Pedal Chain Order HELP!

[zacharybass76]

Here's what I got:
1) Sansamp 3'channel Programmable DI (using as a preamp)
2) MXR Bass Octave
3) MXR Deep Phase
4) Darkglass B3K Distortion
5) EBS Multicomp
6) EHX Bass Clone chorus

What are some recommended order arrangements for these pedals? I'll very much appreciate any feedback! Thanks!

 

[flatrat]

It's hit or miss with pedal chains. All the advice on the internet may not work in your situation. I'd try something like this, but ultimately you'll have to figure out what works. Sansamp > Multicomp > Distortion > Chorus > Octave > Phase. Good luck.

 

[spartan1620]

I’d say multicomp > octave > b3k > sans amp > chorus > phase.

 

[Michedelic]

If you potentially want all of your effects heard through the PA via the DI, run them all before the Sansamp. My preferred order then, with those boxes to work with, would be comp, octave, distortion, chorus, phaser. If a pedal tuner would be in the mix, put that at the very front.

 

[zacharybass76]

If you potentially want all of your effects heard through the PA via the DI, run them all before the Sansamp. My preferred order then, with those boxes to work with, would be comp, octave, distortion, chorus, phaser. If a pedal tuner would be in the mix, put that at the very front.

I have a Sennheiser XSW-D Pedalboard wireless with a built-in tuner, so it will be first. So just to make sure I'm understanding... after the wireless, start with the Comp and follow your flow and end with the Sans? I was planning on ending with the Sans anyway.

 

[zacharybass76]

It's hit or miss with pedal chains. All the advice on the internet may not work in your situation. I'd try something like this, but ultimately you'll have to figure out what works. Sansamp > Multicomp > Distortion > Chorus > Octave > Phase. Good luck.

Interesting. You'd put the Sansamp first?

 

[Michedelic]

I have a Sennheiser XSW-D Pedalboard wireless with a built-in tuner, so it will be first. So just to make sure I'm understanding... after the wireless, start with the Comp and follow your flow and end with the Sans? I was planning on ending with the Sans anyway.

Yes, as long as the Sansamp is providing the only XLR out to a PA(as opposed to some bass amps that actually have that feature, but that’s pretty common these days). You’d theoretically want all your effects heard in your PA sent, right? Otherwise, if your amp is taking care of that, experiment with it right after the comp/octave, as it is a drive; you could put it after the Darkglass, and then utilize the EQ controls to sculpt the sound of all the dirt, final tone shaping on the amp.

 

[theduke1]

Here's what I got:
1) Sansamp 3'channel Programmable DI (using as a preamp)
2) MXR Bass Octave
3) MXR Deep Phase
4) Darkglass B3K Distortion
5) EBS Multicomp
6) EHX Bass Clone chorus

What are some recommended order arrangements for these pedals? I'll very much appreciate any feedback! Thanks!

I would say based on my experience using a Digitech Drop pedal the the octave pedal should be first. Even if you don’t use it all the time, changing the pitch should happen before you add any effects.
I’m no expert, but it works in my application
Duke

 

[Lit311]

In my experience, I prefer to put all octaves, pitch shifts, and distortions before the comp. I used to have a very technical answer… something about frequency, or the filters of the comp messing with the sensitivity of the distortions and shifters… but I dunno. I just kept doing it because I liked it.

So, if it were my board… I would go Wireless>Octave>Dist>Comp>Phase>Chorus>Sansamp.

 

[flatrat]

Interesting. You'd put the Sansamp first?

On second thought, probably not. It's in the middle of my signal chain right now, after fuzz/distortion and before chorus and wah. That's how it has worked out for me.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Other than the DI being last for obvious reasons, I'd say there are no hard & fast rules. How about just trying them out and seeing what sounds best?

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

1) MXR Bass Octave
2) Darkglass B3K
3) EBS Multicomp
4) MXR Deep Phase
5) EHX Bass Clone
6) Sansamp

 

[patrickhowell]

Octave usually works best early in the chain so it gets the cleanest input signal. It should be fine after compression, but I would keep it before any other effects.

Phaser and chorus will sound more prominent after distortion and more subtle before distortion. Similarly, compression will have a different feel before and after distortion. You may need to experiment with these to find what you like best.

SansAmp should be last so that your DI signal has all of your effects.

 

[GregT]

I've had the Programmable Sansamp before. It has the buffer and the low impedance output. I would run it last since it is designed to be going to the PA or amp.

 

[Michedelic]

In my experience, I prefer to put all octaves, pitch shifts, and distortions before the comp. I used to have a very technical answer… something about frequency, or the filters of the comp messing with the sensitivity of the distortions and shifters… but I dunno. I just kept doing it because I liked it.

So, if it were my board… I would go Wireless>Octave>Dist>Comp>Phase>Chorus>Sansamp.

Comp serves a better purpose before any octave, to level out the dynamics(to taste, you don’t have to squash it, just smooth out the signal a bit)so that the octave can grab the note at a consistent level. Comp after any distortion kills the dynamics that those kinds of boxes provide, and raises the noise floor level. I feel that if you want sustain out of any kind of dirt effects, you should buy a unit with that kind of circuitry already baked in.

 

[DwaynieAD]

Comp, octave, dist, chorus, phase, di

 

[mrcbass]

but ultimately you'll have to figure out what works.

Use what folks above tell you as staring points. But as @flatrat said, ultimately, you just need top play with stuff to figure out what works for you.

 

[Killing Floor]

Your pedals so I might like them differently than you. There is NO wrong or right order as you know.
But if these were mine I would most likely go Comp-Preamp-Distortion-Octave-Phase-Chorus with the caveat that the last 2 I wouldn't use together so that order could flip. My general thought is comp/preamp or preamp/comp then dirt then any synth (octave or other) then modulation (chorus, etc.) then any time based effect like delay or reverb. But that's just me. When I use a vintage fuzz that is sensitive to buffers I'd put it first. If I was leveling for recording I'd put the compressor last or late but in a live situation I use it as a boundary to clean up my input from the pickups. It really depends what you want out of compression, that determines the position. I think some things you could put almost anywhere except the combinations are different. For example, Octave into Distortion sounds completely different than Distortion into Octave. If you don't combine effects only the comp and preamp order makes a lot of difference. Good luck.

 

[Lit311]

Comp serves a better purpose before any octave, to level out the dynamics(to taste, you don’t have to squash it, just smooth out the signal a bit)so that the octave can grab the note at a consistent level. Comp after any distortion kills the dynamics that those kinds of boxes provide, and raises the noise floor level. I feel that if you want sustain out of any kind of dirt effects, you should buy a unit with that kind of circuitry already baked in.

Oh great. Now you’ve just opened up a-whole-nother rabbit hole for me to explore. Time to pencil in some time to work on the board.

 

[zacharybass76]

I ended up going with this order:
1) Wireless (tuner)
2) Compressor
3) Octave
4) Darkglass
5) Chorus
6) Phaser
7) SansAmp.

Before I go and move everything again, what are some thoughts about running the Darkglass AFTER the chorus and Phaser? Does anyone run their overdrive last or next-to-last in their chain?