FX Loop :: Connect Guitar Pedal Effects to Mixer :: Aux Sends Aux Returns :: Mixer Effects Loop 

Hey friend!!! HMU if you still have my # Using a mixer to get all your synths thru the same pedal chain should be no problem.

Exactly the same reason I’m here. My mixer has 2 AUX sends and a FX for on board effects so I can run 2 pedals into the mixer and have the on board as well :)

Most newer pedals will be just fine. Symptoms will affect sound quality such as distortion, noise, artifacts etc. If it sounds good, then it’s likely ok. Consider that preamped (active pickup) guitar signals which are near line level can be input into a pedal usually without problems.

U use reamp as the last device in the pedal chain? Or as the first? No need for a direct box?

Hook them up as a chain

I’m not that familiar with WDW, but from what I can gather online, it appears so. FX loops on mixers are parallel to the dry signal. And remember that all outputs of a mixer are line level. I assume you will run the line out of your amp to the mixer through which you will apply a stereo FX loop. But where do you plan to send the output of the mixer?

You can do it

When plugging into line array or other powered speaker that is not a guitar amp, try changing output mode to studio direct.

You are correct. The 1202 does not have a designated FX return. In this case you will have to run the FX return into an open channel and use this channel as a bus (use mono/L input or both L and R for stereo FX on channels 5/6, 7/8, 9/10, or 11/12). But be sure not to send this channel back into the FX, i.e. turn FX all the way down on this channel, as you only want the FX to go into the mains. You can then mix this effect into the mains with the level knob for this channel.

I will be making a video soon where I run FX this way through a Xenyx 502 and it has no FX or AUX sends.

@@Artemago thank you

There are so many different ways to hook it up. The best way will depend on how you intend to use the PodGo. Many questions follow here. What are your intentions? What do you wish to accomplish with the pedal? Are you only processing guitar signals? Do you wish to process signals other than guitar signals through the pedal? Do you wish to use it as an external FX processor?...etc. You will have to know your intention and goal before deciding on a connection method. The MG166CX has a quite nice sounding FX processor built into the board that you can use. Have you tried these FX?

My intention is, instead of using a half stack and head for playing guitar through, I want to run the PodGo through my mixer and play the sounds through 2 Mackie powered speakers. The problem is I don't know how to seperate the vocal channel from the 2 Mackie powered speakers. Plus I have 1 powered monitor speaker in front of me so I can hear. It's as if all the equalizer settings come through all 3 speakers. My guitar has volume, treble and base knows, the mixer has volume etc and the settings on my Podgo has the same. Not sure which one should be the main source of all these tones ? It sounds muddy and annoying. Lol

@@jamesmitchell2804 I see. In that case, I would plug guitar into podgo, then run main outputs (or output if mono works for you) from podgo to mixer stereo channel 13/14 or 15/16. Then connect Main outputs from the mixer to your Mackie speakers and connect the Aux 1 send to the monitor. Also, you will need to set the main output to line level on the podgo under global settings-->ins/outs. I don't understand what you mean by separating the vocal from the mains. Where do you want the vocals to come out of, if not the mains? EQs: center the guitar channel EQ on the mixer and use as correction only. Use EQ on the podgo and tone knob on guitar to dial in the tone you desire. Gain staging is an important concept when interconnecting different devices with differing output levels. As a general rule of thumb, we want to maximize volume at input without clipping, and control/limit output to suit loudness requirements. In other words, turn guitar volume all the way up. Then, press PFL on guitar channel on mixer and adjust volume from podgo until meter reads >0

Wow i did what you said and everything sounds amazing. Thank you so much.

If you are only wanting the FX on the guitar, then come out of pedal board into DI then into any Mic input on mixer. If you want to apply the effects of the pedal board as an FX chain to multiple channels, then hook it up as in the video with the loop being the pedal board.

@@Artemago Thanks. I am curious, if you can go guitar direct in (line/guitar switch) on like a Tascam (DP24) like I'm looking at, then I am curious on the purpose of the DI unit, because isn't it still the unbalanced high signal going in (guitar>pedalboard>mixer)? Or is the DI only if you don't have a line/guitar switch (I didn't notice in the video). Thanks!

If you have a line in/guitar switch then you can use that. The DI converts an unbalanced instrument level signal into a balanced mic level. My mixer does not have a guitar switch for the line in, so I cannot plug in an instrument level signal into it. If you plug an instrument level signal into line in, you will find that the signal will not be loud enough.

@@Artemago Thanks! That cleared up a lot for me.

Usually only one works at a time. but you can certainly try

Thanks Papi, I'm just running each on it's own channel...Thanks for your response

That’s best!

Plugged before or after the chorus ?

The ideal signal path would be: Mixer->reamp->pedals->DI->mixer

@@Artemago DI = direct box?

Yes

@@Artemago some devices are direct boxes and reamps (2 in 1).. in this case how would be the order ? 😅😅

@@Artemago if the device is a direct box and a reamp at the same time.. it’s just shitty or its a nice solution? In this case which order would be the chain pedal ?

This mixer has 2 Auxiliary channels; one is AUX 1 and the other is FX (AUX 2). Each of these channels have designated sends and stereo returns. So, yes, you can certainly run Aux 1 to one device and FX/Aux 2 to another. However, if you use FX channel as an Aux channel-you connect something to the FX send-then the internal FX will be bypassed. In other words you cannot use the onboard FX and AUX 2 simultaneously.

@@Artemago thanks so much! i use this a lot. if i could have 3, or 4 aux send-returns on a small mixer that would be so so so good. any advice on the smallest mixer to have 2+ aux send -returns?

Interesting question. I’ve not seen any small mixer with more than 2 Aux channels. I have no recommendations, sorry.

Why do you need so many?

thanks so much @@Artemago ! and what about just 2 aux? what's the smallest you've seen?