Signal Chain Advice

[el guitana]

Recently installed K & K mini into my D-03R, also got a Baggs P.A.D.I. to work with it. If I want to slip a volume pedal into the chain, should it go before or after the P.A.D.I.?

[bing4sons]

I put mine before the Padi.  I go from the Padi to the PA, through a mic cable.  

[el guitana]

I was thinking of using a mic cable to the PA - is there an advantage to that?

[bing4sons]

I was thinking of using a mic cable to the PA - is there an advantage to that?

There's already a mic chord plugged into the snake.  All the other instruments use a regular Whirlwind direct box.

It may be my imagination, but it seems like the signal is a little stronger to the PA, than with a 1/4 inch chord.

[TBM]

Definitely put the volume pedal before the PADI.  You want to take advantage of the low impedance signal the DI provides.  Cleaner signal with less loss to the board...

[Cadillac]

You would definitely want to use an XLR cable instead of a 1/4 inch because the 1/4 inch is susceptible to outside interference and mic cables use what is called "common mode rejection".  Two of the prongs of the XLR send the signal, but half of the signal is flipped until it reaches the mixer.  The third prong is a ground.  Say there is a radio signal that happens to interfere with your signal and is able to enter the signal flow of your cable, when it gets to the mixer and is flipped, the like signals will be cancelled out.  I am not sure if this will clear things up, but I made a diagram to further illustrate what I am talking about (click on the link).  For short distances, a 1/4 inch is fine, but for anything over 15-20 feet, you should run XLRs...especially when running to a mixer.  

http://theangelproject.tripod.com/common_m...e_rejection.JPG

[el guitana]

Thanks - there's a whole lot of this stuff I've never known. Used to just plug whatever I had into whatever was there. Now I can do it right.

[mischultz]

I would prefer it in the effect loop. Acoustic pickups tend to be a little particular about the way they're loaded, and I'd prefer - again, if it were me - to have the PADI be the first thing it sees. To that end, I'd put it in the loop and choose neither.

Best,

Michael

[ronmac]

On of the reasons that the PADIs sound so good is the impedance matching they provide for your guitar PU. If you place a volume control before the PADI you could negate this benefit.

I agree with mischultz. Your volume pedal should go in the effects loop jack of the PADI.

You will need an "insert" style Y cable. The TRS (Tip/Ring/Sleeve) 1/4" jack is connected to two individual TS (Tip/Sleeve) 1/4" jacks. One should be labelled "Tip" (or "send", or "in") the other will be labelled "Sleeve" (or "return", or "out"). The TRS jack will go into the PADI. The Tip connector should go to the Volume pedal "Input" and the Sleeve connector should go to the output.

Ron

[el guitana]

Wow. Though I've never used an effects loop, I understand what that says. Never thought of using a volume controller there.

[bing4sons]

I would prefer it in the effect loop. Acoustic pickups tend to be a little particular about the way they're loaded, and I'd prefer - again, if it were me - to have the PADI be the first thing it sees. To that end, I'd put it in the loop and choose neither.

Best,

Michael

You learn something new everyday.  I've been getting good tone, with the PADI last in my chain.

Here's my chain:  A/B switch, EB Jr volume pedal (active), TU2 tuner, voodoo labs chorus, Boss RC-20 Loop station, Padi.

I plug straight into my A/B switch, as I usually switch out guitars.  Is there benefit to putting the A/B switch before the PADI and every thing else in the effect loop?

[ronmac]

Bing,

That's what I would do.
Ron