Multi Preamp Users - Input needed

[duesentrieb]

Hi guys,

I'm creating a tool/device which will be useful for my personal needs and I would like to know if you (if you are using multiple preamps) would also like something like this or even add features (which?)

- 1RU

- 4 fold guitar splitter (1 guitar in, 4 feeds out, isolated of course) to feed the preamps

- 4 fold preamp output switcher (switches 4 preamps to one output) - midi driven of course

thats what I got so far - and I would like to add:

- parallel mixer: the output of the preamps of the unit into a stereo mixer with blend pot into a stereo out. Idea is to have a stereo parallel loop for multi fx and an output to feed the preamps thru (parallel) multi fx directly into the poweramp.

I could even make that tube based (but then the unit will be 2 RU) or OP amp based. Not sure yet . . .


Thoughts?

Thanks for your input.

 

[tech21man]

You and I kind of talked about "this" type of thing way back in HCAF.

I wanted to use a digital preamp without doing the 4CM because most amps bust my balls with few channels or shared eq and stuff like that, in parallel with the normal sound of the amp.

You then had pointed out to me, to simultaneously feed the two preamps (from the combo and the digital (zoom g3)) and switch between them before the power amp.

Well it worked like a charm, and it allows you to simply get the amp of your choice (even a one trick pony) and combine it with clean or lead or effected or whatever sounds you want from any preamp you want without having to worry about sound degradation.

I used this:

https://www.thomann.de/gr/millenium_hx_3.htm and it does with it must do, with buffer and isolation transformer. Of the highest quality? No but...it doesn't cause any problems whatsoever.


I thought diezel hagen had a similar function?

Any way I'd like to thank you for the advice man, it made me use my amp as a two gain chanel thing and have ultra pristine roland style cleans from the digital world plus extra lead sounds. With the A and B function of most switchers I also got to mix the preamps. I also got to do simultaneously dual amp feed both in the input and the output (fed the two loop outs to a multi effects unit and basically had both preamps on, or whichever preamp I wanted and in the end, the signal always fed both power amps). Unfortunately it humed a lot. It worked better with lots of preamp one power amp.


If that is what you are after, I don't see any extra features needed? You got isolation, midi, everything. If the switching is effective you are set? I just hope it finds its target group!

My other band guitarist use to run a whole JMP-1 into the loop of his triaxis while simultaneously "feeding" them to solve stuff like that early 2000s! He switched between them with an A/B box and switched the loop of the mesa on, only it had no input and got the JMP-1 to feed the output! When the mesa played, loop was off!

 

[duesentrieb]

Thanks for the reply.

My real question is: do users with multiple preamps run multi-fx units or loopers with single fx?

My unit only makes sense for multi fx - or I need to add several line mixers . . .

 

[Sick Michael]

Dr Olaf,

Sounds like a good idea to me! Would encourage me to buy another preamp, that I dont need!!

Can you make it smaller than 1U?

ROCK!!!

SM

 

[duesentrieb]

Hi Michael, how are you?

I may think about 9,5", Mike. Not sure if I will find good stackable jacks though.

Olaf

 

[Stone Heavy Sound]

Cool idea! I have a multi-preamp system. I use multi-fx (lexicon G2) on the outputs so the one stereo loop is sufficient. For it to work for my system, I would need to have midi preset capability. Tubes for the mixer sounds tasty, might even open up some new tonal possibilities. Also, I currently have my system running in series through my multi-fx. I do this to allow for volume control of my many patches on stage. Naturally the parallel mix is being done inside the fx box. Something I've always dreamed of is a mixer with midi presets, so I don't need to alter my preamp tone by going in series through the AD converters (and the multi-fx can be set to 100% wet). The way I envision it is that there's a digitally controlled VCA each for the outputs of the FX box (stereo) and the output of the preamps (mono), both feeding one stereo output. This way you can have a blend of both, or 100% of either one, and can be saved as midi presets. (maybe throw in a preamp direct out to completely bypass the mixer) This would not only allow me to bypass the DA converters, but also eliminate the problem of volume jumps between presets which the Lexicon handles very well, but anyone that uses a TC G-Force knows how annoying it is to change presets only to have the volume jump up 6db for a moment while the new patch is loaded.

Thanks for inviting us to brainstorm!

 

[duesentrieb]

Thank you for your participation. I really appreciate it. I have to think about the midi controlled VCAs though. Might be a real challenge.

 

[Qweklain]

This is EXACTLY something I need. I've got two preamps now, but have a few I plan on adding. It would also be nice to have maybe a switchable output to the power amp so that you could (if the power amp is stereo) use one feed for side A and the other for side B. This would essentially give you the flexibility to use one side for different settings with certain preamps and could also be used as a solo boost if you wanted.

 

[Qweklain]

Any more on this Duese? I definitely want to be kept in the loop if you plan on making some of these.

 

[Stone Heavy Sound]

Dude, he's probably been partying non-stop all week, not to mention Germany looks good to win the final, I wouldn't expect to hear back for a while

I'm excited to see how this develops too! Have you tried the Krampe amps? The videos I've seen sound amazing, I'd definitely like to try the preamp!

 

[Qweklain]

Dude, he's probably been partying non-stop all week, not to mention Germany looks good to win the final, I wouldn't expect to hear back for a while

I'm excited to see how this develops too! Have you tried the Krampe amps? The videos I've seen sound amazing, I'd definitely like to try the preamp!

I didn't think he sold or made anything to order, thought he mainly just built for himself with a few "one-offs" here and there. I've always wanted on of his pres. Perhaps I will contact him next year for one if I can get one...

 

[MikeDV]

Interesting concept if you can make one affordable - if I understand that you plan on making one of these.. Check out the Sound Sculpture Switchblade, esp. the GL (most features). Not so affordable, but seems to do what you're looking for. I combine/blend/remove fx K& preamps with this unit, via MIDI.

 

[duesentrieb]

I've layouted and recently got the PCB, need to layout the enclosure now and will post updates here. May take until September, brittany is calling (holydays) ....

 

[Qweklain]

I sent a PM, but never got a response. Any progress?

 

[rsm]

Not using multiple preamps but I could with a Rocktron Patchmate Loop 8 see: http://www.rocktron.com/patchmate-loop-8.html

I run a Mesa TriAxis + Two Notes Torpedo CAB in the insert loop (preamp loop) of my G-System. I could use the Patchmate to MIDI switch preamps as well, I still have a JMP-1 and MP-2 but the TriAxis and CAB can provide many tone variations not just Mesa.

Worth a look IMO.

 

[Qweklain]

Oh I know there are other methods to achieve using multiple preamps, but I like the dedicated purpose of duesen's idea.

 

[Elric]

I would have been super interested in 1988.

 

[duesentrieb]

Sorry, I don't stop by here too much lately, very busy atm. Had no time to mount the PCB into an enclosure yet, but will keep you guys updated.

 

[lordriffenstein]

Nice seeing you here Olaf. I loved playing your amps earlier this year and I have fond memories of your preamp. Mmm, my big rack I'm building has empty spaces...

 

[Yatagan]

I would be very interested. I guess you will have a totally dry signal and a mixed EFX signal in parallell going to the power amps?