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Guide to Switchers, MIDI pedalboards, and Routers
Perrin Bishop-Wright wrote:
>The
6- switches
1- Momentary action switch
1- A/B switch
>It's a great product. I would totally buy more of them. Especially for the price I bought it for ($20). If you have any questions let me know.
--Perrin
Almost all by Gary Watts, gwatts at cv.hp.com
March 18,1998; Rev 3, when transferred to Amptone.com. Sent to Amp Tone site
for web posting. This list is now maintained at this site.
These are devices for switching and controlling audio instrument signal paths, such as for guitar or keyboards.
Contents
Switchers
MIDI pedals
A/B boxes and multi-amp selectors
Mixers and other return devices
More switching products
Manufacturers
Switchers
These are used to take devices in and out of the audio path. Some units can also do ground lift type functions for channel switching of amps etc.
Vinteck
Vinteck guitar-gear switcher company: in http://www.amptone.com/switchers.htm,
added http://vinteck.com --
Axess Electronics - CFX4 and GRX4
Axess Electronics designs and manufactures:
- Guitar audio switchers
- Control function switchers
- Guitar audio buffers/splitters
- Other custom products
- More products are on the way.
By early 1999, design work will be complete on a new
professional rack switcher and
Product name: CFX4
Number of loops: 0
Loops are stereo capable: n/a
Number of switches: 4
MIDI control method: Control or Program Changes
Size: 4.70" x 3.70" x 1.33"
Price: $169.95us List / $135.96us Direct
Product name: GRX4
Number of loops: 4
Loops are stereo capable: no
Number of switches: 1
MIDI control method: Control Changes
Size: 7.40" x 4.70" x 1.46"
Price: $199.95us List / $159.96us Direct
Custom Audio Electronics 4x4
http://www.customaudioelectronics.com
Number of loops: 4
Loops are stereo capable?: yes
Number of switches:4
Size: 1 rack space
Price: $599.00 list, $469 direct
Input is buffered with variable gain. You can bypass this by using the rear input of loop 1.
They also make 1/2 rack versions. One is a 4-loop switcher, another is an 8 tip-to-ground switcher.
Rocktron Patchmate
Number of loops: 9
Loops are stereo capable?:yes
Number of switches: any loop can be used as a ground lift switch
Size: 1 rack space
Price: $769 list
Also includes a stereo Hush loop. VERY useful, although the thing doesn't have adjustable filter controls like in other standalone Hush devices. [just the 'threshold'].
Digital Music Corporation Ground Control Expander Guitar Audio Switcher
Number of loops: 8
Loops are stereo capable: no (must use 2 loops each stereo pair)
Number of switches: 2
Size: 1 rack space
Price: $350.00 list
Sound Sculpture Switchblade 16
http://www.soundsculpture.com/
Number of Loops: 16 in 16 out
Loops are stereo capable?: no
Number of switches: 8
Size: 1 rack space high
Price: $2299.00
This is a switching matrix. You can have any combination of serial and parallel
with any device attached. This is a 16x16 linear control matrix. You can send
any amount of any input to any combo of outputs. It is completely programmable,
so you probably can use it to control stereo loops with pairs of channels.
Also, It also has provisions for programmable gain adjustment for each device
attached, and an LFO somewhere.
Mesa MIDI
Matrix
Might be out of production. Check the used gear sites or used guitar stores.
Number of loops:6 mono
Number of switches:8
Loops can be stereo: no, only 3 loops if usd in a stereo fashion
Options: has 2 A/B routers at the front of the chain to select amps/preamps (4
total).
Scholz Octopus
Might be out of production. Check the used gear sites or used guitar stores.
Number of Loops: none
Loops are stereo capable?: see note
Number of switches: 8
Size: 1 rack space high, half width
Price: No longer made, was $225 list new.
While the Octopus only does switching, an optional accessory, the Loop Selector
allows up to 8 mono loops. Price was $79.00 each for Loop Selectors.
Jim Dunlop has taken over manufacturing of Scholz R & D products but isn't
making any of these particuliar units at this time.
Rocktron/Bob Bradshaw RSB-12 and RSB-16 loop switchers
Check Bradshaw's company Custom Audio Electronics.
Might be out of production. Check the used gear sites or used guitar stores.
These were the first production models of Bradshaw's units manufactured by
Rocktron. They have a 2 rack space panel with 6 and 10 loops respectively all
with active buffereing and a master VCA that is controlled via a remote volume
pedal. A large pedal board is included that has a dedicated harness to connect
to the rack unit. These do have
User comments: I seem to recall that it had 11 loops and a Hush loop, plus 4 control switches [so 16 switches total]. The thing also had a programmable VCA as you mentioned, and another stereo nonprogrammable Hush. The pedalboard ["RSB16F"] allowed 5 presets of on/off's for 16 switches per bank. I can't recall if it allowed 20 or 25 banks.
