KVR Audio

memyselfandus · Post by **memyselfandus** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 3:54 pm

Anyone tried running a stomp box before an amp sim

I have been getting some awesome sounds by going through various
stomp boxes instead of plugging direct when using various amp sims
even when the pedals are switched off it sounds better..

Try it if you have not already and post your opinions.

For example I plug directly into my computer and go through
various sounds in a amp sim and get a ok sound but when I go through
a pedal and add just a bit of distortion on the pedal to a rock
preset on the amp sim it sounds So much better..

Peter - IK Multimedia · Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:22 pm

I have, overdrive mainly but I can see the value in using others. I've even used my cheap Behringer preamp clone (the one for acoustic, as well as the one for electric, I believe they are both sansamp clones?) with good results. Definitely worth a try.

memyselfandus · Post by **memyselfandus** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:34 pm

Cool stuff. opens so many options when using the sims and preamps and
so on.

Mister Gibson · Post by **Mister Gibson** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:40 pm

Peter - IK Multimedia wrote:I've even used my cheap Behringer preamp with good results. Definitely worth a try.

+1

Vamp & pod racks, podxt on the floor, and an ah500 for bass for that warm fuzzy feel.

memyselfandus · Post by **memyselfandus** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:41 pm

Now you are talking just the pod or whatever with the speaker sims
and all effects turned off and using the amp sims cabs and so on?

zeoy · Post by **zeoy** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:42 pm

memyselfandus wrote:I have been getting some awesome sounds by going through various stomp boxes instead of plugging direct when using various amp sims
even when the pedals are switched off it sounds better..

I hope when you say "plugging direct" you mean "plugging direct to a Hi-Z input". That "even when the pedals are switched off it sounds better" sounds a bit strange unless you have some levels/impedance mismatch without the pedals.

Of course I don't disagree that a good pedal before an ampsim can give great results.

I don't use any distortion/overdrive/fuzz pedals but I occasionally put a cry-baby or the pre-amp stage of my tube guitar amp before an ampsim (or just a cab sim).

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:43 pm

It's funny, I used to be king of putting stop boxes before an amp back in the day... until I got my first amp that had an effect send. I fell in love with getting the pure amp tone first and then putting effects after the preamp stage. Often when I'm using Amplitube I'll put effects (though virtual) after Amplitube or use it's rack effects.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:44 pm

Yeah ... I use either my old Yamaha Flanger or Boss Chorus in front of Amplitude 2. Sounds great

jcrisman · Post by **jcrisman** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:05 pm

memyselfandus wrote:Anyone tried running a stomp box before an amp sim

I have been getting some awesome sounds by going through various
stomp boxes instead of plugging direct when using various amp sims
even when the pedals are switched off it sounds better..

Try it if you have not already and post your opinions.

For example I plug directly into my computer and go through
various sounds in a amp sim and get a ok sound but when I go through
a pedal and add just a bit of distortion on the pedal to a rock
preset on the amp sim it sounds So much better..

I imagine it depends upon the quality of the effects pedal (and especially if there is a decent noise suppressor if a series of effects are being used).

An immediate benefit of using stomp pedals would be that one isn't working the computer processor as hard as if one used software effects and plug-ins--which can be a premium to those of us with older, slower, smaller computers.

However if you record with stomp box effects, those effects are a permanent part of the track which cannot be tweaked as easily in edits. Also echoes and sweeping effects like flangers and phasers do not always lend well to punch-in or cut-and-paste editing as one may hear skips and jumps in the effect sweep. One additionally may have to set up the pedals instead of merely clicking a mouse to a setting.

Overall, I would use stomp boxes if I know exactly what sound I want that I can't more easily get on the computer, and on sections/parts that I can nail down perfectly.

luxth · Post by **luxth** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:54 pm

i've tried it and liked the result.

In general i have to say that i had to disable amp simulator and mostly leave cabinet simulation, plus some eq and post reverb.

Tried with Electroharmonix Metal Muff, Line6 Crunchtone (a simulation itself) and custom OCD overdrive and the result has been pretty nice using Guitar Rig 3 cabinet simulation. Leaving the head simulation makes everything sharp and unusable, but if you shut it off and leave just the cab and place an eq before the cab itself you can shape a bit the sound to cabinet, then place some reverb.

thats just my experience of course

Luca

Sascha Franck · Post by **Sascha Franck** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:59 pm

zeoy wrote: I hope when you say "plugging direct" you mean "plugging direct to a Hi-Z input". That "even when the pedals are switched off it sounds better" sounds a bit strange unless you have some levels/impedance mismatch without the pedals.

Pretty much exactly. Sometimes stomp boxes act almost as a D.I. box (and/or "high imepdance compatibility" thingy). That'd perfectly explain things.

- Sascha

cuppa · Post by **cuppa** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:06 pm

yes, sansamp GT2 box and then use kefir with different impulses...

stk · Post by **stk** » Sat Nov 07, 2009 11:52 pm

Yep,
Marshall Guvnor or Ibanez Power Lead in front of StudioDevil VGA sounds fantastic. I find the distortion tone of pedals a bit more convincing than ITB fx.

Also, RE-201, DM-300, CE-1

Peter - IK Multimedia · Sun Nov 08, 2009 12:45 am

jcrisman wrote: However if you record with stomp box effects, those effects are a permanent part of the track which cannot be tweaked as easily in edits. Also echoes and sweeping effects like flangers and phasers do not always lend well to punch-in or cut-and-paste editing as one may hear skips and jumps in the effect sweep. One additionally may have to set up the pedals instead of merely clicking a mouse to a setting.

Overall, I would use stomp boxes if I know exactly what sound I want that I can't more easily get on the computer, and on sections/parts that I can nail down perfectly.

That's how us old folks (and yes I know you could be one too) used to do it anyway

Just tongue in cheek there, I know what you mean and personally I feel that committing to a sound can help productivity sometimes but obviously don't put too many limitations on yourself just for the sake of doing so either.

jcrisman · Post by **jcrisman** » Sun Nov 08, 2009 1:59 am

Peter - IK Multimedia wrote: That's how us old folks (and yes I know you could be one too) used to do it anyway Just tongue in cheek there, I know what you mean and personally I feel that committing to a sound can help productivity sometimes but obviously don't put too many limitations on yourself just for the sake of doing so either.

Hey there youngin'. Watch who you're calling a longtooth. lol

Anyone tried a stomp box before an amp sim?