Something cool for Sansamp RBI/RPM users...

[Matthew_84]

oh i see
yeah that ultra looks badass
i bet u could get whatever your looking for with that box
interesting for sure

So, I found out the Darkglass Ultra pedals' EQ section is after the distortion and it effects everything, which I don't like. If you have the grunt switch set to bass cut on the distortion, but then have a bass boost (intending to use it on the clean channel), it will boost the bass on the distortion as well.

 

[Matthew_84]

There's a lot of ways to skin a cat (or so I'm told).
You could get a head that has two preamp channels like the EA Doubler: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Or you could get something like the Empress ParaEq to run inline with the pedal of choice: ParaEq
I haven't really used pedals, so I'm just grasping at straws - for me, I suspect the RPM by itself might cover what I'd like to do, but I'm tempted by the VTDI buzz.
A digital modeler would work, one of my band's lead guitarists uses the latest, greatest Axe Fx, then there's Line 6 or the Kemper Profiler.

I have an RPM, which is great, but doesn't quite get me there. Its EQ and blend is pre-distortion, which I prefer. However, I really like the sound of a bass and low-mid boost that are left fairly clean (or maybe a very light OD), mixed in with a signal that has upper mids and treble distorted and a big cut in the bass and low mids. It's pretty hard to do this without separate EQ's on each channel. Another RPM/RBI/VTRM would allow this, and a third would allow for two different settings that are accessible via footswitch, but then I have a massive rack unit sitting on top of my cab.

I also realized that I'd like a parametric EQ after everything, so I can adjust for the room and tweak out a bad frequency. The RPM would be perfect for that. But that just means I need to get my preferred tone before I hit the RPM.

The Doubler looks cool - I love the variable HPF. Unfortunately, I want control over the low mids on one channel and the upper mids on the other, so I don't think it will quite get me there.

I love the ParaEQ pedal though! I don't own one, but have tried one out in a store a few times and it really is the perfect EQ pedal (albeit a bit pricey)... I know that if I had two of those, two distortion pedals which only enhanced the signal it was fed, and a blender pedal to run two parallel loops, I could get exactly what I'm looking for, but then I have 5 pedals, and quite an investment.

I'm going to dig around a bit for two different OD pedals. One to create a big low-mid punch with very slight OD, and another for a bass cut with upper mid clank and heavier distortion. With the right blender pedal (that has phasing correction and footswitches to disable the heavier distortion channel). I should get there with just three pedals.

I actually think a ParaDriver would be great for the cleaner setting, and a BDDI or VT Bass v2 pedal would be great for the heavier setting, but I'm dgoing to dig around a bit and make sure before I buy anything.

 

[Mr. Hand]

I have an RPM, which is great, but doesn't quite get me there. Its EQ and blend is pre-distortion, which I prefer. However, I really like the sound of a bass and low-mid boost that are left fairly clean (or maybe a very light OD), mixed in with a signal that has upper mids and treble distorted and a big cut in the bass and low mids. It's pretty hard to do this without separate EQ's on each channel. Another RPM/RBI/VTRM would allow this, and a third would allow for two different settings that are accessible via footswitch, but then I have a massive rack unit sitting on top of my cab.

I also realized that I'd like a parametric EQ after everything, so I can adjust for the room and tweak out a bad frequency. The RPM would be perfect for that. But that just means I need to get my preferred tone before I hit the RPM.

The Doubler looks cool - I love the variable HPF. Unfortunately, I want control over the low mids on one channel and the upper mids on the other, so I don't think it will quite get me there.

I love the ParaEQ pedal though! I don't own one, but have tried one out in a store a few times and it really is the perfect EQ pedal (albeit a bit pricey)... I know that if I had two of those, two distortion pedals which only enhanced the signal it was fed, and a blender pedal to run two parallel loops, I could get exactly what I'm looking for, but then I have 5 pedals, and quite an investment.

I'm going to dig around a bit for two different OD pedals. One to create a big low-mid punch with very slight OD, and another for a bass cut with upper mid clank and heavier distortion. With the right blender pedal (that has phasing correction and footswitches to disable the heavier distortion channel). I should get there with just three pedals.

I actually think a ParaDriver would be great for the cleaner setting, and a BDDI or VT Bass v2 pedal would be great for the heavier setting, but I'm dgoing to dig around a bit and make sure before I buy anything.

sounds like a good experiment
I'll gladly sell ya my paradriver if ya like

 

[Matthew_84]

sounds like a good experiment
I'll gladly sell ya my paradriver if ya like

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I'm hoping to test out my RPM for this purpose once my wife wakes up.

Also, I'd likely buy the upper mud distortion pedal first so I can run the RPM into it for an "always on" tone, until I can afford the second pedal and blender pedal.

 

[Mr. Hand]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I'm hoping to test out my RPM for this purpose once my wife wakes up.

