How I Control my Pedals and Amp (Using the Boss ES-5, Midi and the 4 Cable Method)

[@chipsis1]

I think you've made the best guide about switching/looping/midi stering. Well done !

[@jmelara324]

I’ve always wondered how a set up like this worked and I’m so happy that I was able to guess how it worked

[@ChrisM541]

That's a phenomenal pedalboard setup you have, with some ingenious routing! It's a fantastic home/studio setup, but taking this to gigs with crowds is always going to be risky. In a real gig setup you'd always cover yourself (if the pedalboard went down) with the standard 'direct plugging into the amplifier' option (couple of pedals incorporated if you've time). What most guitarists in this situation will end up doing is going the multi-fx unit route, and with most of the well-known ones, you can set up a much, much easier 4 cable method. Everything here would, naturally, be midi controllable...every parameter of every FX, including FX placement pre-post preamp. Incredibly convenient. Some units will allow you to add one/more of your favourite real pedals - or patch in a pedal looper. It's great that you went back to using a real amp. I always find it a damn shame for young people who chose to give up on real amplifiers and go digital. There's nothing better for a guitarist - and crowd - than to experience real valve amps...especially(!!!) at a heavy/metal/etc concert.

[@wrashchild]

I’m also a quad cortex and Helix user. You’re totally correct about the different options and definitely for gigs it can be risky. I live in Japan and the quality of stages and setup here made it possible for me to use the pedalboard live with no worries of beer spills etc. my back up is a Boss GT-1000 with the setlist which would go into a Roland jazz chorus that’s always provided. I’m lucky I can use amps though and as I play for a hobby it’s the most enjoyable it can be when using a real amp. The options these days are incredible.

[@Vaistarr]

For amp with different channels a very nice addition to es-5 is a voodoo lab control switcher, that can transform any amp and add midi control rather via a custom made cable (midi DIN5 to Marshall DIN 6, to Mesa DIN7) or via four 1/4 standard mono jack outputs. Very nice unit check it out ;)

[@peteglase]

totally agree with this. I have a 3ch JSx and the voodoo control switcher simplifies things for sure.

[@peteglase]

Thanks mate! Needed this rundown.

[@jackgreenhill7713]

This was really helpful. Thank you!

[@themotioncodemarc]

You just answered all the questions i was about to ask. This is bloody brilliant

[@drongomala]

Thanks for the video - super helpful.

[@scdperth]

Thank you for this awesome video. Very in depth & informative. Well done :)

[@wrashchild]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TomEGuitar]

Thank you man for this fantastic, complex explanation 💥💯💫. It's a great video. Many greetings from Bavaria,Germany

[@wrashchild]

Glad to help! I recommend the Facebook group if you have any other questions. ES-5/8.

[@danielhenry4614]

You have the best video on the es5 4 cable method . I have a eventide h9 that will always stay in the loop so you your saying if I use the 4 cable method I can just run it into the output of the es5 so I don’t have to waste a loop on the es5 ?

[@wrashchild]

Yes Daniel! Remember that the point of the loops is so that you can turn on multiple pedals at once without having to tap dance. So if you have a pedal, such as the H9 that can be controlled by midi, that also is always in the front of the amp, or the effects loop, you don’t need to use a loop. Just keep it there and turn it on and off through midi. It just depends on if you ever need it to be before or after something.

[@jjustamann]

Great Video.... good tips. thanks for share!

[@wrashchild]

Hopefully helpful to some.

[@FractureStratslinger]

Ashley !!!! Jon here ! Great Video !! Love it !! Well Done !!!!!!

[@wrashchild]

Thanks Jon! Especially to you and Eggy in the ES Facebook group.

[@FractureStratslinger]

@@wrashchild ❤

[@murimorello2690]

what id like to know is whats the config trick one has to do on the SY to actually share midi. i stick my floor board on it's midi but don't know who to make it communicate hahhaa

[@odo_until_2022]

it's really informative! Thanks a lot.

[@cedartones]

Great video. Question - I know there are firmware versions, but has there ever a v2 of the hardware, (featuring new switches or cpu for example)?

[@wrashchild]

I’m not sure. Boss is kind of strange with their releases and updates etc. they might just drop it randomly one day

[@rposs6035]

Great video! Question about using the Kenton with all the midi pedals. Do you have the Kenton on your board or is it off the board? Just to confirm, you can add any of the midi effects running through the Kenton into a patch? Is it the same process for setting up a patch with just one midi pedal? Can you run stereo using the ES-5? I am running into to amp modeler pedals (e.g. iridium) since the sound engineer doesn't want amps on stage. I haven't purchased a switcher yet. Still doing research.

[@wrashchild]

Hi! The Kenton is attached underneath the board. Yes. ES-5 Midi Out goes to the Kenton. Then I attached all the midi pedals to that. Some are daisy chained. It doesn’t matter as long as each midi pedal has its one channel it’s fine. As for Iridium. I don’t have experience with it so I can’t confidently answer. Stereo is possible with it but it’s a bit of a headache. For more info I recommend the Facebook group for ES-8/5

[@Jhahaha3780]

it was so amazing, but there is something i want to ask, Sorry in advance if my English is very bad. the question is, how to change channels on an amp that doesn't have midi? because my amp only has a foot switch channel on the back, can i still use boss es-5 to change channels on my amp? If possible, how? Thank you if you would be willing to answer my question.

[@wrashchild]

It depends on what amp you have. I recommend to join the ES-5/8 Facebook group and ask there. It’s very helpful!

[@Cinnemax77]

Thx great vid!

[@krisztiantoth4194]

I have an issue. My ES-5 reprograms my whammy even tho I am no sending any signal to that midi channel. What can be the issue?

