2 in 1 Effect Building Advice - Dual Volumes

[SeaWitch]

Hey all,

2 questions:

When building a 2 in 1 effect, where each effect has it's own volume control, what is you best advice to limit the final combo build to just 1 volume control.

AND, how do I keep BOTH volumes for each effect, but have them act independently of each other...so that changing the volume of effect "A" does not change effect "B" and vice-versa?

Thanks!

[Claudiog]

2 in 1? you mean 2 fx in one board?, you need to modify the circuit, if you have 2 boards for 2 fx in one box you have 2 vol knobs, why do you want a 1 vol for 2 fx?

[Blackboarcult]

Assuming you want each effect acting independently, I would keep both vol pots.
You could also clamp each fx volume pot, measure unity vol, then replace with a resistor or trimpot, and add the typical 100k pot lug 1 to gnd, lug 3 from effect, lug 2 to out for a final output volume control.
At least thats what id do in this case. Others may provide better solutions

[SeaWitch]

By 2 in 1 I meant a dual effect pedal...so, wired like shown on the offboard dual effect wiring here:

http://tagboardeffects.blogspot.com/2012/02/offboard-wiring.html

however, when wiring like shown in the link above, when both effects are switched ON, board "A" volume will change board "B" volume and vice versa.  

Is there a way to keep volumes independent?  So that the volume for "A" only changes "A", and the volume for "B" only changes "B"?

Or what is the best way to handle a "dual effect" where each effect has a volume control?

[Blackboarcult]

If both FX are on, Fx A volume will of course affect Fx B's input volume, as they would be in series. Think of it as two pedals in two enclosures.  If Fx A is off, vol B will provide final vol. If Fx A is on and Fx B is off, then Vol A will provide final vol. If both are on, vol A will affect input volume of Fx B, but final vol will be provided by Vol B nonetheless.
If you want to adjust the final vol when both are on, the ouput vol of fx B will therefore be your master volume pot.
If you want to adjust the total output volume regardless of their status (switched on or off) then keep both pots and add a 3rd one as I described on previous post above, or sub with a resistor/trimpot and add also the master vol.
Now I'm not sure about the purpose of what you are trying to do... sorry i had one beer too much tonight :-)

[aelling]

What it looks like on the dual offboard wiring is that the output from effect A goes into effect B's input, wired in series. I think you just have to cut the wire between the switches and wire the right middle lug on the left switch to output, and wire the lower right lug on the right switch to input.

[SeaWitch]

Something like this should work?

[aelling]

No, just wire the switches like the single effect offboard wiring, so each effect with have their own wires to in/output tips.

[SeaWitch]

Got it.  Got it.  Thanks!  

[SeaWitch]

aelling wrote

No, just wire the switches like the single effect offboard wiring, so each effect with have their own wires to in/output tips.

So aelling,

Just for my own understanding, what is the advantage to wiring a dual effect as presented in the the "offboard wiring" page?

To me, it seems like it makes way more sense to approach 2 effects in 1 enclosure the way you explained...

Your suggestion leaves the entire box to be any of these scenarios:

- effect "A" only
- effect "B" only
- OR effect "A" and "B" together, each with independent controls

Why wire it otherwise?

[aelling]

If you want a specific effect going into/or after another one and have control for both effects, say a boost after an overdrive/distortion/fuzz or an octave before a fuzz, you would wire them as it is in the layout. On the layout the left goes into the right, and you still have control of both effects so you can go effect "A", effect "b" or both at the same time.

But as it is here where you had a problem it's not always the best results as the effects interact with each other, wiring them individually can be better in those scenarios.

[Blackboarcult]

So if I understand correctly, each FX's switch output and input would go wired to the shared jack output and input?
This would make 2 Fx in parallel and not in series (assuming there would be no feedback between them when both are on).
For some fx it could be fun to experiment with this, but for others it may defeat the purpose of stacking pedals.

SeaWitch, may I suggest that you get a s***load of alligator clips, try different configurations with those specific FX and see what fits best to you

If you could also update us once it's done with your results, for knowledge's sake, I'd be grateful!

Cheers

[aelling]

blackboarcult wrote

So if I understand correctly, each FX's switch output and input would go wired to the shared jack output and input?
This would make 2 Fx in parallel and not in series (assuming there would be no feedback between them when both are on).
For some fx it could be fun to experiment with this, but for others it may defeat the purpose of stacking pedals.

Yep, that is correct.

[Blackboarcult]

thanks!