Ampless Signal Paths Explained

I've worked on countless "ampless" pedalboards over the last couple of years, and today I'm telling you everything you need to know about integrating an amp simulator into your rig. Whether you're running a mono setup, or looking for a ultra-wide Wet/Dry/Wet ampless configuration, I'll show you how to build the ampless rig of your dreams!
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Table of Contents
00:00 The Rise of Amp Simulators
00:24 Types of Setups
00:37 Mono Setup
04:44 Stereo Setup
05:15 4CM/5CM Setup
06:40 WET/DRY/WET Setup
08:11 Maintaining Your Signal Quality Over Long Distances
09:50 Thanks For Watching!
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CREDITS:
Host/Co-Production: Mason Marangella
Guitar: Tim Marco
Video: Nico Sotomayor
Video Editing: Mason Mejia
Co-Production/Design: Mason Mejia
Audio Engineering: Mason Mejia
#ampsim #pedalboard #guitarpedals

[@CamBaldeon]

You’ve been doing a great service for our community, I wish you all the success.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Wow, thanks so much Cam!

[@middaymeds]

You don't know about his past, do ya?

[@CamBaldeon]

@@middaymeds I’m aware, but I don’t live in the past. You should consider life in the moment because failures tend to live in the past.

[@elielmartinez5095]

@@CamBaldeonagreed! Been a learning a lot from him lately.

[@eduardsiger1860]

@@middaymeds Everyone has a past and nobody is perfect, but the goal is growth and we should be lifting each other up

[@legionnairegonk4425]

Far too many pro's / hardware manufacturers just assume everyone knows this stuff. Thanks for being different and explaining everything clearly 😉.

[@angrybirds2472]

Thanks, doc! Your rundowns are always clear crispy and concise, and also superlative!

[@BrianVallotton]

I have never seen this explained better. Thanks so much. Keep up the great work! God bless.

[@ashishdhakal6630]

Thank you for this wonderful guideline . Helped a lot . Keep posting such videos related to signal path and Mainly using pedals on recording

[@anthonydellorusso9554]

EXCELLENT video! I have always struggled with the concepts of "wet-dry-wet" rigs, and this made it much more clear

[@runefb]

Thanks a bunch! I placed my wet effects after the Dream as you suggested, and the sound got SO MUCH better! 👍

[@saurodino8459]

Best video about ampless signal chain. Simple, clear, good examples. Thank u for sharing. Keep doing these stuff. Best luck for your work 🍻🤟

[@kmickp1166]

Excellent, clearly explained and easy to understand. I use an Iridium when not using regular amps and use it in a stereo set up. What I learned from your demo is that I have my boost and volume pedal in the wrong place, many thanks for helping me understand why! Keep up the great work! 👍🎶

[@bakelite-era705]

Man this video answered questions I didn't even know I had. Thanks so much Mason, I'm going Ampless for my church Worship setup and you've just saved me heaps of stress and time I would have wasted otherwise!

[@TRUELOUTUBE]

This so helpful Mason ! I watched many other signal chain videos for Amp-less rigs and only your detailed video gives me all the understanding and options w my Strymon Iridium. NICE ONE !!!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Wow, great news!

[@MatthaeusEbonah]

These new amp pedals have truly changed the game for me personally. The genre of music I play the sound men usually run your rig directly into the DI and out of a DI into your amp. They don't care if you're playing a $20k two rock amp. They're not micing it up. So, even though the tone out of your amp and something like magic. That DI sound is like a kazoo if you have any type of drive on. The UA Dream 65 has changed this for me. I run two lines out the outputs. One to my monitor or "power in" section of my amp. The other to the DI box. The IR's and cam Sims on any of the UA pedals are CRAZY good. Now I don't lose my tone.

[@g-man7687]

Nice work, Mason and hats off to vertex effects for putting on this video very helpful. I was going up that path already and apparently hooking things up right this video just confirmed it. Thanks.

[@simoncolvex]

Great vid, i can always count on you to answer/ preempt my questions.

[@widmer64]

Mason, your content is very enriching! Love it!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I'm so glad! Thanks for watching! Hope we earned your subscription!

[@louishwu]

Thank you for instantly answering questions/fears I had about my UA lion and solutions given in a straightforward concise video!

[@MattCiprianoMusic]

This makes soo much sense. Thanks for making this video. Super clear

[@karlkestermann]

I use the Bass Simplifier and it has changed my whole sound. I couldn't live without it!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Wow, that's great! Congrats!