The original Bradshaw systems were just remote on/off switches in a pedalbox
communicating with a box containing switchers/loopers. Later ones allowed
combination-preset capabilities. Then Rocktron-manufactured ones included
Lab System Plus
No information.
Kitty Hawk
No information.
Exef Looper PSE1000
Another great switcher was built by a European company called Exef. Their
"Looper" system, which was similar to the Boogie matrix switcher, was
huge. They built a rackmount, programmable amp that contained a mini version of
the Looper. I think it was called something like PSE1000, and it was also big,
though not as big as the PS Systems' monster. They also made a bunch of simple
Japanese MIDI Switcher
There's also a crazy
DW Labs Quick Change Artist
DW Labs makes a 5-loop remote switcher which is just that and nothing fancy.
Rolls Patchwork and MIDIwizard Pedal
Rolls also made a 4x4 switcher/looper sometime ago called Patchwork. Their "MIDIwizard" pedal was great that it had 8 cv pedal inputs.
Pete Cornish routers
Pete Cornish, a leading rig designer in
Pete provided this address, 12/2000:
Pete Cornish
Ailies Buildings
Whitesmith Lane
Graywood
BN8 6QP
email: petecornish at appleonline.net
TC Electronic 2290 delay with 5 loops
Another honorable mention should go to the 5 loops included in a delay unit called "2290" by TC Electronic. 4 were mono, and 1 stereo. I can't remember if the mono loops also included programmable filters or not, but they were placed pre-DDL. This was around '87.
Boss LS-2 Line Switcher pedal
[An interesting and elegant switcher pedal to route other pedals and so on. See Boss LS-2 Line Selector ($150), MXR Loop Selector, Bradshaw 4x4 Audio Controller ($1300), GCX Guitar Audio Switcher ($630), Rocktron Patch Mate ($1140) -- Michael]
MIDI
pedals
There a large variety of what I'll call "generic"
The other group are pedals that will send multiple MIDI messages on multiple
Digital Music Ground Control
List price: $250.00
Controller inputs: 2
Number of buttons: 10
Number of banks: 10
Display allows alpha messages?:yes
Individual switches for controlling each loop?:yes-6
Number of MIDI channels it can send on:8
Can send more than program changes: yes
Lake Butler
MIDI Mitigator RFC-1
List price: $395.00
Controller inputs: 1
Number of buttons: 8
Number of banks:99
Display allows alpha messages? [? missing info]
Individual switches for controlling each loop?:no
Number of MIDI channels it can send on:16
Can send more than program changes: yes
Also has a set mode to allow 3 different song lists that can programmed in
any order desired out of the main memory. The continuous controller input
requires 75Kohm pedal. Most pedals are 10K such as the Roland EV-5.
Rocktron All Access
List price: $899
Controller inputs: 2
Number of buttons: 18 buttons, 15 for real time control,3 for bank select and
programming.
Display allows alpha messages?:yes
Individual switches for controlling each loop?: yes
Number of MIDI channels it can send on: 16
Can send more than program changes: yes
Rocktron MIDI Mate
List price: $399.00
Controller inputs: 1
Number of buttons: 12
Number of banks:12
Display allows alpha messages?:yes
Individual switches for controlling each loop?:yes
Number of MIDI channels it can send onsimultaneously: 4 on version 1.0, 6 on
version 2.0
Can send more than program changes: unknown
Custom Audio Electronics RS-10
List price: $699.00
Controller inputs: 2
Number of buttons: 10 switches for control messages, 4 preset buttons,2 bank
up/down buttons.
Each expander adds 6 control msg switches and 2 preset buttons.
Number of banks:2 banks of 4 presets [standard configuration].
With one expander, 22 banks of 6 presets.
Display allows alpha messages?: no
Individual switches for controlling each loop?: yes
Number of MIDI channels it can send on: 16
Can send more than program changes: yes
Digitech PMC-10
List price: $299.00
Controller inputs: 2
Number of buttons:10
Number of banks:99
Display allows alpha messages?:unknown
Individual switches for controlling each loop?: no
Number of MIDI channels it can send on: 16
Can send more than program changes: yes
A/B boxes and multi-amp selectors
DOD A/B box
The least expensive passive box out there. Uses mechanical relays and can cause line pops when signal is present. Price: around $29.00
MXR Loop Selector
[See Boss LS-2 Line Selector ($150), MXR Loop Selector, Bradshaw 4x4 Audio Controller ($1300), GCX Guitar Audio Switcher ($630), Rocktron Patch Mate ($1140) -- Michael]
Whirlwind Selector
Does A/B or A + B. List price is around $99.00.
Egnator SC-4 Simulcab
Allows one amplifier head to be sent to one of 4 speaker cabinets via
Custom Audio Electronics Amp Selector I
Allows 4 heads to be switched to one cabinet. Price is $999
Custom Audio Electronics Amp Selector II
Allows 1 guitar to be routed to any or all of 4 amps. Price is $499.
Custom Audio Electronics Amp Selector II
Allows 1 guitar to be routed to any or all of 4 amps and also includes 8 switches for doing channel switching. $799.
