1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of effect devices that can connect with other effect devices in parallel.
2. Related Art
Various types of effect devices (effectors) that add effects to input musical sound signals and then output the resulting sounds, have been known. Such effect devices include compact effectors which add different effects for the output of electric guitars equipped with pedal switch, or the multiple effector which can use a combination of multiple effects.
FIG. (Diagram) 7 is a block diagram that depicts an electrical configuration of a traditional Effect Device 30. This device has an input Jack JK 2; two amplifiers, AMP 1 and AMP 2; one Switch SW 1; an effect add circuit 2; and an output Jack JK 1. A plug on one end of a connecting cord for an electrical guitar, synthesizers, or the like may be inserted in the JK2 input Jack. Musical sound signals that are generated by sources such as an electric guitar or a synthesizer, are used as the input.
The musical sound signals that are input through the input Jack (JK 2), are provided to the effect add circuit 2, via the AMP 2 amplifier, and are connected to one side of the input terminal (1 Side of SW1 switch). The output of the effect add circuit 2 is connected to the other side of the input terminal (2 Side of Switch SW 1). The output terminal of Switch SW 1 may be connected to the output Jack JK 1, via AMP-1 Amplifier. The effect add circuit 2 can add several types of effects including a distortion group effect which distorts the music sound, and a resonance effect which reverberates or delays the musical sounds.
A plug on one end of a connecting cord that connects with the operating amplifier of a speaker (not shown on Diagrams) is inserted to output Jack JK 1. The SW 1 switch is equipped with foot pedals that a player can operate with his/her foot. The player can operate the foot pedals with his/her foot while he/she is playing guitar or synthesizer with both of his/her hands.
When Switch SW 1 is operated to connect with 1 Side, the input musical sound signals will be output from the output Jack (JK 1) without any effect. When the Switch SW1 is connected to Side-2, the effect add circuit 2 effects the input musical sound signals and the effected musical sound signals are output from the output Jack (JK 1).
Traditional effect devices such as the one explained above, are equipped with only one input jack and one output jack respectively. Such devices may be connected together in series, where an output of primary effect device is input on subsequent effect device. However, there can be difficulties in trying to achieve a parallel connection of such devices where musical sound signals are input to multiple effect devices and the output of the effect devices are mixed without one effect device becoming dominant over the other(s). A parallel connection implementation needed a means to separate musical sound signals on the input side of the effects devices, and a means to mix musical sound signals on the output side of the effects devices. The configuration of such a system has been known to be relatively complex. Serial connection has been an industry preference for this reason. When such devices are connected in series, the effect from a subsequent effect device tends to become dominant. For this reason it can be impossible to have certain desired effects with the serial connections of such prior devices.