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Topic: Eleven Rack |
Karlis Abolins
From:
(near) Seattle, WA, USA
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Posted 21 Dec 2011 7:11 am |
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Going through Craigslist a couple of weeks ago, I came across an Eleven Rack (sometimes referred to as 11R) at a price that was irresistible. With some reservations I bought the unit. The previous owner bought it for a single project and was looking to move it quickly.
I have been dissatisfied with the various multi-effects units I own. Although I have been able to get good sounds from them after some difficulty, all of them have flaws that make using and programming them a chore.
The folks at Avid appear to understand the process better than their competitors. After readings through the small manual, I was able to quickly bring up one of their presets and tweak it to get some really nice sounds from their Blackface Duo. I don't know if it sounds like a big twin but I enjoy what it sounds like. I have created four patches so far that explore some new territory for me. This unit combined with the two pickups on my pedal steel allow me to quickly vary my sound from song to song.
I think the folks at Avid could market this unit differently. I would not buy this unit at the usual going price. Bundling it with ProTools (LE with my unit but the full version of ProTools on newer models) makes it too expensive for most folks who don't need or want a new DAW but want the hardware for live performance. I think that they should sell this without the bundling at a price point closer to what I paid. I think that they would sell a lot more units. Perhaps the integration with ProTools would be a draw for the recording musician as long as they offered a discounted purchase path for ProTools.
In the meantime, I am enjoying my "new" sounds.
Karlis  |
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Karlis Abolins
From:
(near) Seattle, WA, USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2012 5:16 am Eleven Rack for Pedal Steel - expression pedal
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I'm getting used to this device. I just added an expression pedal to the unit to use as the volume pedal. I had tried my ernie ball pedal wired as an expression pedal but it didn't give me predictable results. I bought a Yamaha FC7 volume pedal for $50 and plugged it in. It works perfectly. The 11R can accommodate linear and logarithmic taper pedals. With the setting on linear, the FC7 works smoothly and accurately. I set the minimum volume to 3 and played around with it for a while. The 11R allows you to move the effects around anywhere in the chain. I have the volume as the first item in the chain. I may move it to a later spot (maybe just in front of the reverb) to see how it affects the voicing of the other parameters like amp and cab.
This 11R has great potential for the pedal steel. The adjustable input impedance is a novel approach to matching pickups to the unit. I played around with the settings and settled on 90k for my alumintones.
I am liking this unit more and more.
Karlis |
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Christopher Woitach
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Karlis Abolins
From:
(near) Seattle, WA, USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2012 5:42 am Is the volume pedal a tone sucker?
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I record our weekly get-togethers. This week I was surprised to hear the steel more clearly in the mix. I can only describe it as having more clarity. The only difference between this week and previous sessions is the removal of the volume pedal from the chain. With the expression pedal controlling the volume, the signal path does not go through the volume pedal. I had been using an Ernie Ball VP and I now believe that it is a tone killer. I have a goodrich light pedal and a hilton pedal but I don't use either of them because of an issue with a fused ankle. The Ernie Ball VP was good for me from a usability standpoint but I'm glad that it is now out of the loop. The Yamaha FC7 works for me in the same way physically as the Ernie Ball.
Now that I can hear myself better in the mix, I can also hear all of my errors more clearly. It's a two-edged sword.
Karlis |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 29 Mar 2013 10:26 pm
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| I tried all the "pedal types" on the menu and it will not recognize my FC-7. What type did you choose? |
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Karlis Abolins
From:
(near) Seattle, WA, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2013 5:54 am
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Hi Earnest,
I had to review my settings on the unit.
In User Options:
- External Pedals: expression pedal selected; Pedal Type normal
- Persistent Volume Pedal: Enable
In the Rig:
- Vol: Volume Pedal Linear
- Pedal: Function Volume Pedal
I see on the other thread that your are sending it back. Your comments on using headphones and fatigue are interesting. I use KRK's and they are extremely comfortable. I set my volume to the point at which the unit "comes alive" sonically. It is probably lower than most people would use but I have tinnitus and loud volume is a pain. I think that the DACs that AVID uses on this device and the new Mbox are some of the best available. The clarity of the sound is amazing. I have trouble getting an equivalent quality sound out a connected amp. I can see why units such as the 11r and the fractal axe are best paired with clean neutral amps.
