Rane PE-17 Parametric EQ issue when inserted in loop...

[The_Kid]

ok so my normal rig is guitar > GT8 inserted into my amps loop, and having my amp in the loop of the gt8, which then goes back to the return of my amp, also known as the 4 cable method.

I got a Rane PE-17 Parametric EQ on Saturday to insert after the GT8 and right before the signal hits my amps power section. I hooked it up today and started tweaking as I was going to create some new patches and simplify my presets.

I'm working on a clean patch. The clean is fine, but when I try to set up an OD for a real overdriven blues sound, I noticed some volume issues...like a compressor was set really bad. I didnt notice it when I didnt have the OD engaged. So my thought was the way the OD was interacting with the compressor for the clean side of it.

Until...I pushed the bypass on the EQ. It got immediately louder and cured the issue of it dropping in volume badly just randomly and then coming back, with no rhyme or reason at all. so I then thought it could be one of the Eq's channels is bad. So I bypassed each channel on its own, and that didnt cure the problem. Only the Overall Bypass for the whole unit did the trick.

The back of the unit specifies what type of cord being ground, pin and such to use for the input/output 1/4" jacks. Could that be making that much of a difference in my signal?

If anyone has any answers to this, let me know....Thanks. This is my first "mini" rack setup. I do have a Furman AR1215, Sennheiser EW172 in the rack as well, but only the furman was in the chain and plugged in.

 

[OneArmedScissor]

I can't help you there, but why did you get one to begin with? You can use like 3 of the EQs on the GT-8 at once and stick them wherever.

 

[The_Kid]

yes true about the eq's in the gt8, but then that ties up one of my FX blocks...and its easier for me to see the frequencies and dial a sound in with knobs than play with menus for an EQ.

i tried that patch again last night, and it sounded fine...i moved the input and outputs up a bit...although I dont understand why that would change the issue I had....

 

[The_Kid]

So I tweaked all day sunday, and had none of the issues I had when I posted this. I did nothing different. I boosted the input/output gain bit as suggested. Got myself all dialed in tasty.

So I sit down to tweak today, nothing was touched, no knobs nothing. I'm working on a patch for U2's One, and it starts doing it again...

This time it takes the normal signal almost down to mute, then back to the volume everything is set at. at times seemingly louder. and its just random, but once it does do it it doesnt stop. I can stop it by bypassing the whole unit with the bypass button, but the separate 5 band bypasses do nothing. I tried moving the input/output gains around a bit from 0 to +6db. No change...

My other guitar player says it might be overloading if I'm sending effects into it, but like I said it was fine on sunday, and the OL (overload) light has never lit up.

Any suggestions...