Plug-in tips: using Switchbox as a signal send

[S_Righteous]

I often have multiple signal paths in my pedalboards. I like to use the square buttons on the MOD Duo X to ‘send’ to those paths, and I allow that all paths can be on or off.

You can use a simple volume plug-in, and use a MUTE, but then the buttons are highlighted for off, and you have to label them as “Tremlo Mute”, “Distortion Mute”, etc. I don’t prefer that, I want the highlighted “ON” to be the ON not the mute. It keeps my GUI consistent and easier to figure out live.

I tested a bunch of volume plug-ins, using a button to turn them on or off, but none were suitable, until I found the unique behaviour of the Switchbox. For this plug-in you can set the input to the second channel and then when you turn the plug-in on, the channel is connected to the output, but more importantly, when off, that second input does not pass through to the output. Other switchers seem to pass through audio when the plug-in is off.

This solves a simple problem and I hope this is useful to new users!

[plutek]

yup… i’ve gone through exactly the same thought process!

note: in case you do this sort of thing while a signal is running, you’ll notice a click when switching this way. if that’s a problem:…

clickless switching from @zwabo !

[S_Righteous]

In cases where I am worried about a click, I use CV with a slew rate limiter, and then use the Mono Mixer where the CV controls both the channel fader and the master output. This allows me to have a full ZERO volume when off. Most other volume plug-ins dont seem to go to full zero.

Slew Rate Limiter is very good for making smooth transitions which are normally from ON to OFF

[plutek]

@S_Righteous

Slew Rate Limiter

yessiree!

[S_Righteous]

For mono signals the Toggle Plug-in is good, but for stereo you need to use two of them, and that also means a CV control for each path, which becomes way too cumbersome compared to the Switchbox solution.