[@nielsdonnelly6027]

Nice vid and clear explanation. I am using the ruby to create an ampless rig and loving it. My modulation and wet effects are after the ruby to make them more pristine. I run a boss EQ pedal last in chain to create a clean volume boost for solos as I run the ruby dirty and have noticed that the reverb pedal I have tends to distort when boosted. Works like a charm!

[@tokingreens]

Thanks...Your videos are always so clear and informative.

[@jenzzz]

That was super-helpful and very well explained! Thank you! 🤘

[@patrickcarroll1754]

The graphics, the editing...the clarity. You keep evolving Mason. Thank you. I still think in metaphors and concepts more than technology and blueprints, but your delivery continues to be more focused and It's getting easier to follow along. Such a useful presentation on this topic 2 video suggestions: - Would you consider a video on a cable management of your brand new STUDIO and WORKSTATION? Beyond the pedalboard, I'm a firm believer you can apply that kind of tidiness elswhere in one's music space. And I'm fairly certain many cords behind an average computer are a rats nest, lit up by some sort of LED light to create the illusion all is well. Or maybe it just signals you like create. Either way, I bet you could make one mean video on it? - It's been asked before, but could you discuss and dedicate a whole video to HX STOMP specific routing? I've watched Line 6's demos and they're good, but boy do they fly past the material. To me the ports on the unit seem to connect a little differently to an effects loop or setting up cap Sims, etc. And I am simply not an engineer. Considering there's millions of users out there, perhaps I wouldn't be alone. Keep on what you're doing!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks Patrick. Full credit to Mejia who did the edit and graphics on this one. He knocked it out of the park! Thanks for those suggestions. We'll definitely add it to our list of possible future videos :)

[@jmartinianovlogging1482]

thank you for making time on this!🍻

[@pauldncn1]

Thank you This was the best explanation I’ve seen Amazingly simplified with all the pitfalls 👍👍

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Wow, thanks! Hope we earned your subscription!

[@pauldncn1]

@@VertexEffectsInc I was already subscribed Sometimes the chairmen of the board are a little late for me but I watch eventually 👍

[@ultragukuss1325]

Vertex makes pedals that feel awesome. Now you know why! 🎉 thanks for the video

[@michaelbast8250]

What a timely blessing this video is. I am reworking my rig to go amp less today with the Woodrow.

[@karl1949]

OUTSTANDING advice and information ~ exceptionally presented and super generous, wow Mason thank you! I'll be gearing up with some of your buffers and boosts 100%! I have on my agenda to get help from a Rig Dr. consultation too. You could 'aka' this channel as Rock Star University man. The effort you put into your business and channel really comes across and the quality shines, super positive vibes. Great input and tips from the community also thanks all ~ awesome!!!

[@zaccaria-dribi]

Thank you! I was waiting for this 🙏🙏🙏

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Wow, great!

[@jeremyweiss4845]

Great suggestions for alternate routing with amp sims! I’ll have to try some of these.

[@YanYeiDei]

unexpected result from watching this video, I finally understand Wet/Dry/Wet set ups!! thanks!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Wow, great news! Hope we earned your sub!

[@geo5772]

Mase! Right out of the park! A walkoff winner. 😎

[@scottyruss1990]

Nice to see something about this, I came back to guitar about 1.5 years ago and have joined a band, using just a pedal board. And it's taken a while to get the set up right, Iridium really helped to create the amp feel, and a DI box, and a whole host of pedal swapping. Can be hard to get your head around how to create all the tones you need. (Without using digital modelling. As that's just not for me!)

[@miker701]

Thank you! Very informative and the images really helped!

[@MrLittleblindshakey]

Your good Mason, very good. And you keep getting better over the years.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I appreciate that!

[@gsbguitarsgsb679]

Truly the easiest explanation and examples out there thanks man…

[@massi2403]

This has been so helpful... thank you! :)

[@digital-guitars-uk]

Thought this was brilliant. Thanks for sharing this with us. All my best wishes from the UK. 😎😎😎😎👍👍👍👍

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Wow, thanks so much!

[@terrymacvey]

Thank you. Your knowledge and sharing is the best. 👏👏👏👏👏

[@mattsb17]

Exact pedal I needed , thank you !

[@MicahRocksOfficial]

Awesome video and good timing for me. I’m putting together an Ampless praise and worship board for church right now.✌️👍

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Great! Hope this helps! I hope we earned your subscription!

[@Widdy5150]

Good video. I do the same idea within the helix using the DSM Humboldt DLX 4cm. Love this sort of content 👍🏼

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks so much! Hope we earned your subscription!

