Pedals In The Mix

Recording Magazine looks at building a rack-mounted-pullout guitar effects pedal board for your studio.

[@MrSpeakerCone]

Super cool build. Worth pointing out that a balanced TRS patchbay will accommodate unbalanced TS cables without issue. All that happens is the ring connector in the socket shorts to the sleeve of the plug, which isn't a problem because it doesn't connect anywhere. Plus, both the input of the re-amp box and the output from the DI are balanced, reducing the total unbalanced cable run and potentially reducing noise.

[@Steven-u5w]

Wow! I absolutely adore your home studio. Wonderful! Have fun to your heart's content. That's all it's all about God bless

[@macronencer]

Definitely bookmarking this one for when I finally set up my studio space. The most surprising thing I learned from the video was that MAGNETIC printer paper is a thing! I'd never heard of it before. What an excellent idea.

[@OfficialFatLip]

rich kid....just say you racked the pedals and use them within your daw via tie lines or patch bay dude lol

[@sesa1076]

I don’t play guitar...I just have this sick-ass tele.

[@RecordingMag]

That made me laugh! Thanks!

[@bumblebat6022]

LOLOLOLOL😂

[@manmaas]

Useful! I’m just putting together a synth/pedal board mix and this offers a lot of useful advice. I wasn’t aware of the reverse polarity leads. These will save me a lot of stress over plugging things in and out. In the past I killed two very expensive pedals before fully understanding the difference between +/-

[@JiihaaS]

Automatic captions at 0:13 "Hey everyone I'm Paul the duck" 😂

[@RecordingMag]

Awesome! Lol!

[@ericore]

Working on my own pedal rack right now. This video has been extremely helpful to reference throughout this process. Thank you!

[@RecordingMag]

Thanks

[@RecordingMag]

If you put photos on social media, be sure to tag us, I would love to see them.

[@graysonkemp8870]

Incredible video!! Can you please do a pet 2 where you teach us how to use these in a daw once it’s hooked up?

[@birdybird7]

wow man, a piece of work

[@Larry30102]

Super video. Great instructor teaching very clearly and understandably about a potentially difficult topic. I have a bunch of guitar pedal tossed around on my desk. Doesn’t get much use cause it’s a pain plugging in, rerouting frequently. This would be a great solution. Big thank you.

[@drJoep043]

great video! I was wondering if the routing and reamping video's are there? I am having a lot of troubleof finding quick and easy ways to applying my effects to various synths and mics. could anyone point me to something to read or watch?

[@leogovan5076]

Great video - exactly the problem I've been looking at a solution for

[@theoliviaarchives4794]

Thanks. I’ve been looking for this info. I didn’t know it was called reamping.

[@Corey_G]

Looking all over for something like this. Thank You. *** Still don’t understand how you used the patch bay to allow you to use multiple FX pedals chained in any order? (I own the same Behringer patch bay) Here is my gear Im trying to use to duplicate what you’re doing ….. Cioks DC-7 & DC-8 (Power supplies) Two Line 6 HX Stomps (Multi FX Pedals) Two Electro Harmonix (Freeze FX Pedals) 4 Distortion Pedals (JHS Bonzai & AT+ etc…) I’d like to do either two separate chains ⛓ for two guitarists, or everything for 1 guitarist. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks 😊👋

[@jupiterrising5918]

Man this is excellent

[@Steven-u5w]

Yes, unfortunately rat mount gear under pedals do not have crowbar protection. So you have to make sure the polarity is correct and one good way of doing this is to have a avo metre or a multimeter and check the polarity of all your leads before you connect your pedals and check with your pedal manual my previous home studio setups. I always filtered the mains coming in. You can ease quite easily do this these days with plug boards already built for this purpose it's nice to know that these days more pedals are having line noise lift which is excellent feature very crucial and important I recall the days when we had to DI most things I apologise if this sound is technical God bless

[@austinmark1987]

Excellent and informative video. You answered just about every question I’ve had about creating this exact setup.

[@gospelpopmusic]

Thank you so very much for this video. You just explained EXACTLY what I wish to use my guitar pedals for in my own studio I am still building! NavePoint shelves for my pedal boards for in house studio recording!

