Gear Paralysis

[rfurtkamp]

Don't think you'll find that off the shelf. Once you get routing past stereo, it turns into a mad improvisation.

The heart of my rig after the master pedalboard is a rack preamp that has eight outs - without that, I'd be lost. For your needs, it wouldn't fly as it only has one in.

I split that from there to the patchbay and off to supplemental chains/rack gear as needed as well as the amps.

[Ruiner]

Yeah i figured i wouldn't find it off the shelf (though i was hoping!).... but wondering if that would be a cheaper build than the two matrix mixers. For a 4x4 and an 8x8 it's going to be about $650. It'll definitely meet my needs and also allow for some fun experimentation which kind of makes it worth it.

My patchbay would work but i'd have wires running across the room..... though maybe i could use the patchbay for the instruments and the small matrix mixer for between the pedal boards and amps/interface. The only problem there is the instruments don't become as mobile to move around the room as they would with the matrix mixer... damn... decisions decisions.

[rfurtkamp]

Would also question "how many of these instruments do I want to be able to use simultaneously?" as you contemplate wiring and mixer complexity.

[Ruiner]

I usually record one at a time so i'm not overly concerned with having multiple instruments available at any time BUT it would definitely be more fun when I have friends over. The time i see that coming into play the most is for looping or just jamming with myself but otherwise it would be one instrument at a time for tracking.

[Invisible Man]

Don't try and prethink your way out of the periodic sprawling mess and effort. Pre-optimization is best taken in moderation. Stay loose and enjoy.

Just give crochambeau three hours in there and watch how he rips everything apart. Check out the pics of his studio for inspiration.

(I struggle with this sometimes, too, but it's mostly because I am a Luddite and cannot record to a DAW for the life of me. Anyone use Reaper with a Korg Nanokontrol? Eh?)

[rfurtkamp]

If you only need one at a time for your own use, I'd probably just consider using the patchbay and (possibly) a small 4 channel mixer (get active, even if it's a cheapie Alesis or whatnot) that a second person can plug into.

Run that into patchbay.

Profit.

[Ruiner]

Yeah i just really don't want to do patchbay........

but i think i figured it out in a more inexpensive way than a mixer or matrix

Knut is going to build me this:

First box:
- 8 Inputs -> 4 Outputs
- 1 switch associated with each output (4 switches total on the box)
- Toggle switch associated with output 1 -> All inputs are either sent to output 1 OR no inputs are sent to output 1 (the output is muted, silent)

In a separate box:
- 4 inputs -> 4 outputs
- works the same way but with fewer inputs



So with this i can have all instruments plugged into the 8 inputs. They will all be routed to every output. However, only the output toggled "on" with its designated switch will actually receive the signal. So for the 4 outputs on the first box will go to 3 pedal boards and one direct to recording interface for a clean recording if i want or if i build a fourth pedalboard. All instruments are plugged in and i just turn on whichever pedalboard i want to use by flipping the switch.

Then on the smaller 4 input / 4 output box i have the outputs of the pedalboards going into the inputs. All input signals are also going to all outputs but only those selected to the on position will receive the signal. This way i can have the outputs going to both of my amps with two extras to do as i please (direct to recording interface, another amp, etc).

With this setup i could even have one instrument going to two different pedalboards and playing out of an amp or both amps in parallel.

The only thing i'm checking on before committing is if he can make one of the 4x4's have a stereo in and out so i can have one stereo pedalboard set up too.

[Dandolin]

Me and pladask are working on something of a mix between a patchulator and a matrix mixer, the middle ground so to speak.

Since the patchulator can only reroute, and the matrix mixer requires a bit more understanding than some people want to put in, this will be easier to understand/use but have way more uses than rerouting (like a matrix mixer naturally has).

So one instrument in, several outs - or - several ins, one summed out - parallel loops, effects loops for pedals etc (like running your dry sound into a ct5 that loops into a reverb and what you hear in the end is the reverbed loop and your dry sound, none of the "dry" loop),

And everything in there between. Just wanted to put that out there, since it gets more talk around these parts.

I want that.

Is there a thread for that?

[Sorry Ruiner]

[ritz]

I'm also really curious about this mystery patchu-mixer

[Ruiner]

No need to be sorry... i want it too!

[Dandolin]

Pladask!

[univalve]

Maybe a bit late for the input:
i have built myself a rack and i use a patchbay there to get the pedals in the signal path (and alter the signal path). I also have a table where i have my pedals for usage. Works for me pretty good.

[nff]

hey hi! if anyone is interested, I make custom active matrix mixers! here some images https://www.flickr.com/photos/noizhardware/

I have some standard models, plus I'm open to basically any customization, you can have gains up to 10x (20dB) distortionless. This means you can integrate all your gear with eurorack and basically any other synth format through such a mixer.
The size of the mixer can be 4x4, 20x15, whatever you need! 1/4" jack, 3,5mm jack, RCA, DB25? You've got it covered, all buffered ins and outs, never loose power on your signal!

Plus other crazy things, mail to noizhardware@gmail.com if interested!

[ritz]

Nice! The +1 is smart