Parallel Lines a Serial Killer?

[JohnArnson]

Well, I certainly am happy about my Boss LS-2 that I use to blend in the clean signal from the empty effects loop of the pedal with the parallel effects loops that I got my overdrive and distortion in.

I guess it can be useful for creating new unique textures by blending different effects in parallel as well, but that is not really how I use it.

I could see myself getting something like the new EHX Tri Parallel Mixer, that feature 3 effects loops, plus a master clean blend, and more control over the individually looped signals than the LS-2, down the line though, which would also allow me to switch the 3 parallel loops in or out of my effects chain individually as I see fit, but for now I'll get by just fine with my LS-2.

 

[Bassmike62]

I'll add a pic tomorrow, but at least my chain is sigged .
Basically, wanted to set up a dry/wet board, with OD in the dry signal path. The BOD is also in the dry path, but it has mix knob. Started out by using a Boss LS-2 and moved on to a 3-channel Saturnworks mixer. It's probably a little overkill, but I like how it sounds, so do the bandmates and I never have to worry about low-end.

EDIT: pic added, mixer in top left corner.

 

[Real Soon]

I'm saving up for the VFE Klein Bottle, which is natively parallel but can run in classic series if desired.

Reasons abound for why, but being able to switch the order in which signal is processed between loops with just a few twists is a FANTASTIC upgrade for a studio creativity board that also gets live use aplenty, and is only one of that pedal's features.

I was close to getting the new EHX box or talking to Saturnworks about something fun, but the VFE is the one for me.

 

[Al Krow]

That VFE Klein bottle does look like a fantastic piece of kit and also provides three loops. Love the fact that you have separate hpf and lpf for each loop, but it's coming in at almost 3x the cost of the EHX tri parallel mixer so, as you say, would be a cool candidate for a future upgrade.

The Saturnworks seems to be very well priced, but am I right in thinking it's a little less compact and has pretty limited control features?

A looper that doesn't seem to have got a mention so far is the Boss ES-5 and it's big brother the ES-8. One of my fellow bassists over here in the UK mentioned he had an ES-8 which allowed him to have each individual pedal in it's own loop, which he could then bring in either series or parallel. That's definitely overkill for me, but certainly a 'nice to have'!

 

[naetog]

One of the reasons I went with the Saturnworks was the form factor.

I tried a Wounded Paw Blender, but for my board it was too deep and square. More options, but I realistically will never be and switching of pedal order or anything like that.

Here's a pic for size reference:

 

[Al Krow]

@naetog - some nice kit on your board! You'll be able to save some more space by swapping your Enzo & Midi control for a Boss SY-1 shortly (just teasing!)

 

[BurningSkies]

That VFE Klein bottle does look like a fantastic piece of kit and also provides three loops. Love the fact that you have separate hpf and lpf for each loop, but it's coming in at almost 3x the cost of the EHX tri parallel mixer so, as you say, would be a cool candidate for a future upgrade.

The Saturnworks seems to be very well priced, but am I right in thinking it's a little less compact and has pretty limited control features?

A looper that doesn't seem to have got a mention so far is the Boss ES-5 and it's big brother the ES-8. One of my fellow bassists over here in the UK mentioned he had an ES-8 which allowed him to have each individual pedal in it's own loop, which he could then bring in either series or parallel. That's definitely overkill for me, but certainly a 'nice to have'!

I use an ES-5. And yep, and you can do whatever you want for series/parallel options. My only grouse about parallel is that the unit gives you a master level control but you can't dial a level for the different legs of the parallel signals. I'd much prefer to be able to 'dial back' my parallel clean a little or whatever.

If you look at the diagram I posted above you'll see that I have some pedals that are out front or behind my ES-5, making them series in my signal chain, then I have stuff in my ES-5 loops (you can do series or parallel and re-order the pedals) and I even have one loop that sub-loops into a crossover pedal so I have high pass/low pass looping on that channel (high side gets fuzz/envelope, low side stays clean).

 

[Bassmike62]

The Saturnworks seems to be very well priced, but am I right in thinking it's a little less compact and has pretty limited control features?

Pic added. Not that big of a footprint IMO and as for features, it is designed specifically for bass and each channel has it own level control. I'm not seeing myself looking to change signal paths or pedal order or whatever else and going for a bigger board is definitely out of the question. I've had this unit for a couple of years and it works flawlessly, the only feature I would add is a phase switch.

