I am going to add a Soundcraft mtk 12 to my set up, for my hardware I just need 4 monos a 2 stereo inputs, so I was thinking of using the 2 mono and the stereo extra channels as FX returns
It has three aux:
1 aux to internal fx, easy…
1 aux to ms70cdr and return to the extra stereo channel, easy too as has line inputs
1 aux to 2 different distortion Boss guitar pedals via Y cable and back to the mixer on a different channel each.
The mixer has two channel with Hi-Z inputs, should I use those? Being distortion pedals, should I still use a DI box anyway?
Maybe I could also use the group 1-2 outs instead of the aux…
Using the Group outs is will limit your options in 2 ways:
you cannot set levels separately for the dry and distorted signal as both are set by the fader (though you could adjust on the pedals).
You are limited in panning the source channels as the channel pan affects both the group send and the main mix.
On the other hand, if you have stereo sources with sounds moving between L and R, then using group 1-2 you can have those sounds moving between the two distortions where the aux will sum everything to mono.
So, better to use the aux send then…
From the pedals out to Hi Z, that part is ok. But from the mixer aux to the pedals? That is a line output, besides I want to use a Y cable so I can send audio to both pedals same time. Will not mixing line output and then back to the mixer Hi Z mess things up?
Guitar pedals are typically fine with taking line level.
It‘s due to the impedance, going line level output into an instrument level input should be fine, however leading an instrument level output into a line level input might be bad. The output coming from a guitar pedal is usually matched so that it can go into line level gear without problems.
I‘m not 100% sure on this, it‘s just what I‘ve gathered from hearsay on several google searches and forum posts.
Load balancing of a line out (usually 100 to 500 ohms, ish) into the high impedance guitar pedal input you don’t really need to do anything as that is good, impedance wise in terms of safety, but guitars usually present high output impedances so you are not giving the pedal what it expects and may yield a brighter signal. Companies like Meris make pedals that than be set to accept the very hot line level voltages whereas many other pedals are going to clip with such a high input level. The best way, and what we teach in the college here, is to use a reamp box to convert the balanced line level signal down to unbalanced, instrument level, and present the pedal with something identical to a guitar.
Palmer make an excellent reamp box that can accept +4dBu or -10dBv line signals and it has an earth lift. They are less than 100 euro.
Personally, if you have a good active DI box to hand I would use that and return to a mic input because:
You can pad
You can earth lift
It is balanced and will reject interference.
Using the reamp + DI combo also means you transformer isolate the pedals, assuming your di has a transformer.
I do not have either but I see Palmer also makes a passive DI box, 65€ the reamp and 40€ the DI box. As the cable length will be short I do not know if the DI will be needed, that is why HI Z inputs exist, right?
However I may get that reamp box. Could I also use it this way?
Aux to reamp, Y cable to both distortion pedals and each pedal to a different HI Z mixer input
Or is the Y cable also going to mess with the signal.?
You are overthinking a simple situation. Your original idea of Aux>Y Cable>Pedals>Mixer was fine. Try it first and then see if you have a problem.
Passive DI boxes attenuate the signal quite a bit, so you will need to add gain from your not-amazing mixer preamp, also adding noise/hiss. Along with the 65€ reamp, you are adding 3 low quality components to the chain and spending money to solve a problem you may well not have.
Ok thank, will try it first and see…
If these were delay or reverb pedals I would want the cleanest signal possible but being distortion ones I do not mind that signal degrades a little bit…I read you may also expect a brighter signal due to difference in impedance.
Uhm, I guess it depends on the unit you’re using?
I’ve run stuff – just with a 1/8 to 1/4 cable – from my modular into external hardware just fine, but either you’d attenuate your send channel before it leaves the system, or you just don’t turn the knobs past… 8 o’clock or something.
I like to send audio through an aux send to a delay and route it back to a (stereo) line input. Cranking up the dedicated aux send on the input creates an echo feedback loop. Another advantage is that I can use the eq to process the incoming delay signal.
Right. I guess I was asking more about impedance issues which might be a moot point as line and modular are the same/similar impedance and guitar impedance is the outlier here.
