High or Low impedence

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Nick Shaw
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High or Low impedence

Postby Nick Shaw » Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:59 pm

I know Gordon uses the Boss RC-20 and the ME-50 units, I was wondering though, the volume pedal used, is it a low impedence one after the effects units or a high impedence one after the guitar but before the effects units?

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GORDON
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Postby GORDON » Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:43 pm

Hi Nick.

The short answer is not sure. The volume pedal is all part of the unit so whatever way round it is works for me sir!

Best.

G.

Nick Shaw
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Postby Nick Shaw » Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:18 pm

Thanks Gordon.

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Mike Stranks
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Postby Mike Stranks » Mon Nov 16, 2009 5:21 pm

Hi Nick

From an electronics/sound point of view I'd expect the pedal to be the last thing in the chain.

However, I don't think Gordon would thank me for taking his board to bits to prove my theory - everthing is very tightly packed there. It's a work of art - and as most of the cabling is neatly tucked away it's very difficult to work out what's connected to what by just looking.

But as Gordon says... it works a treat! :)

Mike
The older I get, the better I used to be

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Steve Smith
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Re: ME50 Volume pedal

Postby Steve Smith » Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:30 am

Hi Nick, Mike & Gordon,

I'm afraid it's not as simple as high or low impedance. The ME50 is a digital effects box so a lot of the functions are carried out in the digital domain rather than analogue.

The sequence of the effects varies with the type of expression selected for the pedal (according to the manual)

With Wah, Ring Mod., +1 Octave or -1 Octave selected, the sequence is:
Tone Modify
Expression (pedal light ON)
Compressor
Overdirve/Distortion
Noise suppressor
Volume (pedal light OFF)
Modulation (e.g phase, flange, chorus)
Delay
Reverb

With Resonance or Voice selected, it is:
Tone Modify
Compressor
Overdirve/Distortion
Expression (pedal light ON)
Noise suppressor
Volume (pedal light OFF)
Modulation (e.g phase, flange, chorus)
Delay
Reverb

Given that the Volume function of the pedal is always before the modulation, delay & reverb, I speculate that the pedal actually produces a voltage which is either used to apply a scaling factor to the numbers produced by the analogue to digital converters, or controls Voltage Controlled Amplifiers immediately before the converters. when the selected expression is off. The impedance of the pedal is irrelevant to the sound.

Steve

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GORDON
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Postby GORDON » Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:07 pm

WOW. I didn't know it did all that.... :D

Thanks go to the experts.

G.


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