[@in_10z]

Super informative. Thank you. I'm setting up a similar rack and this was very helpful.

[@taylorperkins6089]

Hi, awesome video! I'm curious, do the Navepoint shelves have to be racked in i the back to support it? I have a basic rack but only have front rack ears. Thx!

[@RecordingMag]

Mine are only supported in the front, and they are still holding solid this many years later.

[@taylorperkins6089]

@@RecordingMag Awesome, I just installed two navepoint shelves in my first legit rack. Time to get some serious use out of all my pedals I’ve collected over the years. I really appreciate you and the hard work you did on this video. Premium content!

[@jokester5130]

OCD much? Lol nice video. Pro tip: You can use blue painter's tape on the back of the pedals before putting on the velcro to protect the backs.

[@Roman_andtheprey]

I do that when I borrow stuff!

[@taylorperkins6089]

I'm back! What brand of cables are you using for the right angle to straight ones? Do you recommend using interconnect cables? Thank you.

[@RecordingMag]

...I honestly do not remember the brand. I do know I am using TS and not TRS cables, and that they are gold-plated connectors.

[@Mr_A_Mia]

👏🏾awesome video

[@taylorperkins6089]

What would be your preferred method for routing mics to your pedals that are hooked up to your TRS patch bay? Thx!

[@RecordingMag]

I do it as a send and return from my DAW and go out through a Little Labs or Radial ReAmp device into the pedals.

[@cliffnboyzy]

This is an excellent video. Hey thanks.

[@RecordingMag]

Thank you!

[@MrChuckBoom]

is it really necessary to use an unbalance patchbay? The ring of the balanced jacks will shortcut with the sleeves and than the whole thing is unbalanced anyway

[@CalebCuzner]

That is my understanding as well

[@RecordingMag]

A large part, is I already had the unbalanced bay laying around, so why not use it. However, my second 1/4" patchbay that my synths run to is balanced.

[@AmiliaCaraMia]

If you wanted to set up a dedicated pedalboard for 'reamping' specifically, you could wire it up like a traditional pedalboard correct? With everything running in series to one another. The patchbay is to easily swap the order of things?

[@RecordingMag]

Yes. I do quite a bit of reamping through this setup.

[@SyntheticSan]

Wow, I see you use Moog’s Sound Studio 3 ! Which pedals would you recommend to use in combination with the Sound Studio 3? Would you use those pedals by using them each sepratley (DFAM, Subharmonicon, etc. ) or just connecting them in a chain just by using Sound Studio’s 4 channel box. ✌

[@RecordingMag]

I don't actually have the Sound Studio, I had all of the Moog units individually prior to its release. As such, I run each Moog into the patchbay and use various pedals one at a time. I do not sub-mix into the pedals usually unless I am adding a global reverb.

[@Mr_A_Mia]

Im currently trying to do this myself…this setup only works with an unbalanced patchbay right??

[@RecordingMag]

It should work with a balanced as well

[@Shadoweclipse1386]

Is the space between your server racks with pedals 2U/3U? I'm curious how much space I'll need if I do this myself.

[@RecordingMag]

Three. I could get by with two if I had to, but it would make the rear controls a bit tight to tweak.

[@Shadoweclipse1386]

@@RecordingMag Good to know! I decided that since I only ever play guitar at home, and that I'm slowly getting into recording and synth, to go this route. I just ordered one of these rack shelves to see how well my pedals fit on them. I'm hoping to only need 2U for the pedals, but will build a bigger rack if I need to. Thank you!

[@kiwiramjet5625]

Superb video! Very informative and excellent flow as a how-to sort of process. Looking forward to more videos!

[@t.kahraba763]

Can I use my pedals similarly on a balanced patch bay?

[@RecordingMag]

I have had most people tell me yes, although I stuck with the unbalanced bay because I already had it. When I did some tests with the balanced bay and my keyboards I have not noticed any detrimental difference.

[@lifeattractslife]

This is awesome!

[@Jcgalllo]

How do you hook up the reamp when everything is going through the patch bay?

