How To Connect Microphones to Effects Pedals

Over the years, we've made quite a few demo videos that feature acoustic instruments or sound sources with our effects pedals. This video aims to answer the most common question on those videos: "how are you doing that?"
Most effects pedals only have 1/4" inputs, which presents an obvious obstacle to connecting microphones. This video explores quite a few different options of overcoming this obvious obstacle; of course, there are more ways to connect microphones to effects pedals than are covered in this video, but this should give you a good idea of how we've done this with our pedals over the years.
Microcosm: www.hologramel...
Chroma Console: www.hologramel...
Instagram: / hologram_electronics
Facebook: / hologramelectronics

[@stephenstrussvideo]

Great. Now I want a Chroma Console AND a Microcosm.

[@vhszach]

I have both, and they live on my studio desk as sends now. Would recommend.

[@vincentcegielski]

Man, I just buy both because of duties tax and everything (I'm in france). Both are incredible. I use them almost systematically, as they immediately open the door to creativity.

[@VanBaylen]

Congrats, you’re one of the people who fell for their sneaky advertisement ☺️

[@5thPROJEKT]

A compact stomp box option with a built in high quality pre-amp, phantom power, and EQ and mix option for the FX chain is a Radial Voco Loco. Highly recommend it having tried all of the methods in this video for using guitar fx pedals on vocals. 🤙

[@jordanolson]

1:27 "wow. I'm trapped inside of a computer. please help ☝🤓" is so funny

[@pixelwax2882]

Incredible hardware and then huge bonus for sharing this. Thank you Hologram.

[@musicforyourpeers]

Harp lady is gonna go nuts with these pedals! And I'm excited for the future video

[@stevestoutmusic]

Shoot I have that pre! Man that acoustic sound is insane

[@Tiger.Arcade]

Great way to inspire users to explore more ways to use your pedals. I’ve got the microcosm and chroma console and this just makes me want to test it in so many more ways. Great video that is easy to follow! ✌️

[@HologramElectronics]

thanks! glad you found it easy to follow/helpful

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

Hey homie, fancy seeing you here!

[@Tiger.Arcade]

@@NoirEtBlancVie Stepheeeeen!

[@Laurenslamberts]

Great options to use a mic! I’ve got to experiment more with it. Another way; i’m using my boss rc-30 looper pedal. This one has a XLR in, and is even able to provide phantom power.

[@tobypitman]

Eventide Mixing Link pedal is a good option for getting microphones into pedals 👍

[@paulusmarticus]

The Mixing Link has been my go-to for using a few pedals with trombone, harmonica & melodica.

[@KoopsTech]

Awesome video! Have been considering a vocoloco for this, or a the JHX color box. Any thoughts on those options?

[@iamjackmccoy]

I love you guys. thanks for putting value in education.

[@willstrattonmusic]

Anyone know what model of guitar that is? Looks old, sounds nice

[@vincedejesus2285]

you guys make the coolest shit. God i cant wait to get my hands on a chroma console.

[@staleyexplores]

ty I've been needing this bit of instruction

[@theburnman9086]

Cool video , now I have to found some success in a live setting using a xlr to quarter inch jack cable. The cable I use is quite old but works . Found a new one a while back but it didn’t do that trick any thoughts why that is ?

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

Hi Hologram I’m stealing the Microcosm settings at @6:15 for my own, k I love you bye

[@pjforde1978]

I was so excited to get a Zoom L6 for doing exactly this. Unfortunately, it has two fundamental flaws in the workflow. First, there is no way to send your channel 1 to just the effect send; it will always send a unity signal to the master out so there is no 100% wet. Second, there's no way to hard pan the return, or use aux 1+2 as a stereo send. I've asked about whether they can fix any of this stuff in firmware, but they are super cagey.

[@TheDefconsd1]

1:54 The sounds of an alien planets tropical rainforest when you step out of your space craft.🛸

[@Wild_D]

Effects send from a mixer or the Dreadbox Psyclop can make a mixed effects loop that can adjust the wet dry mix

[@adrianpeucelle]

this isssss it

[@Typical.Anomaly]

I use a Roland VT-4 vocal FX processor, either with it's own FX or on bypass It's got it's own preamp with phantom power as well as 1/4" out I've also been using a lil $30 Behringer mixer for about a decade

[@mvsr990]

I keep expecting someone to come out with a low budget pedalboard mic pre. The JHS and Eventide options are nice but expensive.

