Still work in progress, but I hope to finish this rig this summer. Biggest bottleneck is the DS5R, the DS-6 is not expected anytime soon and the old units are not easy to find. (though I have a line out on one)
If anyone has a spare one plz feel free to contact me. :-)
Clean signal path goes to the Channel B input on MX400 and from there to channel 2 of the Bass 400
Distorted signal path goes to the Channel A input on the MX400 and from there to channel 1 on the Bass 400
The signal path that is not used can be blocked (muted) in the MX400, both signals can also be combined.
For preset switching on the MX400 I use a Midi Solutions Event processor plus, it translates a midi program change command and sends out two different program change commands on two different midi channels. Kind of lame “production flaw” on the MX400 the A/B channels can’t be changed separately on the same program change number…
The distorted signal path passes through the G-Arts midi effects switcher with a couple of Big Muff’s, Tech 21 XXL, Alesis Midiverb II, Ibanez HD1500 and a couple of Morley Wah pedals in its effects loops. I think I will also insert the tuner in one of its loops, it is currently connected to the tuner out of the wireless receiver. (so won’t work when I play wired)
Each effect can be switched in or out of the chain and two groups of 4 effects can be reversed. (Effects block A – B or B – A)
In my previous setup the clean signal path also passed through the Midi switcher (which also has two switchable outputs)
With this new setup that signal path avoids the noisy midi switcher and I can still add some effects with the MX400.
The modified Alembic DS5-R will make this rig extremely versatile and easy to use.
The modifications are: Add a ¼ Jack input on the front and back, only the mono output will be used in this setup.
The wireless system is “permanently” connected to the back input and the front 5-pin + ¼ front input can be used for practice/emergency (when wireless fails)
All inputs can also be used simultaneously if we ever want to do a ‘tallica version of Big Bottom :-)
The first pics shows the basic signal paths, this signal is continued from the bass 400 slave out into the Strategy 400 mono input.
Bass 400 drives two 1x15 cabs, Strategy 400 drives two 2x10 cabs.
Typically I would have one 1x15 and 2x10 stack on each side of the drum riser, one of the 2x10 cabs has an ampclamp (mic holder) attached.
Not sure yet where I will place the DI, I think best would be between the channel B out of the MX400 and input 2 of the Mesa.
DI will only have clean sounds and the distorted sounds (which sound awful DI-ed) will be picked up only by the 2x10 mike.
Pics:
Main effects rack:
Amp rack:
Effects drawer:
(blacked out two Behringer noise gates, don't use them anymore)
Pedal board:
