Can you guys sanity-check this hybrid idea for me?

[metropolis_4]

This is the direction I think I’m headed and it’s new territory for me. Since a lot of you have more experience doing this, can you see any potential issues I’ll run into with this rig?

I use a Morningstar ML5 for all my instrument switching. The idea is my electric goes in the input of the ML5 and all my acoustic instruments plug into the returns of the loops.

For electric I want to run out of one loop like this:

loop send -> pedalboard -> amp -> load box -> loop return

Then the output of the ML5 goes into an FM3 and I use the FM3 for a cab IR and XLR out to the board.

That way I can use the amp speaker when needed, or run silent when needed and keep the same amp tones for both.

Am I going to run into any ground loops or other problems I should know about up front?

 

[metropolis_4]

Ugh, I meant to post this in the amp subforum

 

[la szum]

Sanity check here? That's some funny shit, Met.

 

[laxu]

Sounds like it should work, but ground loops are possible.

 

[metropolis_4]

Sounds like it should work, but ground loops are possible.

Are there any pitfalls to avoid or gear choices that can help avoid those?

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

Will that amp drive a speaker?
If so…assuming the monitoring of the acoustic instruments is handled by the same output of your FM as through which you send IRs to FOH…when you play electric you have cab + monitor…when you play acoustic only monitor.
In my mind, if you indeed use a cab, you need to find a way to kill your monitor when you use it.
Maybe feed foh 2 signals from the FM? One for electric, one the rest?

 

[metropolis_4]

Will that amp drive a speaker?
If so…assuming the monitoring of the acoustic instruments is handled by the same output of your FM as through which you send IRs to FOH…when you play electric you have cab + monitor…when you play acoustic only monitor.
In my mind, if you indeed use a cab, you need to find a way to kill your monitor when you use it.
Maybe feed foh 2 signals from the FM? One for electric, one the rest?

My thought is that I’ll use it in two different ways.

1.
Electric signal just goes to the amp and I monitor out of the amp speaker. Acoustic instruments go through FM3 and monitor out of either an "FRFR" or stage monitors.

2.
Electric signal goes to the amp, then through a load box and to the FM3. All instruments route to the FM3, which sends all signals to the board and I monitor everything through IEMs (no speakers)

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

My thought is that I’ll use it in two different ways.

1.
Electric signal just goes to the amp and I monitor out of the amp speaker. Acoustic instruments go through FM3 and monitor out of either an ""FRFR"" or stage monitors.

2.
Electric signal goes to the amp, then through a load box and to the FM3. All instruments route to the FM3, which sends all signals to the board and I monitor everything through IEMs (no speakers)

In scenario one: if you don’t kill the feed to stage monitors when you play electric..you will have both stage monitor/"FRFR" as well as cab. Assuming you feed foh simular lvls for your acoustic as well as electric…the level of your electric sound will be much higher at your spot….unless you kill your monitor feed when you use the cab/electric.

I always use a cab..and the above was the reason to not run my acoustic through the same digital unit.
It can be done…using sends/alternate outputs for acoustic…but for me that added too much complexity, so I used a different device for acoustic.

 

[metropolis_4]

In scenario one: if you don’t kill the feed to stage monitors when you play electric..you will have both stage monitor/""FRFR"" as well as cab. Assuming you feed foh simular lvls for your acoustic as well as electric…the level of your electric sound will be much higher at your spot….unless you kill your monitor feed when you use the cab/electric.

I always use a cab..and the above was the reason to not run my acoustic through the same digital unit.
It can be done…using sends/alternate outputs for acoustic…but for me that added too much complexity, so I used a different device for acoustic.

I would only be running the amp speaker when I’m not running it through the fm3

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

I would only be running the amp speaker when I’m not running it through the fm3

Check…then my point is a non issue

 

[woody]

Are there any pitfalls to avoid or gear choices that can help avoid those?

There are ground loop isolators available form all the usual suspects that deal with transformers, like, Lehle, Radial, Palmer or even Behringer.
It's an easy fix.