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Radio Button-style Loop Switcher

DrHooper

DrHooper

Jul 30, 2021
321
1,098
Disclosures
Bond Audio LLC : D'Angelico, Supro, Pigtronix
#1
More of an academic question, than practical, but a thought occurred to me. I have three preamps on my board that I always use independently, that is, not stacked.
I'd like to build a loop switcher wherein pressing one switch, disengages the other loops.

I know I could do this via MIDI with my DPC5 (which is not currently on the board), or an ML10X (which I'll likely get at some point in the future), but I like DIY projects.

I don't recall seeing anything like this from any commercial vendors, though I'd bet Radial probably has something similar.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Has it been done before? I feel like somebody, somewhere has to be as nutz as I am.:smug:
 
#2
I have just the thing, a Trace Elliot switcher from the 90s, I don't think it was ever actually a product, though, it was meant as a retail support tool, allowing them to "hot swap" between multiple amps for comparison. Cool gadget. Doubt there are many more out there though.

Whether anyone makes and sells one now, I don't know, but it's certainly possible, not all that hard, just finding good quality radio buttons that are heavy duty enough to last.
 
#3
You just reminded me of something. A buddy of mine worked for GC years ago, and they were tossing a (IIRC) line level switcher for testing different pre's with different power amps. It's possible my memory is faulty, and it was speaker level, but the concept was the same as what you're describing. He still uses it in his practice space.

I realize I am reinventing the wheel to save myself exactly one press of a footswitch, but I do enjoy playing with ideas like this...

Edited to add: That was my first thought: find some actual mechanical radio buttons and mod them into a pedal. Hmm.
 
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#4
I would guess someone like Saturnworks could make this happen. But just so I understand correctly, you'd want A, B, and C loops and switches (one per preamp), and when you stomp one, it disengages the others. So...

A on = B & C off
B on = A & C off
C on = A & B off

... do I have that right? I can definitely see this being useful. I know the Boss LS-2 has an A > B more, where stepping just switches between the A and B loops.

Also, when you say "radio buttons," can you provide an example? Google just shows me either the button options I'd use when programming an online survey or old timey radios with various kinds of buttons and knobs.
 
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#6
J Posega said:
A on = B & C off
B on = A & C off
C on = A & B off
Click to expand...

Precisely.

The term relates to old car radios where when you pushed one of the station preset buttons, it would mechanically release the previously pressed button, and switch to the new spot on the dial. The HTML version is the same concept, where only one option can be selected at a time. The 1176 Compressor had 4 radio buttons to select the ratio; though you could intentionally push in all 4 to get "that" sound.

joel the bass player said:
I've seen that referred to as "Flip-flop" switching. Might add that to your googling.
Click to expand...
I've also seen them called "winner takes all" switching circuits. Still googling...
 
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#8
joel the bass player said:
I've seen that referred to as "Flip-flop" switching. Might add that to your googling.
Click to expand...

Interesting... Every reference to "flip-flop" switching I've ever come across (at least within the context of instrument signal loop selectors) refers to an order reverser:

Signal goes into the gizmo, then out to loop A, from loop A back into the gizmo then out to loop B, and back to the gizmo where it hits the main output. Default signal flow is therefore A>B. But step on the footswich and it reverses the order of the two loops, so now signal flow is B>A. The loop order "flip-flops" when you hit the switch.

I've got a couple of ^^^those on my pedalboard, they're really handy! But not what the OP was looking for.
 
#9
Expensive but nice example:
https://www.thegigrig.com/quartermaster

From the description:
The Flip Flop feature enables you to switch instantly between any selected loops on the QuarterMaster. On the back of the QMX next to the return of each loop is a small button. Press the button in to turn on Flip Flop for that loop. The LED on that loop will now change from blue to red to show you it's now set up in Flip Flop mode. Now when you go from one Flip Flop loop to the next Flip Flop loop the first loop will automatically turn off. Its a fantastic feature that saves a bit of tap dancing without getting into heavy programming.
 
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#12
DrHooper said:
More of an academic question, than practical, but a thought occurred to me. I have three preamps on my board that I always use independently, that is, not stacked.
I'd like to build a loop switcher wherein pressing one switch, disengages the other loops.

I know I could do this via MIDI with my DPC5 (which is not currently on the board), or an ML10X (which I'll likely get at some point in the future), but I like DIY projects.

I don't recall seeing anything like this from any commercial vendors, though I'd bet Radial probably has something similar.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Has it been done before? I feel like somebody, somewhere has to be as nutz as I am.:smug:
Click to expand...
I have a Radial Bigshot EFX which sounds like it could work for you--only two different loops though.
 
#16
DrHooper said:
I know I could do this via MIDI with my DPC5 (which is not currently on the board), or an ML10X (which I'll likely get at some point in the future), but I like DIY projects.
Click to expand...
The DCP.micro sure looks like the ticket but if you want to DIY you could build it in Max/MSP, totally easy peazy. You'd need to be using a laptop though--your audio would need to be routing through Max. And you'd need a way to trigger Max, either via a simple MIDI controller, or any number of other ways (you could even use video feed to do it--Max is hecka fun....)
 
Last edited:
#19
DrHooper said:
More of an academic question, than practical, but a thought occurred to me. I have three preamps on my board that I always use independently, that is, not stacked.
I'd like to build a loop switcher wherein pressing one switch, disengages the other loops.

I know I could do this via MIDI with my DPC5 (which is not currently on the board), or an ML10X (which I'll likely get at some point in the future), but I like DIY projects.

I don't recall seeing anything like this from any commercial vendors, though I'd bet Radial probably has something similar.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Has it been done before? I feel like somebody, somewhere has to be as nutz as I am.:smug:
Click to expand...
These folks can probably build you what you want.

True Bypass Looper - Loop-Master Switcher Pedals - Loop Switcher - Pedal Switcher
 
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#20
I have a custom parallel mixer pedal from COG effects which blends between 3 sources (I used it for preamps too) and it uses some relay magic to move from one setting to the other, mine allows me to blend all 3 sources any which way I want, but I could also solo a preamp with every stomp.

Ant_Blend_2.JPG.opt860x553o0%2C0s860x553.JPG
 

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