Outputs 1 & 2 Connections: Front of Amp & FRFR

[Prince]

I'm gifting my FM3+FC6 to my mom and I want to keep everything as bonehead simple as possible. It will primarily be used in front of a Princeton Reverb amp, with amp & cab blocks bypassed. If she wants to experiment with the amps & cabs blocks, she could run out to headphones (most likely), or the aux input of a Yamaha THR5 (less likely). It would be ideal if she could use 1 cable (+adapters) for the PRRI & THR5. The FM3 manual suggest that the correct hookups are as follows:

FX Processor Only ("Pre") - Front of PRRI Amp = Output 2L: TS ->TS cable or Humbuster cable

FRFR Direct - THR5 = Output 1L: XLR -> TRS

-If I have cables connected to both outputs simultaneously, would there be any volume drop, phasing, or ground loop issues if only one of the external sources is turned on?

-If I copy Output 1 to Output 2, would that create any issues for running to the front of an amp? Does it change Output 2 working at unity gain? Would a better option be to add a shunt -> Out 2 Block before amps in amps in all presets, so that depending on what source is connected (Out 1 -> THR5 or Out 2 -> PRRI), I don't have to use the Copy Output 1 to Output 2 function?

-Would it be possible to only use either Output 1 or Output 2 for both setups? Which of these scenarios would be preferred?
1) Out 1: XLR ->TRS -> a) TRS/TS adapter -> PRRI amp
or b) TRS/3.5mm adapter -> THR5 aux in
or
2) Out 2: TRS -> TRS -> a) TRS/TS adapter -> PRRI amp
or b) TRS/3.5mm adapter -> THR5 aux in
or
3) Out 1: XLR -> TRS (or 3.5mm) -> THR5 aux in
and
Out 2: TRS -> TS (Humbuster) -> PRRI amp

Thanks y'all!

 

[Prince]

Bueller?

 

[Greg Ferguson]

If I have cables connected to both outputs simultaneously, would there be any volume drop, phasing, or ground loop issues if only one of the external sources is turned on?

Something being on isn’t what causes the problem, it’s where they’re plugged in. If they’re on different power circuits and they have different grounding points then there’s potential for a voltage to flow to ground through the other unit. Either make sure they’re on the same circuit or only have one path to ground or physically disconnect one from its power connection. The THR5 is probably powered by a DC adapter which, IIRC, makes it immune from the problem, and means it only could exist between the modeler and the amp. You can put them all on a single power strip and they should be fine. Don’t use a ground adapter either because they are bad news.

As for the rest, I’d follow the KISS principle, and only use a single output cable that can be moved between the Princeton and the THR5. It would reduce the chance of a ground loop, and reduces the job of debugging those “it’s not making sound” calls. Remember, just because it can do complex things doesn’t mean we need to go there.

P. 34 in the manual is the best example, and is what I’d do, using only Out 2. You could modify presets, changing Out 1 blocks to Out 2, or, for simplicity, simply copy Out 1 to Out 2 in the settings. A Humbuster cable is a good recommendation just to reduce the possibility of hum; The manual explains how to make one or you can buy them premade.

If she wants to experiment with the amps & cabs blocks, she could run out to headphones (most likely), or the aux input of a Yamaha THR5 (less likely).

If she’s anything like my mom she’ll give you a look when you mention that, tell you "That's nice honey!", and then say she appreciates the gesture but she’d rather you took out the garbage and cleaned the toilets.