Mesa
Number of loops: 4
Loops are stereo capable?: no (you'd have to use 2 loops at a time)
Number of switches: 0
MIDI control method: just has 4 short-to-ground jacks
Size: 1 rack space
Price: approximately $500 direct
Other: uses opto-isolators, buffered analog Jensen matching transformers.
Intended for use with TriAxis which has 4 function switchjacks that can be
controlled via
Mixers and other return devices
Rane SM-26, Passac mixer
Very nice mixers. They made an 8ch version and a bigger 16ch version that had sends and eq's per channel. At one time (mid 80's) Bob Bradshaw recommended using them in big guitar rigs. Since then, he came up with his own, simpler designs which sound pretty clean, probably mostly due to lack of input gain controls, eq's or send/return's.
Custom Audio Electronics Sub Mixer
No information.
Digital Music Corporation System Mix
1 rack space high, half width sub mixer. Each loop has a minimum of controls (no individual volumes or eq etc). $300.00 list
Digital Music Corporation System Mix Plus
1 rack space, full width with stereo line mixer, cabinet simulator,
headphone amp with direct and monitor levels,
Info page: Digital Music Corporation System Mix Plus. Rack utilities. Cab-sim filter.
Rocktron Rack Interface
Same features as System Mix Plus but also includes a MIDI-controlled
wah-wah. $659 list. Info page: Rocktron Rack Interface.
Mixer, cab-sim filter, rack utility processor. It has the same features as
System Mix Plus. The wah on the rack interface is done manually with a stereo
audio cable between a volume pedal and the unit itself, not with a
continuous-controlled
More switching products
>Page 6, The Guitar Magazine, Jan 2001. About some new units from Scapegoat ( 01484 854883 ) and they have a Stomp Select FX router and Stomp Bypass for about �35.
(no webpage found)
Aiken amp or cab switching circuits
soundsculpture.com - MIDI Controlled Accessory Products. All units are relay based to maintain signal purity.
MidiUp *REAL TIME FX CONTROL FROM YOUR GUITAR* - Install a pot in your guitar to control your effects
PowerSwap Hot swap speaker cabinets and amp heads with PowerSwap.
FootSim - TOSS THOSE MECHANICAL FOOTSWITCHES - Control your amp channels
from your
Carl Martin: Combinator - $450.
"Switching system in pedalboard format that allows guitarists to store
combinations of pedals for instant recall. It features send and return jacks as
well as 9V power supply inputs for up to 8 external effects pedals from any
manufacturer. Allows up to 8 stomp boxes (two of them in stereo). They can be
used in 8 individual programs, with 8 individual high quality switches (no bank
up, no bank down). The programming is simple: select a program by activating a
program switch, select the boxes by activating the soft switch on the loop
where the box is inserted, and press store. Simple as it can be and NO MIDI.
Eight separate 9V power taps are built in. Stomp boxes are meant to be on the
floor, not in a rack compartment. The Combinator should be on the floor as
well. There is no sense in using a combo amp and still having to drag a
l9" rack system to the gig."
Nobels A/B-V AB Switching
Pedal - Universal switchbox - Lets you switch between 2 inputs (2 guitars)
to one output, or between 2 outputs (2 amps or preamps). Set perfect volume
levels, as every channel has one separate volume control. 2 Leds indicate which
channel is active.
Nobels ALEX Loop Expander
- online manual available. ALEX-1 - Analog Loop Expander - passive. Many of the
loved old effect unit cannot be used on stage, as they make too much noise. By
pressing a button the Alex-1 can loop an effect unit into a system or can take
it out of a system. No sound modification, due to strong 10-amp relay. Can also
be used as a speaker selector.
Nobels AB-1 Switcher -
official product page - "AB-1 A/B Active Selector Box. AB Switching
Pedal.
Nobels product page - lots of pedals and boxes with added smart features.
Nobels MF-2 Programmable MIDI
controller
Whirlwind
Morley A/B
Morley A/B [need link]
Morley A/B/C box : 1 ftsw is A or B/C, 1 ftsw is B or C. One jack is in or out.
Morley A/B box: 1 ftsw is A and B, other is A or B. One jack is in/out.
DOD 270
DOD 270 - DOD AC270 A/B box. switch from one source to 2 destinations, or 2 sources to 1 destination. No electronics, no battery.
Roger Mayer Crossroads
Boss FS-5L
Boss FS-5L footswitch pedal - however, their LS-2 line selector is the coolest; I assume the 5L has far fewer capabilities.
Black Cat Products - Parallel FX mixer 2x2
$189
Rolls
1994 ad: "Rolls Corporation is the world leader in
Manufacturers
Axess Electronics
251 Queen St. South #278
(416) 410-9688
Custom Audio Electronics
(818) 763-8898
Digital Music Corporation (Voodoo Lab)
(818) 991-3881
Egnator Amplification
(810) 399-6208
Rocktron
(313) 853-3055
Amptone.com ultra gear-search page
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