DIY Pedalboard c/w Ampswitch...

[JkGriffin]

Now... as I am currently redecorating my studio/gaming room, I start to think more of what I would benefit of rather than what I can buy...

So I'm building myself a new studiodesk... Inspiration:


Some changes are made though... not a complete rip-off...


However... my plan is to set this up in a corner and stack the amps next to it... then maybe get a more... well... short story... I want to be able to switch between two amps. This is not a problem in itself, but I want to switch between the AFD100 (where I keep delay/reverb n' stuff in the loop) and my Lil' Elvis (where everything goes in the front of the amp). This means that when I push the button, not only do I switch amps, but I'm switching between having an FX-loop and not.

I've figured that the 3DPT switch actually can do the job if I use the switch to cut/switch single wires in a chain rather than the entire cable (did that make sense to you guys? Think of a lightswitch that when you turn the light off, you do so by cutting the circuit in one place rather than the often used two).

So I've solved the problem myself you say... well... no... I get many fancy spancy ideas like a bit of luxury with everything I do... so I want to add LED's. One LED indicating that amp 1 is engaged and another LED indicating when amp 2 is engaged. This can be solved if I find a 3DPT switch... that actually is a 4DPT switch... only in stompbox format. The only ones I've found is just the ones you flip with your fingers...


The pedalboard switching will only work if a 3DPT switch actually works like this:

If not, then my plan is rubbish... but I think I'm right. I'm not a google expert. Found lot's of stuff showing how to connect a 3DPT in a pedal, but not so much how it actually works... so... well... I think I'm right anyways...

[frank9310]

Hey that all looks cool and I'm currently trying to set something similar up myself using a Lexicon Lambda http://www.lexiconpro.com/product.php?id=8

Then my laptop, 2 Shure SM57s with cabgrabs for my stereo amp setup and a Zoom Q3 for distance mic'ing along with Cakewalk Sonar as my DAW. My question is, I usually play close to dimed with the room rattling. How do you do this without the electronics in the PC getting rattled and damaged?

[record335]

Hi there,

I am in the process of doing exactly the same thing and have startup doing some 3D modelling prior to the build. I am not sure which design to go for but will more than likely make it from pine or 1" MDF.

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Studio Desk Plan.jpg (167.33 KiB) Viewed 1825 times

Studio Desk Plan1.jpg (158.26 KiB) Viewed 1825 times

Not sure which design to go for but you should be able to get the gist of where I am going with this. I can also add all the dimensions and provide the templates to cut straight out of the wood.

Might even post a build update as I go through the motions of trying to get it made.

Mark

[frank9310]

Mark, so are those rack units like for effects insertion vs using software plugins? Nice drawings!

Why monkey around building one though when all the wood and time to build it when you can buy a ready made one for around $125-150 like this one? I'm sure you could find others closer to what you'd want to do in a similar range http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor ... helf--only

[JkGriffin]

Nice drawings indeed.

I though about doing the same thing... as I do know how to... but then I figured that the time I'd spend getting a 3D model is probably just about the same as building the thing

Anyways... all the plates has been cut and the desk has been assembled... taken apart, some parts got some adjustment... and all plates have got their first layer of paint. Three layers to go... one on the current side and two on the other side...
Then it's the final assembly and some electrical stuff...

Almost too bad I have to be quite patient... I'm painting my room first as well.
It's gonna be real good, but it takes some time. Wish I had my vacation now instead...

And then there is this thing about the pedal board which I'm gonna make as well... we'll see if I make it easy or difficult....


Tried to take a few pictures on my progress for ya'll, but my camera isn't playing ball at the moment... Never buy Olympus. The two latest one I've bought turned out to be rather crap... and they weren't cheap either...

[Woodhead]

don't know how good you are at wiring , but you could possibly use a single throw switch and run it to a remote box to open/close some general purpose relays and switch a whole bunch of things and not have all those cables going to your pedal.

[slowpokerhino]

Mark, so are those rack units like for effects insertion vs using software plugins? Nice drawings!

Why monkey around building one though when all the wood and time to build it when you can buy a ready made one for around $125-150 like this one? I'm sure you could find others closer to what you'd want to do in a similar range http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor ... helf--only

You do know that link is for the shelf only right?

[JkGriffin]

don't know how good you are at wiring , but you could possibly use a single throw switch and run it to a remote box to open/close some general purpose relays and switch a whole bunch of things and not have all those cables going to your pedal.

Fairly... it was my job for 6 years... Skills a bit rusty, but I can handle

I don't understand what you're trying to achieve though.
It's two thingies I want to be able to turn on/off by the switch of a button... my bass amp that has the power switch on the backside (where I can't reach once installed) and the Peterson Stroboflip tuner which don't have a master switch at all. That blue light can be to much of powered on permanently.
It's just a matter of connecting a switch between the power and the "thingie". Just about as basic as it gets...

[frank9310]

Mark, so are those rack units like for effects insertion vs using software plugins? Nice drawings!

Why monkey around building one though when all the wood and time to build it when you can buy a ready made one for around $125-150 like this one? I'm sure you could find others closer to what you'd want to do in a similar range http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessor ... helf--only

You do know that link is for the shelf only right?

Not sure I follow. My question though in looking at these studio desks is are those typically what recording desks do is have things like hardware type EQ and effects and use minimal software plugins?

[JkGriffin]

don't know how good you are at wiring , but you could possibly use a single throw switch and run it to a remote box to open/close some general purpose relays and switch a whole bunch of things and not have all those cables going to your pedal.

Fairly... it was my job for 6 years... Skills a bit rusty, but I can handle

I don't understand what you're trying to achieve though.
It's two thingies I want to be able to turn on/off by the switch of a button... my bass amp that has the power switch on the backside (where I can't reach once installed) and the Peterson Stroboflip tuner which don't have a master switch at all. That blue light can be to much of powered on permanently.
It's just a matter of connecting a switch between the power and the "thingie". Just about as basic as it gets...

I knew what you were thinking about once I had written that and turned off the computer... you are of course thinking of the pedal board. I forgot all about that yesterday

So then I can reply all over again...

I don't know how wise it is to have a bunch of relays close to the pedals. They could produce sigificant amount of noise... and which you all know... I have enough of that

A 4PDT switch should do the job without any need for any relay switching though... As I will be using all the pins on it, it will require some patience soldering the stuff together though...