Parallel signal chains

alex1fly

alex1fly

Well-known member
Anyone running parallel signal chains? I'm looking into some different options for doing this. I play into a FRFR setup so I'm thinking it would need to be something like this:
Guitar to splitter, splitter to Chain #1 and Chain #2
Chain #1 - dirty
Chain #2 - clean with FX
Both Chains' outputs to a "combiner"... is this a thing? What's it actually called?
"Combiner" to amp

I really want to get something like this going, and am debating some of these things. Are there pros and cons to digital vs analog? How do you arrange FX - like do you want 2 wahs, 2 compressors, etc or are some effects just "Master FX"?

Just some thoughts, and I welcome any opinions and experiences with parallel signal chains!
 
I've done this on my Fractal, especially if I want both sounds panned differently, or if I have a piezo bridge pickup in a guitar. I have also done it with a rack system. I think with conventional pedals and amps, though, it would be more trouble than it is worth (and twice as much gear to carry to a gig).
 
Here is kind of a budget work-up of how to do it analog.

This would take the guitar input and split it into 2 signals: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...switcher-pedal

I was thinking about using two of these as the receiving amps: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...river-di-pedal
One set to Fender clean with modulation/delay in front of it, one set to Marshall/Mesa dirty with a tubescreamer or other OD in front of it.

This would take the two signals and combine into one output: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...hs-summing-amp

Then it could go into a master reverb or compressor or whatever, and ultimately into the FRFR rig. The Levels on the two individual amp-pedals would provide the blend function.

I guess a bigger question is whether parallel signal chains is worth pursuing at all. Pretty much all recorded music I listen to has multi-tracked guitars, and parallel signal chains would provide a live version of the clarity and depth of tone that multi-tracking provides. On the flip side, it isn't super common which leads me to believe it isn't terribly necessary for having fun with tone.

Certainly open to doing it in a MFX.
 
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I have, but in my experience the benefits aren't usually worth the complexity unless you are running two amps to take advantage of the differences into amps which accentuate both to their best.
 
devastone said:
The GT has the most processing hp of those 3, can't speak to Fractal or similar.
Click to expand...

I know the Fractal and the Helix won't work with 2 big signal chains. You can do parallel paths as long as you don't want 12 effects in each one.
 
It's all just cooking. If you start using a lot of ingredients and procedures, you had better know what you are doing.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk
 
PFDarkside said:
Boss Line Selector can blend two parallel chains.
Click to expand...

Indeed it can, I just recently got around to working with that a bit, after having the pedal a few years now that's a shame.
The Angry Driver jb2 also has a parallel mode that I didn't make time for initially, but it's became my favorite mode if I'm using the pedal as a stand-alone drive into a clean/ish amp.
 
Most ABY boxes can be flipped to allow.

Y to A or B

A and B to Y

SO....

Guitar to Y = A or B

A Chain and B Chain to A and B = Y to whatever
 
Yeah, I totally dig Living Colour.

Back to the OP, it will be much easier to just get an multi fx unit, it may cost a little more up front, but will save worlds of headaches trying to find the one bad cable before a gig.
 
Little Pigbacon said:
Good try, but I love that solo. Even Arsenio dug the live one!
Click to expand...

Let me be clear, I too dig Living Colour... They had a lot of greatness about them and Vernon had awesome riffs.

-but the Guitar solos are like when a kid learn to sweep pick furiously for the first time, his rig rundown is amazingly over complicated

-Oh yeah, the spandex is deadly serious.
 
Little Pigbacon said:
Thats a fair critique of some of those solos, but there is a nervous energy there that really seems to fit the songs for me.

To most of us, that rig is nutso, but there is only one person on Earth qualified to determine whether its the right rig for Vernon Reid.

As for the Spandex, is was MTV in 1988. Lol.
Click to expand...

I mean his rig is like King Crimson and God Speed you black emperor combines their setups for a mega show........
 
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