Which route would you choose?

[B2D]

I have a G-Major FX processor (rackmount) and I'm wondering which setup would be better for tonal integrity. The way I run it now is with the FX loop Mix knob at 100% and I keep the mix levels on the GMajor low, just to where I need them for the effect desired. If I turned the FX loop send level on the amp down and turned the FX levels on the machine up more would it sound better that way?

Also if some of you guys could tell me what you prefer or suggest alternate setups that would be cool too.

[some_dude]

If you set the mix to 100% wet and rely on the G-Major to do your mixing, then you're relying on the quality of the cabling upto and from the unit, plus the quality of the internal components of the G-Major itself.

If you set the G-Major to 100% wet and do your mixing with the amp, the dry signal doesn't even leave your amp, which will provide the most tonal integrity.

I'd go the latter route personally.

[Kent S.]

It's really a matter of setting your signal to noise ratio levels ... I don't know how your G major is set up according to send levels. Mix doesn't normally have anything to do with the send level. Seems to me you wnat to hot the G major's input with what ever level it wants to see, set it's *mix* at 100% effect (no direct), and then control the amount of *effect* with the amps effects mix (which sould be a balance between the direct signal and what comes back to the effects return jack). Effects send and effects return levels aren't the same as effects *mix* controls, one the former you are optimizing levels for the unit; in the latter you are adjusting the actual direct/effect balance.
The way I stated above lets you say with a chorus effect which needs to have the effect close to the direct, vs a repeating delay that needs to have the effect set much lower, vs a reverb that can be anywhere in between, let's you change your effect and reach back grab one knob on the amp, and tweeak it right on the spot. Rather than to have to try to scroll thru parameters on the unit. Now I'm not familiar with the G major layout, however if it has a dedicated mix section programmable per each patch, then your effects mixing is done on a per patch basis, so since you already tweaked that it would be kinda stupid to then reduce the amount of premixed effects return with the equal to a bypassed signal coming around the unit. In that case you would keep the effect mix on the amp at 100% effect. Depends how your effects unit is set up, and how you set it up. Example I'm an old Quad user, the quad has a mix section per patch, so I run it from preamp out to power amp in, all effects are mixed per patch in the quad,along with outlevel differences ... so I hit the quads input with the same level signal (clean, dirty,or whatever), any output level difference is done by the mix section of the quad of a per patch basis (plus the I go thru a volume pedal for on the fly volume adjustments after the quad and before the power amp in, the lower impeadnce of the quad outs combined with it's separate output level amp lets me not lose any signal response). See what I'm saying here?
I'm not really understanding what is going on with what your processor/amp controls are supposed to be doing.

[Kent S.]

Oh, my answer to the poll is neither, as it depends, effect send/return levels aren't the same as direct/effect mix balance ... send and return levels are optimized for the siganl level requirements of each unit (signal to noise ratio,dynamic range ((headroom)), and clipping thresholds).

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

I keep my send/return knobs low, so I can keep the amp volume as low as possible.

[B2D]

just so everyone knows... the G-major is set up so that each effect can be mixed and have its levels altered independently.

Hey Kent, thanx for the dissertation! I'll have to read it when I've more time but thanks a bunch!

[B2D]

BUMP. C'mon guys help me out!

[some_dude]

BUMP. C'mon guys help me out!

www.hugeracksinc.com



(I didn't vote simply because both ways are right. It all depends on what you're goals are in the end)

[Kent S.]

just so everyone knows... the G-major is set up so that each effect can be mixed and have its levels altered independently.

Hey Kent, thanx for the dissertation! I'll have to read it when I've more time but thanks a bunch!

No problem, the only reason i always refer to the quad is at the time (back then( they were the only units that allowed for that per patch mixing, and has simulataneous effects ... we've come a lone way) ... I kinda figured that the G major had those capabilities.
My point still remains that I'm not sure if you are talking about setting levels, or actual effect/direct (wet/dry) mix (balance)... if you are mixing dry in with your effect in the G Major, then it's kinda self defeating to mix in more direct afterwards ... that's kinda like going into the GM and running a Y cable around it and mixing it back into the output with a resistor. If you aren't mixing dry in the output of the GM then it makes sense to be able to use the effcts/dry mix control on the amp ...up to a point ... if you are running say reverb,delay, and chorus on the GM's patch at the moment ... what you have is the reverb only,delay only, and modulated delay of the chorus signal being output ... the mix knob on the amp can then vary the mix of the total effects, although there are times when this could be useful, more often than not it won't by much ...where that does work well,is if you have a single effect running say reverb, or a delay ... then you can adjust the mix right at the amp on the fly.
That's an effects mix control, some effect level returns operate as a type of volume knob for the effects only (not actually changing the volume of the direct) ... in which case I would have to say that you want to mix all your effects in the GM (sending it the level it want's to see from the send), and then mix the total amount in with the FX return control. If it's an actual direct/effects mix (meaning that at 100% effect the amp must get all of it's signal from the effect's loop), then I'd set the send to the appropriate level, and adjust the dierct and effect's mix in the GM, and have the effect mix of the amp set to 100% effect (wet) ... going that route you should always set up a DRY patch in the unit to set up the gain structure ... this way you can set the amp to be getting the same gain at various points, as it would if you didn't use the loop at all. I hope this is a bit clearer ... some manufacturers label things one way, when really they are something else.