Channel Switching/Looper/M5 question...

[NoodlerKS]

I have been contemplating on getting a programmable switcher/looper. For the time being it is between the Musicomlab EFXiii or a Disaster Area DPC-8EZ. Obviously the musicomlab has more options with a higher price tag. My goal is pretty much like everyone else who buys into these sort of things....do as little tap dancing as possible. Here is what I'm trying to do.

Front of Amp
Loop 1: Red Witch Fuzz+BadHorsie Wah (I know this is weird but I like how it responds in front of a wah
Loop 3: Diamond Compressor
Loop 4: Line 6 M5 (left in, left out with pitch shift/phaser preset switched via Midi)
Loop 5: Overdrives

Effects Loop:
Loop 6: Line 6 (M5 Right in, Right out with a verb/mod/echo/ preset switched via Midi)
Loop 7: Hall of fame reverb
Loop 8: Carbon Copy

Tuner out: Pitch Black

Has anyone tried to do this with the M5? I'd think that it'd be fine as long as I don't turn on Loops 4 and 6 on at the right time?

Next Question: I'm running this into a Hughes and Kettner Duotone. Channel switching done via the looper/switcher is a must (Again I just want to press 1 button). There are a few foot switches that accept midi messages if I were to get the DPC-8EZ. My problem is that my 3 button foot switch (Clean/Dirty,Boost,Master 2) takes XLR. I've done a little tinkering with a multimeter and found out that the ground is not on pin 1. It is in a little slit within the jack that grounds to the housing. I'm trying to make an adapter that would be male XLR to 3 @ 1/4" jacks. I can't figure/find any pinouts on what it would be. Any ideas.

PS I've tried:
XLR Pin1 > 1st 1/4" Tip
XLR Pin2 > 2nd 1/4" Tip
XLR Pin3 > 3rd 1/4" Tip
(Ground to Sleeve on all 1/4" plugs)

Doesn't work. I've tried a few other combinations with alligators clips and had no luck. I'm betting it's a combination of certain pins being engaged at the same time. Any idea?

Thanks!

 

[Me]

Pin 1 of an XLR should be the screen/shield normally for a standard cable if that helps? (2=+, 3=-)

Dunno how it's wired for that though. I'd have guessed tip = XLR 2, ring XLR 3, sleeve = XLR 1.

 

[Me]

P.S. To remember for general audio XLR cables:
1, 2, 3.
X, L, R.
Xternal (shield), Line (+), Return (-).

 

[JMMP]

I'm not sure how the m5 handles signal levels, but one signal will be instrument level, the other should be higher (maybe line level). That could confuse the m5, seeing two different levels.
Later, I may try to hook up my m5 and gcx to mimic that setup and see what happens and let you know.

 

[NoodlerKS]

Thanks Everyone.

For the record I did make an adapter cable. After opening up the footswitch ( would have done earlier but at a rehearsal space) I found that actually has 4 conductors going down it. It is still a 3-pin cable but the 4th conductor (ground) goes to the housing. With that being said I was wrong and the pinout is:

XLR Pin1 > 1st 1/4" Tip (Channel)
XLR Pin2 > 2nd 1/4" Tip (Boost)
XLR Pin3 > 3rd 1/4" Tip (Master 2)
XLR Housing > Ground

I just have to make sure that I get a cable with 4 conductors.

I didn't think of that for the M5. I currently don't own one but have read that some people are using them in the loop. I wonder if there is a way to switch the level within each preset. Probably not. I might just nix the whole idea. It would free up a loop for future use anyway.

 

[Reiep]

The M5 is instrument level, but it can be solved by the Emtech Line Shifter.

 

[NoodlerKS]

Turns out the send level on the back of my fx loop does both -10dBv and +6 dBV. Designed so I can use either a stombox or a rack unit that accepts line level.