Getting rid of volume controls

[gutsofgold]

I never understood how this works. I know some pedals can be set so that they are always at unity gain, no need for volume control unless you are trying to go below or above the original signal. I'm building a semi-clean boost and I am adding a "lofi" option which will route the signal after the booster into the LoFo MoFo circuit. The booster will have a volume knob, and the LoFo MoFo also uses a volume control on the output. Is there a way I could keep it down to one vol control?

[jacobyjd]

not really.

'Unity gain' doesn't account for major EQ or clipping changes. The reason those volume controls are always there (on a lot of effects) is generally there more for the 'perceived' difference in volume it gives, especially depending on the mix it's in.

Some effects without volume controls give an actual or perceived volume boost or cut...for whatever reason. I find it to be extremely annoying if it's even a little off my perception.

Case in point: When I play in church, we use Line6 POD XT Live units. I hate these things for lots of reasons, but for one specifically: When I kick on the delay, the volume decreases, whether for real or by perception. How annoying is it if you crescendo for measure after measure, only to lead up to what should be a crashing climax (where you want that soaring lead line to get bigger with delay), but ends up being the opposite because your volume dropped instead of increased.

An opposite example would be my Line6 tremolo. If anything, I prefer a tremolo to be quieter than my normal sound, because I'm usually using it during vocals. However, this effect has a slight increase, and has no external (or any) volume control.

How about my Phase 90? It has a bit of a volume boost when I turn it on. This is usually tolerable though, and I can work it to my advantage.

The MXR Blue Box's only problem is that it has always been too quiet. So much for using it on a solo without putting it in a loop w/ a booster.


All that to say--it's worth it to have the extra control. Always.

[tiges_ tendres]

Why not use a trimpot or a fixed resistor on the lofo mofo.  Set it where it needs to be and then just box it up.

[jacobyjd]

Why not use a trimpot or a fixed resistor on the lofo mofo.  Set it where it needs to be and then just box it up.

lol...a trimpot is always an option too

I play with different guitars all the time, so the trimmer solution doesn't work for me usually.