Effect to make e-cello sound full

[holmer]

Hi.
Got an e-cello that sounds just fine with a 8" combo amp.
With headphones it sounds terrible though, harsh, scratchy, thin..
Directly from the cello HP-out and from the amp HP-out, both suck.

What to do? Which effect does what a combo amp in a room apparently does?

[WackyZoundz]

I would try a guitar suite. Speaker+room sims.

[holmer]

guitar suite

Don't know what that means.
Multieffect like Boss GE?

[Uncle E]

If you're looking for a pedal, the Universal Audio Evermore reverb is on sale for $99 right now. It's their Lexicon 240 reverb and will sound amazing with your e-cello. An EQ pedal would probably also be a good idea.

If you're looking for a plugin, try either Overloud BM Pro Acoustic or Overloud LRS Acoustic Dream with either Universal Audio Lexicon 240, Universal Audio Sound City Studios, IK Multimedia Sunset Sound Studio, or IK Multimedia FAME.

[holmer]

If you're looking for a pedal, the Universal Audio Evermore reverb is on sale for $99 right now. It's their Lexicon 240 reverb and will sound amazing with your e-cello. An EQ pedal would probably also be a good idea.

If you're looking for a plugin, try either Overloud BM Pro Acoustic or Overloud LRS Acoustic Dream with either Universal Audio Lexicon 240, Universal Audio Sound City Studios, IK Multimedia Sunset Sound Studio, or IK Multimedia FAME.

Thanks. That's a good sounding pedal.
But won't I have harsh/scratchy/thin with reverb instead of just harsh/scratchy/thin then?

The amp, which is very neutral btw, makes it full and smoother somehow.

I guess the speaker rolls off the highs?

[zerocrossing]

guitar suite

Don't know what that means.
Multieffect like Boss GE?

What he’s saying is that there are a lot of all-in-one boxes that do effects, guitar amp emulation, and cabinet emulation/convolution. You could try one of the Line 6 HX models. They’re quite good for the money. Like this:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... -processor

I don’t know anything about e-cellos, but the pickups on a guitar produce a very weak and somewhat off balanced tone, so guitar amps don’t just amplify the signal, they sculpt it into something that sounds good. Your combo amp is doing that too. The HX will give you a whole bunch of different amp and cabinet options, along with various distortion and modulation effects, and things like reverb.

If you have an audio interface, it’s easily tried in the Helix Native plugin. Just make sure you only use the models and effects in the HX model you choose and you’ll get a good idea of what’s possible.

[Uncle E]

Thanks. That's a good sounding pedal.
But won't I have harsh/scratchy/thin with reverb instead of just harsh/scratchy/thin then?

The amp, which is very neutral btw, makes it full and smoother somehow.

I guess the speaker rolls off the highs?

Sure, that makes sense. You could use an amp emulator pedal in that case, such as the one zerocrossing recommended. I'd probably steer you towards one of their other products that allows you to use reverb and other effects at the same time, such as the HX Stomp or Pod Express (maybe the Pod Express Bass would sound better on e-cello). Boss, IK Multimedia, and Universal Audio also make pedals that I imagine would work great for you.

[holmer]

IK Multimedia

I do have the Tonex One, let's try that with some clean amp.

[lfm]

Which effect does what a combo amp in a room apparently does?

To transfer the magic of what music in a room feels like into a recording to reproduce anywhere
- this is what the science of recording is all about

I've fallen in love with using two reverb types in serial
- first a small studio, an IR or reverb, that expands the sound to a room and give it position as well
- then a good plate reverb for a larger space

But as many said before, a cabinet simulation itself is necessary to find one that really works.
- just swap cabinet types around in some plugin
- I used Izotope Trash 20 years ago and found what a difference box models do(which is their cabinet types)

If your cabinet/amp sim allow miked up in a room with 2 mikes and position mikes in the room, that is a really good start.
- this is part of the magic that your ears hear

[holmer]

Thanks everybody, I still need a little hardware box though, and an affordable one.

[Uncle E]

I do have the Tonex One, let's try that with some clean amp.

Perfect. Find a clean Champ or Princeton capture and it should sound similar to your amp. I imagine a Twin or Super Reverb would sound even better. Try the plate reverb on it.

[holmer]

Perfect.

Except that I just realized it doesn't have a headphone out.

[Uncle E]

You can plug your headphones directly into Tonex One's output.

[holmer]

You can plug your headphones directly into Tonex One's output.

I can?
Cool, I'll try that.

Thank you Sir!

[holmer]

I need to start reading the manuals..