Make a G-Force effect loop

Ralf Schneider has contributed on this page.

Together with the page about letting two players use one G-Force, this trick is a bit of overkill. It's also among the most difficult (programming-wise) on the site, and like any page may contain errors. Try it if you feel like experimenting, but if you really need an effect loop there are probably better solutions (such as buying a second effect processor).

I wouldn't recommend using a preset with this kind of setup together with ordinary patches, for example in a live situation, because:

• Since you must use Stereo inputs (in I/O Setup > Audio) and connect one of the output jacks back to the input there will be feedback when using this setup with an ordinary patch (maybe you can avoid that by completely muting the external effect processor when it's not in use).
• You may have to use unusual level settings on the front of the G-Force that cannot be saved into presets.

Basic principles

Since the G-Force uses two input and output jacks, it's possible to use one output as an effect send and one input as an effect return and that way create a mono effect loop. With an effect loop you can choose where to put an external preamp in the effect chain relative to the G-Force effects. For example you can rout a Compressor and a Wah Wah before the preamp, yet still add other G-Force effects after the preamp. You may also insert an external effect processor in the middle of the G-Force's effect chain.

G-force inputs and outputs

• Make the G-Force use the Stereo input option (in I/O Setup > Audio).
• Since the The Input level and the Gate are stereo controls they will affect both the guitar input and the effect loop return. You can make your own gate from modifiers if you want different Gate settings for guitar and effect loop return.
• The Output level and the Speaker Filter are also stereo controls, and will therefore affect both the output and the effect loop send. You can make your own speaker filter using a Delay or Resonance filter.

Split the stereo input signal

In order to create an effect loop the signal from the left and right input jacks must be kept separate in the signal path. This is done by taking advantage of how the different effect blocks work:

• The Advanced Tremolo can be programmed to block one of its inputs by choosing LFO phase=180 degrees, Depth=100%, Mix=100% and finally turn off Speed at the desired pan position (Speed can be turned off from G-Force version 1.12).
• The Dual Delay both lets you block one of its inputs (by turning down that Delay Line's Level) and pan its output. For example you can allow only the right side to enter the delay block, then pan the signal hard left at its output.
• The mono input effect blocks (but not the Panner) mute their right input, allowing only the left side to enter. An exception is when a mono input block is routed directly after the Input section, in which case it mixes the right and left inputs into mono. To avoid that you can rout a stereo input effect block between the Input section and the mono input effect block.

Pan the split signal to the outputs

Be careful so that the split signal reaches the correct output jack, otherwise instant feedback may occur which could be damaging.

• Delay and Pitch Shift effects can be used to pan a signal to a desired output jack. Panners may also be used, but in most cases the Pan-Trem block is best utilizes when making the Advanced Tremolo split a stereo input signal (see above).
• Once you've blocked one side of the input signal you can send it through any stereo input effects and it will still retain its pan state. For example, a signal that's panned hard left will stay like that even after passing through a chorus effect.
• Mono input effects work in a different way, though:
  • Since they block the right side of a signal you cannot use them if you already blocked the left side with the Delay or Advanced Tremolo.
  • Since they create a stereo signal from their mono input the signal chain must end with a Delay or Pitch Shift effect, that can be panned to the desired output jack.

Examples

1. Loop for a preamp (by Ralph Schneider)

             ______
            |      |
       ooooo|Preamp|oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
       o    |______|                             o
       o                                         o
       o |-------------------------------------| o
       o |   ________    ______    ________    | o
       oo|oo|Chorus  |oo|Reverb|oo|Quad Tap|ooooo+oooo Amp
         |  |        |  |      |  |Delay   |   | o
         |  |________|  |______|  |________|   | o
         |   ________    __________    ______  | o
         |  |Advanced|  |Compressor|  |Wah   | | o
         |  |Tremolo |  |          |  |      | | o
Guitar oo|oo|________|oo|__________|oo|______|oooo
         |                                     |
         |-------------------------------------|

oooo = Signal path
   + = Overlapping paths

With this loop you can insert the preamp after a Compressor and Wah but before the other G-Force effects. As can be seen in the figure, the guitar is connected to the G-Force's Right input jack. In the Advanced Tremolo the Left stereo side is muted. The Compressor and the Wah are both stereo in effects and will not change the pan state of the signal, so in the Output block it's still panned hard right, and will exit through the right output jack only. The right output jack is connected to the preamp input.

The preamp output is sent to the G-Force's Left input jack. After the Chorus, the Reverb and Quad Tap Delay will mute the Right input. One Delay tap should be used for the dry signal (with no Delay time), but the other taps can be used for delay effects. All delay taps must be panned to the left output jack, otherwise there could be feedback. You can also use the Pitch Shift effect before or after the Delay.

2. Loop for additional effect processor

             ______
            |      |
       ooooo|Effect|ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
       o    |______|                        o
       o                                    o
       o |--------------------------------| o
       o |   ______    ________    _____  | o
       ooooo|Stereo|oo|Optional|oo|Pitch|ooo+ooo Amp
         |  |effect|  |effect  |  |Shift| | o
         |  |______|  |________|  |_____| | o
         |   ________    _________        | o
         |  |Advanced|  |Optional |       | o
         |  |Tremolo |  |stereo in|       | o
Guitar ooooo|________|oo|_________|oooooooooo
         |                                |
         |--------------------------------|

oooo = Signal path
   + = Overlapping paths

From the Right input jack the signal is allowed through the Advanced Tremolo, your choice of stereo in effects and finally out through the Right output jack. You can use a left in effect instead of one with a stereo input, but then it must be followed by the Delay to pan it to the Right output jack only.

From the Left input jack the first effect must be stereo in, but it can be followed by your choice of left- or stereo in effects. By ending with the Pitch Shift block you can both mute the right input jack signal (if it isn't already muted by a previous left input effect) and pan the signal to the Left output jack.