Looking for a small yet versatile setup for church

[devastone]

Just looked up the torpedo. Very interesting!
I have a 20w Blackstar head that I like a lot.
So, with the torpedo I could run the head into it and then out the xlr to foh?
I’m assuming the 1/4” out would go to either a floor wedge or IEM? It is labeled “dry”....would I not be able to hear any FX in my monitor?

You'll hear any fx that are going through the amp. The Captor goes in place of your speaker cab, or as an attenuator to your speaker cab, the XLR goes to the FOH. As far as running IEMs, the point is to have the whole mix in them, not just your guitar, if you just have your guitar in your ears, how are you going to play well with others? So, if you are using something like that, you don't need a speaker cab, but if you do use the thru or attenuated signal for one, you want a guitar cab, there won't be any cab sim on that line. And don't plug headphones into them, that is meant to drive a real speaker so not a good idea.

FWIW, this is what our IEMs are plugged into, not our individual processor/amp/preamp doohickey - https://www.presonus.com/products/earmix-16m The channels are fed from the main mix pre-fader, so we set our own mix. Most channels are 1 to 1, but stuff like drums is mixed down to an aux out on the main board so it only takes up one channel on the Earmix (and the main mix FWIW). Having an individual mix is good and bad, I have my guitar where I can always hear it, but I don't know how loud I am in the mains relative to everything else, so, dynamics are tricky, you just have to trust the soundman (uhm, soundperson), which in churches can be hit or miss.

It seems that you are only thinking about hearing your guitar, it's more about thinking about hearing the mix. Even _______ (insert favorite arena filling band using IEMs here) have the whole mix in their IEMs, that way they can play together. We even have cues and click tracks our ears (that we can adjust the level of in our own mixes), took a little getting used to but it's great for keeping everyone together. We're still working out some issues, but making progress.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Ok....this is getting deeper than I thought!!
I have a lot to learn.

Devastone, I was aware of needing the entire mix in the IEM’s but I still need to learn how to properly get the guitar signal to operate. Lol
The players on the worship team all use IEM and there are these little mixers (?) on stands which I assume they adjust the mix with.

Ok so....
Guitar get plugged into the pedal board and then to the front of the amp, then out to the torpedo. Then the xlr goes to foh and I use IEM’s to monitor the return from the board.
Am I on the right track?

 

[Gtrjunior]

I’m using a UA Ox instead of the Captor, but I run amp > Ox > DI > FOH, then our IEMs come back via an auxiliary board feed through (new to us) Behringer P16’s. Before that we used the board to feed little headphone amps for the IEMs.

I would say when the Torpedo says dry for the 1/4 out that would just without the cabinet emulation.

Wow! That thing is pricy.
Way out of my budget. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Ascension]

Just looked up the torpedo. Very interesting!
I have a 20w Blackstar head that I like a lot.
So, with the torpedo I could run the head into it and then out the xlr to foh?
I’m assuming the 1/4” out would go to either a floor wedge or IEM? It is labeled “dry”....would I not be able to hear any FX in my monitor?

Yep it can be used as a load box and has a decent basic IR cab simulator. Just match the impedance to your amp when you buy one ( they have 4,8 and 16OHM versions) then plug in a mice cable and run your amp through the system.
Demo Peavey 6505 through a Captor X direct

 

[devastone]

Ok....this is getting deeper than I thought!!
I have a lot to learn.

Devastone, I was aware of needing the entire mix in the IEM’s but I still need to learn how to properly get the guitar signal to operate. Lol
The players on the worship team all use IEM and there are these little mixers (?) on stands which I assume they adjust the mix with.

Ok so....
Guitar get plugged into the pedal board and then to the front of the amp, then out to the torpedo. Then the xlr goes to foh and I use IEM’s to monitor the return from the board.
Am I on the right track?

Yeah, you plug the IEMs into the little mixer thingy. Best to get your sound mostly dialed in at home through some full range speakers, don't use a guitar cab for dialing in your direct sounds. When you plug in there the soundman will adjust to your level out the XLR, or may ask you to turn it up or down a little. Other than that, you should be mostly good to go, maybe adjust some reverb, delay, etc... but you kinda have to trust in the tone you dialed in before hand, it's not going to sound exactly like it did at home in your IEMs, and you won't be hearing the same mix as the coming out the mains. FWIW, at home I use a set of Kali LP-6s on my desk and I have some JBL FRFRs I use with a choir sometime when I have to bring my own "amp". I do have a guitar cab and power amp, if I'm in a situation that I need a "real"-ish amp, I'll turn off cab sims and go through that or run an AMT preamp or the RK5 and a few pedals, but haven't done that in years other than messing around in the house.

You don't need a cabinet when you are running direct, just something else to carry. I have my GT-1000 in a gig bag over one shoulder and my guitar in a big gag on the other shoulder. If I use the RK5, it fits in the guitar bag although thinking about getting a board to mount it, a wah, volume, and a few other pedals to, or building a board around a AMT B2 preamp, I'm still a knob and pedal guy at heart.

