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Signal splitting multiple times?
- Thread starter Snarf
- Start date
Probably not a stupid idea, but it might be baaed on what you plan to do
.I would go with a set of blend pedals or mixers or something. Like two boss ls-2s or something along those lines. An ABY might be perfectly competent, but it'll be more finicky than two buffered inputs.
At first it hurt my head to think about multiple line splitters in a chain, but you essentially just want the ability to plug 2 different instruments into a bi amp setup, is that correct?
Oh shoot, I might have misinterpreted.
If catcauphonic is right I'd use an LS-2 or some other sort of blender/ mixer to bring them together and then an ABY to send them to two amps.
If catcauphonic is right I'd use an LS-2 or some other sort of blender/ mixer to bring them together and then an ABY to send them to two amps.
Okies, I should be more specific. Here is my most recent draft of my signal chain.
FOH
|
Bass ---> VTBassDI ------ |
ABY ---> ABY ----- Amp ----> FOH (if they just want one signal)
| \
Analog synth --- FOH DI --- \
\
Mixer ----> IEM
^
|
|
Monitor mix
Edit: Yup that didn't work. But I'm leaving it here for the lulz.
FOH
|
Bass ---> VTBassDI ------ |
ABY ---> ABY ----- Amp ----> FOH (if they just want one signal)
| \
Analog synth --- FOH DI --- \
\
Mixer ----> IEM
^
|
|
Monitor mix
Edit: Yup that didn't work. But I'm leaving it here for the lulz.
So in actual words and not in failed ASCII art, here's the plan:
Take a bass and a synth. Send the bass to FOH via direct out (VTBassDI). 1/4 out continues along the chain. Synth goes to a DI box, and the through continues along the chain. These two instruments to the first ABY box.
Output of ABY #1 goes to input of ABY #2. Signal is split and sent to a mixer for ears, and to an amplifier.
I used to do something like this, where everything went into a mixer with a main mix and monitor mix. I'd take a funny cable and run the main out of that to my amp. Doing that creeps me out, so I want to stop doing that, but still maintain most of the headache that my setup generates. But the goal of this new signal chain is to get rid of my soft synth laptop/controller setup and move toward a hardware synth.
Another edit: And I just realized, this isn't really splitting multiple times, more like slapping the two together, then taking the result and sending it in two different directions.
Take a bass and a synth. Send the bass to FOH via direct out (VTBassDI). 1/4 out continues along the chain. Synth goes to a DI box, and the through continues along the chain. These two instruments to the first ABY box.
Output of ABY #1 goes to input of ABY #2. Signal is split and sent to a mixer for ears, and to an amplifier.
I used to do something like this, where everything went into a mixer with a main mix and monitor mix. I'd take a funny cable and run the main out of that to my amp. Doing that creeps me out, so I want to stop doing that, but still maintain most of the headache that my setup generates. But the goal of this new signal chain is to get rid of my soft synth laptop/controller setup and move toward a hardware synth.
Another edit: And I just realized, this isn't really splitting multiple times, more like slapping the two together, then taking the result and sending it in two different directions.
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Ba55Man1ac
Gold Supporting Member
Summing or mixing signals together is best done passively through resistors or actively with buffers. If you short 2 signals together like ABY #1 would do in 'Y' mode (if you're only going A/B, ignore this whole post), the low output impedances 'fight' each other & you end up with a suboptimal result. I recommend you replace ABY #1 with a mixer... LS-2 would suffice. Google 'why not wye' for better words than I am capable of.
This. You'll definitely want active whichever route you go.
I have kind of an interesting setup like that, but it's a little more complicated.
I have two separate preamps with DI's on my IEM board. One is for bass, the other for synth. I have separate inputs for each, but I run the DI out of both into a Rolls Mix 2:1 which then combines the signal into my Rolls headphone amp and passes through to the FOH. This was to avoid having to use a second channel at the board dedicated for the synth which would have made things difficult for monitoring purposes. As long as I make them level on my end it's not really a problem. I then take the 1/4" out of each preamp and run it into a Behringer Micromix. From there it combines the signal to an amplifier that I use to run my Eich Bassboard.
That LS-2 unit looks like the hotness. So can you treat Return A and Return B on that box as instrument inputs and essentially use it as a mixer?
Yes, in the AB mix mode it will do that job.
And now that I look at the manual, you could probably do your whole job with that one pedal. Bass and synth into the returns, output to the input, and the two sends out to your two amps. If you hit bypass your output would be connected directly to your input and I don't know how that would go. You'd want to test at low volume to make sure there's no wierd feedback loop stuff happening, but if it truly bypasses the sends and returns it should be good.
As an FOH guy, that setup doesn't get me real excited. I would much prefer to have a line for your bass and a line for your synth and send you back an IEM mix... I may have rather different thought on how to eq and comp or limit the synth as opposed to the bass. Sending me a pre-mixed signal limits my ability to actually mix...
The bass goes into a VTBassDI at one point, and FOH can take it from there. And they can throw a DI box in between my synth and my mix setup. If they want just one line, they can take it off my amp. I've actually encountered FOH engineers on both sides of the spectrum. I had one guy almost walk off the job when I told him he could only get both in one channel (setup was weird and in flux at that time, I think I was using a Firehawk FX as my preamp and my audio interface). And I've also had guys that didn't care and just took it off my amp. That may have just been a reflex because 99% of bass players in my area don't run a keyboard.
I always take whatever bass signal I want, run it into my own mixer, then take the monitor mix with NO bass, then I can blend as I see fit and not have to be more of a pain in the ass than I already am. A lot of guys are doing the phone app thing now though, and that drives me crazy, I hate using those.
*Michael Rosen Voice* Nice.
Gonna try that I think. Seems to be the most elegant solution.
the LS-2 is just a small mixer, really. I just got one. it works great. I agree with everyone saying that's a good start for you.
I was wowed when I first discovered the usefulness of the trusty old LS-2 as well, but for an extra $20-$25 you can get one of these that does a LOT more (and it doesn't have those crowded 3 ins/out jacks to a side 
) It's about the same size as the LS-2 if it were turned sideways >
) It's about the same size as the LS-2 if it were turned sideways >
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Forgive me for making a point, its the former salesman / solution finder in me.
The Rolls handles all three levels ( bass, synth mono or stereo, monitor feed) and is your DI for your synth.
1 box solution. No extra boxes or splitter needed.
Professional made in USA quality,
not behringer.
Btw there is a nice video on the Rolls site about the PM351.
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