[@Widdy5150]

@@VertexEffectsInc of course

[@douglas3103]

This helps out so many people, Thank you!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I hope so!

[@billsmith0516]

Great info Mason! Learning and evolving thankyou!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@dpinskey]

Being a drummer, I never got a lot of experience setting up effect pedal signal paths. Now that I have my home studio set up, I want to make sure I have a nice assortment of effects and pedals available for my partner and I to dabble with to get tones for guitar, vocals, drums and whatever else comes down the proverbial pike. I am glad to see I have somewhat approximated the kind of setups demonstrated here. But definitely learned a few alternatives. One cool addition you might find of interest that I added to my signal flow is the Erica Synths Matrix Mixer which I am using to program and automate from what and to where I can send my signal path for up to 16 inputs to 16 outputs. It can get really interesting. Thanks again for what you do. Cheers!

[@cardosoguitarra]

Great! Flawless explanation! I’ll try the wet/dry examples with Strymon Iridium! Many thanks! Best! Regards 👏👏👏

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Enjoy!

[@stickman55100]

Always great guidance and information. I always learn something new from you!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

So glad it was helpful! Hope we earned your sub!

[@stickman55100]

@@VertexEffectsInc I’ve been a subscriber for a while as well as a customer. You guys make some great pedals. Still considering buying the new amp.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

@@stickman55100 Wow, thank you! If you want the amp, I just sent one to Chicago Music Exchange this morning. And they have three more on the way, then I'll be sold out for another 3 months. If you want want be sure to check in with them :)

[@316word]

Thank you so much for this info am really considering trying these individual amp sims verses the the all in one multi effects deep dive menu situations

[@rockyfolksy8639]

Thank you so much for this Doc. It would be interesting to hear next time if you can talk about Fractal Axe Efx, Neural DSP Quad Cortex, Kemper, Line6 Helix and the likes of it on how you set up this type of rigs on a live situation or how you incorporate this on a pedalboard set up along with some analog pedals. Thank You!

[@craigwood8862]

A great explanation- thanks.

[@tommyzai7038]

The depth of your tutorial is fantastic; yet, HOLY MOLY the complexity of a complete virtual rig is making me consider going acoustic and singing on a picnic blanket in the park . . . alone. ;-0

[@josefojma1580]

Great video !

[@Jay-fp4ii]

Amazing content!!! Ampless was my next question, lol

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Great! Sounds like this was right on time!

[@torzsok949]

So many good tips, Uncle Mase, idk what the pedal world would do without you. I've been playing digital for about 4 years now. I have a stomp, and I've always put my wet effects last on the chain and go straight into the stomp. But if your digital rig has an fx loop, run the wet effects into it either mono or stereo because it takes away so much digital harshness. Having your drives smash the amp and putting the wet effects post is amazing. Also, if you're running the stomp, axe fx, quad cortex, etc. put a compressor with a low mix after your amp and cab before your reverb tames a lot of digital noise coming from driving the amps into the delay/verbs. Because a lot of modelers are frfr, so you just get so many crazy signals coming through that you won't get with a regular amp. Love your content always!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for watching and the thoughtful comment!

[@sosborniv]

You can also get into your global settings on the Stomp and set a high and low cut to taste. It will remove a lot of that extra signal and stay in the traditional amp spectrum.

[@97guitarzan]

I'm thinking of getting one of these ampsims pedals, probably the UA Dream 65....there are almost too many options today. This is good information. Thanks Mason

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Hope it helps!

[@bensworld6128]

thanks Mason, i was needing this

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I'm so glad it was helpful!

[@thejoetandy]

This was great, thankyou!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for watching! Hope we earned your sub!

[@merlesmith6794]

Thanks Mason!👍🫡👏

[@frankvaleron]

Super clear explanation

[@VertexEffectsInc]

So glad it was helpful! Hope we earned your sub!

[@eoinc4091]

0:21 Not all are digital! Kingsley Amps make amazing ‘Pre Amp’ pedals that are all analog! Love the content! Thanks for all your commitment to educating us ❤

[@VertexEffectsInc]

It's not really the same as these all-in-one amplifier simulators that have preamp, power amp, speaker/cabinet, and mics in the same box. To make the Kingsley behave as an amplifier like these you're still required to use some sort of power amp and cabinet or something like a Two Notes Cab M to complete the signal path of an amplifier.

[@MaTTheWish]

Very informative. Thx

[@carlosalves4444]

Your channel Mason is guitar signal university, man great job, really appreciate your content.

