Voodoo Lab GCX Audio Switcher

Well, this thing is your solution to working a perfect rig...If you aren't using a pedal, amp, whatever, you don't just bypass it, you take it completely out of the signal path...I use two of the GCX units in conjunction with a Ground Control Pro unit....The two GCXs work together as if it is one 16 loop machine...I use it to switch between FX, amps, preamps, you name it...Setting up can be a pain and you gotta do some thinking...Also MIDI control doesn't just happen, you have to assign all that stuff and it takes time and sometimes you must take something apart to access a MIDI board...

Once you do all the hard work, your rig will have never sounded better nor as easily controlled....Simply excellent....Your pedals aren't true bypass but sound great? No tone suck with GCX, it's on or it's out! I love this unit...

This unit, originally produce by DMC music corp, is a 1 rack looper featuring

-8 send/return loops, each with in and out allowing for custom routing
-Buffered guitar in
-Feed thru for avoiding buffer, or cleanly splitting signal
-MIDI in and thru
-Powers MIDI controllers via MIDI in and proper MIDI cable

Voodoo Lab made this unit very easy to use. The functions of the unit are easily accessible via the MIDI in and your controller. The MIDI thru allows control of other MIDI units in a setup. The in and outs for each loop are an awesome feature in my opinion. Though this requires additional cabling, it allows completely custom routing, and MANY more options and functions than a hard wired solution. For example, this allows one to loop pedal infront of an amplifier, in the effects loop, or to even split signals between completely different chains. The ‘guitar in’ being split to both outputs in the back makes settings up a stereo path quite simple. Finally, loops can also be used to control amplifier functions via the control jacks, allowing control of your amplifier functions and external units all at one touch.

The beauty of this unit is that there is not sound….it is a looper that routes your signal to any combination of pedals/units that are connected to it. When you choose not to use the loops, your signal passes through untouched, or at least as close as possible in a real life situation. I detect no tonal loss when running the unit in my rig. Switching is instantaneous and silent, allowing seamless changes for live performance.

This unit is the brain of my guitar rig, and provides one-touch control of every one of my sounds. I would not play out with an analog rig without it. I am not a fan of tap dancing, and this allows me to worry about playing rather than switching pedals and channels in my rig. It is a must for any performing guitarist!

The GCX is a good quality router, there are better options available but they are way more expensive.

The GCX has 8 loops, each one has a input-output and a send-return. This will allow you to do more than just looping/racking pedals or fx. The loops can also be used as switches e.g. to switch channels on your amp. You can also use them to a/b between amps or preamps.

The way to connect your GCX highly depends on how you want to use it, however, the manual is very well written and clear so you shouldn't have a problem hooking it up. On the front panel, you have 2 inputs that can be used as feed thrus. There are a couple of different versions available, some older GCXs had a guitar input, this one could only be used front-to-back. The input on the right has a buffer, which you may or may not like, if you don't, you can plug straight into loop1 or use the other feed thru. If you want to use it to loop pedals, you will need a number of short cables to patch from 1 loop to the other. Some people are modding their GCX internally so they don't need the short cables but this way, you can no longer use the loops for switching or a/b-functions. I always ran mine with pedals sitting on a shelf, 6-7 of them and this worked flawlessly.

The GCX only responds to Midi CC commands so you will need a midi-controller that can send sufficient CCs and preferably has instant access switches. You don’t have to buy the Ground Control pro but the 2 units were made for each other. I used the GCX with a Rocktron All Access and that works fine too.

Price/quality wise, the GCX is really good. Not to many options out there so choose the one you want, the GCX gets recommended and is used by a lot of people.