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Unofficial Mackie User Forums => DL1608/DL806/DL32R/ProDX Mixers => Topic started by: musicman7722 on July 19, 2013, 11:44:55 AM

Title: External Delay Device Help
Post by: musicman7722 on July 19, 2013, 11:44:55 AM
I have assigned the on board delay to the sax player in my band which is always on.  I am using a foot pedal delay for voices on my Dl1608. I use an aux out and return to a channel. This setup allows me to turn the effect on and off via the pedal instead of off the ipad. I bought a very cheap behringer echo unit to test it out and now wish to upgrade. I want a one piece pedal that doesn't need an expression pedal. I need tap tempo and a big bonus would be the ability to hold the ending note. A good example might be the last "hey" on the Romantic's "What I Like about You.

Does anybody have a recommendation for me?
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: sam.spoons on July 20, 2013, 02:20:48 AM
No precise recommend but look at the TC Vocal Stomp pedals, I'll bet they do something suitable and, qualitywise, they are excellent.
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: musicman7722 on July 20, 2013, 01:32:40 PM
I will and I use their harmonizer now.
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: sam.spoons on July 20, 2013, 04:53:26 PM
Depending which harmoniser you use, won't that already do the job?
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: musicman7722 on July 21, 2013, 01:10:16 PM
I use the harmonizer

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-TCE-VOICETONE-H1-LIST
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: musicman7722 on July 21, 2013, 01:14:33 PM
Al the TC Helicon units are xlr in and out.  I am not sure if I could use balanced cables to run this via aux out and return channel in.
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: WK154 on July 21, 2013, 02:00:50 PM
No problem everything is a balanced in and out, the best thing for the DL. TRS out from auxes is the only unusual cable, but they exist, that can also be made with a XLR to TRS adapter and otherwise standard XLR cable. I prefer to minimize connections and avoid adapters, less to go wrong. If your return channel is one of the 4 combo inputs then you need another XLR to TRS. This avoids phantom power also on the return. You may want to check if whatever outboard gear you use if it can take phantom power and you use condenser mics and  XLR inputs. Mackie gives you one choice on phantom power, all on or off.
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: sam.spoons on July 21, 2013, 04:10:48 PM
The input on this is at mic level, I'm not sure you could pad it down to accept the signal from a line level aux, maybe with a passive inline pad. The return at mic level would not be a problem as you'd return it into a mic pre on the DL. I should be un-affected by phantom on it's output, it is designed to return to a mic pre (max output signal is +1dBu so a bit low for a line input).

The Voicelive Play GTX would probably do what you want and would give you the harmonies and fx in one box.
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: WK154 on July 21, 2013, 04:48:26 PM
The benefits of digital. There should be plenty of attenuation available on the aux output. Remember 0 is supposed to be unity gain off the buss that leaves 40 + dB attenuation.
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: sam.spoons on July 21, 2013, 05:01:01 PM
Your only means of attenuation is the fader, you'd be maxing out the input of the pedal with the aux master fader only 20% up from - ∞. I suppose you could also run the channel faders on the aux page low as well but it's not a good solution IMHO. An inline pad would help though if you must do it that way.
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: WK154 on July 21, 2013, 05:20:29 PM
Attenuation is attenuation no matter were you put it might as well take advantage of the noiseless math manipulations instead of adding another device that adds more noise.
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: sam.spoons on July 21, 2013, 05:42:25 PM
Actually adding a pad to an output will reduce noise from the desk.

My main point was that you'll have a very coarse control with the fader at -40dB.

It's rarely a good idea using a device (in this case the TC H1) in an application for which it was not designed.
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: WK154 on July 21, 2013, 06:27:18 PM
Actually adding a pad to an output will reduce noise from the desk.
Never, resistance equals noise in physical devices and is added to the signal if its a resistance based attenuator. Transformer based would eliminate ground leakage and clean things up but it still adds it's own noise (ultra low).
My main point was that you'll have a very coarse control with the fader at -40dB.
I believe Mackie is using 32 bit floating point like most users of the Shark DSP, so precision should not be a problem nor range. Aren't you just bringing down the level into nominal range for the HC-1 input?
It's rarely a good idea using a device (in this case the TC H1) in an application for which it was not designed.

That's for sure, I never did understand the OP's objective. A foot pedal delay on vocals???
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: sam.spoons on July 21, 2013, 07:16:55 PM
Sorry WK, theoretically I know you are right but I'd bet the noise generated by the resistive network in the pad would be way below the preamp noise in the pedals mic pre. The effect would be to reduce noise from the desk (if any, probably academic, the DL outs are pretty quiet).

I was referring to the issue of fader resolution, i.e. at -40dB 5mm represents 10dB where, at 0 dB 5mm represents only around 3dB, it's the iPad channel problem.

Agreed
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: musicman7722 on July 21, 2013, 10:37:57 PM
Well the harmonizer I have is xlr in and out so I will try an experiment first and let you all know.  I do have all the cables you have all suggetsed.

Thanks

Chris
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: musicman7722 on July 29, 2013, 12:01:17 PM
Just got in a used TC Electronics foot echo unit.  Set it up with balanced out input and a return via a spare channel in the board and it sounded fine.  Now I can turn it on and off with my foot and it has a tap tempo feature.

Chris
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: musicman7722 on September 02, 2013, 12:59:10 PM
I have used this on two gigs so far and it works and sounds great.  I run the send and receive through my center stage snake so I don't need tow clunky mike cables around my feet.  Great thing is I got the TC echo for $50 on the bay :)
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: RoadRanger on September 04, 2013, 10:15:00 PM
Awesome! OTOH I'm really hoping Mackie will add support for a bluetooth pedal as a master FX mute and tap tempo. Also the delay should be reconfigurable as a chorus. That, an "always visible" master FX mute on the app itself and per-channel selection of pre and post send to the reverb would make me happy with the FX on the DL1608 :) .
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: Philly_sax on November 17, 2013, 01:14:13 PM
Our band has a 4 piece horn section and I wish to get a chorus effect on sustained notes. But I use the Aux sends for stage monitors, so I am going to compare thickening by way of the on board delay in the 1608 compared to a TC Helicon D1 doubling pedal inserted between the mic and the 1608 input.  I will report back, but if anyone has tips on gain structure or settings for the on board effects, please share.
Thanks.
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: sam.spoons on November 17, 2013, 01:32:44 PM
Doubling devices and chorus fx employ pitch shifting as well as delay (and, in the case of chorus, a moving variable pitch shift). The delay on the desk will do the delay part just fine but you'll be missing the pitch shift. It should fatten up the sound though, try 80-120ms, one repeat with no feedback, set the delay sends at unity and just bring up the delay return until you achieve the desired effect (BTW, thanks for the idea, I think I'll try the delay on my acoustic guitar, one less pedal, and a battery eater art that, to cart around) :lol:
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: Philly_sax on November 17, 2013, 07:49:13 PM
I have used the on onboard delay for "slapback", 105 ms, one repeat no feedback amd 35-40% wet. Very nice.
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: sam.spoons on November 17, 2013, 08:35:01 PM
Good to hear, I'll try similar on my acoustic tomorrow  8)
Title: Re: External Delay Device Help
Post by: RoadRanger on November 17, 2013, 09:04:00 PM
i use a 20ms delay for doubling - works fine, no pitch shifting needed 8) . The vocal delay send faders are at "0" and the return fader at -7.5 . I sometimes goose that to -5 for a more pronounced effect.