Multi FX in one box, switching jacks- Peter?

[NaBo]

About multi-effects in one box:

I do this using Switchcraft #12A jacks for inputs of downstream effects. If you give each effect an output jack (switchcraft #11) and also wire those outputs to the switching tab of the next effect's #12A jack, you get everything in one box and the flexability of seperate effects and more. Works GREAT!

-Peter

Hey Peter... could you help me get this straight? (or someone as knowledgeable and helpful as Peter, i suppose  )

I'm pretty sure about how the tip connections can be made between effects (tip of effect 1's output jack makes an additional connection to the tip shunt of effect 2's input jack, etc)... but as for the grounds... is the first jack a normal open-circuit stereo jack that completes ALL grounds?  ... that can't be right. :?

[NaBo]

anyone?  

[R.G.]

Go to GEO and read the "Jimi in a box" article for a clear look at how to do normalled jacks (that's what this is called).

In fact, go read GEO. It'll answer a lot of your *next* questions, the ones you haven't thought of yet.

[NaBo]

Thanks R.G., that article certainly does give a good visual indication of how the tip connections are made... but it uses closed circuit jacks for the outputs... is there any benefit to using switching jacks for outputs instead of the regular ones hooked up as Peter suggested?

However, it doesn't go into any greater detail about grounding the jacks... no stereo-input-jack-trick for saving batteries or anything.  It appears all grounds are connected at all times, so all the circuits would be using power at all time...  

I guess there's no clever way of making ground connections through the jacks so that each circuit would only be completed if it was meant to be in the signal path, at least not when using the same power source... ah well.  I'm not about to use toggles or something to save a few mA/hr... versatility at the cost of power consumption is fine with me, just wont bother with batteries  

[rubberlips]

If you want to turn off negative's through a jack, use a stereo jack. The tip is connected to the input of the effect (as normal), but the two ground wires will be connected on the two other terminals of the stereo jack (the ground terminal and the other channel - I think it's the right channel terminal.. .if that makes sense). They'll both be connected when you put your 6.5mm plug in there, hence connecting your grounds together.

Hope that helps

Pete

[Peter Snowberg]

Sorry I missed this one NaBo,

Here's an example....



Jack 1 is in charge of powering up all the effects. Above you can see this is a very simple pedal. Lots of Mojo.

[NaBo]

Thanks Peter!  So you used the stereo-input-jack-trick, and there would have to be a jack plugged into "effect 1" to use any of the effects.  Hmmmmmm...  I think I might just go the toggle route for power switching then, in case "effect 1" falls out of favour to the point that I don't even want it in my signal chain

It's a good thing I found that post of yours and realized I should use closed circuit jacks, I only have 20 patch cords!  lol... But it's a bad thing I didn't find it a few months ago when I bought a bunch of closed circuit jacks by mistake and just snapped off the extra lugs thinking i would never need them.   :x :oops: