The following set up is applicable mostly for Antelope Audio devices equipped with the advanced routing matrix. A similar effect can be achieved with a Zen Tour control panel. This trick can become an essential component in creating the desired sounds.
The Zen Tour is utilized for various guitar playing needs, including recording, rehearsal, and live performances so we will use it as an example in the explanation below.
The effects chain is as follows (guitar going into preamp 2):
1. Stay Levin
2. Guitar Amp (DarkFace65)
3. Lang PEQ
4. Guitar Cabinet (DarkFace 2x12, 57D and 52D for mics)
5. VEQ 4K - Orange
6. BAE 1073-MP
7. Reel to Reel
8. VCA 160
While the current effects chain is great for cleans, additional drive was desired without compromising the existing effects. To accomplish this, a real-life green stomp box type pedal was incorporated before entering the Zen Tour, with the signal still requiring additional drive.
Since Antelope Audio does not currently produce a dedicated overdrive pedal, a "Non-intrusive" overdrive amp was placed before the start of the effects chain (before the Stay Levin) along with a noise gate:
1. Plexi 59 (UK)
2. Power Gate
So the example is:
Preamp 2 receives the dry input signal from the guitar. In the Zen Tour's routing matrix Preamp 2 was dragged and dropped firstly to AFX IN 7 where we apply Plexi 59 (UK) Guitar Amp with the Power Gate. Then this processed signal goes to AFX OUT 7. AFX OUT 7 is then dragged and dropped to the previously AFX chain we created with 8 real-time effects, which is AFX IN 2.
The result is a 10 channel AFX chain with the desired grit, which can be cleaned up by adjusting the noise gate and guitar volume. Preamp 2 can now go through up to 16 AFX instances, all recorded from the AFX OUT of the initial chain, AFX OUT 2. Reverb and other effects can be applied to the same channel as before, without requiring changes to the recording unless the signal from just those first 8 is needed.
This routing can be expanded further by routing every AFX OUT to every other AFX IN.