Who makes this kind of switching pedal?

[Brewbaker]

I need a switching pedal to use with an MXR Auto Q. I want to be able to switch the MXR in but have it combined with the dry signal instead of just turning it on and off in signal chain. Like it would in parallel with the dry signal. Loooper is not working--anyone know of a different source?

[tlpruitt]

You can mix an effected sound with an uneffected sound a few different ways. I think one of the easiest ways is with the Boss LS-2. The LS-2 has 2 loops with a volume control for each loop. You would connect the Auto-Q in loop A and a straight cable in loop B. You set the LS-2 to 'A+B Mix -> Bypass' and you turn the Auto-Q on and leave it on. When you hit the LS-2 you get the Auto-Q sound controlled by the level A control and the dry sound controlled by the level B control. When you turn the LS-2 off both loops are bypassed and you get the dry signal.

The Boss LS-2 is easy to find and can do a bunch of other cool things that I find extremely useful. I occasionally use it as an active A/B box to switch out my tuner and use the level control to boost the signal to overcome the signal loss from using long cables and/or lots of pedals.

The LS-2 is just a great multipurpose utility pedal that is often overlooked.

-Tim

[Brewbaker]

I'll check it out. BOSS stuff isn't true-bypass but switched with relays or some such--right? Any signal loss when using the LS2?

[tlpruitt]

I have had no problems with the sound of the LS-2.

I have found the issue with Boss pedals is when you use a bunch of them (like 5 or more) then you start to notice a bit of signal loss. The same applies for Ibanez and the current MXR pedals (including your Auto-Q).

Just like Boss pedals, the current MXR pedals use a transistor based buffered bypass. In Boss and Ibanez pedals the switching is done with FETs and in MXR pedals the switching is done with a DPDT mechanical switch, but they all have buffered bypass.

-Tim