[@wrashchild]

Check the Whammy channel is not set to Omni

[@itachi9567]

Very detailed video, thank you! But what if i use an amp head from the 90's with no midi and just the traditional jack for the footswitch?

[@wrashchild]

It depends. I’ve seen some maps work fine using the control in. What amp do you have?

[@itachi9567]

@@wrashchild I have a marshall valvestate 8100, it works sometimes even with other footswitches (now i'm usinge one from koch) so maybe...

[@peterschaefer1665]

That sounds great! And all in mono?

[@wrashchild]

Yes! All mono.

[@boabglen]

What style of patch cable heads are best for fitting them in the bk of the es8?

[@wrashchild]

Personally I use EBS flat patch cables.

[@Vortex7050]

Hi! I have noises (POP) when I change patches.Could it be an external buffer?Any suggestions? Thanks

[@wrashchild]

Hey! Actually I’d go to the Facebook group for Boss ES-8/5 and ask there. I’ve never had experience with that but I’m positive someone can help there.

[@mikebotti6447]

this is awesome - it looks like you have cables running in and out of the fx loop of the empress buffer. where does that fit into your chain?

[@wrashchild]

Hi Mike. Hopefully it some help to you. The buffer is for input and output. So in my setup, the output is technically the Effects loop return of the amp. So the output buffer goes there. And the input is right at the start.

[@dimitrik5390]

Is it possible to use a loop switcher with only modulation pedals through the effects loop and not connect any of the front end pedals?

[@wrashchild]

Yes. I’m basically doing that in this video. Just save one loop to act as the FX loop and put the modulation pedals behind that.

[@watchthegamer73]

So is this unit capable of taking my old school effects pedals that don't have midi and allow to use them in the FX loop but also bring in midi sounds from my computer such as Eventide plug in and hear not only the guitar and the pedals but also hear the eventide plug in from my DAW all in my amp? Or would I need some other sort of interface to get all of those pedals and the eventide plug in to go into my amp to play live?

[@wrashchild]

I’ve never experimented with plugins and pedals together. I recommend joining the ES-8 Facebook group and asking there. 100% sure someone could help you.

[@nickaslanidis6156]

Not sure if you're still around but your boss es5 vids are fantastic. I'm a little confused on the Empress buffer cabling. Once you connect GTR to GTR in, which output on the buffer connects to the ES5 input? Similarly, which is used for buffering the output from the ES5?

[@wrashchild]

So on the Buffer + the Guitar In and Amp out are connected but they’re both in the right side. I can see why it’s confusing. Guitar > buffer guitar in > amp out Then use the loop input/output from the ES-5 output.

[@nickaslanidis6156]

Thanks for the reply. I think what also makes it confusing is I use the 4CM so the Vol Send goes to my amp input and the es8 (in my case) goes to the fx loop return. So for me, if I'm looking to replace the es8 input and output buffers, the send on the empress would go to es8 input, the return on the empress would be the output of the es8, then amp out goes to fx return. Otherwise I'd need to put the output buffer on the send vol which goes to the regular amp input. I guess it could be a matter of experimenting to see what sounds best.

[@haemolacria8873]

what effects are active at 22:42? synth flange reverb?

[@wrashchild]

That is the Boss SY-200, Mobius Auto Swell and Reverb.

[@jonathanfredriksson3502]

Hi, i got the 100w versión of the 5150 and i dont have midi, can you recommend some amp midi controllers ? Because there is not much information out there and there is not much videos en YT talking about it 😢

[@wrashchild]

Hey! I’m not actually sure but there is a company that make special cables. BTPA.com. You can email them and they will help you out.

[@danielhenry4614]

I finally got mine working I’m using the 3rd loop for my amps fx loop like yours but when I engage loop 4 I get volume loss then if I engage loop 5 I get even more volume loss but I don’t get it on the first 2 loops that are before the the fx loop any suggestions ?

[@wrashchild]

Hi mate. So firstly I would double check a cable. That’s usually the culprit. Also, are you using an external buffer? Sometimes that has been know to cause issues.

[@stephenbagnall6712]

Maybe its a bad example,. but the amp switching sounded bad. Almost laggy/delayed and glitchy. Is this just a bad example or is it actually like this all the time?

[@HLinc.]

What cables are you using to connect to the back of the es5?

[@wrashchild]

EBS flat patch cables

[@HLinc.]

@@wrashchildthank you

[@ApotheosiZ]

The Quad Cortex, Kempers , etc... don't sound as good as a real amp.

[@aakashaakash-gy3sf]

I agree, I am huge fan of "real" amps would always pick them over DSP but I love my Kemper it has helped everytime can't imagine my live show without it, don't know what would be handed over to me by tech vendor, it's my saviour

[@jinxarchives]

You must’ve spent about 700 quid on cables alone 🤣

[@wrashchild]

I would have but luckily learned to make my own. Plus a few EBS flat patches 😂

[@brutallyremastered4255]

Sorry but that background audiobed is disgraceful.

[@wrashchild]

Yeah it is a bit loud. Live and learn.

[@brutallyremastered4255]

@@wrashchild ;)

[@danielhenry4614]

I have a free the tone to . So when doing the 4 cable method like you the output of the boss goes into the input or output of the free the tone ?

[@wrashchild]

Yes Daniel! So from the Ed-5 Output, into the Future Factory, and then into the Return of your amp.

[@jeant9946]

Hi, I noticed you also use a ISP decimator II G string, can I use 4 cable method noise gate with this switcher 4 Cable method ? Thanks

[@wrashchild]

Yes. I’m using the 4 cable method here.