Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

[GreatOz]

Good day,

Is there a pedal that can convert the signal from a Tube Head to an XLR output that a mixer board can handle without blowing the mixer board? If I understand it correctly, this would effectively make the main speakers (PA Speakers) the cab for the head.

I am new to tube equipment as I have always used Solid State due to budget reasons and genuinely do not know if such a pedal exists or if using PA Speakers/Mains as a guitar amp output is a good idea or not.

If such a pedal does and you have used it, what did you think of it?

I cannot mic the amp for different reasons because the building is too small, making feedback an issue and I am worried about a box not blocking the sound from the amp/cab enough as well as them overheating easily. Although, I am more just curious if some people do what I described to avoid any volume control, feedback, or other issues while playing live.

Thanks,
GreatOz

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

You need some kind of load box. I use a Fryette Power Load.
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Fryette/Power-Load-Variable-Reactive-Load-with-Cab-and-Mic-Emulation.gc

For less money you could get one of these cool isolation cabs instead.
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Fryette/Power-Load-Variable-Reactive-Load-with-Cab-and-Mic-Emulation.gc

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

the Red Box does this. It does a good job.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

The Red Box does not replace a speaker cabinet, it provides a direct signal to the PA, but is designed to be used together with a speaker cabinet. So, the Red Box does nothing to reduce the amp’s stage volume. I love my Red Box, it does a good simulation of a mic’d cab without the problems of stage bleed or extra mic stands.

However, I get the feeling the OP wants to eliminate the amp’s stage volume, doing away with the speaker cabinet completely. Tube amps cannot be run without a speaker load. If there is no speaker, then you need some means of converting the amp’s output to heat. These boxes are variously called load boxes or dummy loads. Some attenuators will also do this job. Load boxes are expensive because they need to handle the power from the amp without burning up. This means they are relatively large and heavy compared to a normal pedal.

In addition to dissipating the amp’s power, you need to simulate the sound of a cabinet and microphone. Direct amp outputs without cab simulation sound terrible. Many load boxes provide the cab sim in addition to the load dump function.

 

[GreatOz]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

You need some kind of load box. I use a Fryette Power Load.
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Fryette/Power-Load-Variable-Reactive-Load-with-Cab-and-Mic-Emulation.gc

For less money you could get one of these cool isolation cabs instead.
https://www.guitarcenter.com/Fryette/Power-Load-Variable-Reactive-Load-with-Cab-and-Mic-Emulation.gc

Those are two of the same links lol.
Are you talking about this?

My biggest concern with put the amp in one of those is will the amp/cab overheat in there?

 

[devastone]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

Those are two of the same links lol.
Are you talking about this?

My biggest concern with put the amp in one of those is will the amp/cab overhead in there?

If I understand your question correctly(?), you are asking if the amp will overheat inside of the iso cab? If that is the quesion, then no, the amp doesn't go in the iso cab.

 

[GreatOz]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

However, I get the feeling the OP wants to eliminate the amp’s stage volume, doing away with the speaker cabinet completely.

Yes, this is exactly what my original question was addressing. I am also open to putting a combo/cab into an iso cab to keep the noise to a minimum.

I found this head, which apparently supports what I want to do in skipping the cab entirely.

If I understand your question correctly(?), you are asking if the amp will overheat inside of the iso cab? If that is the quesion, then no, the amp doesn't go in the iso cab.

Okay, so only a cab goes into the iso cab. Wouldn't this mean I would use a head to connect to the cab in the box?

 

[Aceman]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

I run my Mesa Stiletto with a Redbox from a Slave out, and a cab. I can run the cab volume down on stage, and the Slave volume up to the board.

I'd think - but am not sure, that the H&K, can run every which way.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

The Red Box can accept a speaker-level input, so you can run it in parallel with an appropriate load box.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

Yes, this is exactly what my original question was addressing. I am also open to putting a combo/cab into an iso cab to keep the noise to a minimum.

I found this head, which apparently supports what I want to do in skipping the cab entirely.



Okay, so only a cab goes into the iso cab. Wouldn't this mean I would use a head to connect to the cab in the box?

Sorry about the wrong link, I posted that pre-coffee today :smokin:

That Jet City ISO cab is a cab in and of itself. It has a speaker, a mic stand a bunch of soundproofing inside. You plug any head into it then run an XLR from the ISO to the soundboard.

I personally prefer big loud amps on stage but I have friends who play professionally that love those ISO cabs.

With long cables you could have the head by where you play for on-the-fly changes and the cab anywhere else in the room... kinda fun to think about.

 

[GreatOz]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

Sorry about the wrong link, I posted that pre-coffee today :smokin:

That Jet City ISO cab is a cab in and of itself. It has a speaker, a mic stand a bunch of soundproofing inside. You plug any head into it then run an XLR from the ISO to the soundboard.

Haha, I know the feeling for about the coffee.

Having that cab be isolated could be very useful for both home studio work and live usage. I will definitely consider it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

Perhaps the Tube Amp Expander. It is brand new...not sure if it is shipping yet.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

A Two Notes Captor would do that for about $250




..and this set-up would do it for half that (what I use :lmao

A "Julius Reactive Loadbox" from Reverb.com which makes it possible to run your amp without hooking it up to a cab.

The guy makes 2 versions one with a built in DI output (to go straight out to a mixer etc) and one that's just a Loadbox without the DI out. Price is $59 for the 200W laodbox vs. $99 for the DI+Loadbox. The build is solid & they're reliable. I've used mine for well over a year at home and for gigs..

https://reverb.com/item/7025878-jul...0w-reactive-load-box-without-di-black-sparkle


For a separate DI Box (accepts speaker-level signals) to use with the load-box direct to your mixer/DAW etc (costs about $35-40). Again had mine for 3-4 years. Solid as a rock.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/behringer-ultra-g-gi100-di

Comes with a switchable "cabinet-emulated" output which is actually pretty decent sounding..but it could also be used with IR's.

That's silent recording on a budget (about $100 total for the loadbox & DI box with cab emulation..or you can load your own IR's/speaker sims from your DAW)

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

https://www.mesaboogie.com/cabinets...ators/guitar-cabinet-simulator/cab-clone.html

But the Two Notes may be better.

 

[chadd]

Re: Pedal for Head Output to Mixer Board

I run my Mesa Stiletto with a Redbox from a Slave out, and a cab. I can run the cab volume down on stage, and the Slave volume up to the board.

I'd think - but am not sure, that the H&K, can run every which way.

I have both the Mark II and Mark 5 versions of the Red Box, love them. They both take line or speaker level input but the old one doesn't take phantom power.