Crowdster Plus Stereo Issue - Effects Chain

[Johnny Raz]

Hi -

Today I was very excited to get my new pedal to compliment my Crowdster Plus rig (C+ bought from Eddies in February this year). I bought a very fine stereo cable from LavaCable (high quality stuff), and I am delving into the world of using stereo with my C+ -- blending and running both an acoustic and an electric amp. The next step I wanted to take was running stereo effects between the 2 amps.

So I hook up my C+ to the DLS Ultra Chorus with stereo ins and stereo outs (see the picture below). I plug the acoustic from my Y cable into input A and the electric from my Y cable into input B. Then I run a 1/4" cable from OUT A to my Acoustic amp, and then I run a 1/4" cable from OUT B to my electric amp.

I ensure that the button on my C+ is in the up position so I can switch between Acoustic only, electric and acoustic, and then electric only. Then I run into problems. First of all, when I switch down to only the electric (switch all the way down), I do not hear any chorus effect when the effect is engaged. The second problem I hear (which I think is more problematic) is when I have the switch all the way up, I should only be hearing my piezo signal through my acoustic amp. But instead, I hear the electric signal and the acoustic signal blended as if I had the switch in the middle position.

What am I doing wrong here -- why doesn't the C+ blend the acoustic and electric signals when I have the switch in the top most (up) position. My expectation is that I would only hear the acoustic signal with the effect when engaged. And why don't I hear any of the effect when I have the switch in the bottom position (magnetic)? Tom? Roy? Can anyone help me?

http://www.tunnelvisionmusic.com/images/D/ultrachorus2.jpg

Here's the technical info on the pedal --> http://www.dlseffects.com/ultra_chorus_ii.php

[tom]

first of all, you should hear both when the switch is in the middle position, not the up poition. in stereo, the guitar does not blend the outputs, they are discrete. if you play the guitar in mono it will blend with the switch in the middle position. i suspect the chorus is doing the funny business. try running two different electric guitars into it and see what happens. it's a stereo effect, but i don't think it's two independant chorus'.

[Johnny Raz]

Thanks Tom!

I have an email into DLS effects with the same question - I'm very new to all this so I'm trying to isolate what is really going wrong.

[Pietro]

Johnny,

Although you can blend the signals, I've found the BEST way to use the C+ is to use totally separate effects chains for electric and acoustic. I blend them together then with a mixer on stage and send the blended signal (mono in my case) to the board so that the sound man can't mess up my blend.

And it's just my opinion... but keep the chorus on the electric side. I'll tell you what sounds HUGE... a simultaneous electric and acoustic, through great processing, with a little chorus and delay on the electric side only. HUGE...

marso is doing something like this, too, maybe he'll pipe in.

[marsodude]

Johnny,

Although you can blend the signals, I've found the BEST way to use the C+ is to use totally separate effects chains for electric and acoustic. I blend them together then with a mixer on stage and send the blended signal (mono in my case) to the board so that the sound man can't mess up my blend.

And it's just my opinion... but keep the chorus on the electric side. I'll tell you what sounds HUGE... a simultaneous electric and acoustic, through great processing, with a little chorus and delay on the electric side only. HUGE...

marso is doing something like this, too, maybe he'll pipe in.

Pietro is right, use separate effects chains for electric and acoustic. I normally don't run any effects on my acoustic side, I send it straight to the board. My electric side gets the effects. Peitro is dead on, Chorus and Delay is HUGE. Whereas Pietro blends his two chains onstage and sends the blended mono to the board, I send on two separate channels. I keep my electric signal out of the stage monitor because I can hear it out of my amp. I allow the acoustic side to come in on the stage monitor. I just wish the C+ had another pickup on the electric side...