Rocktron PatchMate, Anybody use one???

[Monsta-Tone]

I'm going back to pedals, again, and saw this on AMS's website:
http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ROC-PML8FL

Looks like a great way to have the convenience of a processor with presets, but still be able to choose what FX I want to use and in which orientation.

What do you guys think????

I know they don't make them in America anymore, but at least an American engineer got paid to design it!

 

[elvis]

I've been thinking about this one for a while. It does a lot right. I just wish they had a 4-button version that was smaller. I want to use it to select between 4 amp modes with a particular set of FX for each one. This would definitely do it.

The one thing I don't like about it is that it EITHER works in patch mode OR preset mode. I would like to be able to switch individual FX inside a given preset, though honestly I don't know how that would be possible without more switches.

It's WAY more flexible than the switch-based semi-custom loopers it completes with, and a lot cheaper than the pro loopers.

 

[elvis]

This is similar:

http://www.carlmartin.com/product_combinator.htm

 

[Monsta-Tone]

The one thing I don't like about it is that it EITHER works in patch mode OR preset mode. I would like to be able to switch individual FX inside a given preset, though honestly I don't know how that would be possible without more switches.

I think it does this. From what I read in the manual, the way to enter Preset mode is to push the Store button once and then hit the Preset that you want.
Then, it reverts back to Loop mode where each button works for it's individual function.
Only problem I see with this is there is no super quick way to change Presets.

I'm leaning toward keep the G-Major in the loop and just spending a little more time with it. The convenience of what the G-Major does (including channel switching on my amp) is just too hard to pass up right now. Plus....Christmas is coming up. Can't justify spending a ton on FX right now for a band that hasn't gigged yet! :lol:

 

[elvis]

You're right about preset mode reverting to loop mode. That's actually really cool, though you have to hit 2 switches to change presets. Not the end of the world, I guess. I am on the edge about this one. The Carl Martin version is twice as expensive, so that's out for me.

 

[Bruno Petrucci]

What about G Lab products?

They have the GSC line (GSC-2/3 or even GSC-1 depending on needs) which does everything than other with some adds. I mean, it may not have has much pedal loops as the Octaswitcher (has 6), but have power outlets for all of them, has MIDI, Tuner out and the possibility to change amp channels trough relays. I guess this last feature is a plus when we talk about amps that doesn't have MIDI and you're not a great tap dancer (like me).

I've been looking for a GSC-2 for myself and I wouldn't recommend it to anybody if I thought it wasn't good.

Take a look

Best regards

 

[elvis]

How much $$ are they?

 

[Monsta-Tone]

The GS-3 looks pretty bad ***!
http://www.glab.com.pl/gsc-3_en

But, it doesn't look like you separate Inputs for the loops, so how would you run the Delay in the Loop of your amp and everything else in the front?

 

[elvis]

For most bypass loopers, you can get tap out and in anywhere in the chain. So for an 8-loop controller, you can run loops 1-7 in front of the amp and loop 8 in the amp's FX loop for the delay. You can generally tap anywhere, so any combination of loops is possible.

 

[Monsta-Tone]

It looks like you could put a Time Factor in the Loop of your amp with the GSC-3 and control it with the midi out jack on the switcher.
It doesn't look like there is a way to have a delay in the Loop of your amp that would be controlled by a loop on the pedal though. I didn't see any inputs and outputs like the Rocktron unit has.

The Rocktron unit can not send midi commands though. I got an email back from their tech support that says there can never be a firmware update that would allow this because the hardware in the pedal cannot send midi.