Switchers (Like Rocktron Patchmate)
Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 4:25 amAnyone have any experience with switcher units?
I'm looking at the Rocktron Patchmate right now (http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rocktron-Patchmate-Loop-8-MIDI-Switcher?sku=152020). I've got a Rocktron Midi Mate that I currently use as a foot controller, so I'm really interested in this unit because of the compatibility.
The Patchmate was discontinued a while ago, but Rocktron has brought it back, and apparently made it better. Some of the reviews on Harmony Central aren't favorable to the Patchmate, but that was the previous incarnation of the unit, back in the late '90's. I'm thinking the newer issue probably has some improvements.
Voodoo Lab also makes a switcher, but you pretty much have to use their foot controller (Ground Control) with it, which adds another $400 to the price tag (http://www.voodoolab.com/gcontrolpro.htm). By the time you're done you're probably looking at $800 + cables.
And then, of course, you can go custom with a Bob Bradshaw unit (http://www.customaudioelectronics.com/). But I don't imagine custom units come cheap.
I'm wanting a switcher so I can control my units better. Up to now all I've had is a Mesa Boogie Triaxis and a TC Electronics G-Major. Both are controllable via midi, so I just run a cable from my foot pedal to the G-Major, and then on through to the Triaxis. One button click on the foot controller and I can switch to the same channel on both units. Once the units are programmed, this is a super-easy way to control my sound in a live setting.
But I recently added the Xotic BB Preamp, and that is a whole new ball of wax. It's a standard stomp-box; doesn't respond to midi. So I need a way to drop it in and out of my signal for a given midi channel.
It looks like any of these switchers will do the trick. I like what I've read of the Rocktron Patchmate so far. I downloaded the manual off the internet and it seems really easy to program and would work with my setup.
If anyone has any experience with switchers, please chime in!
I'm looking at the Rocktron Patchmate right now (http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rocktron-Patchmate-Loop-8-MIDI-Switcher?sku=152020). I've got a Rocktron Midi Mate that I currently use as a foot controller, so I'm really interested in this unit because of the compatibility.
The Patchmate was discontinued a while ago, but Rocktron has brought it back, and apparently made it better. Some of the reviews on Harmony Central aren't favorable to the Patchmate, but that was the previous incarnation of the unit, back in the late '90's. I'm thinking the newer issue probably has some improvements.
Voodoo Lab also makes a switcher, but you pretty much have to use their foot controller (Ground Control) with it, which adds another $400 to the price tag (http://www.voodoolab.com/gcontrolpro.htm). By the time you're done you're probably looking at $800 + cables.
And then, of course, you can go custom with a Bob Bradshaw unit (http://www.customaudioelectronics.com/). But I don't imagine custom units come cheap.
I'm wanting a switcher so I can control my units better. Up to now all I've had is a Mesa Boogie Triaxis and a TC Electronics G-Major. Both are controllable via midi, so I just run a cable from my foot pedal to the G-Major, and then on through to the Triaxis. One button click on the foot controller and I can switch to the same channel on both units. Once the units are programmed, this is a super-easy way to control my sound in a live setting.
But I recently added the Xotic BB Preamp, and that is a whole new ball of wax. It's a standard stomp-box; doesn't respond to midi. So I need a way to drop it in and out of my signal for a given midi channel.
It looks like any of these switchers will do the trick. I like what I've read of the Rocktron Patchmate so far. I downloaded the manual off the internet and it seems really easy to program and would work with my setup.
If anyone has any experience with switchers, please chime in!