Karlis |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2013 7:48 am
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Thanks Karlis.
My FC7 fails at the Calibration step. Heel, toe,
"9 Sweep the pedal to test its functionality. If the
pedal is working correctly, the Active indicator
on the display will light up."
The Active indicator does not light. And the pedal does nothing. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2013 9:56 am
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Karlis, does the same pedal work for the wah effect and, if so, is it easy to switch from volume pedal to wah pedal?
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2013 10:26 am
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The pedal's function is stored with each Rig. There are 104 factory preset rigs and storage for 104 of your own.
There is only one pedal input, for a switch pedal or continuous such as FC7. If you want to go nuts with multiple control pedals, you should get a MIDI controller with lots of pedals on it, and plug that into the Eleven Rack's MIDI input. You can assign just about anything to a MIDI controller. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2013 10:45 am
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So, how quickly can you switch custom "rigs"? Is it something you can do for a solo on stage? Or is it complex enough that you only do it between songs?
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Karlis Abolins
From:
(near) Seattle, WA, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2013 3:22 pm
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The rigs are switched via a knob on the face of the unit. You can store a rhythm rig next to a lead rig and switch between them in the same manner as other modelers like the line 6 pods. As Earnest indicated, you can also use a midi controller to change programs with a foot switch, etc.
Karlis |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 31 Mar 2013 9:32 pm
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| b0b wrote: |
| So, how quickly can you switch custom "rigs"? Is it something you can do for a solo on stage? Or is it complex enough that you only do it between songs? |
It takes about a half second to switch, and there are no ugly sounds while it happens. |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 31 Mar 2013 9:37 pm
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The more I futz around with this thing, the better I like it. I have 2 more days before return-it-or-keep-it, and now I feel like keeping it.
Let's see ... 28 amp models, 15 speaker cabinet models, 9 mic models, on/off axis making 7560 combinations to try before I even tweak a tone control. And those cabinet models do make a huge difference. |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 7 Apr 2013 7:13 pm
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I got the Yamaha pedal and Roland pedal to control volume.
Taper takes a little getting used to. It is switchable but not really customizable. But I like the simplicity of it.
Eleven Rack sounds great at home. Now to try it on a couple of gigs. There are only about 13 ways to adjust the gain; what could possibly go wrong? |
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 7 Apr 2013 8:05 pm
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I have been using the Roland GP-100 and they stopped making those in 1996  My brain gets a bit stuck when trying to program multi effects units. Is the 11 rack easier to program than similar type units? |
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Karlis Abolins
From:
(near) Seattle, WA, USA
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Posted 8 Apr 2013 9:53 am
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Controlling the volume and sound of the 11r in different situations is daunting. I had been practicing using headphones and had dialed in some patches that sounded really nice. However, when I piped the sound through my altos TS112A's, the patches sounded "wimpy". I adjusted the parameters until I got the patches to sound good coming from the speakers. I went back the next day to practicing through my headphones and found the sound to be "harsh". I think it will be important for me to set up equivalent patches for both situations.
Len,
The 11r is easy to program once you get used to where things are but there is a learning curve up front to figure out the menu structure. I am getting pretty confident with my programming abilities.
Karlis |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 8 Apr 2013 10:08 am
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Eleven Rack sounded very good last night at Oyster House, even thru the Peavey amp which I brought in case of trouble with the Eleven Rack. Actually there was trouble at first. Just like last week, the FC7 pedal would not control volume. After several reboots and re-calibrations, it did work. Sooner or later I hope I figure that one out.
As I mentioned before, I like the simplicity of digital volume control with a pedal such as Yamaha FC7, or Roland EV-5. The only taper control is a log/linear switch, and only log is close to what we want. But there is a choice of pedal types, and I found that "reverse" is a better taper with the FC7. |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 8 Apr 2013 3:23 pm
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| Across the street from the Oyster House today, Eleven Rack was a star today for Tim Timebomb, a different rig for every tune, and the FC7 did volume control just fine. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 7 Jun 2013 9:38 am
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Update on volume control with expression pedals:
1. Studiologic VP26-U is nice and small. However it does not produce the entire range of values on the Eleven Rack. Instead of 0 .. 10 it only goes 0 .. 4.3 on the pedal position display.
