how can i run effects pedals straight to a PA for acoustic shows?

Question

I want to run effects through the PA just like i would with an amp. I don't want to run my guitar through an amp cause it loses its natural sound. Is it possible to run my guitar to the effects pedals and then to the input on the PA without blowing it up?

Answer 1

You can do this but for most P.A. systems you will need a Direct Box (D.I.). You can take the 1/4" out from your pedals and throw it into an unbalanced inpt on the mixer but the more standard (and better sounding) option is to use a D.I. to convert the signal to something the mixer's microphone inputs (pre-amp) can deal with.



There are many choices out there. You can use something as simple as this:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Whirlwind-IMP-2-Standard-Direct-Box?sku=184302



or something like this:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Radial-Tonebone-PZPre-Acoustic-Direct-Box-Preamp?sku=150402



Some D.I.s are passive, some are active and need to be powered by the mixer's phantom power or a battery or a power adapter.



Find out what the mixer is/ can do and go from there. If you are playing at a place where P.A. is provided give them a call and find out if the sound person has one. Chances are they have their own.

Answer 2

I disagree with the other answers. Yes, Zoom and Boss make very decent multifx pedals. I'm not as wild about Line 6, but I'm also very particular (read: obsessive) about my tone, and I've never been happy with Line 6 tone. There is nothing inherently wrong with using effects on any type of guitar (acoustic, semiacoustic, electroacoustic, bass, whatever). Many of the Boss pedals are complex. If you want simple, avoid the ME- and GT- series. Powerful? Yes. Sound good? Yes. Can you do a ton of stuff with them? Yes. Learning curve, though? Yes. The biggest complaint that I have about multifx pedals (any of them and all of them) is that the distortion tends to blow. Clean effects are often quite decent, and I've found that I prefer having one multifx pedal with decent customizable clean effects verses a half-dozen pedals that I have to keep an eye on, make sure batteries don't run out or adapters don't fall out, cables don't fail, etc. I prefer to get my distortion from a pedal or my amp. That said, I do prefer heavy distortion (chugga chugga chug chug wheeeee chugga chugga)... the lighter distortion (overdrive, boost, even a slight crunch) tends to not be too bad. So yeah... I think that the Line 6 you're looking at would be acceptable for you. Line 6 tends to be relatively easy to use, and I think that you'll be happy with the results. It's not a POD or a Spyder, so that's good at least. While I loathe the POD and Spyder amps, it is for very specific reasons that would involve me ranting and raving about things that most people probably wouldn't even care about. The clean tones you can get with those units aren't too bad.... just, in my opinion, not the heavier distorted tones. Ideally, for me, I would prefer to play my guitar through it before I bought it... or at least make sure that there was a decent return policy. Good luck! Saul

Answer 3

Can you do it? = yes

Can you blow it up? = yes and no. You can blow the speakers if you are not careful with volume so let the sound man set it up for you.



You can go with a direct BOX as was already suggested if the mixer requires a cable longer than 25 feet, or an easier way would be to plug into a wireless instrument transmitter. Talk to your sound man about it. Just go from your guitar to the effects pedal and then out into the wireless and no Direct BOX necessary.

Answer 4

Sure! if it's a long run to the mixer, use a direct box to convert the signal to a low z, balanced signal (mic cable), otherwise, just plug your rig right into one of the line level inputs. Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_box



Go to your music store and ask for a direct box or use an online music store. If you play acoustic guitar through house PA systems, you'll need one.