When running direct, even without having to carry a cabinet, I really don't see any need in lugging a tube head and load box or whatever, there are plenty of pedal size solutions that sound great, no, they don't feel like a tube amp through a speaker, but in IEMs, neither does a mic'd tube amp. And again, if you already have a pedal board you are using with your amp, just grab an AMT M2 or something and put it where the amp preamp goes in your signal chain, then use a DI box to get the signal to an XLR, the church probably already has DI boxes though. If you can run down your current amp setup, I give you some ideas, and I'm all about saving money wherever possible! I'm also for convenience, I don't want to have to get there 30 minutes early to set up something to dial in "toanz" that no one in the congregation is going to notice that much anyway. Don't get me wrong, they will notice if it sounds like crap, but I get compliments all the time using my GT-1000, from the middle aged "rockers" (of which I guess I am) to old ladies (which I definitely am not), so take it FWIW. Oh, and use lots of reverb, that seems to be a church thang.

 

[donaldr]

If you already have pedals, why not get an Atomic Firebox? Pretty nice, small and cheap. Here's a clean/blues Vox tone, but Satchel is touring also with one (5150 model) so it sounds good for heavier stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrkwc75M0NM
If you need more pedals, then a Line6 Pod Go is nice and a single solution contrary to a FlyRig.

 

[Gtrjunior]

If you already have pedals, why not get an Atomic Firebox? Pretty nice, small and cheap. Here's a clean/blues Vox tone, but Satchel is touring also with one (5150 model) so it sounds good for heavier stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrkwc75M0NM
If you need more pedals, then a Line6 Pod Go is nice and a single solution contrary to a FlyRig.

Well....that sounded pretty amazing.


Edit: just checked out the larger units they offer. These look really amazing. That’s for the heads up in these. I had no idea they even existed.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Just made an offer on Reverb for the Amplifire 12.
Fingers crossed. Lol

 

[devastone]

Good luck, the Atomic stuff sounds great, I had a Amplifirebox for a little while, it is more of a pain to program IMHO. If you get it, let us know how you like it!

 

[Gtrjunior]

He denied my offer. I asked what his bottom line is. Waiting for a reply.
His asking price is reasonable enough but hey, I need to try to get a deal!!

 

[Mincer]

I use the Amplifire Box for a year or so. They make great stuff. Good luck with your deal.

 

[Gtrjunior]

We came to an agreement on the Amplifire 12....$385.
It’s only a little more than the $300 that the fly rig costs and I think the Amplifire has more under the hood so to speak.
He is also including some presets and IRs he purchased.

Now, I just need to learn how all this crap works!! This is my first foray into the modeling world.

 

[devastone]

That is a great deal, and they do sound good, let us know how it works out for you!

I only use a couple of patches on my GT-1000, they have a clean and dirty amp in each so I can basically switch between in one patch. It's total overkill for me, hence why I'm looking at building a pedalboard around an AMT pedal if I ever get around to it. I'm still old and analog (except for delays and reverbs).

 

[ErikH]

Very cool snag. Their modeling is stellar.

The appeal of the Fly Rig to me was not only the form factor but the ease of use, feature set that matches my needs, XLR out, and affordable. I can swap between it and my real amp interchangeably without much fuss if I need to.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Very cool snag. Their modeling is stellar.

The appeal of the Fly Rig to me was not only the form factor but the ease of use, feature set that matches my needs, XLR out, and affordable. I can swap between it and my real amp interchangeably without much fuss if I need to.

That kind of attracted me to the fly rig too. I know a guy that has one and I’ve played through it and yes, easy to use.
When I was told about the Amplifire and checked it out on YouTube it really ticked all the boxes.
I can probably play with this as-is in the church band. No additional gear needed.
For my regular rock band I might need a wah.

 

[rbc]

This is pretty small:

 

[NegativeEase]

This is pretty small:

Man, that pedal switcher is sweet, it's like a pedal for blind and drunk people trying to make fx changes on stage. Love it.

 

[Mincer]

Very cool snag. Their modeling is stellar.

The appeal of the Fly Rig to me was not only the form factor but the ease of use, feature set that matches my needs, XLR out, and affordable. I can swap between it and my real amp interchangeably without much fuss if I need to.

It also sounds great with external pedals. I use an SD 805 Overdrive before mine.

 

[ErikH]

It also sounds great with external pedals. I use an SD 805 Overdrive before mine.

That it does. I use a MXR EVH 5150 Overdrive before mine now and have used a Boss OD-3 and EHX Soul Food with great results.

 

[ehdwuld]

Iridium Pedal will do the trick just fine.

But if you want an incredible amp that has a Classic Tweed Deluxe Channel and a Plexi channel in one light and super loud combo (30 Watts) and only 31 pounds.

(warning it's pricey -1500+ new ) https://www.vintagesoundamps.com/pro...lack-tweed-30/

It's a nice last amp you ever want to own type of amp.

Those are sold down here at Blues Angel's Music where Jon Langraph (?) The pedal guy was a amp tech there for years
local company
I believe they are getting mojo tone kits and building them with their logo
I could be wrong

Nice amps though

Sound good
Bit pricey

my buddy has been strung out with gass for the Amplifire box
But it doesn't sound like an amp in the room
It sounds like a miked amp in another room

And those are on the verge of extinction
The iridium and Walrus Audio version of the Iridium
Those are the state of the art at the moment