Despite originally buying the PS-100 (well two now) to attenuate a JCM800 when using at home, I have ended up using it as a power amp for a live Friedman IR-X and pedal board setup. I have it set-up with a passive splitter so that I can send the full rig, including effects to FOH via the balanced out and I have the second signal going into the FX return on the PS-100 and out to a cab. I originally tried using the line in on the PS-100, but for some reason my tremolo pedal really didn’t like it so switched to the FX return.
This has got me wondering if I could use the line in for my acoustic guitar that has one of the eq/pre-amp things in it. If I can, would it be safe to have both guitars plugged in and just mute the one that isn’t being played, or would the be had advice or would one or the other override the other?
The line in and effects return are both half normalled and disconnect the line before them. I’ll place the block diagram here for refernce. That means using the return will disconnect the line in signal from flowing to the power section. Using a Cyclops could be an option to rectify this. It would be a new way of using it, but you could start a new trend. Otherwise, running an acoustic preamplifier and a MIDI switching system as an A/B/Y into the effects loop. You’d be switching between your pedal chain and the acoustic chain at that point and I believe you could do what you’re looking for. David may have another option I’m not thinking of just yet.
It is a bit of a confusing term. It comes from the fact that when nothing is connected to the jack, it is normally connected to its output.
The FX return is internally connected to the FX send. This lets you connect to the send without necessarily having anything connected to the return to complete the connection
The Line In is connected to the Line Out. This let’s you use the Power Station of Line Level re-amp.
Yes a passive A/B box plugged into either the Line In or Effects Return would give you the ability to switch between the two signals. It may give you a very loud click/pop when switching between the two sources. Just letting you know as a warning ahead of time.
Thanks Dan and Terry. I am just trying to figure out all the routing options and it is looking more complicated than I was hoping due to my current setup - probably a couple more A/B/Y switches or something.
I was looking at the Cyclops and was wondering if it “cares” when some inputs are not used. I was thinking something like the following might work:
Acoustic guitar (with pre-amp) into PREAMP OUT. Nothing in PREAMP IN. Then when I choose Preamp on the front of the Cyclops I believe the signal is routed to the Line In on the PS-100.
Plug my electric guitar into INPUT on the Cyclops and then connect AMP IN to my pedalboard (which has the Friedman IR-X on it). Then when I choose Amplifier on the front of the cyclops the signal is routed to my pedal board. I notice though that in the manual it says not to use long cables and that might be a non starter.
I am guessing that cables to / from line in / out are non negotiable and part of the Cyclops’ secret sauce.
Sorry for all the questions, but I am a relative newcomer to anything more exciting than hooking up a few pedals into a single amp!
So the A/B method will be the most cost effective/simple method of doing this.
The Cyclops would be almost exactly as you stated:
Acoustic Preamp out to Cyclops Preamp Out
IR-X output to Cyclops From PS Line Out
Cyclops To PS Line In to the Power Station Line In
The Cyclops is basically a very quiet input and output routing system. We would be removing the input switching capability of the Cyclops and only using the output switching to route this system.