 

[knumbskull]

I'm currently running parallel mild dirt signals in my metal band:

lows: Fuzzrocious BDPG
highs: Fuzzrocious Rat Tail

... via an LS-2, with a compressor before and a Sansamp clone after. I've been using variations of this setup for years (used to have a Bad Monkey on the "highs" end). It's a bit of a bear to get the input/output levels dialled in so it clips just right, but once it's there, *chef's kiss*

 

[Al Krow]

Just come across this neat piece of kit - relatively modestly priced and which will take up minimal board space. It allows two effects loops (probably for synth and dirt in my case), which should be plenty to be getting on with for those of us just starting to get into parallel routing and provides an additional budget option.

[UPDATE] - I appear to have jumped the gun here, as a bass mate of mine has pointed out that this allows just series-only fx loops i.e. doesn't permit parallel loops which would make it a bit pointless in the context of this thread! No wonder it was relatively so cheap!

As you were, everyone!



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[Al Krow]

Pic added. Not that big of a footprint IMO and as for features, it is designed specifically for bass and each channel has it own level control. I'm not seeing myself looking to change signal paths or pedal order or whatever else and going for a bigger board is definitely out of the question. I've had this unit for a couple of years and it works flawlessly, the only feature I would add is a phase switch.

What's your current set up looking like with the Saturnworks in place of the LS2?

 

[Al Krow]

I use an ES-5. And yep, and you can do whatever you want for series/parallel options. My only grouse about parallel is that the unit gives you a master level control but you can't dial a level for the different legs of the parallel signals. I'd much prefer to be able to 'dial back' my parallel clean a little or whatever.

Yeah - I get that could be a bit of a gripe, but is that not something you can sort by adjusting the volumes on the individual pedals in each of the loops?

I was just checking to see if the EHX Tri Parallel has individual loop vol controls in addition to the master vol control and I presume from that fact that you can dial back / up the send and return that these effectively provide you with a vol control.

 

[Bassmike62]

What's your current set up looking like with the Saturnworks in place of the LS2?

That is the SW in the pic, I switched from the LS-2 years ago.

 

[Al Krow]

That is the SW in the pic, I switched from the LS-2 years ago.

Haha - ah yes, my bad! I saw an off-white Boss pedal in a thread about fx loops and immediately assumed it was an LS-2!

 

[BurningSkies]

Yeah - I get that could be a bit of a gripe, but is that not something you can sort by adjusting the volumes on the individual pedals in each of the loops?

Well, depends. The pedals on the loops are in multiple different patches so I may not want the volume on the pedal changed for some of those...and the point of having a fairly 'intelligent' programmable switching unit is to be able to not have to twist knobs for different patches.

In the case I'm talking about I want to lower the paralleled clean signal rather than raise or lower the effected parallel loop, which is set where it should be at unity with my otherwise non-effect tone.

 

[Bassmike62]

Haha - ah yes, my bad! I saw an off-white Boss pedal in a thread about fx loops and immediately assumed it was an LS-2!

All good .
Great thread title, BTW.

 

[Al Krow]

Well, depends. The pedals on the loops are in multiple different patches so I may not want the volume on the pedal changed for some of those...and the point of having a fairly 'intelligent' programmable switching unit is to be able to not have to twist knobs for different patches.

In the case I'm talking about I want to lower the paralleled clean signal rather than raise or lower the effected parallel loop, which is set where it should be at unity with my otherwise non-effect tone.

Gotcha. Looking at the EHX, would that get you there?

 

[Al Krow]

All good .
Great thread title, BTW.

Thanks - glad you thought so!

Although, there's always a risk folk might be go away disappointed 'cos they're expecting a discussion about...

But hey, on the other hand, if you're lurking on a bass forum effects' section...

 

[cheapbasslovin]

Thanks - glad you thought so!

Although, there's always a risk folk might be go away disappointed 'cos they're expecting a discussion about...

View attachment 3521104

But hey, on the other hand, if you're lurking on a bass forum effects' section...

I play in a Blondie tribute, so I thought I was uniquely qualified to be here .

Fortunately I've also done some parallel chaining.

 

[BurningSkies]

Gotcha. Looking at the EHX, would that get you there?

Nope, probably something I have to live with. The ES-5 is only partly about the programmable loops, it's also about full MIDI functionality. I build patches out of the 5 loops on the ES, I can order them at will, parallel them in whatever order/pattern I want then I also trigger MIDI patches and settings on delay, reverb & synth in front or behind the ES.

So for example I can have a patch that turns on my synth (MIDI) and sets a certain patch on it -> fuzz->envelope->chorus (all traditional effects in loops)-> turns on my delay (MIDI) to a certain patch ->Turns on my reverb (MIDI) to a certain patch. Then I can also assign expression control(s) from the ES to whatever parameter on a MIDI pedal too if I want.