JDI To Boss RC-300 Looper Help!!

[scottrolf]

Argh!!!!
I had this working before and now…….My path:
Super Bassman 300 - Speaker Cab OUT to
JDI In (Pad and Speaker buttons in)
JDI OUT to
Mixer IN
Mixer OUT to
Boss RC-300 IN (L)

I can barely hear it when in playback.
The signal is getting there but VERY weak.
Like I said, I had this working before.
I must be overlooking something super simple. I just can't figure out what it is.

Thanks

 

[EastCoastThump]

Where in the chain is the volume dropping? What's the signal level at the mixer channel input? How about the master level and input levels on Boss RC300? If you patch a bass directly into the looper, are the playback levels of that loop as expected?

 

[scottrolf]

Where in the chain is the volume dropping? What's the signal level at the mixer channel input? How about the master level and input levels on Boss RC300? If you patch a bass directly into the looper, are the playback levels of that loop as expected?

I was up all last night on this stupid thing.

When I plug directly into the RC from my bass, it's fine.
I've got my SUB OUT from the RC going into my two QSC powered PA speakers via the mixer.

I've developed a really bad squeal when I try and turn up the mixer Master to the flat setting "u" on one channel and therefore cannot get the output level I need. I also made note that the XLR/TRS Mogami Gold cable I'm using "crackles" when handled. Could be a bad cable not allowing me to turn up the mixer level. I tested the troubled channel of the mixer by plugging by bass into it via Sans Amp and no problem. So I've eliminated the mixer as being the trouble.

I'll get another XLR/TRS cable today and go from there.
Thanks for the suggestion. I know questions like this are pretty vague and it all comes down to isolating the weak link.
Hopefully I found it.

 

[EastCoastThump]

When I plug directly into the RC from my bass, it's fine.

By "it's fine" do you just mean that the RC-300 gets input when you simplify the input chain, or do you mean that plugging straight in also fixes your problem with overall system levels?

I tested the troubled channel of the mixer by plugging by bass into it via Sans Amp and no problem. So I've eliminated the mixer as being the trouble.

Does your mixing board have meters? (What model mixer are you using?) If you monitor the channel input when the JDI is feeding the channel, how does the input level look?

I've got my SUB OUT from the RC going into my two QSC powered PA speakers via the mixer.

Under the RC-300's system settings, check the output settings and the sub output volume setting (p. 33 of the manual)

I've developed a really bad squeal when I try and turn up the mixer Master to the flat setting "u" on one channel and therefore cannot get the output level I need.

Sounds like a feedback loop. If you're feeding the RC-300's output to the mixer, make sure you aren't feeding the mixer's main outputs back to the Boss's input. (Either set the mixer so that the mixer channel assigned to the Boss signal isn't fed back to the Boss's input, or set the RC-300's system settings so that the input signal to the RC-300 is *not* routed to whatever RC-300 output feeds the mixer.)

I also made note that the XLR/TRS Mogami Gold cable I'm using "crackles" when handled. Could be a bad cable not allowing me to turn up the mixer level.

The crackling cable is worth fixing, but it's not likely causing feedback. Feedback is almost certainly a routing problem.

 

[scottrolf]

By "it's fine" do you just mean that the RC-300 gets input when you simplify the input chain, or do you mean that plugging straight in also fixes your problem with overall system levels?



Does your mixing board have meters? (What model mixer are you using?) If you monitor the channel input when the JDI is feeding the channel, how does the input level look?


Under the RC-300's system settings, check the output settings and the sub output volume setting (p. 33 of the manual)




Sounds like a feedback loop. If you're feeding the RC-300's output to the mixer, make sure you aren't feeding the mixer's main outputs back to the Boss's input. (Either set the mixer so that the mixer channel assigned to the Boss signal isn't fed back to the Boss's input, or set the RC-300's system settings so that the input signal to the RC-300 is *not* routed to whatever RC-300 output feeds the mixer.)


