Need Help with TC G Major/FX Loop levels please

[tptb73]

Hi, I was hoping someone could help me. I have a TC G Major in the loop of my Mark V. I tried to balance all the levels, and I am having a little trouble understanding this. The loop is not bypassed on the back of the amp, of course. The loop level knob is at 12:00 (in the groove). The FX sound great and the tone of the amp sounds great. When I bypass the G major (on the G Major, NOT bypassing the loop on the amp), I hear no difference in tone, just the absence of FX. I have the input and output levels on the front of the G Major at 12:00. The green level meters on the front of the G Major are maxing at around 6. So, here's the problem. I read that you have to match the volume/s of the amp with the loop off and with the loop on. When I bypass the FX loop on the back of the amp, the amp BLARES at loud volume. Even if I turn the amp's master output all the way down, the amp still blares when the loop is bypassed. It was my understanding that if the master volume was all the way down, I should not hear anything. Also, when I bypass the loop on the back of the amp, the FX loop level knob has no effect on anything whatsoever. Can anyone let me know if I'm missing something? Thanks.

 

[SteveO]

Hard bypassing the loop at the back of the amp also bypasses the master volume, which is why flipping that switch causes the huge jump in volume (that switch bypasses the entire circuit, which includes the loop, loop send level, master volume, and solo boost). For loop in/out volume level comparisons, use the footswitch to bypass the loop, not the bypass switch (below the send level knob) on the back of the amp.

 

[Authorized Boogie]

When you bypass the loop the Solo and Output controls are bypassed as well. In that case, your Channel Masters become the master volumes for the amp. When the loop is engaged, your Channel Masters are for balancing the level between channels (as well as determining the fx send level) and then you use the Output control as your Master Volume. I hope this helps. Thanks!

 

[tptb73]

Thanks for the replies! That makes sense. however, I still don't understand how I would go about setting/balancing the levels so i know I'm getting maximum tone out of the amp while the G Major is in the loop. I don't have the factory footswitch. Instead I am using the Voodoo Lab GCX and Ground Control Pro. Any suggestions?

 

[Authorized Boogie]

Thanks for the replies! That makes sense. however, I still don't understand how I would go about setting/balancing the levels so i know I'm getting maximum tone out of the amp while the G Major is in the loop. I don't have the factory footswitch. Instead I am using the Voodoo Lab GCX and Ground Control Pro. Any suggestions?

The concept of Unity Gain is very important. You need to be sure the fx send level (controlled by your channel masters) is appropriate, without sending too much or too little signal out of the loop. Then, you need to set the input/output level controls on the fx unit to maintain that signal. Finally, be sure the return level is maintained, which is controlled by the Output on the amp. Thanks!

 

[tptb73]

Thanks again for the reply. I think I am still missing something. If I use the channel masters and the output on the amp to create this FX balance, wouldn't that mean I could no longer adjust the volumes of the channels and the amp without upsetting that balance?

Also, when you say "input/output level controls on the amp" what exactly are you referring to? Did you mean to say "FX processor" instead of "amp"?

Thanks

 

[Authorized Boogie]

Thanks again for the reply. I think I am still missing something. If I use the channel masters and the output on the amp to create this FX balance, wouldn't that mean I could no longer adjust the volumes of the channels and the amp without upsetting that balance?

Also, when you say "input/output level controls on the amp" what exactly are you referring to? Did you mean to say "FX processor" instead of "amp"?

Thanks

Yes, indeed...sorry about that. Its been edited!

Commonly, people either use too much Channel Master without enough Output level - or too little Channel Master with too much Output. The goal is to send enough signal without distorting the fx unit. Balance the 3 channels with the Channel Masters, but also balance the Channel Masters in regards to Output. Typically this means bringing the Channel Masters up and output down, or Channel Masters down and Output up. Its not as confusing as it sounds once you've got an idea of how signal moves through the circuit.