[@AdrianTalines]

Thanks for this. ❤️

[@adamcarbone5216]

Best and most concise explanation on KZbin. Thanks!

[@Prettynoise]

Thank you for the explanation. When I build my next pedalboards I am selling my Pedaltrain board and picking up one of yours.

[@El...Presidente]

The Boss IR-200 is so underrated. It has an effects loops which you can program to before or after amp, 2 eqs, reverb, noise gate, stereo with 2 different amp/cab combos u can split L/R, can act as simple midi controller, u can upload your IRs, tons of amps including bass…. It’s amazing, sounds amazing.

[@shroompicn-shrooman]

I use just a Boss multi effect board.. most of the time in the garage.. directly in to the board we have setup... works great and way lighter than my tube amp .. and way less wear and tear on it also ... but playing out i drag my amp and just run the Boss right in the front...like a drive pedal.. matter of fact i also run a Boss Combo Drive after the board.. and it just add the slightest bit of chime the board just doesn't have... i have always wanted to try others but i own this and it works well... Great video thanks... ✌👽👍

[@chilidogcowboy]

Super handy video. I have to go amp-less at a church and have been coping by using my Mesa boogie vtwin. I was stuck using the clean channel til I realized I could put my time based stuff after the boogie’s output and could set the calibration on my nova delay….now I’ve got cleaner delays, can run the boogie like a dirty amp, and can go stereo with two direct boxes if I get greedy.

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for watching!

[@Jason22Douce]

This is great stuff. I would love to see a breakdown of signal path once the foh gets it. Ij the variety of options for monitoring ( wedges, iem, etc )

[@Mr_A_Mia]

Thank you always Mason👏🏾👏🏾

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for watching! Hope we earned your sub!

[@Mr_A_Mia]

@@VertexEffectsInc years ago👍🏾

[@coffeedudeguy]

Great stuff! I’ve currently set my Simplifier up with wet effects in the fx loop. Might try the w/d/w setup and maybe add another volume pedal just for dry

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Great! You can use the Send as the LINE OUT for the wet processing if you want to do a true wet/dry/wet however you'll need additional cab sims as the Simplifier is capable of 5CM (stereo 4CM) I think at it's max.

[@jamesbennett5065]

That was great! Thanks...

[@andisadiku1819]

Hey Mason, amazing video as always :)) I use the DSM & Humbolt Simplifier Classic which has an integrated FX loop and balanced XLR outputs. I’ve been using the pedal live for months now and couldn’t be more happy with it. Just plug in the board and run the front of house. A save for any giging guitarist!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Wow, great news!

[@elielmartinez5095]

Hey I’m thinking about getting the same pedal myself. Which pedals would you send to the FX loop?

[@theGaroudini]

It has good buffer on it right?

[@benchambers1173]

It's good to be validated. I have a set up almost exactly like this. My guitar signal is like this: Guitar Tuner Compressor Distortion (amp sim preamp pedal) Overdrive Noise gate Mooer D.I. box. ^it has cab sim, d.i. xlr out [dry], and an unbalanced out to continue the chain. Univibe Chorus Mono female to dual mono male adapter Stereo in EQD Avalanche Run delay/reverb Left Stereo out to Joyo JDI-01 #1 [Wet Left] Right stereo out to Joyo JDI-01 #2 [Wet Right] Both of those have XLR outs to FoH or Interface.

[@smalltown2223]

Nice one!

[@andrea.declementi]

Great video and useful information as usual! I just got a Simplifier classic, not sure the tone is better than the alternatives but the opportunities in terms of connectivity are way better than Iridium & co

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Great! Hope you enjoy it!

[@johnpaulpatton9786]

Living in an apartment, a loud tube amp is just not really an option. So, I decided to go with an Iridium and I'm very happy with it. I have struggled with placement of pedals around it, though, so this video is very helpful. Thank you!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I'm so glad! Hopefully it's useful!

[@holloify_tensa_zangetsu]

HAPPY NEW YEAR. I know it's late but still. Before I became a Gear head, I knew the basics, got my big muff,cry baby,CH-1,Boss digital delay ( I dont remember if it was DD3) and the DS-1. And then in 2014 got a Digitech RP360XP for xmas. I loved it, later went to pedals again. I got into TPS and learned more about everything.amp+cab simulation were in that RP360XP. Let me tell you the Heads and Cabinet or DEAD ON. This for me is a Sleeper pedal, I go to guitar center and bring the pedal and when compared to the real deal its extremely close

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Nice! Thanks for the comment!

[@TrumpIsGoingToPrison]

This man REALLY knows his stuff! Thank you sir!

