• Registered: 2012-02-18
  • Posts: 95

Topic: Pedals let me down, but first a few questions

After about 10 intermittent drop outs last night (happened with another amp, same pedalboard), I'm at a juncture where maybe it's time to make the jump to the TC Electronics G system. I have a late 2011 Triple Rec. Forgive me if this has been covered, but a few questions:
1. Do these 2 generally play nice together? I currently have a nova delay and boss chorus going thru my loop no problem. I sorta beat on my gear and need functionality over pristine conditions and minutia in tone differences. If my current set up works sound wise for me, I couldn't imagine my proposed one will be horribly atrocious. I also feel at least half the tone flops I've read here are more pilot error than compatibility, but maybe I'm wrong. I DO hear a bit of difference when I engage my loop, but nothing show stopping and I just tend to leave the loop engaged all night so there is no difference anyhow.
2. Will the TC G System switch my amp channels? I'm not sure if my footswitch for the Rec is midi (I'm not in front of it), but it LOOKS midi-ish. Not a deal breaker if it can't, but it would be nice to have presets that switch amp channels as well.
Is the TC Electronics G System bus powered via the midi cable? Once again, not a deal breaker if it isn't but would be nice. If it ISN'T, would at least the pedal part of the device be bus powered?
Thanks for your time, fellas!

www.brucesokolovic.com
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
  • Posts: 136

Re: Pedals let me down, but first a few questions

All this info is somewhere on this forum but I'll give you a summary as I have a similar setup:

1. If it's a "reborn" triple rec (with the serial loop) it'll work fine. I switched from an "old" 3 chan dual rec with parallel loop to a new one with serial loop and it saved me from a lot of headaches.
2. Relay switching and mesa amps generally don't work well together (technical explanation is on the tc website). I'm using a RJM Mini Amp Gizmo with custom cable that allows me to switch channels + all the "extras" (loop on/off, boost, tuner mute, ...). Works super but costs money obviously.
A triple Rec on it's own is not MIDI switchable (sure, it's a 5 pin cable, but that's as far is it goes), you need an interface like the Gizmo (or use relay switching with the aforementioned issues).
I'm not sure about your last remark: if you mean how the GS footswitch is powered than the answer is: over the UTP cable...

Hope this helps, cheers.

Last edited by Ben_vdd (2012-02-18 23:40:27)

www.akemmanah.be
Gtrs: Caparison Dellinger 7, Washburn Maya Pro DD75
Amps: Mesa Dual Rectifier reborn, Engl E530 preamp
Rack: TC G-System, TC NovaDrive, Gibson Echoplex DDP, ISP Decimator G-String, MXR CAE MC-401, Line6 G50 wireless, Korg DTR-2000, Furman PL8, CIOKS AC10
  • Registered: 2012-02-18
  • Posts: 95

Re: Pedals let me down, but first a few questions

I ordered the amp gizmo based on your and the white papers recommendation. Are the included instructions pretty straight forward getting it programmed? I do have a series loop, I don't believe mesa made a multi watt triple rec with a parallel loop so I hope I'm compatible here.

www.brucesokolovic.com
  • From: Hants UK
  • Registered: 2009-08-15
  • Posts: 895

Re: Pedals let me down, but first a few questions

As far as I know the Rectifiers later than 2010 have the serial loop,

Last edited by bucketbot (2012-02-20 09:26:05)

Gibson V.O.S 57 LP Custom, PRS Studio, Ibanez Jem DNA Herc Fede Swirl, Ibanez Jem PAW Herc Fede Swirl, Yam SG1820 LTD, Epi Tribute LP, Carvin X100B IV head, Carvin Legacy Head, Mesa Mark V Head, Carvin Legacy 3 Head, 2 x Zilla Custom 2x12 Vin 30 Cabs. G System, Boss FV500H x 2, TC Polytune, Lehle Sunday Driver, TC Nova Drive, Blackstar HT Metal, Mini Amp Gizmo.
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
  • Posts: 136

Re: Pedals let me down, but first a few questions

Yeah, if it's a multiwatt model you have a serial fx.
The Gizmo is a cakewalk: setup is described in the white paper (and really straightforward but depends on your particular setup, ie will you use MIDI only for switching or are you controlling other devices, like a Nova Drive or ...).

Once that's done, all you have to do is go to a patch on the g-system, select your channel + boost/loop/... settings with the little buttons on the front panel of the Gizmo and long press the write button. This will link that particular amp channel configuration to that particular g-system patch. It's all explained in the included manual and really straightforward.
If you want to link a button on the g-system to toggle the hardware boost on your amp, that's also explained in the white paper.

Good luck wink

edit: typo

Last edited by Ben_vdd (2012-02-20 11:37:13)

www.akemmanah.be
Gtrs: Caparison Dellinger 7, Washburn Maya Pro DD75
Amps: Mesa Dual Rectifier reborn, Engl E530 preamp
Rack: TC G-System, TC NovaDrive, Gibson Echoplex DDP, ISP Decimator G-String, MXR CAE MC-401, Line6 G50 wireless, Korg DTR-2000, Furman PL8, CIOKS AC10
  • From: Hants UK
  • Registered: 2009-08-15
  • Posts: 895

Re: Pedals let me down, but first a few questions

+1 wink

Another positive aspect of the Gizmo is you can use CC messages sent from G foot switches to activate functions on the amp such as solo as well. wink

Gibson V.O.S 57 LP Custom, PRS Studio, Ibanez Jem DNA Herc Fede Swirl, Ibanez Jem PAW Herc Fede Swirl, Yam SG1820 LTD, Epi Tribute LP, Carvin X100B IV head, Carvin Legacy Head, Mesa Mark V Head, Carvin Legacy 3 Head, 2 x Zilla Custom 2x12 Vin 30 Cabs. G System, Boss FV500H x 2, TC Polytune, Lehle Sunday Driver, TC Nova Drive, Blackstar HT Metal, Mini Amp Gizmo.