Effects Loop Feedback / Crappy Sound

[thopunk]

When i plug my effects board directly into the input of my amp, the distortion sounds great (pedal distortion with the clean mesa channel), when i use the effects looop, i get a lot of feedback and the distortion isnt as crunchy. i tweaked the send/return levels/mix, and the only way i could rid the feedback was by having the send really really low, but then all the others levels needed to be boosted. Am i doing something wrong?

Since my FX switch doesnt work with my footswitch for some unknown reason, i want to be able to use my pedalboard only with my clean channel. this is why i am trying to do it this way. thanks.

 

[MrMarkIII]

When i plug my effects board directly into the input of my amp, the distortion sounds great (pedal distortion with the clean mesa channel), when i use the effects looop, i get a lot of feedback and the distortion isnt as crunchy. i tweaked the send/return levels/mix, and the only way i could rid the feedback was by having the send really really low, but then all the others levels needed to be boosted. Am i doing something wrong?

Since my FX switch doesnt work with my footswitch for some unknown reason, i want to be able to use my pedalboard only with my clean channel. this is why i am trying to do it this way. thanks.

Questions:
1. Which amp?
2. Which effects? A multi-effect or individual pedals?
3. "FX switch doesnt work with my footswitch". Please explain exactly what the heck this means.
4. Does the "feedback" occur:
A) When you turn the guitar's volume all the way up, and goes away when the volume is
lowered?
OR
B) Starts as soon as you flip the distortion pedal on and still persists even if you totally
unplug the guitar?

Generally, distortion/overdrive effects sound better in front of the pre-amp,
not in the loop (like you're doing).
Modulation effects and delays/reverbs are better through the loop, after the pre-amp.

 

[thopunk]

sorry for being vague....


1. Which amp? - triple rectifier
2. Which effects? A multi-effect or individual pedals? - multi effects digital rp500 pedal
3. "FX switch doesnt work with my footswitch". Please explain exactly what the heck this means. i already posted a thread on this...
http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=23661
4. Does the "feedback" occur: the feedback happens after i hit a note on the guitar when the distortion is on the pedal. its like i hit a DUN DUN, then hold my strings so there is no sound but there is just feedback. if i set the gate to work, it cuts of the feedback after split second, but the quality of the distortion is crap

i am doing it through the loop to avoid having to hit bypass on my pedal and then switch the channels. i want an AM Radio fuzz sound, which is why i want a distortion effect for the clean channel 1. the clean sounds i am using with chorus, delay, reverb, etc, sound fine with no feedback. i also dont get feedback when i am not going through the effects loop with the distortion of the pedal. and its not only feedback, when going through the loop there is virtually no distortion through the pedal.

 

[MrMarkIII]

If you only want to use effects on the clean channel, can you use the loop select switch on the back of the amp to do this ("ORANGE AUTO"), so the effect loop is active on the clean channel only?

There are lots of places on a Digitech RP-500 where the gain can get out of hand and cause microphonic feedback. Not only the gain and output level of the distortion, but the amp models and post-distortion effects probably all have gain and patch level settings as well.
You're most likely already doing this, but:
Run the "SEND" from the amp into the RP-500 "INPUT". The run the "LEFT OUTPUT" of the RP-500 into the "RETURN" of the Recto.
Make sure the button next to the "LEFT OUTPUT" of the RP-500 is set to "AMP" instead of "MIXER".
Try turning OFF any amp models, and set the output levels of any effects to 50% or so, to start.

Another approach:
Get the distortion (only) to sound good into the front of the amp.
Now put the pedal in the loop, and tweak the amp's "SEND LEVEL" and "MIX LEVEL" so it sounds the same. These controls are known for being fussy.
You may want to set the "MIX LEVEL" to 100%.

 

[thopunk]

i have the 3 channel one, so i dont have an orange button. but i didnt set the loop to only be on channel 1. i also have done everything you just told me lol. i never had the amp/cab modeler on, just using the distortion pedal part of it. whatever, just another thing that wont work im sure. just like the FX button on the footswitch.