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For the first time in many years, I started using a compliment of floor pedals to achieve different overdrive sounds, compression, and special effects. I need a variety of sounds available to me for the cover band I currently play in (Relish). In truth, I think that today’s guitar pedals are better designed and better built than any other time in the recent past. There are pedals that are considered “classic” but are few and far between. Today, you have some very creative boutique and mainstream pedal builders that have introduced some amazing tones and special effects. Although I use a variety of “Floor Pedals”, I have gone the route of using a high quality audio switcher and programmable midi floor controller. This allows me to reduce the “Pedal Dance” and allow me to switch multiple effects on and off as well as change preset programs on my effects processor. http://www.relishband.com/shapeimage_3_link_0
 Switch Gear The core of my switching system is the RG-16 made by RJM Music. Electronics designer and owner Ron Minelli has created one of the most straight-forward audio switchers on the market. The RG-16 is a MIDI-based audio switcher and function switcher that empowers guitarists to control any combination of available amplifiers and effects units with a MIDI foot switch controller. The RG-16 is built with eight (8) audio loops for switching effects devices and amplifiers and eight (8) function switches for control of amplifiers and/or anything else that needs a dry contact switch. Ron also included an audio buffer in the RG-16 to help boost signals from cable loss if needed. What I love best about the RG-16 is the user interface. Better than any other audio switcher I’ve come across, the intuitive buttons on the front panel couldn’t be simpler. Each loop button and function switch button has an LED indicator, which provides great feedback on what is on and off.  Any midi foot controller can interface with the RG-16. One of the nice things about this audio switcher is that it is truly programmable. In other words, it can actually save in memory up to 256 presets. It is so simple! All you really need to do is push the buttons on the front panel (engaging loops and function switches), press the WRITE button for three seconds and save the current settings to memory. Voila’….you’re done! Each program preset can then be recalled via the midi foot controller. The RG-16 can also be used as a dumb terminal. What I mean by that is that it can simply respond to incoming midi continuous controller messages and pass through midi program changes. In this scenario, it serves as an elegant interface to a more sophisticated and programmable midi controller like the Access Electronics FX1. The RG-16 turned out to be the perfect and simple solution for my new rig. Although I am not completely finished with setting up my new rig, the RG-16 has proven to be a high-quality audio loop switch with just enough functionality and flexibility for my use. I love that it is only 1RU and easy to control. The audio switching is virtually silent and the design layout is clear and simple to wire. Look forward to a DIY review on my entire rig in early 2008.   Midi Floor Controller Any midi foot controller can interface with the RG-16. One of the nice things about this audio switcher is that it is truly programmable. In other words, it can actually save in memory up to 256 presets. It is so simple! All you really need to do is push the buttons on the front panel (engaging loops and function switches), press the WRITE button for three seconds and save the current settings to memory. Voila’….you’re done! Each program preset can then be recalled via the midi foot controller. I chose the Axess Electronics FX1. This is a very powerful midi controller with tremendous flexibility. Programming can be accomplished on the board itself but I love the software utility that it comes with. It’s very easy to program all functions via the software interface. Once programmed, it's just a mater of pressing the right buttons and you are in full control of every function in your rig & effects chain, no matter how simple or complicated. The fact you can program this unit on your computer then synch up the FX1 with any changes you made makes it very easy to use, even if you are midi-challenged like me. This has to be the ultimate midi pedalboard ever built. You can control any type of midi guitar rig. Working with midi can be very challenging. Mario (the Owner) has included a nice in depth well written manual, and once you figure out how to program preset/program changes, its like second nature.   GVCA Midi Controlled VCA  The GCVA made by Custom Audio Electronics is a 2-channel midi controlled Volume Controller. The reason went this route was to eliminate any audio cables running down to my floorboard for the volume control. I use my floor pedal volume controller as a “master volume” Essentially, I run out of my preamp section (Send) on my amp to the GVCA first. Out of the GVCA the signal routs to my “Wet Effects” signal processors and then returns to the power section (Return) on my amp. This allows me to have very clean effects and a “master volume control”. I ride volume with the band level and it helps me “mix” into the band. The GCVA is cool because I can control it via midi. I use an expression pedal connected to my FX1 which intern converts this signal to a continuous controller midi signal. This controls the GVCA. It works beautifully!   Eclipse DSP  Eventide is known for it legendary effects processors. I wouldn’t exactly call this unit legendary but it is damn good. For a guitar player, it is superb for studio recording and probably overkill for a live rig. But, I got it for a good price and I always wanted to experiment with Eventide effects. 90% of the pre-programmed effects are useless for me. But, I love the delay and reverb sounds. These are very clean and very wide sounding. It gets me close to “studio quality” effects in my live rig. I also love the liquid chorus which is very lush sounding. This is a piece of pro equipment that truly adapts to YOUR needs instead of vice versa. It gives me enough possibilities for all the different things I need from my equipment, and it helps me make better music in the sense that it allows me to make the music I want to make without compromise. http://www.rjmmusic.com/http://www.rjmmusic.com/rg16.phphttp://www.axess-electronics.com/http://www.customaudioelectronics.com/http://www.eventide.com/shapeimage_4_link_0shapeimage_4_link_1shapeimage_4_link_2shapeimage_4_link_3shapeimage_4_link_4

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