PART IV : COMPLEX SETUPS AND KILLER APPS

The following section is dedicated to applications which feature very specific setups, such as using the Switchblade with a particular piece of equipment or getting the most out of your setup with Power User Tips. We invite Switchblade users to share interesting setups to be added to this page.

True Analog Bypass using ABcadabra

Do you insist that all your effects feature true analog bypass? Do you spend big bucks on patch cords to keep your signal as true as possible, hoping your vintage handwired point-to-point all-tube combo can reach a higher plane ruled only by a lone guitar, one wire, and a single amp? If this kind of tone-purism is your bag, read this next application, which combines two of our products to produce a whole even greater than the sum of its parts:

The audio pathways of the Switchblade have been designed from the ground up to transmit the purest possible audio signals, with less deterioration than the best effects. Still, in the same way that just a few rogue molecules can threaten a claim to 100% purity, the Switchblade can alter a guitar signal, and although it may be imperceptible to most, certainly not detectable when any but the most subtle effect is engaged, the devout tone freak sometimes wants NO device between the pickup and the speaker.

Enter the ABCadabra, a midi controlled analog relay switching device. By placing the Switchblade in the ABCadabra's effects loop using a TRS to dual mono (insert cable), true analog bypass can be obtained. The midi control options are interesting as well, including the possibility for the Switchblade to send program change messages to the ABCadabra, effectively bypassing itself from the audio chain.

Guitars with Dual Output (Mag/Piezo)

With the Switchblade's ability to "route anything to anything", guitars with both piezo and magnetic pickups can be routed to separate processors and amplifiers, mixed and then processed, or blended in interesting ways in a stereo mix. For example, the piezo signal could be routed to an equalizer and preamp and sent to one amplifier while the magnetic pickup can be routed to a multi-effects unit, a reverb unit and a digital delay and sent to another amplifier. This separation of the signal can enhance the overall sound. Or use the Switchblade to create a foot controlled blend of the piezo and magnetic sounds before sending the mixed signal to a chain of signal processors. A delightful sound can be obtained by placing sparkling piezo  in widespread stereo chorus with reverb, with a tighter Magnetic sound panned dead center between two or three amps. With the RMC system, hexaphonic piezo output can be simultaneously tapped for audio and processed by a midi converter, this opens the door to a variety of even wilder possibilities. See the next application for more on this.

Guitar Synth

Guitar synth applications are unique in that, besides the normal range of guitars, effects, and amps, the separate audio signals from the synth must be handles as well. No other system gives the modern midi guitarist more control and creative possibilities than the Switchblade. Here are a few of the incredible possibilities:

• Set the levels of different synth and guitar patches under preset control

• Create preset scenes using the ability of the Switchblade to send bursts of program changes to all guitar and synth gear across multiple midi channels

• Route guitar and synth sounds through multiple discrete or shared effects and/or amps to obtain the best sounds all your gear without rewiring.

• Blend the signal from different synthesizer modules together to create complex layered patches to perfectly complement your favorite guitar sounds. Stack sounds up until they reach the sky, or crossfade from evolving pads to squelching leads while blending between clean and overdriven guitar sounds. 

• Balance the volume levels of guitar and synth signals in realtime using midi CC messages from a foot pedal. The switchblade can also be set up to control level for two or more sets of stereo signals to effect overall volume without alterations to level balance.

• Create a dedicated mix for your guitar and synth amps and send a duplicate balanced signal to the house PA or recording console.

• Mix synth signal with guitar into traditional guitar FX and amps for wild new sounds. Try your favorite distortion on that Sawtooth Lead, or send your swelling synth pads  and lush chorused guitar through a volume pedal together before reverb and delay. The only limit is your imagination.

• Create complex stereo images of guitar and synth sounds using two or more amps. Even quadraphonic imaging (and beyond) is possible! 

• Process guitar signals through synthesizer inputs for external signals. The Access Virus synthesizer series is particularly well suited for this application, with six individual outputs to allow the separation of synth and processed guitar. You can even use the Switchblade to send a blend of synth and guitar back into the synth processors for awesome homogenized filtration, effects, LFO modulation, and more.

Let us know how you're using the Switchblade with your Guitar Synth!

Keyboard Rigs

While we designed the Switchblade to be the ultimate guitar switching system, it works equally well to create a unified setup for Keyboard or other electronic instruments. Using presets, the Switchblade allows keyboardists to unite multiple synths, modules, effects, and more to create a controlled environment where one program change rewires the entire rig. The possibilities are as exciting as those for midi guitar (above), and include:

• Route keyboards through multiple effects in series, parallel, or networks

• Tap the power of realtime control to eliminate the need for stereo volume pedals - use two controllers in each preset for any number of crossfade, pan, or overall volume changes for signals from one or all your instruments

• Combine or crossfade electromechanical instruments like organs and electric pianos with synth sounds into shared or discrete effects, amps, and more.

• Access sampler or vocoder inputs more easily with saved preset configurations for mic compression, resampling, and more

• Reprocess a synth through its own external inputs! Blend in unprocessed signal or the sound of another keyboard.

• Created complex preset scenes using the Switchblade's ability to send bursts of program changes across midi channels to all your gear

• Create a dedicated mix for your stage mix and send a duplicate balanced signal to the house PA or recording console.

• Eliminate the need to transport bulky automated mixers by programming even the most complex automations into your onboard sequencer!

Let us know how you're using the Switchblade for creative keyboarding!

Also, be sure to check out out Tech Tips section for more on getting the most of your Switchblade, with tips about using balanced cables to eliminate a ground loop and more.