The crackling cable is worth fixing, but it's not likely causing feedback. Feedback is almost certainly a routing problem.

First of all, thank you very much for taking the time to try and help. I really appreciate this.

Just got back from purchasing another cable. Not the problem with my old cable as it turns out.
When I said I plugged my bass in directly into the RC and stated "no problem", I meant it recorded fine but the output in terms of the level I was hearing live was very low. However, when I played it back it was nice and loud. This is why I went with the JDI so I could actually hear what I was playing prior to playback mode by using my bass amp to "hear" it.

Let me first explain my hook ups -
(My mixer is a Mackie 802 VLZ4)
RC SUB OUT from the RC to mixer IN. (RC set to SUB OUT)
RC Main OUT to Mesa Combo amp IN (RC set to Main OUT)
Mixer OUT to RC Input (L)

Here's what I did first today for starters:

My Super Bassman already has an XLR out and level control for doing exactly what the JDI does. So….
I took my NEW XLR TRS Morgami Gold and connected from the Bassman's XLR OUT directly into my RC-300 Main Input (L)
Result - Hissing in both the Main and Sub. (hissing coming from both Mesa and PA) However, no squeal. This was the first time I tried using the Bassman's direct feature.

Next I tried going from the Bassman XLR OUT to the mixer in and mixer OUT to the RC. Result - Squeal.

Next, Bassman EXT SPKR out (speaker cable) to JDI IN, JDI OUT to mixer IN, mixer OUT to RC IN. Result - Squeal.

So I'm still getting that awful squeal no matter what channel I'm using. HOWEVER I have isolated the squeal to the SUB OUT from the RC. No problems with the Main OUT.

 

[EastCoastThump]

If you only want to loop bass, put the RC-300 b/w your bass and your amp.

You'll get feedback if you feed the Mackie's main outputs to the RC-300 and then feed the RC-300's output back to a channel of the Mackie that returns to the Mackie's main outs.

If you want to route various sources from your mixer to the looper, instead feed the looper's input from the mixer's aux send. Then, you can return the looper's output to a channel on your Mackie as long as the aux send on that mixer channel is at zero.

Also, see the looper's Invalid Link Removed (page 33) on setting the output routing. You'll also want to check that the RC-300 isn't set to mute monitoring of the input signal (also p. 33).

 

[scottrolf]

If you only want to loop bass, put the RC-300 b/w your bass and your amp.

You'll get feedback if you feed the Mackie's main outputs to the RC-300 and then feed the RC-300's output back to a channel of the Mackie that returns to the Mackie's main outs.

If you want to route various sources from your mixer to the looper, instead feed the looper's input from the mixer's aux send. Then, you can return the looper's output to a channel on your Mackie as long as the aux send on that mixer channel is at zero.

Also, see the looper's Invalid Link Removed (page 33) on setting the output routing. You'll also want to check that the RC-300 isn't set to mute monitoring of the input signal (also p. 33).

Okay, thank you. I'll give it a go.
Somehow, I was able to get all of this to work before. I must have inadvertently changed something along the way.

What I do with the looper is lay down multiple tracks for practice purposes only.
For instance. I'll establish a rhythm track (1).
Then lay down a guitar rhythm track (2).
Then a bass track (3).
Now I can practice my leads (guitar in this case) with all three track recorded.
OR - Practice bass lines to the rhythm beat and guitar.
Thanks again for checking in.

 

[scottrolf]

If you only want to loop bass, put the RC-300 b/w your bass and your amp.

Bingo.
That's why I can record my guitar so well is because I'm running from my guitar (and any board EFX) into the RC then the Main OUT to the guitar amp.
So, if all I need to do is record the bass track I just go from my bass to the RC then Main OUT to the Bassman.
Same thing right?
All I want to do is be able to play my bass through my amp and have that one track recorded onto the RC. And this should do it.
Thank you.