Rack help

[Tom Crook]

hey guys
I'm planning on setting up a sort of general all round rack to run straight to line out
just wondering what units you guys recommend
generally I play:
Metallica
Iron Maiden
Green Day
Blink 182
Rammstein
sounding music
the idea here is to go from scratch and create a whole new sound
also planning on utilizing the HET SET and some sort of floor orientated control system (as im not yet cool enough to have a tech hiding side of stage to press stuff for me whilst simultaneously tuning a million guitars to different tunings)

apologies for a really tricky first post - I didn't sign up here to discuss the weather

cheers Tom

 

[geetarmikey]

Maybe an some sort of Boogie/ADA/Marshall preamp w/a TC G-major 1 or 2 for effects OR something like a Voodu Valve/Rocktron Prophesy/GSP1101 if you want built-in effects as well.

Decent power amp if you're using a cab. The Velocity by Rocktron seems to be a favourite for a lot of people, but Marhsall make some great ones too with and without valves.

The Behringer FCB 1010 is a pretty versitle MIDI foot controller to switch between your pre amp presets and I would definitely recommend looking up an online guide for how to fully get the most out of it.

Hope that helps,

Mike

 

[sixstringking713]

 

[Tom Crook]

wow...
yeah that helps heaps thank you Mike
G major (2 I guess) was already on the list - thats kind of the heart of it all
was thinking of going line 6 maybe so I can model a variety of amps even though the quality would be effected
I guess I could run that parallel to the Marshall or boogie for when I need to dial up a punky Fender type sound on the fly
I must say though I have this random vision of a whole bunch of units (like you see in studios these days) chances are though it would end up being more for looks and less for usability
cheers

 

[Tom Crook]

@ sixstringking713
that one would distract me too much - but im guessing my gigs would pack out

 

[sixstringking713]

hey guys
I'm planning on setting up a sort of general all round rack to run straight to line out
just wondering what units you guys recommend
generally I play:
Metallica
Iron Maiden
Green Day
Blink 182
Rammstein
sounding music
the idea here is to go from scratch and create a whole new sound
also planning on utilizing the HET SET and some sort of floor orientated control system (as im not yet cool enough to have a tech hiding side of stage to press stuff for me whilst simultaneously tuning a million guitars to different tunings)

apologies for a really tricky first post - I didn't sign up here to discuss the weather

cheers Tom

Kidding aside,

I considered putting together a completely rack oriented setup with amp head and effects. I found I kept going back to wanting a separate amp head and I couldnt find "my sound" thru any available, or affordable, rack options. If I was playing larger venues, I could use my rack gear but I've found my rig to be the most consistent, reliable, and transportable with a Amp Head+2x12 cabinet (or 4x12(s) if bigger venue)+pedalboard for 99% of my gigs. I literally cut out a piece of plywood that fit in a plastic hardshell case I had and I made a promise to myself, if the pedals dont fit on this board - they're not coming to the gig. Period.

Keep it simple is my advice. Often times the most talented players I've met had very simple rigs.. My $0.02

 

[Tom Crook]

that is a good point but when you are trooping between stage and studio all the time and your constantly dialing in different sounds and trying to replicate what happened in the studio on stage the G Major and line 6 make sense plus it would be cool to take the studio with you to a gig however impractical it may be...
the other problem ive come across is having multiple mic positions, I have yet to figure out how to run wireless foot pedals from each position that work in sinc

 

[Zachman]

that is a good point but when you are trooping between stage and studio all the time and your constantly dialing in different sounds and trying to replicate what happened in the studio on stage the G Major and line 6 make sense plus it would be cool to take the studio with you to a gig however impractical it may be...
the other problem ive come across is having multiple mic positions, I have yet to figure out how to run wireless foot pedals from each position that work in sinc

Going by your description, I'd think an Axe-FX2, w/ a Power Amp, a MIDI Foot controller, an expression pedal, and perhaps a tap tempo box on the pedal board-- would be a more than adequate solution to consider. Small, easy to transport, use a 1x12 or 2x12 cab in mono, or (2) 1x12's or 2x12's in stereo, or 1 stereo 2x12 for stereo. You could go big or small as needed.

