Parallel Blend with Inverter and (or) Output Buffer

M

Mr. Strypes

Active member
Hi, friends!
I am developing an ambitious project to combine two effects—a Pro-10 blue (Protein blue channel) and a Cobalt (Blues Driver)—with a blend knob in between. I chose the JMK Paralyzer to perform the blending function. In the test phase, I discovered that using the blend knob anywhere between 10% and 90% lowers the volume and screws with the sound a bit. In other words, all the way counter-clockwise (Pro-10) or all the way clockwise (Cobalt) sounds good, but any blending drops the volume and introduces an unpleasant harshness when any amount of gain is applied in either circuit. I figured this has something to do with A) phasing issues, B) the need for an output buffer, or C) both. But I'm stumped about how to install an inverter and/or an output buffer. Can either one or both of those functions be handled by PedalPCB's new signal buffer/inverter? If so, how would I accomplish this?
Any help is greatly appreciated!
 
Are you sure your Paralyzer is working correctly? Have you tried it with any other effects? Or tried just patching one side as a clean blend?

Could be a phase issue, I guess, but the Paralyzer already has an output buffer built into it…
 
pricklyrobot said:
Are you sure your Paralyzer is working correctly? Have you tried it with any other effects? Or tried just patching one side as a clean blend?

Could be a phase issue, I guess, but the Paralyzer already has an output buffer built into it…
Click to expand...
Thanks! That's what I thought. I think the Paralyzer is working correctly. (?) I can blend the signals, but the volume drop is a mystery, as is the raunchy, weird sound that appears when I increase the gain on either circuit.
Though it's not an easy proposal, I'll test the Paralyzer with some other effects.
 
I built my Paralyzer as a standalone pedal. I’ve plugged lots of different pedal combos into it and never had anything like you’re describing.

Might be worth trying to troubleshoot your existing build before you start adding to it.

Also, I’m not too familiar with the Cobalt or Pro-10, but does either one of those circuits normally have an inverted output? Re: potential phase issues.
 
pricklyrobot said:
I built my Paralyzer as a standalone pedal. I’ve plugged lots of different pedal combos into it and never had anything like you’re describing.

Might be worth trying to troubleshoot your existing build before you start adding to it.

Also, I’m not too familiar with the Cobalt or Pro-10, but does either one of those circuits normally have an inverted output? Re: potential phase issues.
Click to expand...
Good advice. Thanks. (5 minutes later) Hmm.... Interesting! I asked Google, "Do either the protein blue channel or the bd-2 blues driver pedals have an inverted output that might cause phasing issues if run together in parallel?" It returned this: Based on standard circuit designs, there is a moderate possibility that running a Boss BD-2 Blues Driver and a Browne Amplification Protein (specifically the blue channel) in parallel may cause phase cancellation (a thin, nasal sound) because the Boss BD-2 is a known phase-inverting pedal. Sounds like I need to introduce a phase inverter at the end of my Cobalt (BD-2), just before it returns to the Paralyzer.
 
pricklyrobot said:
I built my Paralyzer as a standalone pedal. I’ve plugged lots of different pedal combos into it and never had anything like you’re describing.

Might be worth trying to troubleshoot your existing build before you start adding to it.

Also, I’m not too familiar with the Cobalt or Pro-10, but does either one of those circuits normally have an inverted output? Re: potential phase issues.
Click to expand...
Hey, I thought I'd update you on the blended Pro-10 (Blue) and Cobalt build. The problem of volume drop and phasing weirdness has been intermittent all week. I ordered a PedalPCB signal inverter and installed it today, placing it between the Cobalt's output and the return on the Paralyzer. It worked! Problem solved!
(I would mark this post "solved", but I don't remember how.)
 
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