| Organizing a complicated rack can be
frustrating and tedious. Typically you're limited to pre-deter-mined chains
of effects, and rearranging them requires wrestling (usually on hands and
knees) with a tangled web of cables. To add more complication, some players
need instantaneous switching between multiple basses, each with their own EQ,
effects, and amp requirements. A sophisticated routing device can help
manage today's complex systems.
Instead of simple in/out switching, the Switchblade GL employs a programmable matrix network, which provides complete routing flexibility for 16 inputs and 16 outputs. Simply plug your instruments, pedals, rack gear, and amp inputs into the back panel jacks, and then handle the routing chores electronically via the front panel. Any combination of series or parallel effects can be programmed and later easily rearranged. The days of crawling behind your rack with a flashlight are over! The GL can store up to 75 presets. It accepts both balanced and unbalanced lines, and can manipulate and store each device's gain level. For seamless effects transitions you can adjust the switching time from 0ms—1000ms. Four programmable mechanical relays can act as on/off switches to activate auxiliary functions on your amps and other gear. The Switchblade GL can be controlled externally in several ways: The simplest uses a footswitch to step through the presets stored in any of the 20 banks, although you can add a second footswitch to step through the banks as well. A MIDI foot controller permits easy access to the presets; a continuous controller can also manipulate fades, cross fades, multi-amp panning, and more. Four internal LFOs can be employed for automated sweeping. The Switchblade can also interface with your PC. Sound Sculpture's WinBlade software adds on-screen graphics to make it easier and more intuitive to use. A peek under the hood reveals the GL's no toy—there are almost 100 1C chips neatly packed inside its sturdy steel chassis. It uses individual op amp buffers on every input and output, and routing changes are implemented via CMOS FET electronic switches. The 1Meg input impedance ensures conventional passive pickups will not suffer from input loading. Ideally, piezo pickups prefer higher input impedance and would benefit from placing a pre-amp before the GL. Nothing's free in the cruel quest for tone. The Switchblade GL adds a barely perceptible touch of hiss, and in direct comparison to a straight cord, we found it sacrificed a minute bit of roundness and imparted a slightly drier texture to our basses and effects. Considering its virtually unlimited flexibility, sacrificing an almost imperceptible amount of tone seems like a reasonable proposition. Bottom line: The Switchblade GL is the cutting edge of rack-management technology.
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