Effects pedal as pre-amp vs effects loop question.

[M Sharp]

I have very recently switched from a Line 6 LD300 watt combo (using a Zoom B3 effects pedal pre-combo) to a Markbass LMT800 / Traveler 102P. The LMT800 has an effects loop.

The old way worked for me and I actually had people compliment me about my effects and how I use them. I just got the Markbass, so I simply took the B3 and put it throught the effects loop without changing any settings on the Zoom B3.

The new way sounds as if my clean bass sound is a primary sound and there is an effect playing at a lower volume behind the clean sound, as opposed to the effect being applied to the sound through my amp.

If I even explained this correctly, will this be corrected when I have time to adjust settings or is there a significant difference I am missing now that I go through an effects loop?

 

[eveilleu]

I'm tempted to say.. Will it be corrected? No. But try your effects before the amp, so how that feels?

The signal is pretty hot in the effects loop and so far i have no idea what could posibly sound good there... I'm looking foreward to being told i'm wrong

Eric

 

[Feral Feline]

FX loops are purportedly great for delay, reverb and other ambient FX, post preamp. Other FX might sound better going in front of the amp. What FX do you mostly use?

 

[M Sharp]

For one project I was using wha, distortion, overdrive, and a pitch shifter. I also started using a synth effect.
There are preset patches using several effects that I go through just to get ideas.

 

[Alien8]

Wow, the Markbass documentation is shoddy regarding the EFX loop! Nothing says that the EFX loop is parallel, so that might not be the problem. No other words on how to best use it!!

Check your Zoom to see if it is set to run with a parallel dry signal.

You may still want to run the effects out front of the amp for the best tone. You could use the effects loop in on the amp to bypass the pre amp, but that leaves volume duties to the zoom, which you need to be careful with. Overdoing volume in the fx loop is a bad thing. That and the Pre on the amp is probably worth using.

 

[bongomania]

There is at least one Markbass amp I've read about where the fx loop is parallel, with no external knob or label to tell you that. So it's quite possible the same is true with the LMT800. Plus read this: http://www.ovnilab.com/articles/fxloop.shtml

 

[XXL]

I have a Markbass SD800 and fx loop is parallel and has no external knob. I never use the fx loop and put all my effects in the front of the amp because of that.

 

[Dave W]

For one project I was using wha, distortion, overdrive, and a pitch shifter. I also started using a synth effect.
There are preset patches using several effects that I go through just to get ideas.

I would definitely want that stuff going into the front input of my amp rather than the FX loop. YMMV.

 

[M Sharp]

Wow. Being fairly new to effects I am surprised. Thought thats what the loops were specifically for.
Will adjust.

 

[M Sharp]

Put the Zoom in front of the amp and I am back in my comfort zone. So thanks.
Confused as to the effects loop now. But now I can tweet and do what I need to.

 

[M Sharp]

Just thought of this...since the LMT800 has the XLR balanced input, can I go from the XLR out of the B3 into the amp?

 

[Dave W]

Why would you need to? You're over complicating it

 

[gregmon79]

Wow. Being fairly new to effects I am surprised. Thought thats what the loops were specifically for.
Will adjust.

The EFX loops are really for rackmount gear most the time. It has to do with "line levels" and things of that nature. Regular pedals you put at your feet arent really built to go in there unless they have something in between them and the loop like a preamp.

 

[gregmon79]

Why would you need to? You're over complicating it

Exactly. OP, you are turning this into something its not. Just plug your bass n board in to the front end of your amp and play IMO. The EFX loop can be used but theres nothing magical about it. Youre just bypassing your preamp. It depends on the amp but thats usually the story.

Oh, and the DI is usually designated for live performances and taking your signal to the FOH (front of the house). You dont really need to utilize other than that. THere are some otehr applications you can use if for, but mainly, that is what its for.

 

[bongomania]

The only possible benefit to using the XLR between the B3 and the amp is if you were running a very long (like 50-100 feet) cable between them, or running a cable around a refrigerator or neon bar sign, that sort of thing. In that case it would reduce noise.

 

[M Sharp]

Thanks all.
I am not turning it into anything though. I am using this as you suggest.
I never saw a balanced input on an amp, just for DI, therefore the thought.

Dialing in great tone with the B3 in front again!!!

 

[MattStonewall]

My Tech 21 bass boost chorus sounds great through the effects loop in my amplifier. I haven't tried my Supermoon yet but am excited about it. I found that my Solid Gold FX Stutterbox trem didn't sound good in the effects loop. Do you all recommend I use my MXR Bass Octave Deluxe in the effects loop?

 

[Dave W]

Do you all recommend I use my MXR Bass Octave Deluxe in the effects loop?

I wouldn't.

The old rule of thumb for guitar is:
Time based effects in the loop
Everything else out front

For bass, the only stuff I would put in the loop is rack gear. Calling it an effects loop is a misnomer IMO. It's simply an insert between the preamp and the power amp. It comes in handy for guitar amps for stuff like delay if you get your distortion from the amp itself. Delay generally sounds like poop going into distortion, so with the effects loop you can put the delay after your distortion (generated from the preamp).