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A First for Goodwood Audio: Clay’s Three‑Level, MIDI‑Controlled Bass Pedalboard
At Goodwood Audio, every build starts with a question: what does the player actually need? Sometimes that leads to familiar territory. Other times, it pushes us into entirely new design space. Clay’s bass pedalboard firmly falls into the second category.
This board represents several firsts for us:
• A three‑level / three‑tier pedalboard design
• A fully MIDI‑controlled rig with no on‑board MIDI controller
• A layout that feels closer to a rack system, but lives entirely on a pedalboard
• A layout that feels closer to a rack system, but lives entirely on a pedalboard
Below, we’ll break down the design intent, signal chain, power strategy, and why this build perfectly reflects the Goodwood Audio approach.
Design Goals: Compact, Purpose‑Built, and Rack‑Inspired
Clay needed a board that was extremely compact, highly reliable, and didn’t require constant foot access to every pedal. Instead of a traditional flat layout, he proposed something bold: a riser the same size as the pedalboard itself, stacked on top.
This idea pushed the design toward a multi‑level architecture, more reminiscent of a rack system than a typical pedalboard. To make it happen, we partnered with Fix Pedalboards to design and build a custom riser that perfectly matched the dimensions of the new Vertex Effects pedalboard underneath.
The result is a clean, vertical layout that maximizes space without sacrificing serviceability.
Three Levels, One Integrated System
Bottom Level: Power Foundation
- • CIOKS DC7, mounted under the main Vertex platform
- • Cioks supplies are ultra‑low profile (about 1 inch thick)
- • Built‑in IEC mains input — no bulky external power brick
This foundation keeps the entire rig clean, quiet, and easy to set up with a single mains power cable.
Middle Tier: Loops and Core Pedals
- • Morningstar ML5 (five true‑bypass MIDI‑controlled loops)
- • Select pedals placed strategically for routing, not foot access
Top Level: The Brain
- • Neural DSP Quad Cortex, mounted on top with clear visibility of the main screen and the preset that is currently live.
- • CIOKS CE8 expander, providing additional current for the Quad Cortex, mounted underneath the riser platform.
Not pictured in the photos—but fully integrated into the wiring—is Clay’s Shure wireless system, which was tested in‑shop and installed once it arrived at his home.
Vertex Effects Pedalboard: A Major Upgrade
This build also gave us the opportunity to work with the new Vertex Effects / Gator pedalboard line, and the improvements are substantial:
- • Power can now be mounted underneath the board
- • Lightweight yet incredibly strong construction
- • Tall feet for clearance
- • Large cable‑routing cutouts (aka the famous “hot dog holes”)
The quality and thoughtful design make this platform ideal for modern, high‑density rigs like this one.
Signal Chain Overview
Clay’s rig is designed for flexibility, redundancy, and signal integrity:
- Shure Wireless
- Empress Buffer - Tuner out to Peterson Strobo Mini Tuner
- Jad Freer Capo (multi‑preamp bass preamp)
Capo Effects Loop 1 → Morningstar ML5
- • Loop 1: Boss OC‑2 (Octave)
- • Loop 2: 3Leaf Octaver
- • Loop 3: 3Leaf Doom 2 (Fuzz)
- • Loop 4: 3Leaf Proton (Envelope Filter)
- • Loop 5: Neural DSP Quad Cortex (amps, pres, EQ, effects)
Back to the Capo
- • Second preamp stage
- • Cali76 Compressor placed in the post loop of the Capo
Outputs
- • XLR out to Front of House
- • 1/4" out to power amps or other destinations
This routing gives Clay multiple preamp placements, deep tonal control, and total flexibility for live or studio use.
Fully MIDI‑Controlled — Without a MIDI Controller
One of the most unique aspects of this build is that there is no MIDI controller on the board.
Instead, the entire rig is controlled externally:
- • MIDI input on the side patch bay
- • Control via Ableton, off‑board MIDI controllers, or other systems
The pedalboard becomes a modular, MIDI‑ready engine, seamlessly integrating into Clay’s broader setup.
Power: Clean, Quiet, and Scalable
Powering a current‑hungry board like this requires precision:
- • CIOKS DC7 under the main Vertex board
- • CIOKS CE8 mounted under the riser
- • 24V expansion from DC7 to CE8
- • Quad Cortex powered using four CE8 outlets via current quadrupler
- • Up to 660mA
- • Switchable between 9V, 12V, 15V, and 18V
As with every Goodwood Audio build:
This ensures easy troubleshooting, fast swaps, and confidence on stage or in the studio.
- Every cable is labeled
- Every loop is clearly identified
- Power outputs are documented
This ensures easy troubleshooting, fast swaps, and confidence on stage or in the studio.
The Goodwood Audio Touch
To make this build possible, we used several of our in-house solutions from Goodwood Audio:
As with every Goodwood Audio build, every detail is carefully documented — cables are labeled, loops are clearly identified, and power outputs are mapped. The result is a rig that’s easy to troubleshoot, simple to modify, and totally reliable on stage or in the studio.
This board also features select in-house solutions that make complex, high-current systems possible, including our Current Quadrupler Cable for safely delivering the power demanded by devices like the Quad Cortex, and TS Patch Cables for clean routing and tour-grade reliability.
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Final Thoughts
This three‑level pedalboard for Clay is a perfect example of what happens when player‑driven ideas meet thoughtful engineering. It’s compact, powerful, MIDI‑ready, and completely purpose‑built. We minimised wasted space and unnecessary controls.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this three‑tier pedalboard design. Is this the future of compact, professional bass rigs?
Let us know in the comments — and as always, thanks for checking out this Goodwood Audio build.