Also, I'd likely buy the upper mud distortion pedal first so I can run the RPM into it for an "always on" tone, until I can afford the second pedal and blender pedal.

anytime man!
i would like to score an rbi and at least try my paradriver with it
could make for a nice clean / dirt
rig

sounds like 3 pedals could get you what your lookin for
I hope it works for you
keep me posted

 

[Mr. Hand]

There's a lot of ways to skin a cat (or so I'm told).
You could get a head that has two preamp channels like the EA Doubler: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Or you could get something like the Empress ParaEq to run inline with the pedal of choice: ParaEq
I haven't really used pedals, so I'm just grasping at straws - for me, I suspect the RPM by itself might cover what I'd like to do, but I'm tempted by the VTDI buzz.
A digital modeler would work, one of my band's lead guitarists uses the latest, greatest Axe Fx, then there's Line 6 or the Kemper Profiler.

the idea of the axefx or kemper is quite tempting
not needing all the pedals and all

curious how the feel of the tube tone is in comparison to the real deal
and also, what about running power amp and cab setups
i think the kemper doesn't allow for 4 0hm load
strange

 

[kartiste]

Excellent!! I'm glad they're working right for ya, and I hope you get the tone(s) you're looking for.

Speaking of which, here is how I get tone from my RBI/RPM combo, regardless of how they're wired. I use the RBI for sparkle. To that end, I keep Presence around noon. I use the RPM for punch. So, I boost mids around 200Hz -- that is, the Sweep Mid is set around 9 o'clock, give or take. On both units I set Blend between 11 and 1 o'clock.

On both units the EQ (sweep mid excepted) is set close to flat... although that will vary depending on factors such as the bass I'm playing, the band I'm playing with (blues? modern rock?), ambient acoustics, etc. I also set Drive to taste, and that depends mostly on the output level of the bass. I usually go for gentle overdrive. With my active Sadowsky, the Drive controls are set around 9 o'clock or lower.

I encourage you to experiment to your heart's content... just remember that a little tweak will go a long way. Have fun!

I use an RBI. Instead of the RPM, I'm thinking of racking up an old Audioarts 4100A parametric EQ/preamp into the effects loop instead, boosting around 200hz as described here. For reference, does anybody here know what is the Q (or octave width - I can convert from one to the other) of the sweepable mid control on the RPM?

 

[tech21nyc]

The Q on our EQ's is mid band. A wide EQ can sometimes be too subtle and a narrow EQ is usually used for fixing problematic frequencies. We find the mid band the most musical. In the RPM, the midrange control is before the Drive. This means that changes to the mids will also change the quantity of gain.

 

[kartiste]

The Q on our EQ's is mid band. A wide EQ can sometimes be too subtle and a narrow EQ is usually used for fixing problematic frequencies. We find the mid band the most musical. In the RPM, the midrange control is before the Drive. This means that changes to the mids will also change the quantity of gain.

So, when you say "mid band", that would be Q = 1.28 or thereabouts?

 

[tech21nyc]

The Q on the Para Driver Midrange is 1.

 

[kartiste]

The Q on the Para Driver Midrange is 1.

OK, thanks. Appreciate all the info.

 

[Peke]

Finally found an used RPM and it is on its way to me. Looking forward to pair it with my RBI. I will check later to tell how it works out.

 

[Peke]

Have I understood the connections correctly - is this the way to do it?

 

[Fuzzbass]

Nice diagram! I think that's it, but it's been awhile since I've used my rack rig so I will page @JGR to confirm.

EDIT: I ran the RBI first (as in your diagram) because I preferred the aggressive edge of the Presence control, but obviously you can try them in either order to see which you prefer. (They can be blended evenly in either direction, but if you want one to dominate, then run it first).

 

[JGR]

Have I understood the connections correctly - is this the way to do it?

View attachment 975355

Yup, looks right. I also preferred (its been a LONG time ago now) to plug into the RPM first and run the RBI in the loop.

 

[Peke]

I finally have had the time to tweak the settings and I'm really starting to like what I can archive with this setup. I already liked what I got from the RBI only but with RPM added it's so much better. Thanks again for this cool trick!

 

[Fuzzbass]

Adding the RPM sweep mid to the RBI results in amazing versatility.

You also get two flavors of distortion to choose from (or combine), however it's tricky to switch from clean to dirty and back while keeping volume the same, so the easiest usage is "always-on" distortion.

 

[OMSON]

Nice thread! I'm a big fun of SansAmp technology for many years and now must try this trick with RPM/RBI or PSA-1 Lately I was wired parallel my SansAmp PSA-1 as a main with Hartke VXL preamp as FX (with GK fullstack as a slave) to get something like JGR's way. It was usable for live and studio situations. Cool but not enough for me. I think RPM is better choice as a main preamp for organic / warm sound and then bring some grit from PSA-1 or RBI...

 

[OMSON]

And here we go

 

[Fuzzbass]

And here we go

Hey, that's beautiful! I've never tried the PSA-1, but from what I know about it, it makes sense that the RPM would be a better match.