Using Logic X as effects loop for amp with no effects loop?

[deckard1]

Hi,

 

So I have a Vox AC15C1. Unfortunately, the amp does not have an effects loop. I am recording silently via a load box from the Vox into my audio interface (Scarlett 2i2). I want to use a delay pedal (Korg SDD-3000) with the Vox distortion but I need an effects loop for this to sound halfway decent. Is it possible to use Logic as a 'mock' effects loop via routing in some way? Could I record dry with the amp and then somehow add the delay pedal afterwards? Any ideas???

 

[attachment=0]delay.jpg[/attachment]

 

Thanks.

[SRF_Audio]

Well, my first question would be, what does the pedal do that you can't accomplish with a plugin?

 

But assuming that's what you want to do:

 

After recording the vox track with distortion, Solo the track and turn off the metronome. Important: DISABLE software monitoring. The only signal you should hear is the guitar playing back. Create a new track underneath, and run the output of your interface in the delay pedal, and then back into the input. Turn the gain all the way down first.

 

You will playback the Solo'ed track, while recording the new track with the delay pedal at the settings you want.

 

Again, be very careful with gain staging while you loop the output to the input.

[deckard1]

Well, my first question would be, what does the pedal do that you can't accomplish with a plugin?

 

Great question!!!

 

Modulated delay.

 

If you know of a plugin that does this...please let me know. I thought the Soundtoys Echoboy plugin (which I own) could do a modulated delay, but it is very limited in this regards...to the best of my knowledge. At least Echoboy can't do what this particular delay pedal does...I already confirmed this with Soundtoys support. Maybe there is another plugin that will do modulated delay? I honestly don't know of one.

 

Thanks.

[Eric Cardenas]

?

 

Almost every delay I know offers modulation on the delay taps?

What kind of modulation are you looking for. Is it reverse granular echo slicing?

[deckard1]

?

 

Almost every delay I know offers modulation on the delay taps?

What kind of modulation are you looking for. Is it reverse granular echo slicing?

 

Are you familiar with the guitar player from the band, U2? It's The Edge's modulated delay sound I am after.

[SRF_Audio]

Who is this "U2" band you speak of?

 

 

In all seriousness though, Edge uses pretty basic stuff all around for his delay tone. You could easily mimic that using stock plugins in Logic. In the Delay section you could try the Tape Delay plugin. In that instance, the flutter setting is the modulation.

 

Also in the Pedalboard plugin, try the Tru-tape delay. Again, dirt and flutter are the modulation settings.

 

If those aren't extreme enough for you, you could always put the delay on a bus and then add an actual flanger/chorus/phaser effect after the delay, and blend to taste.

[Eric Cardenas]

U2... sounds vaguely familiar.

 

I believe you mean the delays that sound like a synth pad in the background. The Edge has many delay based sounds.

Crystallizer - Soundtoys should do the trick if it's that kind of sound you are looking for.

I believe Exponential audio has a plug-in called Excalibur that does the same but their site appears to be down at the moment.

 

Is this the kind of sound you are after.

 

[deckard1]

Nice pedal! Gorgeous delay sounds.

 

More so, this. You can skip to 1:25 for the modulated delay. This guy nails The Edge's guitar sound quite well I think.

 

 

Thanks.

[deckard1]

U2... sounds vaguely familiar.

 

I believe you mean the delays that sound like a synth pad in the background. The Edge has many delay based sounds.

Crystallizer - Soundtoys should do the trick if it's that kind of sound you are looking for.

I believe Exponential audio has a plug-in called Excalibur that does the same but their site appears to be down at the moment.

 

Is this the kind of sound you are after.

 

 

Hi Eric,

 

Thanks again for your help. What about the following unit? It has a USB connection to use in conjunction with Logic X.

 

http://lexiconpro.com/en-US/products/mx400

 

Thanks.

[Eric Cardenas]

More so, this...

 

That sounds like mostly like envelope and pitch modulation.

You should be able to approximate something like this with Logic's Tape Delay with a little bit of LFO modulation. (Like SRF pointed out)

[Eric Cardenas]

Is it possible to use Logic as a 'mock' effects loop via routing in some way? Could I record dry with the amp and then somehow add the delay pedal afterwards? Any ideas???

 

Just to reconnect to your original question.

Why don't you use the I/O Plug-in and use your desired delay as a plug-in in Logic?

 

And to reconnect to U2 and the fact that it is Martin Luther King day:

 

[deckard1]

Who is this "U2" band you speak of?

 

 

In all seriousness though, Edge uses pretty basic stuff all around for his delay tone. You could easily mimic that using stock plugins in Logic. In the Delay section you could try the Tape Delay plugin. In that instance, the flutter setting is the modulation.

 

Also in the Pedalboard plugin, try the Tru-tape delay. Again, dirt and flutter are the modulation settings.

 

If those aren't extreme enough for you, you could always put the delay on a bus and then add an actual flanger/chorus/phaser effect after the delay, and blend to taste.

 

I somehow overlooked your post earlier. I'll give this a shot. I somehow thought that the Logic native plugins were inferior to outboard gear. I could very well be wrong in assuming this.

[deckard1]

Who is this "U2" band you speak of?

 

 

In all seriousness though, Edge uses pretty basic stuff all around for his delay tone. You could easily mimic that using stock plugins in Logic. In the Delay section you could try the Tape Delay plugin. In that instance, the flutter setting is the modulation.

 

Also in the Pedalboard plugin, try the Tru-tape delay. Again, dirt and flutter are the modulation settings.

 

If those aren't extreme enough for you, you could always put the delay on a bus and then add an actual flanger/chorus/phaser effect after the delay, and blend to taste.

 

So, I've been playing around with the Tape Delay in Logic X for the modulated delay effect per your advice and the plugin is quite good. But, why put the tape delay on a bus? Why not just insert it on the channel strip itself? I thought the main reason to use a bus was to reduce CPU consumption...which is not an issue here.

 

Thanks for your help.

[deckard1]

Is it possible to use Logic as a 'mock' effects loop via routing in some way? Could I record dry with the amp and then somehow add the delay pedal afterwards? Any ideas???

 

Just to reconnect to your original question.

Why don't you use the I/O Plug-in and use your desired delay as a plug-in in Logic?

 

And to reconnect to U2 and the fact that it is Martin Luther King day:

 

 

Hi Eric,

 

I haven't actually bought the delay pedal yet. I was thinking of purchasing it but wanted to see if I could achieve the same effect within Logic X...and save a couple of hundred dollars in the process.

 

Thanks for the video link!

[SRF_Audio]

Some outboard gear certainly can be more robust than Logic's stock plugins, but I wouldn't generalize that outboard gear is always better simply for being outboard.

 

In fact, I would say that there is very little need for outboard gear these days except in specific circumstances. For 90% of run of the mill delay effects out there, you can get nearly identical results with plugins...with the added benefit of the delay being non-permanent, so you can try different settings after the fact.

 

I suggested putting it on a bus since you had mentioned that you wanted to use an effects loop type routing so as to not kill your tone.

That's purely a creative decision on your part.

 

 

By putting the delay on the bus, you are making it a parallel effects loop to accomplish that goal. You are more than welcome to put it on the main channel strip as well. Try both and see which sounds best to you.