From formercakid@yahoo.com Mon Jul 07 07:26:45 2003
Subject:Re: effects loop

What about the Hammond XB-2, it has an effects loop?
--- Bruce Wahler wrote:
> Hi,
>
> >why, oh why hath the cx-3 no effects loop?
> >all i want is to put effects like wah and tube
> overdrive
> >before the whirrling leslie sim
> >why, oh why...
> >
> >...really, korg, why no effects loop??
>
> I don't work for Korg, but I think I can answer this
> one, anyway. (I'm a design engineer.) The same
> question could be asked of Roland or Clavia (Nord),
> and the answer would be the same.
>
> Q: Why don't most "modeling" clones have effects
> jacks?
>
> A: It would complicate the design. 99% of the work
> is all done in the digital world, using software
> (firmware). The designers create a set of "virtual"
> tonewheels, percussion, preamp, etc. which is only
> converted to the analog world at the end of the
> line. From a hardware perspective, the setup is
> simple:
>
> Knobs+switches --> Digitizer --> CPU + memory +
> special ICs --> Analog Convertor --> Output
>
> Yes, the knobs and switches have to be converted
> to the digital world, but the conversion can be much
> cruder than audio-signal-quality, and any noise this
> process adds can be filtered away with digital
> processing. Add in an effects loop, and the system
> gets more complicated:
>
> Knobs+switches --> Digitizer --> CPU, etc. -->
> Analog Convertor --> Effects Loop --> Digital
> Convertor --> CPU, etc. --> Analog Convertor -->
> Output
>
> This "complication" translates into more parts,
> more engineering work, and more places for noise to
> enter in, which results in more cost. I would
> suspect that the cost would rise by several hundred
> (US) dollars. Given that the cost of these
> instruments is already higher than most modern
> keyboards (i.e., synths and ROMplers), manufacturers
> shy away from adding this feature. For every player
> who would find the effects loop useful, there are
> probably 5-10 others who would likely never use it.
>
> Q: So why did the V3, a modeling clone, have an
> effects loop?
>
> A: The V3 created the organ section digitally, but
> there was a good deal of analog circuitry in it --
> the Spin simulator, the EQ circuit, and probably
> some other things that I'm not aware of. Since the
> digital-to-analog conversion happens before the Spin
> (Leslie), an effects loop can be easily added.
>
> Now, I'm not saying that you don't have a valid
> point, so don't give up asking for the effects loop.
> At some point, the conversion electronics may be
> come simple and cheap enough that manufacturers
> start adding one in. I suspect, however, that the
> time isn't yet right for this change.
>
> Regards,
>
> -BW
> --
> Bruce Wahler
> Ashby Solutions™ http://music.ashbysolutions.com
> 978.386.7389 voice/fax
> bruce@ashbysolutions.com
>

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