment 3967535

What I mean is a single pedal that can split a signal into two duplicate signals like an LS-2, and also split a signal into high and low frequencies like a crossover pedal. (Though I wouldn't need it to do both things at once...so it wouldn't need to simultaneously split the signal in both ways.)

 

[gh0st42]

Not sure what you mean by the underlined portion.

This is an unavailable custom pedal but do you mean like this:
View attachment 3967535

Oh my!

 

[monsterthompson]

What I mean is a single pedal that can split a signal into two duplicate signals like an LS-2, and also split a signal into high and low frequencies like a crossover pedal. (Though I wouldn't need it to do both things at once...so it wouldn't need to simultaneously split the signal in both ways.)

Boredbrain Transmutron will do that split.

I've had a few arrangements where getting the gain staging wrong with that pedal can reveal some noise related to the filter. It's mostly noticeable with high gain and fuzz settings. They told me the filter noise is like -60 dB in the design.

The Empress Zoia could also be programmed to do such a split.

 

[lucas303]

Boredbrain Transmutron will do that split.

I've had a few arrangements where getting the gain staging wrong with that pedal can reveal some noise related to the filter. It's mostly noticeable with high gain and fuzz settings. They told me the filter noise is like -60 dB in the design.

The Empress Zoia could also be programmed to do such a split.

So the LS-2 mode of the Transmutron would be "Fusion"?

 

[monsterthompson]

So the LS-2 mode of the Transmutron would be "Fusion"?

I believe that should get you there. It is a cross-fade between the two sides, so it is duplicating the input.