So I have a Strymon Timeline and Big Sky MX in the FX loop. I downloaded some presets for them and then when running in my fx loop (which I put before the amp, which the maker of the presets does too) I began to suspect the sound was a bit ‘wetter’ than intended…
I started to mess with the mix control in the loop and noticed something strange - around 85% and below is significantly louder than 90%-100% (100% being the quietest). Obviously the FX are loudest at 100%, but the actual guitar signal drops down a lot after 90%.
So my send and return are both at 0db - and at 100% it seems the same level and switching the fx loop off - but what exactly is it mixing in at 85% to make it louder?
Makes me wonder if ‘true’ 100% mix is 85% and above that is like on a reverb pedal mix where above a certain level it starts boost just the reverb and dipping the signal?
Any insight?
Ps I tried dipping the send to -4.5db and this meant that everything up to 85% was now at unity with switching fx loop off … but it meant 100% was significant lower in volume
do those pedals have different modes for using in the Loop? I think some brands do. Sounds like the output of the pedal (or at least its 100% wet signal level)
is lower than QC unity. Can you raise the output of the pedals? Are your pedals sending a 100% wet mix, or are you blending in dry guitar?
In terms of ‘are the pedals delivering 100% wet mix’ - the pedals are mixed just right for the sound I want if a guitar was plugged in and the output went straight to amp. I just want that sound in an effects loop.
I will try just putting a small jack cable in the loop today to test the role the pedals are having and report back. It’s still strange how the fx loop signal (when using mix control on qc fx loop) is consistent and drops a lot (like 3-5db) past 90%
I use one of the QC’s FX loops with external pedals.
Ignore the Strymon for a second–
If you run the FX loop at less than 100% mix, you’re combining the QC’s internal guitar signal with the signal that was carried out to your pedal chain and then returned. Understand that when you use the FX loop, there is some amount of latency introduced due to the DAC and ADC conversions that happen on the send and return, respectively.
I checked what you were experiencing and can confirm that setting FX loop mix at less than 90% does make it sound louder. Again, that’s a combination of the internal signal with the [very slightly out of phase] signal coming from your external pedal chain. This is almost certainly NOT what you want.
My suggestion is to keep your FX loop mix at 100% at all times so that you’re only getting the signal from the pedal chain. If you are set on switching the FX loop block on and off, then try setting the send and return levels so that it’s the same volume whether you have the loop engaged or not. [Many people who use the FX loops say that the send level is way too high at 0 dB. Maybe bump down the send level and bump up the return level.]
From there, dial your Strymon’s delay mix to your liking just as you would if your guitar was plugged straight in.
For all of my presets, I don’t bother with turning the FX loop on and off at all. It’s always on.
Thanks for the reply. I do see what you’re saying, my only question is that surely with the phase issue, I would’ve thought that anything that produces more volume as a result of mixing signals (ie going down to 85%) would suggest that it’s more in phase at that point, and the the weaker signal at 100% suggests it’s got phase issues (I know that completely at odds with the theory of what’s happening)