With its many special features and possible use cases, the Patchbox Quintet GEN 4 is the most powerful patchbox.
First things first: None of the special features have to be used, the 5 isolated channels of the patchbox can also be used as regular pass-through channels for mono or stereo Signals.
First, the two most common use cases before we go into more detail.
Smart Switching & Input-Mute
This setup allows the use of amps with and without an effects loop without changing the wiring of the pedalboard.
When using an amp with an effects loop, Post-FX (delay, reverb, etc.) are in the amp's effects loop. With an amp without an effects loop, the patchbox automatically places the Post-FX in the signal path after the Pre-FX (overdrive, gain etc.).
If the guitar is unplugged from channel 1's outer socket, it mutes the signal – this avoids noise.
Guest Loop & Wireless Bypass
The two white sockets can be used as an access point into the signal path. External effects can be inserted into the signal path here temporarily - e.g. a volume pedal or effects that have not found a permanent place on the pedalboard.
A wireless receiver is connected to channel 1 using an insert cable. If the outer socket is not in use, the wireless receiver's signal is routed to the first effect in the signal chain. If a guitar is connected by cable to the outer socket, it is routed directly to the first effect and the wireless receiver is muted.
Also available as a patchbay
The patchbox is also available with a range of panels to attach to your pedalboard.
Special features in detail
You don't have to use any of the following special features and you can combine them - for example, you can use Override on channel 1, Smart Switching on channels 2 & 3 and Summing on channels 4 & 5. Many combinations are possible, only the channels on which the individual features are available are fixed.
Channel 1 and channel 5
Channels 1 & 5 each support the Mute, Override & Insert features - for channel 1 they are already activated by default (but can be deactivated), for channel 5 they can be activated by moving a jumper on the circuit board.
For Insert and Override you need insert cables (e.g. ‘EBS ICY-30’ or ‘Rockboard Flat Patch Y-Splitter’).
If a channel with mute functionality is used as a mono input for the guitar, it will automatically mute itself (and thus the input of the first effect) as soon as the cable is unplugged from the outer socket. This avoids noise.
Channels with override functionality can be used to either activate another signal source or redirect the signal to another output by connecting a mono cable to the outer socket.
The original signal source or output is properly muted.
Wireless Bypass: If the outer socket is empty, the signal is sent directly from the wireless receiver to the first effect. If a guitar is connected to the outer socket via cable, the guitar signal is sent to the first effect and the wireless receiver is muted.
Very practical as a backup or if you want to play spontaneously via cable.
Amp Sim Bypass: If the outer socket is empty, the signal from the last effect is sent directly to the amp simulator to which you connect headphones, for example. If an amp is connected to the outer socket, the signal is sent to the amp and the input of the amp simulator is muted.
Channels with insert functionality allow external effects to be temporarily inserted into the mono signal path using insert cables.
If the outer socket is not in use, the signal is routed from one end of the insert cable to the other end; if an effect or volume pedal is connected to the outer socket via another insert cable, the signal passes through this first.
Channel pair 2 & 3
If the white sockets of channel 2 and channel 3 are not in use, the channels are connected (there is a direct connection between the two opposite black sockets). This enables the following features - in mono or stereo.
The two white sockets can be used as an access point into the signal path. If both are unused, the signal goes directly from one opposite inner socket to the other.
If external effects or a volume pedal are connected, they are positioned at this point in the signal path.
The pedalboard can be set up for amps with an effects loop - Pre-FX (overdrive, gain, etc.) are then in front of the amp, Post-FX (delay, reverb, etc.) in the amp's effects loop.
Nevertheless, the pedalboard can also be used in its entirety with amps without an effects loop; the patchbox automatically places the Post-FX after the Pre-FX in the signal path.
Amp with effects loop: Post-FX (delay, reverb etc.) are in the amp's effects loop.
Amp without effects loop: The signal path is Post-FX after Pre-FX. The wiring of the pedalboard is unchanged.
Channel pair 4 & 5
Channels 4 & 5 can be used to either split a signal to two outputs or to sum a stereo signal (left and right) to a mono signal.
If socket 4B is not in use, the signal at 5B is passively split to the two outer sockets 4A & 5A.
You can use this to operate two amps at the same time or to send the signal to an amp and a recording interface.
To isolate the signal receivers from each other, an isolator (e.g. Lehle P-ISO) is recommended in front of one of the signal receivers in some cases.
Summing allows the pedalboard to be set up in stereo and played either in stereo via two amps or in mono via one amp.
The last effect in the signal path provides two mono signals, left and right (one stereo signal). If an amplifier is only connected to outer socket 5A, the patchbox sums these signals into one mono signal via a passive resistor network.
Summing is deactivated by default and can be activated internally; this should only be done if the patchbox is used for this purpose.
Some (digital) effects use a different algorithm when outputting a stereo signal, in which case the summed signal does not correspond exactly to the mono output of that effect.
Technical specifications:
- All channels can be used in mono or stereo
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Complete isolation (signal lines and ground line) of the individual channels
- Unused special features have absolutely no impact on the signal
- Carefully designed circuit board for maximum reliability and signal quality
- High-quality Neutrik sockets
- Matt black powder-coated grounded aluminium enclosure
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Dimensions (incl. sockets): 100 x 68.5 x 28 mm
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Weight: 140 gr.
Product safety information
Manufacturer information:
Constantin Eckstein
Kreuzgasse 11, 72581 Dettingen an der Erms, Deutschland
info@looperwerk.de
