TheGigRig MIDI-8 is the ultimate floor based switching system designed to give you a level of control over your effects and amps that you've only ever dreamed about. " The MIDI-8's 6 True Bypass effects loops guarantee the best tone possible from your effects. " The 8 programmable pre-sets mean 1 step selection over any effects pedal combination you like. " An inbuilt optically controlled programmable class A amplifier takes care of volume mismatches from vintage style pedals and gives you easy solo boosts. " Choose any combination of 2 amplifier outputs without earth loops or phase problems. " Easy intuitive programming designed for tone lovers who use pedals, not computers. " Mode settings give you the ability to mix preset 'on the fly' for even greater flexibility.
I believe that the signal that comes out of your guitar is precious. At TheGigRig we compromise on nothing to bring you some of the best gear on the planet, but don't take our word for it. Read the reviews and watch the demo. See what TheGigRig users have to say, and then show us what you can do. The Possibilities are endless!
How do I use TheGigRig with the effects loop in my amp?
If your amp has an effects loop it can be great to use effects like chorus and delay in the loop of the amp while your OD effects go direct to the input in the front of your amp. So how can I set this up with TheGigRig? Have a look at the signal path diagram and then I'll guide you through it.
I've done this diagram using TheGigRig Pro-14, but of course you can do exactly the same thing with the MIDI-8. You can use any of TheGigRigs effects loops, I've just used no.7 for this exercise.
Following the signal path diagram above, you can see that the guitar signal enters TheGigRig Pro-14 on the right, then progresses through the first 6 programmable true bypass effects loops as normal. From there it travels from the send of loop 7 into the input of TheGigRig HumDinger, out of the Isolated out of the HumDinger and into the input of the amp.
Why have I used a HumDinger?
Many amps are very sensitive to earth/ground loops, and you can get a ground loop when you join the earth/ground of the pre-amp and power-amp sections in the same amplifier. The HumDinger isolates the earth from the input and the FX loop section of the amp ensuring quiet operation. Some amps don't need it, like my Two-Rock for example, but many do.
(If you buy a HumDinger for this purpose and realise you don't need it, there are loads of other geat things you can do with a HumDinger and TheGigRig, but of course you can always just send it back for a full refund.)
OK, so, all the FX placed in loops 1~6 will be routed to the input of the amplifier. Now the signal in the amplifier goes through the pre-amp section and out of the 'FX Send'. That signal is now sent back to TheGigRig Loop 7 return. Your pre-amp tone is now in TheGigRig. Selecting any preset that includes any effects loop after loop 7 (8,9 & 10) will send the pre-amp through those effects, then finally out of Output 1 the amps 'FX Return', which send the signal to the amps power amp.
All the pre-sets MUST include loop 7 (or what ever loop you have used to engage the FX Loop) otherwise the signal will pass directly to the power amp.
Can I have one amp with some effects (wet) and some without (dry)?
I love two amp setups. So many great tonal possibilities open up. One really cool setup is to use one amp dry, and one amp wet.
Have a look at the signal path diagram below, and then I'll talk you through this setup
Here we are using a HumDinger as split point in the signal chain. What does that mean? Let's follow the signal path.
Your guitar signal enters in the right hand side and travels through the first set of loops 1~5 which is where all my Compressors, OD's, Distortions and fuzz's are. These effects I want going to both amps.
The signal then goes out of the send of loop 6 to the input of the HumDinger. Here the signal is split. The Buffered output is sent back to the return of loop 6, and the isolated output is sent to the input of 'Amp 1'. This amp will now receive my OD pedals only. What's more, seeing as we've used the isolated output of the HumDinger, there will be no earth/ground loops with this amp.
You can of course use the HumDinger in any effect loop, we're just using loop no.6 for this example.
The other side of the signal is sent back to the return of loop 6, then carries on to the modulation (chorus, flanger etc) and delay effects. Then out of output one to the input of the second amp. This amp will now receive the tone from your OD pedals AND your modulation and delay effects.
If I select any of the loops 1~5 on any preset, they will go to both amps, but any effects in loops 7~10 will go to the second amp only. The split signal ensures that only one amp receives the mod and delay effects, and there you have a Wet/Dry setup
Don't forget, you need to include loop 6 on any preset that you wish to use both amps on.
Online demo
Here is a quick demo that will give you but a glimpse of the potential of TheGigRig Pro-14
There are loads of other demos available on our YouTube channel which you can see here...A Brief Explanation of the DemoThe pedals across the top of TheGigRig are plugged into TheGigRigs effects loops.
The actual pedals used for this demo are.
