Or you can go really nuts like I did once as a test with 3 bass inputs:
DI from my Becos compressor, XLR Pre DI from my GR Bass combo and mic’d cab with my Sennheiser e609 (the e906 wasn’t available when I bought it). My pedals that require tracking go to the instrument input on the amp. My FX pedals are routed via the FX Send/FX Return loop on the amp. So, the XLR Pre includes the tracking pedals like the E-H Micro POG, while the mic’d cab includes the FX pedals in the FX loop.
I use MeldaProduction’s MAutoAlign to phase align the 3 signals in my DAW.
It’s a fun little toy for playing around. I mostly just use it for chorus. I can’t really read the labels and the controls are difficult but the price was right
If I got to the point where I actually needed one of those effects I’d probably buy a standalone pedal
It works great so far. Yep, the nut slots into the track and locks into place as you tighten it, and that’s what squeezes it to the pedal. I’ve held it upside down and nothing budged. The downside is it has issues holding on to pedals that are angled on the sides.
I’ve only had it for about 36 hours now. I haven’t done a deep dive into the effects yet, just the ones I use a fair bit. So far I like it. The chorus and delays sound good. Especially the chorus. I wasn’t a huge fan of how the octaver and pitch shifter sounded on bass (or I need to get into menus and tweak the settings some more). I also need to tweak the noise gate, it’s a bit too sensitive still. That looper is pretty rad, I haven’t had one before.
I had a Boss GX-10 in it’s place before, which is overall better imo. It does amp and cab sims a whole lot better for instance. I’m putting that on single row travel board with just a DI. I bought this purely for handling those 5 effects (at a time) with individual foot switches, bonus is it’s got that fx loop on the X5. This also means I have room for some of the other analog pedals I’ve had sitting in a drawer that I really like, like that tubescreamer and my Keeley comp. I was debating picking up an X3 for that smaller build and selling the GX-10 but I don’t think so anymore. What I’m using the X5 for, it’s pretty near perfect but it wouldn’t handle being the central piece of a board, especially without any kind of drive pedals in it.
It wouldn’t fit otherwise, but I agree. In fact, I agree so much that I’m buying a new, smaller fuzz pedal (it’s a TC electronics Honey Pot fuzz pedal) today to replace it. Thinking of picking up a Source Audio Aftershock. It’s small enough to fit the correct way.
