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Using two minimixers for signal splitting?

U

uly_

Jul 4, 2005
511
2
43
Denmark
www.myspace.com
#1
Hey TalkBass,

I have found a fuzz that I like the tone of, but it rips all the low end. So I figured that it would be possible to split up the signal in two by using two minimixers (DOD Minimixer i.e.)

So it will be like this:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Now, I have read a bit about this phase-thingy, will this happen with the above (and very well made, if you ask me) example?

Has anyone tried this before? :)

Thanks in advance.
 
#2
I'm thinking that this may cause some impedance or phase problems, but I'm not sure. I'm no engineer.

You might want to consider any one of the blender pedals out now. Barge Concepts VFB-2, Xotic X-Blend, Morley FXB, Radial BIG SHOT Blend, etc.
 
#3
Hey Spanky and thanks for your reply.

Yeah I already have a VFB-2 pedal and while it's a pretty cool pedal, it dosn't really meet my requirements I think.

In my current band situation the overdrive/fuzz/distortion is totally buried in the mix when I hit the VFB2, so I figured I would be better of "layering" the signals, so that the clean signal has the same volume when the fuzz is kicked in, y'know? :)
 
#6
I've seen someone on this site that used a mixer... i don't think he was a common visitor though... He made a topic about it a few months ago...

you could try searching for it...

on a side note, though i don't use a mixer, I do run two channels (two amps) and I love it
 
#7
Do you have a model number for the DOD, or some specs? I can't see why it wouldn't work. But I think Sir Ed's suggestion is better. Many fuzz units will not work properly after an active device.

Phase will only be a problem if the fuzz inverts the input. I seriously doubt a mixer would invert the output. But it would be very simple to build a phase inverter.
 
#9
squarewave said:
Are you sure about this? Is there not some way that signals could arrive at the second mixer partially out of phase, causing frequency cancellation? Just guessing here. I don't know electronics very well, but I know a little math. Comments?
Click to expand...

Yes. In fact any pedal with any EQ at all will have some phase change. Even if it doesn't have tone controls, internal shaping will cause phase shifts. This is a general problem with external blenders and is why a built in blend can, if designed correctly, work much better.

But in practice you can generally boost the gain a bit to compensate for this. But a complete (or near complete) phase reversal is a problem. Assuming the mixer has a gain, you can compensate there.
 
#10
Hi Seanm, thank you for checkin' in :)

Well the mixer I have thought about using is a passive 240 Resistance Mixer.

Picture:
240.jpg


I will be using an Y cable as Edward suggested earlier in this thread.

The fuzz I'm planning to use is a Lemon Fuzz with a simple vol, fuzz, tone layout.

Only thing I can think of that would be phase inverting is the tone-knob-thingy on the fuzz pedal? I'm a real jerk when it comes to electronics :eyebrow:
 
#11
Sir Edward V said:
I've seen someone on this site that used a mixer... i don't think he was a common visitor though... He made a topic about it a few months ago...
Click to expand...

I've posted a number of times about doing that. I use a Mackie 1202VLZ. Works fine, maybe you guys are overthinking it? Or maybe it works fine for me because I'm only using active basses and fuzzes that work at or near line level. Phase interference is mostly where the coolest stuff happens anyway, IMHO. Polarity switching is another story though, for sure.

I actually prefer just sending the fuzzed signal to another power amp channel and a separate cab. Pretty big jump from a passive mixer though, eh?
 
#12
uly_ said:
Hi Seanm, thank you for checkin' in :)

Well the mixer I have thought about using is a passive 240 Resistance Mixer.
Click to expand...

A passive mixer won't work. You need an active mixer or you will get a feedback loop.

Rolls makes some nice small active mixers I believe. Don't know how expensive they are.

Oh, and Passinwind's separate channels idea will work too. Solves the phase shift problem. But an active mixer might be a tad cheaper ;)
 
#15
I want to do something similar, though I'm thinking of using the LS-2 in A+B mix -> bypass mode... Loop A would be clean, Loop B would have a fuzz pedal... then, you have volume control for each loop so you can match the loop A volume to your bypassed volume...

would this work?

I wouldn't use a Y-cable or passive mixers, because (as I understand it), if you just split the signal, the level is gets split as well, right? I don't know how that would affect the effects...
 
#17
uly_ said:
Seanm:

Yes I was wondering if I put my Boss TU-2 in front of the Y cable, it would work with a passive mixer? Like this:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...

No, it would need to be amp -> Y splitter

A side of Y splitter is TU-2 to mixer
B side of Y splittler is fuzz to mixer

You would lose the mute feature on the TU-2.

sikamikanico said:
I want to do something similar, though I'm thinking of using the LS-2 in A+B mix -> bypass mode... Loop A would be clean, Loop B would have a fuzz pedal... then, you have volume control for each loop so you can match the loop A volume to your bypassed volume...

would this work?
Click to expand...
That would work since the LS-2 has all the appropriate buffering.
 

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