Loop 1 - 1974 Script MXR Dynacomp
Loop 2 - Boss Blues Driver
Loop 3 - Plosive Electronics May Treble Booster
Loop 4 - Love Pedal Eternity
Loop 5 - 1960's Duo Fuzz
Loop 6 - Voodoo Labs Micro Vibe
Loop 7 - 1976 EH Electric Mistress
Loop 8 - 1979 Boss CE-1
Loop 9 - Ibanez AD9 Analog delay
Loop 10 Re-issue EH Memory Man
The amps used are
76 Marshall JMP
76 Fender Pro Reverb
The guitar
63 NOS Relic Telecaster.
The guitar is recorded live with virtually no E.Q. added. Each amp has one mic on it and there was also a mic in the room.
The idea behind this is so you can see that with one button press I have complete control over my effects and amps.
Lets take a look at each sound in turn
Pre-set 1
This is the Dynacomp into the CE1 into the Memory Man.
The CE1 is arguably the greatest sounding chorus ever made but it was originally designed for keyboards so controlling the levels of this pedal with guitar can be very tricky. TheGigRig solves this problem with the Post Effects loop Volume Control. I have this selected on this preset to balance this tone with the rest of the tune.
The intro is a muted picked arpeggio sequence but the Dynacomp does a great job of squashing everything to keep it nice and even.
Pre-set 2
Just the CE1. I've moved the inversion of the first chord a bit higher up the neck for a bit more of jangle type feel. This is played harder and more open than the intro, which shows you just what a great job the old Dynacomp was doing of keeping the first section all together.
Pre-set 3
I've turned on the pre-boost here to punch my Tele into the Fender. Everything else is bypassed and the Marshall is turned off. This is something I love about TheGigRig. It's great being able to control so much gear, but it's also great being able to bypass everything and just go straight in to the amps.
Pre-set 4
This is my early 70's EH Electric Mistress. Everyone knows how great they sound for rock stuff, but used on a clean tone they're just amazing. My main issue with this pedal is that I've never been able to use it live before I had TheGigRig because the effect output was so low. Whenever I used it the level would drop just enough to bring you out of the mix, but here you'll notice I've turned on the Post amp to boost the level. Now it blends seamlessly into the track.
Pre-set 5
Dynacomp into the Memory Man into the Pro Reverb. Can't resist the solo. Using the low output neck pick-up on the Tele this is a lovely combination. Don't underestimate the Tele neck pickup. Used like this it's dynamic, toneful and a real joy to play. I've set the level on the Post amp to give me a nice boost into the Fender. This works well because otherwise I'd need to turn the compressor all the way up and the problem with that is then my Memory man is seeing too much level and the tone changes and sounds messy. The Post Effect Loop boost solves all these problems because it's after all the effects so it just takes what ever it's given and boosts it to any level you want, up to x3!
Pre-set 6
Eternity into Memory Man into the Marshall with Post Boost.
The Eternity is a pedal I've been using a lot. It's got a great tone and is very dynamic. I've used it with fenders, Marshalls and Vox's and it's one of the few pedals I own, which manages to get a tone out of each one. Very cool.
Again the Memory Man for that lovely warm analog delay (just a touch) and it's all boosted with the post boost and sent to the Marshall.
Pre-set 7
Eternity into the Electric Mistress into both amps
The classic rock flanger sound. The Electric Mistress does this better than anything. This is why it's still the industry standard today.
Pre-set 8
Duo Fuzz into Marshall.
This pedal is just silly. My favourite fuzz of all time. This one is over 40 years old but sounds delicious. Forget about subtlety here, it just wants to get out start ripping peoples faces off. Rock 'n' Roll.
Pre-set 9
Eternity into Micro Vibe into Marshall
More silliness. The Micro vibe does the thick chorus phase thing so well. It's a one trick pony as the more subtle settings are a bit non descript, but turn the thing up and it's Machine Gun city.
Pre-set 10
Blues Driver into Marshall
Pre-set 11
May Treble Booster into Eternity into both amps.
Dave Gregory from XTC turned me on to the May Treble booster. Plosive Electronics were a company that until recently made possibly the best treble booster out there. The tone control is a capacitor array that gives you different levels of bass on each setting. They've shut up shop now which is a shame, so if you see one of these going somewhere, grab it, they're great.
And again into the Eternity. This is a good example of how responsive the Eternity is. With a Treble Booster into it it reacts like an amplifier so I don't need to have my amps on 11 to get a great tone.
Pre-set 12
Ibanez AD9 into Fender
Classic slap back country sound. A bit of Post boost to give it a nice level and that's it.
Pre-set 13
Dynacomp into AD9 into both amps
You can hear the Dynacomp grab the first note of this phrase. One of their little quirks. With both amps on the Dynacomp and the AD9 give me a great squashy tone for a little chick'n pick'n to finish.