[@RecordingMag]

The reamp boxes are just to the right of the patchbay, so I use appropriate 1/4" cables. Then, the xlr I/O on the reamp boxes are connected to my TT patchbay to get in and out of my DAW.

[@ILoveTelecasters]

If you'd use a stereo reverb, you'd only need one revamp, right? Since the mono guitar signal first hits the reamp, then the reverb, which outputs a stereo signal to the AI

[@RecordingMag]

It depends on the pedal or effect and how it processes stereo. Most of the time I am using the pedals as outboard effects on drums, keys and vocals.

[@cesmcmyth]

Finished watching. I'm F'kng exhausted. gosh.

[@harpicks]

Haha lol 😂😂

[@bumblebat6022]

That is the most anally clean studio I’ve ever seen! I think even the power supplies were wiped down before the dude recorded this video!! I’m astonished... can’t even see a fingerprint or stray pubic hair anywhere...

[@DamiensRegicide]

How do you stomp on the stomp box if it's over there in the rack? Thanks!

[@dreux3116]

Great video! Thanks for breaking this down. One question, where did you get the furniture piece that houses the Voyager, Semi-Mods, synth drawer and pedal rack spaces? Do I need to build something custom?

[@RecordingMag]

I designed it and had a friend who is a professional cabinet maker build it for me.

[@gramfarmer4848]

This is pretty awesome! I want to do something similar. Do you have a link to the article you refer to in the video? Do you record all this DAW-less?

[@jtweito]

Does the distance from the pedals and the patchbay make a difference? I've done the same as you here, but was planning on moving some gear around which would place my racked effect drawers 20 ft away from my main patchbay and interfaces.

[@RecordingMag]

It should be ok. Many folks might worry about signal loss as such a distance, but when you consider that many guitarists use 20' cables from guitar to pedal, I would not think it would be an issue.

[@MrChickenking44]

Nice!! Could I make a set up to use for my Marshall amp and for my mixes?

[@RecordingMag]

I have guitar players plug into this setup all the time through the patch bay.

[@neoaureus]

Haha…searching through the power bin…is so so familiar

[@KHfilmin]

Sweet!

[@mPDC-gh8jy]

Why are you stick to the old and second-handed unbalanced patch bay even if the latest balanced one can also handle unbalanced signals?

[@RecordingMag]

I used the balanced bay for my synths and a few pieces of balanced gear.

[@JanSchultink]

You did not add MIDI clock sync to some of these pedals?

[@alexovercast3359]

You can but alot the magic is getting the time synced by ear or going slightly out of sync to enhance the feel.

[@kwrigh1668]

please...please, please can you reach out to me. I want to do what your doing. With the Pedal shift, but I can't seem to make it work....3 times now, still not right, even reached out to NavePoint and talked to them for almost 30 minutes. I see @ 1:55, the back of the rack/shelf isn't even screwed in, please tell me how your are doing this. Seriously, we can hang after Covid, I'll buy you a beer, give you 10,000 HUGS, but I just wanna figure this out. Thanks.

[@modustollens2273]

nice work

[@RecordingMag]

Thanks

[@Kharrari]

wow

[@mellowmonsoon278]

Amazing! Does it really make sense to do this with axe iii and helix racks are available? I mean does it give you that extra awesomeness in sound ?

[@RecordingMag]

I am doing this primarily to use guitar pedals with my synths and in my mixes with vocals, drums and more as a mixdown effects, so for me, yes I enjoy the unique flavors that these pedals bring to the table. Although I know many guitar players who love the axe and helix boxes.

[@mellowmonsoon278]

@@RecordingMag thanks mate. I was looking ways I can use my pedals in a home studio rig, that's how I bumped in to your video. And trying to answer the ongoing question in my mind if I should sell all my pedals and go for a helix or something. I have Mobius, ocean machine, chase bliss brothers, dynacop and a xotic wah, which kind of does pretty much 98% of the things a guitarist would want.

[@diegoambrosio9121]

No sound?

[@RecordingMag]

Works here

[@777wisdom7]

velcro destroys the aesthetics of the pedal