2. Roland EV-5 is also nice and small. It is very easy to operate this pedal -- too easy I would say, since I could not hold my foot stationary without producing a constant irksome wiggle in the volume level arising from my superannuated condition.
3. Yamaha FC-7's larger size and weight make it less convenient to move but easier to control with the foot. My previous difficulties with intermittent FC7 operation disappeared after I took the pedal apart and cut away a few inches of cable where Satan had corrupted its integritude. |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 10 Jan 2014 4:58 am
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Interesting thread.
I'm reading on the Avid Pro Community forum, the Fender Mustang lV amp which is a stereo guitar amp is great with an 11r rack using the effects returns on the Mustang. At 75 watts a side, solid state going through 2x12's. Even if the Mustang lV amp already contains a built in modeler, 11r users are going this route, for 6 string guitar at least.
Are there any sound clips of a steeler using an Avid 11r rack?
You can find many 11r's on eBay up for sale from sellers who only wanted the Pro Tools software.
You will see ads for the 11r that contain "NO PRO TOOLS" in the headlines. Some going for about $349, brand new, BIN, or chance a lower price on an actual bid.
_________________
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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Atom Schmitt
From:
Nashville, TN
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Posted 15 Jan 2014 11:39 am
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Actually... I have a clip. It's an old clip, so apologies - I had only been playing like 6 months at the time. But all the guitar stuff you hear - steel, baritone, Tele, and even acoustic - from stage right, that's the 11R. I had it set up to use no modeling and just EQ/compression/reverb on the acoustic, and then a few amp models for the Tele, and one final patch for steel guitar. I used a MIDI foot controller with a tuner and a trem pedal in front, and that was basically it. The foot controller controlled 5 effects on each patch in addition to letting me switch between the 5 main patches I used.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6tsbTRu9mU
I haven't used it in forever, but nowadays, I'd probably run the 11R into a Tech 21 Power Engine 60 or two, which gives me what I need to hear on stage and also passes the signal straight through to the house. It's a nice setup, although I much prefer amps and pedals. |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 18 Jan 2014 3:42 am
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Atom, great multi-angle video clip and smart sounding band. Your steel parts were short, I tried to glimpse the 11r's effect. Some users find that single coils are favored through the 11r, like a Strat. Guys like Wayne Dahl, David Hartley using a multi-fx unit, had me curious. Thanks.
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ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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Kevin LaFond
From:
Montana, USA
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Posted 3 Apr 2014 10:15 am
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I love my 11R too. I have been running my Goodrich Volume as an expression pedal with a stereo to (2) mono Hosa adapter. It works good but doesn't kick in until I rock it forward about 20% percent of the way. Does anyone know what kind of pot I could use or maybe a tweak with a resistor... I just like the feel of the goodrich.
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PRP Mullen SD-10, Fender 4x10 Deville, Telecaster and Stratocaster |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 3 Apr 2014 10:54 am
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| Kevin LaFond wrote: |
| I have been running my Goodrich Volume as an expression pedal with a stereo to (2) mono Hosa adapter. It works good but doesn't kick in until I rock it forward about 20% percent of the way. Does anyone know what kind of pot I could use or maybe a tweak with a resistor... |
There are a few things you can set in the Eleven Rack that may fix your taper issue.
1. Within every Rig you can toggle the Volume Pedal type between Log and Linear. For me Linear works best with the Yamaha FC-7 expression pedal. I wish they had included a few more curves, since it is not as well suited for steel as the Goodrich, or best of all the Telonics with its selectable tapers. But I'm getting used to it.
2. There is a global setting for expression pedal type: hold the "EDIT/BACK" button then scroll to "External Pedals", press the lit SW1 button, and then you can choose PEDAL TYPE from a list of Normal, Reverse (for Jerry Byrd), M-Audio, EV/FV Series, and EP-11. I don't know if these will give you a taper you like, but it is worth trying. |
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