Stupid effects question re: M4

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bucksears
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Bucksears

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Finally got my M4/RT2-50 moved into my music room from my bedroom. Connected my new Boss GT-10 (still not that thrilled with it yet, but that's another story) in between them and was messing around last night.

Can I just run any effect chain (mfx unit or chain of stompboxes) directly between the pre & power amp? (Any need for line level adjustment devices, etc?)
 
I'm not familiar with the GT10, but if it has an insert(FX Loop) or a line level input you should be good. The M4 output is line level, most MFX units like the Boss have instrument level inputs (guitar input). You will have a level mismatch if you ran M4 output into guitar input of GT10.
If the GT 10 capable of doing it, you could run it 4 cable method. This would allow you to run the stomp box fx in front of the M4 and the post FX (verb, delay, etc) after the preamp before the power amp.

Guitar -> GT10 ->GT10 FX send->M4 input->m4 output->GT10 FX return-> power amp.

Of course, this is dependent on the ability of the GT10 to run this way.
 
So running a chain of regular stompboxes would need to be converted to line-level as well, correct?
 
Bucksears":1vu9o6bt said:
So running a chain of regular stompboxes would need to be converted to line-level as well, correct?
Click to expand...

After the preamp, yes, unless you dropped the output to instrument level with something like the Ebtech line level shifter.

I'm pretty sure the GT10 can be used via the 4 cable method though.
 
Interesting - reading through the manual on the GT-10, it SOUNDS like I can change the level of the input/output (not talking about the loop) via a menu internally; i.e. doesn't sound like it's a 'hard wired' level control.
I'm going to read up a bit more on this, though.

Without going the 'four cable' route, what's the concensus for the best line level converter box? Is the Ebtech that bad?
 
I just happened to be on the Ebtech website yesterday, and if you go to the "Products" page (http://www.ebtechaudio.com/products.html), and mouse over the "Line Level Shifter" box, the last line reads:

  • "Not intended for use on mic level, instrument level or powered speaker lines"

So now I'm a little confused . . . are the -10dB / +4dB lines just two different magnitudes of "line level", rather than -10dB being instrument level and +4dB being line level?

On a side note, I'm pretty sure I'm using the term "dB" incorrectly here, as I think "dB" just designates a relative change or difference between signal levels, but on its own doesn't actually indicate an absolute measure of anything tangible. I believe we need to specify the actual signal levels in terms of "dBV", "dBm", "dBu", "dBmV" or some other absolute unit of measure . . . someone please correct me if I'm wrong :confused: .
 
HughJasol":2gnvsufc said:
I just happened to be on the Ebtech website yesterday, and if you go to the "Products" page (http://www.ebtechaudio.com/products.html), and mouse over the "Line Level Shifter" box, the last line reads:

  • "Not intended for use on mic level, instrument level or powered speaker lines"

So now I'm a little confused . . . are the -10dB / +4dB lines just two different magnitudes of "line level", rather than -10dB being instrument level and +4dB being line level?

On a side note, I'm pretty sure I'm using the term "dB" incorrectly here, as I think "dB" just designates a relative change or difference between signal levels, but on its own doesn't actually indicate an absolute measure of anything tangible. I believe we need to specify the actual signal levels in terms of "dBV", "dBm", "dBu", "dBmV" or some other absolute unit of measure . . . someone please correct me if I'm wrong :confused: .
Click to expand...

I saw that 'do not use' statement on Ebtech's site too and had my head scratching. Guess somebody should e-mail them and ask.

I'm also wondering about the -10dB / +4dB thing too; i.e. is there more to it than just the dB level?
 
Ive been using the Ebtech for a while and it works fine with instrument level. They're smoking crack.
 
HughJasol":90zcnjjy said:
Did you go with the LLS-2 or the LLS-8?
Click to expand...

Went with the LLS-2. I just a one-time I/O for my effects, not doing any other looping. We'll see how it does.
 
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