The other side of the coin is going to the extreme, but I don't think that's for everyone-- for a host of various reasons. I do love my huge rig though. Trust me, there is NO substitute for the perfectionist. That in mind, cost/benefit is usually a factor.

I went NUTS, long ago-- and have never regretted it for a single second. LOL

 

[Milerky2]

My dream rack setup is a Triaxis, G-force, 2:90. with a midi foot controller that will let me do tap tempo. (I am a simple guy)

 

[Michi]

If you have the budget, Zach's proposition is the way to go. Or may be you want to change the Axe II + power amp for a Kemper Power Rack. It's all preference there IMO.

Lower budget all-in-one options would be Digitech GSP1101 or Avid Eleven Rack + a power amp. Those are the two I have some experience with, and I think geetarmikey already brought them up in a previous post.

Of course you could go separate preamp and fx module, and for that there's a ton of options as well.

There's so many cool options these days that it's really hard to go wrong with any bugdet!

 

[Tom Crook]

oh man...
I could spend a week straight just tweaking a rack that size
thanks guys Ill have a look at all of those

 

[Zachman]

oh man...
I could spend a week straight just tweaking a rack that size
thanks guys Ill have a look at all of those

Trust me, you could spend a year tweaking just the Eventide, and still have 1000 presets that you haven't gotten to yet, just in the Eventide, let alone combinations of the rest of it. Truth is, it's REALLY fun.

Best of luck with your endeavor.

 

[Tom Crook]

so...
im thinking maybe
triaxis
g major 2
axe II
some sort of midi foot controller (not sure yet - suggestions???)

what have I missed?

 

[Zachman]

so...
im thinking maybe
triaxis
g major 2
axe II
some sort of midi foot controller (not sure yet - suggestions???)

what have I missed?

If you have an Axe II, you likely don't need the triaxis nor the G-Major2.

The only thing missing is a power amp, unless you're planning on using powered speakers (Not my favorite way to go for a few reasons)

 

[Tom Crook]

the plan is to go straight to line out (I hate carting a wall of cabs around)

 

[Zachman]

the plan is to go straight to line out (I hate carting a wall of cabs around)

Got it.

Hope you have a good, and trustworthy regular soundman for monitors as well as FOH. If not, you're asking/begging for hassles.

Best wishes

 

[Tom Crook]

haha if i didnt I dont think running straight to line out would be the worst of my worries to be honest...

and I still cant for the life of me figure out how to have 3 sets of foot controls (one per mic point) that work together rather than individually
I know Hammett does with his expression pedals, I think hes tech stated something about looping - he has a master pedal by the rack to reset if Hammett misses or his timing is off

 

[Zachman]

haha if i didnt I dont think running straight to line out would be the worst of my worries to be honest...

and I still cant for the life of me figure out how to have 3 sets of foot controls (one per mic point) that work together rather than individually
I know Hammett does with his expression pedals, I think hes tech stated something about looping - he has a master pedal by the rack to reset if Hammett misses or his timing is off

Perhaps not the worst worry, but potentially a consistent & irritating one, among others. Been there. Like I said, if you have your own sound guy for monitors and foh it could be cool. In ear monitors present another potential issue too.

I know there are others here who can speak about gigging considerations and logistics and their experiences using the line In/Out to DI to foh and monitors vs having a cab on stage.

Master/Slave is how the multi locations MIDI foot controllers work.

Best of luck on your tone adventure

 

[Tom Crook]

Master/Slave is how the multi locations MIDI foot controllers work.

duh!!!
now I feel like a total tool how did I miss that
(excuse me while I go and bash my head against a brick wall for the next hour)

 

[Zachman]

Master/Slave is how the multi locations MIDI foot controllers work.

duh!!!
now I feel like a total tool how did I miss that
(excuse me while I go and bash my head against a brick wall for the next hour)

Nah, perhaps someone else didn't know the answer, and now they know because you asked the question.