 

[tptb73]

Thanks again for the reply. I think I am still missing something. If I use the channel masters and the output on the amp to create this FX balance, wouldn't that mean I could no longer adjust the volumes of the channels and the amp without upsetting that balance?

Also, when you say "input/output level controls on the amp" what exactly are you referring to? Did you mean to say "FX processor" instead of "amp"?

Thanks

Yes, indeed...sorry about that. Its been edited!

Commonly, people either use too much Channel Master without enough Output level - or too little Channel Master with too much Output. The goal is to send enough signal without distorting the fx unit. Balance the 3 channels with the Channel Masters, but also balance the Channel Masters in regards to Output. Typically this means bringing the Channel Masters up and output down, or Channel Masters down and Output up. Its not as confusing as it sounds once you've got an idea of how signal moves through the circuit.

OK, I get it now. I really appreciate your help!

 

[SonVolt]

If you're still wondering about unity gain - most people just hit a chord and use their footswitch to turn the loop on and off and listen for a loss of volume or a jump in volume. Your goal is to hear no change in volume when the loop is engaged. You have to use the footswitch though, obviously you found out the hard way that the loop-bypass knob on the back of the amp is NOT what people mean when they say "turning the loop off and on", instead they're talking about the loop on/off button on the footswitch. The loop-bypass knob would only be used if you had no interest in using the loop, ever. So setting unity gain on an effects processor wouldn't make any sense in that case.

You mentioned you're using a GCP? I think that requires the loop to be active at all times unless you're using something like a mini amp gizmo to control your missing footswitch functions. Even the GCX can't turn the loop on/off since there's no relay inputs for Doing so on the Mark V. My advice is to buy a footswitch.

 

[tptb73]

If you're still wondering about unity gain - most people just hit a chord and use their footswitch to turn the loop on and off and listen for a loss of volume or a jump in volume. Your goal is to hear no change in volume when the loop is engaged. You have to use the footswitch though, obviously you found out the hard way that the loop-bypass knob on the back of the amp is NOT what people mean when they say "turning the loop off and on", instead they're talking about the loop on/off button on the footswitch. The loop-bypass knob would only be used if you had no interest in using the loop, ever. So setting unity gain on an effects processor wouldn't make any sense in that case.

You mentioned you're using a GCP? I think that requires the loop to be active at all times unless you're using something like a mini amp gizmo to control your missing footswitch functions. Even the GCX can't turn the loop on/off since there's no relay inputs for Doing so on the Mark V. My advice is to buy a footswitch.

Thanks. Unfortunately, I just sold the footswitch for $150 because I didn't think i needed it anymore...DOH! But I needed to do it to help finance the Mark V.

 

[SonVolt]

If you're still wondering about unity gain - most people just hit a chord and use their footswitch to turn the loop on and off and listen for a loss of volume or a jump in volume. Your goal is to hear no change in volume when the loop is engaged. You have to use the footswitch though, obviously you found out the hard way that the loop-bypass knob on the back of the amp is NOT what people mean when they say "turning the loop off and on", instead they're talking about the loop on/off button on the footswitch. The loop-bypass knob would only be used if you had no interest in using the loop, ever. So setting unity gain on an effects processor wouldn't make any sense in that case.

You mentioned you're using a GCP? I think that requires the loop to be active at all times unless you're using something like a mini amp gizmo to control your missing footswitch functions. Even the GCX can't turn the loop on/off since there's no relay inputs for Doing so on the Mark V. My advice is to buy a footswitch.

Thanks. Unfortunately, I just sold the footswitch for $150 because I didn't think i needed it anymore...DOH! But I needed to do it to help finance the Mark V.

That's fine - I would just save up and get the Mini Amp Gizmo (or something similar) that will control every footswitch function. Then you'll have total MIDI control of your Mark V. Ditch that G Major for a G Major 2. Even if you're just using Reverb and Delay it's still worth it. Those are mostly all I use too... maybe a little modulated chorus on the delay repeats only.