GCX Audio Switcher VS RJM RG-16 for Roadster??

[Holy Diver]

hi all,

Ok so i'm looking into getting a loop-switcher and foot-controller to control my Roadster and FX. At the moment my rig is very straight forward. Gtr - OD808 - Preamp - MXR EQ in loop. I have just gotten a GMajor for the loop and intend to get a few more things in the near future, so at this stage I want to eliminate tapdancing and/or having to sacrifice my clean tones by having the OD always on.

In addition to having full control over all of the above FX, i'd also like to be able to control each of the amps 8 functions. The GCX switcher has been recommended to me but having done a bit of research the RG-16 seems to be the way to go as it seems to be designed to change many amp functions in addition to other loops.

For example i'd like to be able to go from say Ch1 on roadster w/ patch X on Gmajor to Ch3 on Roadster w/ patch Y on Gmajor w/ solo function engaged w/ MXR EQ engaged... and similar with one pedal change

Any advice/info would be much appreciated? Sound quality - ease of use - suitability to my needs?

The RG-16 is a little more expensive for me but that is not a major concern.

Also any advice on footcontrollers for the above?

BTW I am completely new to rack fx and midi etc but have been researching quite a bit.....

 

[TREC]

If you go onto Youtube there are some good demo's of the RG 16 also if you email them they are really cool and answer any question you have.

Good luck

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

I REALLY like the GCX...simple as all heck, and versatile enough for EVERY crazy configuration I've ever dreamed up.

 

[joe web]

if you want to control the 8 switching option on the roadster plus looping some fx-pedals, go for the RG-16.

the GCX has 8 loops which can be used as switches as well. so you need 5 loops to switch the channels and the soloboost function. only three loops left for fx-pedals and other crap.
the RG-16 has 8 loops plus 8 switches and you can order the special roadster switching cable, so you plug it into the footswitch jack of the roadster and you are done. so you can switch all the 8 options on the roadster plus having 8 loops for pedals and other stuff left.
i´m using the RG-16 since two or three years now and i´m still more than happy about it. it´s a prefect unit for looping and switching.
first up i run my signal through the buffer, next are the 4 loops (dyna comp, zw-44, evh phase90 and evh flanger), loop 5 and 6 are used to switch the signal between the preamp of my roadster and the preamp of my dual recto (depending on the sound i need), loop 7+8 are hooked up as a stereoloop for my old digitech IPS33B (harmonizer) and after that i run stereo into the g-major - from there back to both poweramps for a real stereo setup.
the channels of both amps are switched via the "amp-switching" jacks of the RG-16. ron build me a special switching cable for the dual recto, to match the channels on the roadster. it´s really a custom cable, because i wanted to select the clean channel on function 1 and 2, on function 3 there should be the red-channel active and on switch 4 there should be the orange channel, so the dual recto would fit perfect with the channel setup on my roadster....he did this cable without any extra costs, he only charged me the regular price for it - that´s customer service!

 

[boss4]

Thats the kind of logic and pratic system that I need. Good advice!

 

[cscotto]

Hi,
I have used the GCX. IT is a fine piece of gear. I am currently using an RG-16 with my Roadster. As has been mentioned, the amp switching and loop switching are separate, so you can have many more devices hooked up to the amp. Plus, the Mastermind midi ciontroller works seamlessly and flawlessly with the RG-16. You also get four loops for pedals befor the amp plus four loops fo the FX loop. I have an Eventide Timefactor and Modfactor plus a G-major 2 and an Eq in the loop. I have complete control over all devices. If you set things up correctly, pressing one button activates a preset that would take up eight separate stomps.

I posted a pictue of the rig in this thread:

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=51905

 

[rocknroll9225]

RG-16 all the way. I actually was trying to make this same exact decision a few months ago, and i went with the RG-16. Not only do the amp function switches leave the 8 loops open for effects, but then all you need to hook up the roadster to the RG-16 is the cable from RJM that goes right into the footswitch jack, as opposed to having to deal with all of those tip to ground external switching jacks. more usability in the same amount of space, and the setup is hassle free.

 

[joe web]

wow, my last post was eleven month ago....time for a quick update.
i´m still using the RG-16 and guess what, i´m still happy with it.

one more thing you can do with the RG-16 is, that you could use it as a splitter as well!
if you don´t connect a plug into the return jack of the loops, the input signal is feed thru to the output jack on loops 5-8, the same is with loop 1-4, if there is no plug in the return jack, the signal is feed to the next loop.

i used this kind of feature to run my old IPS33B in parallel now, which makes a nicer, clearer, more direct overall sound while using harmonizer effects or the cool sounding delays of this unit.

 

[iceman]

I'll be picking up a RG16 in a few weeks to control my Roadster,MarkV and Triaxis. Couple of questions..

Any noticeable tone coloring due to the RG16?

I'm also looking at the mastermind, but considering the ground control as well, anybody have an opinion between those two?

 

[cscotto]

I have not noticed any coloring, and the buffer in the RG-16 helps keep the signal integrity. I choose the Mastermind. It is practically plug and play with the RG-16. The Ground Control Pro will require more programming to get it working with the RG-16. RJM Music has a video on their website about using the RG-16 with the Ground Control Pro. Still, I think the Mastermind is a better choice, especially with the new firmware. You can control four devices, and you can even use it to control a G-Major in stompbox mode. Plus, it is very easy to program, and very flexible. I rarely find myself saying "I wish it could do this."

 

[boss4]

I think the Mastermind footcontroller by RJM for the RG16 is to simple and small (if you need 3 or 4 channels for the amp plus 4 or 5 loops for the effects will its enough with tapping it twice at least - one for the bank another for the preset?). The GCX footcontroller give more presets/joices at once.Would it work with the RG16 (since is midi too)?

 

[joe web]

sound coloring? no! the RG-16 is doing a great job! and yes, the buffer is awesome, it keeps your signal as fresh and clear.
i´m controlling my rig with a rocktron all access, running it in 5 preset plus 10 IA mode. so i can control the 8 loops "on the fly" and have two more buttons for taptempo and soloboost.
you can control the RG-16 with any midicontroler you want, but you´ll have to set it up first to make everything work. but this is only one time. after everything is setup, it should run without any problem.

 

[cscotto]

The GCX footcontroller give more presets/joices at once.Would it work with the RG16 (since is midi too)?

Yes, no problem. Like I said, RJM has a video on their website demonstrating how to use the GCX foot controller with the RG-16.