Question:
OK, I have been playing for a number of years and have never given the FX loop much thought. However, today I tried to make use of the FX loop on my POD PRO and my Blue Voodoo stack. Anyway, here's what I did:
I put the SEND from the POD PRO to the RETURN of the Blue Voodoo, and
Routed the RETURN from the POD PRO to the SEND of the Blue Voodoo.
Sounded GREAT! But NO volume control and very LOUD. Neighbors will complain!
How do I get volume control? I tried the volume control on the amp (Obviously won't work since I am bypassing the preamp stage-had to try though), and the volume control on the POD PRO, with no effect.
Should I route the STANDARD OUTPUT TO AMP from the POD PRO to the RETURN on the Blue Voodoo? Why is there a send/receive?
Thanks for any help!
Answer:
The master volume should work, as it controls the power amp, and not the preamp.
Answer:
You must have plugged the guitar into the POD. If that's the case -The connection from the POD return to the amp send isn't accomplishing anything. The amp's gain/pre/volume wouldn't work since the preamp section isn't being used. As I remember, every amp's schematic that I have looked at has the master volume in front of the effects loop, so feeding a signal into the return is feeding it staight to the power amp section - no controls on the amp will do anything. Without seeing a block diagram of the POD's innards, my guess from your description would be that its effects loop is in front of any volume controls.... Nope, that is not the right way to hook it up!
If you want to use the POD's amp modeling - plug yer guitar into the POD's input, connect the POD's output to the amp's effects return, turn off the cab/speaker modeling. The POD's volume will be your volume control for the amp, the amp controls will not do anything.
If you only want to use the POD as an effects unit - turn off all modeling, both amp and cab. Connect the amp's effects send to the POD's input, connect the POD's output to the effects return. Plug yer guitar into the amp, both the POD's and the amp's volumes and master volumes will work. Use the amp's pre/gain/volume to control the level sent to the POD, use the POD's master out to control the level sent to the power amp. Alternately, you could plug the guitar into the POD, and connect the POD's output to the input on yer amp - turn the POD's master down low.
The Pod's effects loop would be for the purpose of inserting external effect devices, like a distortion pedal, wah, flange, whatever. If you do have a device you want to use, say a distortion pedal, you could connect that to the POD's effects loop, and still use any of the above scenarios.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Major Tom As I remember, every amp's schematic that I have looked at has the master volume in front of the effects loop, so feeding a signal into the return is feeding it staight to the power amp section - no controls on the amp will do anything.
That's new to me. Must only be on SS amps where the master volume is after the FX loop, at least on my amp.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Rainer. That's new to me. Must only be on SS amps where the master volume is after the FX loop, at least on my amp.
I've never looked at a schematic for a solid state amp
But yes, that is common on tube amps with bare-bones effects loops like Peavey, Fender, etc. - the ones without level controls for the send and return, or parallel type loops. My guess is that they probably set it up like that because the amp's master volume can be used as an FX loop send level control so the preamp out level can be matched to the outboard unit's input...
Answer:
Major Tom, that helped out a ton. You are correct, I did plug my guitar into the pod. That sheds a lot of light on it, and I appreciate your time, as well as yours, Rainer. I also hear you about the SS amp schematics, life is too short for silicone tone (Not that I haven't hear some awesome SS amps before-and hey-my POD PRO is SS), 90% of my amps are tube!!
Answer:
Life is too short for mediocre tone. Luckily, I'm fixing that today.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Rainer. Life is too short for mediocre tone. Luckily, I'm fixing that today.
Details man, we need details !