[@Pignatius27]

I just bought a Mayfly VoxBox, but haven't played around with it yet. It claims to be what you are looking for.

[@mvsr990]

@@Pignatius27 Oh that looks nice, exactly what I was thinking. $200 Canadian makes it around $140 USD, very reasonable.

[@nathanallen9291]

Could also try the Templo Devices Splyce.

[@playmobilbarrett]

Nice!

[@JoelCardinal]

You can also yell close to your guitar pickups, your voice will vibrate the strings, sound will be faint but its pretty neat

[@Tech-Nostalgic]

Amazing video! Do UA interfaces like the Apollo Twin X support this kind of routing mentioned at the end of the video? If so, what’s the name of the companion software?

[@HologramElectronics]

perhaps, though I'm not sure. Best to see if UAD has any resources about this or do some forum/KZbin digging my initial thought would be yes, but probably not with a stereo send or return. the twin x looks like it only has 2 inputs - since one input will be used by the microphone, you only have one input for the return (if the interface is in fact what you are returning the signal to). UAD's companion software for the Apollo series is called UAD Console, though I'm not 100% sure if the Twin X uses it. Within the Console software, you make use of Cue Mixes to send hardware inputs (microphones) to the hardware outputs. It's a little bit more complicated than the Focusrite method you see at the end of this video.

[@Tech-Nostalgic]

@@HologramElectronicsThanks so much for looking into this! Appreciate the insight and advice!

[@DisVietVetUSA]

This was fantastic! So how can I record this on an analog device without using a computer for sounds effects?

[@jtf2dan]

put your recording microphone in front of your amplifier or monitor if you have them...

[@DommoDommo]

Send one to LongMontPotionCastle

[@GiovahPerez]

yes =====]

[@jtf2dan]

Would using an active DI box between your microphone and effects pedals work?

[@HologramElectronics]

probably not. DI boxes (someone correct me if I'm wrong) are almost never bi-directional. a DI box is meant to transform a high impedance signal into a balanced low impedance signal. you basically want the reverse (low impedance to high impedance) so you're looking more at like a reamp box, which functionally will kind of be the same as the mic adapter thing we first discussed.

[@jtf2dan]

@@HologramElectronics thanks....just ordered the focusrite ISA One off amazon....

[@PeterJaquesMusic]

@@HologramElectronics passive di boxes can definitely be used in reverse! You just need to find a female to female xlr cable to make the connection. This is essentially the same as the impedance converter.

[@HologramElectronics]

@ good to know!

[@matthewgood3012]

Is that called a raindrum?

[@MadEP42069]

Excuse my ignorance because i'm new to pedals, but I just go from my mic straight into my Chroma Console with a 1/4 to XLR cable? Seems like the easiest way but i thought it was odd you guys didn't recommend that. Are there any negatives to it?

[@marcosdeboni7109]

Chroma Console doesn't have a mic pre amp built in it, wich means that the signal is very "small" (quiet) and the impedance doesn't match properly. The pedal is "expecting" a different type of signal (specifically hi-z like an electric guitar or line level like a keyboard), it may work for sure but the results will not be as good as having a dedicated pre amp wich can come from a mixer or a mic preamp unit like they've shown in the video

[@PeterJaquesMusic]

Since the microphone impedance is different from what the pedal expects, you end up with a very thin sound, in addition to it being very quiet. If you use an impedance converter (the first option in the video) that will help with the thinness, though the level will still be fairly low. They’re only about $25/25€, so worth the investment. I’ve been using my pedals with an impedance converter for a few years now; previously i was doing what you’re suggesting, and the quality increase is very noticeable.

[@marcosdeboni7109]

@@PeterJaquesMusic you can buy an ART used preamp for a bit more money (i think i got one for 50 euros)

[@HologramElectronics]

what the others said!

[@PeterJaquesMusic]

@ true, i'd prefer something without tubes, so that it would be less fragile. do you know of any decent, cheap, small, solid-state preamps? i've never found one so far...

[@iLiveInTheCemet3ry]

Longmont potion castle essentially

[@alessandromascherin6827]

Xlr ts, that’s how