[@victorbeebe8372]

Aloha and Mahalo Mason! Good info

[@VertexEffectsInc]

You're welcome! Thanks Victor!

[@gregholmberg2]

Very helpful. Thank you. Now do it with an amp-sim pedal that has an effects loop!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

I think between this video and our advanced signal paths video you can caveat based on the main principles laid out here :). I believe in you!

[@CaptainErn]

Been running an ampless rig w/d/w with the SSS as my “amp” in combination with the ultraphonix mk2 and Vox silk drive and the story on night sky and volante in the effects send on my mixer. Best choice

[@wfqsfg]

I go back to when we brought our 30 watt amp to church and mic'd it or used the line out if it had one. Some people even tried using just a pedal with some boost like an overdrive pedal with the gain turned down to go to the board. Sometimes there were 3 amps up there all blaring. Thank God for these amp simulators.

[@lenaandthelambcampingadven3422]

Excellent

[@TheOtherOtherJoey]

There I am trying to figure out an amp less option, and thank goodness you have a video about this. Everybody else is a bunch of fluff.

[@lesliejamesmcauley-dj8sg]

Thanks!

[@jash500]

This is great. You may have just sold me on getting a UA Ruby (side note: I wish there only there was stand-alone modeling for Matchless. IRs to the rescue?). Anyway, I feel like the perfect follow up to this would be a discussion on stereo width techniques i.e haas effect vs LCR and then for live mono FOH, optimizing a guitar’s place in the mix given the mono restrictions. You can even talk about Goodwoods new RCV box and the difference between “mix” and “sum”. I know I’d appreciate it! Good stuff today 👍🏼

[@everonlyallforthee]

I second this 👆🏻

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions!

[@jonathanbyrdmusic]

Thanks Mason.

[@flatgroundtv7097]

TED Talks material. Thank you. 🙏🏽😊

[@VertexEffectsInc]

My pleasure!

[@itsfailix98]

Awesome video, great explanation and nice graphics! I do have a question regarding the Wet/Dry/Wet setup: Why use a volume pedal with the dry effects instead of the wet ones? (Or what is the advantage of using it that way?) I thought you were trying to keep the wet effects from being too dominant and could control them accordingly with the volume pedal.

[@bbmade]

Great job as always. Video looks great, sound is clear and graphics are hip…says this non-artistic curmudgeon. 👍

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks so much for watching. Fully credit to Mejia for our diagrams! He did a great job!

[@gregmize01]

THANKS MASON!

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Thanks for watching!

[@carlosalves4444]

Nice job Mason, You're so good at explaining things in a way that really makes sense. What if I wanted to use say like joyo American sound amp pedal into a Fender m80 chorus 2x12 solid state amp. Would you go direct or through the effects loop? And would the signal path of other effects change much? Cheers mate.

[@edmazur2084]

excellent...!

[@jbert6793]

What a wealth of knowledge. I have a DSM Humboldt Electronics Simplifier. I just got it. Still learning it on how I want to run it. Have you messed around with this device? Thank you.

[@spoolstring1853]

Damn that is hella tech , jeff beck plugs straight in to amp and sounds like God!

[@mikewhittenmusic]

Excellent content here...The digital amp emulators are still TOO DAMN PRICEY & still a bit behind the USA made Tech21 sansamp technology. Because their cab-sim is designed to also work *WITH* your traditional amp and speaker, it is not always the best sounding DI, but is still very good and flexible. Simply adding or stacking the sansamp into a standalone speaker sim or IR plugin yields the most realistic DI sound and feel that I have employed. The sansamp amp and their clones like the JOYO american sound are ALSO VERY effective in *re-voicing* a very sterile and cheap solid state amps or Blues Juniors into something much much better.

[@Cinnemax77]

Mason- no bias- one sentence- what's the best cab sim out there for gigging musician? Thx love your stuff- God Bless

[@juanchete76]

Thanks for the amazing content. Where would you put a Ditto Looper within any of these chains!

[@KUKO23]

I use my Boss NS2 in conjunction with my Moore XP Live's effects loop to do a 4 cable method and keep my time based effects nice and separate from my Digitech ricochet and Octaver running clean close to my guitar signal. All distorted and clean amp.sounds are run directly from the Moore.

[@ManuelAlonsoBlasco]

I use a Boss IR-200, and I don't know if I made the right choice... I'm looking forward to what you are going to say Dr.! 😁

[@VertexEffectsInc]

Paul Jackson Jr. loves these, they're nice. I have not objections.