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mattoqua
Silver Member
Canada
438 Posts |
 Posted - 01/31/2007 : 06:36:42
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What do you guys think is better:
To have the amp at a higher volume setting, and to use the levels on the effects to control volume (so no pedal level is past midnight, some almost all the way off)
OR
To have all the pedal levels around midnight, and to control the volume by the amp?
So either way you get the same volume, but will the tone be the same?
Im using a transistor amp, and my chain runs through at least 15 pedals at a time, usually 8 on always, and 7 of them have level knobs
(Im using the first way right now, would it even make a difference?) |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2007 : 07:17:38
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| It really depends on what pedals we're talking about. If they boost gain much, you may be amplifying intrinsic noise as well unless the circuits are well designed to reduce such noise for better s/n ratios. So compare THD% to the output of the amplifier in question. I assume such metrics are usually not available for BOSS effects though. In general, I keep everything around noon to average things out in the pedals. Some pedals are certainly noiser than others & I'd say if you have good amplification at the end, crank 'er up! |
Edited by - DeFrag on 01/31/2007 07:18:20 |
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gurran1928
Gold Member
Sweden
650 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2007 : 07:51:30
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| I have a low gain at the amp so the pedlas can work.. I think that they sound better if you let them work harder.. |
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Stomp98
Bronze Member
Australia
50 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2007 : 13:02:37
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| best way i've found is to match the volume out of your clean setting (with all your pedals off) and then adjust each individual pedal's volume when its on so that it matches your clean volume. as its been said most of the pedals do have different noise levels, try and balance them all out (or if you want a bit of difference between, set it up that way) then just use your master volume on your amp to crank it up from there. |
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midibuddy
Silver Member
Ecuador
285 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2007 : 17:55:57
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| are you using your amp's distortion or the clean channel ? |
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mattoqua
Silver Member
Canada
438 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2007 : 19:09:00
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I use the clean channel on my amp
I cant really use my amp fully, since i live in a building with over 1000 people. Its a 100watt amp, and i never got the chance to use it over 2(/10). Even the smallest adjustment on the volume knob changes it a lot, so thats why ive been using pedal volumes to get a finer volume adjustment
It makes sence to match everything with the clean volume. I'll give it a try, and hope it doesnt ruin my sound |
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gurran1928
Gold Member
Sweden
650 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2007 : 23:14:06
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What amp is it Mattoqua? I live in a house and my neighboor's are old so I use a peavey classic 30 with a 2x12 and a Marshall plexi 50 threw a 4x12.. In stereo.. But I use the clean channel.. |
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2007 : 23:55:59
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i use my amps (all 3 of them ) set pretty loud and control the output volume of my guitar and effects with my LS-2 or LM-2. this is the easiest way to control the balane of all the pedals and amps. |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2007 : 23:59:04
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Perhaps you need a Power Attenuator. Check Amptone articles at:
http://www.amptone.com/#poweratten
What is a power attenuator?
A power attenuator is a device placed between the speaker output and the speaker cabinet. It acts like a huge master volume control and permits the amp to be turned up most or all the way while absorbing most of the power generated by the amplifier and turning this power into heat. It passes a small part of the power to the speaker.
In actuality, it just lets you drive the amp into overload (at a lower volumes) where they all sound good. |
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mattoqua
Silver Member
Canada
438 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2007 : 02:58:26
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Its just a solid state Fender amp
I dont have anywhere to use a cabinet yet.
Im still in college, and i have to move every year, so its already enough problems with all the pedals
They probably wouldnt even let me bring in a 2x12 |
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midibuddy
Silver Member
Ecuador
285 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2007 : 16:30:54
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Just try to balance the effected level with the clean level, that's the way it sounds best.. I first set the compressor (CS-3)/clean level, then I set the distortion pedal (usually OD-3) /clean level, then I check up if the distortion pedal adds a little level to the compressor level.. then I'm all done.
Of course it varies during live playing (have to set it a bit differently than bedroom playing), and if you change your pedal settings for some songs, you have to tweak the levels a bit again... |
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diggum12
Silver Member
USA
282 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2007 : 16:50:08
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What I have found is to set the effect level low and the amp level high. I dial in my tone on all the pedals and get the levels set the same, then turn up my amp.
If I crank the level on the pedals, then I end up sacrificing a lot of gain and it sounds like the amp can't keep up. |
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RRV-10
Silver Member
Australia
246 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2007 : 04:36:44
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| It depends on whether you want to drive the input of the amp or not. If your amp has low headroom and you want the sound to remain clean you're going to have to be conservative with the level knob on any pedal. I really see no point in maxing the volume on the pedals and compensating by having the amp set on 0.3 or something. Your pedals would likely be crazy noisy and the volume difference between the effects and the dry signal would be huge. |
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diggum12
Silver Member
USA
282 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2007 : 17:38:05
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quote:
It depends on whether you want to drive the input of the amp or not. If your amp has low headroom and you want the sound to remain clean you're going to have to be conservative with the level knob on any pedal. I really see no point in maxing the volume on the pedals and compensating by having the amp set on 0.3 or something. Your pedals would likely be crazy noisy and the volume difference between the effects and the dry signal would be huge.
Exactly! I have found that 9 out of 10 guitarists "my distortion pedal is too noisy" complaints come from this! Most pedals aren't really THAT noisy. Same for most compressors. Let the AMP do the work.
Now some scenarios actually desire this which is fine, but it's not for me. A good example is the Zakk Wylde overdrive. It sounds horrible, but it's meant to be cranked up all the way against an already very hot amp to overload the input, thereby producing real speaker breakup which translates into: Overdrive!
How about Pete Townsend? Notice there haven't really been any Pete type pedals? But you hear gobs of distortion on the Who's songs. That's true overdrive, and that's the only way you'll get that tone: Pushing an amp to overload. |
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Topic |
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Effect level VS Amp level
