Jacew
New member
Re: Bedroom Levels
That's just adding master volume earlier in the signal line.
That's just adding master volume earlier in the signal line.
Bedroom Levels
- Thread starter Slartibartfast
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CaptainWhizz
New member
Re: Bedroom Levels
Yeah, best to keep that one somewhere separate where you won’t accidentally blow your ears out! Which is why an EQ pedal with a volume control is possibly better.
Yeah, best to keep that one somewhere separate where you won’t accidentally blow your ears out! Which is why an EQ pedal with a volume control is possibly better.
Jacew
New member
Re: Bedroom Levels
Really......
I don't find it reasonable to add extra stuff that's just making your rig sound worse, because of fear that you might accidentally dial it wrong...
Really......
I don't find it reasonable to add extra stuff that's just making your rig sound worse, because of fear that you might accidentally dial it wrong...
6stringerguy
New member
LLL
New member
Re: Bedroom Levels
You'd use a dummy load; "passive" or "reactive" (they each have their strengths). This item takes the place of the speaker (so your OT doesn't blow because of lack of a load on your amp).
There's lots of dummy load examples - HotPlate, Torpedo, UA, etc... make them. Many of them have built-in line outs (takes the speaker level signal and drops it to line level). Alternatively, you can get a separate line out box.
I've explained this concept in the past here a number of times, but most don't want to think outside the box. Slaving/line out has been around guitar-rig-wise since the late 60's. This concept in particular will free you completely from the constraints of weak bedroom level and mushy attenuator tone; a huge (yuuuuge?) benefit.
Not only can you get cranked tube amp tone at any volume, but you can add any FX after the entire amp (a la "in the studio" FX after recording your tracks). It's also a portable concept (there are many rackmount or even stompbox sized power amps out there).
You'd use a dummy load; "passive" or "reactive" (they each have their strengths). This item takes the place of the speaker (so your OT doesn't blow because of lack of a load on your amp).
There's lots of dummy load examples - HotPlate, Torpedo, UA, etc... make them. Many of them have built-in line outs (takes the speaker level signal and drops it to line level). Alternatively, you can get a separate line out box.
I've explained this concept in the past here a number of times, but most don't want to think outside the box. Slaving/line out has been around guitar-rig-wise since the late 60's. This concept in particular will free you completely from the constraints of weak bedroom level and mushy attenuator tone; a huge (yuuuuge?) benefit.
Not only can you get cranked tube amp tone at any volume, but you can add any FX after the entire amp (a la "in the studio" FX after recording your tracks). It's also a portable concept (there are many rackmount or even stompbox sized power amps out there).
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Jacew
New member
Re: Bedroom Levels
It was a rhetoric question... That's very much definition of attenuator in my understanding: What they do is to add load in place of speaker and attenuate output to line-level.
I guess modern reactive loads can be very good, but in the essence they're just attenuators. Albeit complex ones.
It was a rhetoric question... That's very much definition of attenuator in my understanding: What they do is to add load in place of speaker and attenuate output to line-level.
I guess modern reactive loads can be very good, but in the essence they're just attenuators. Albeit complex ones.
LLL
New member
Re: Bedroom Levels
Device-wise (all semantics aside), there's a difference between an attenuator and a dummy load. Also, there is a huge difference in tone if said attenuator is attenuating drastically.
Regarding the semantics ("attenuate"):
Think of an attenuator as a big adjustable volume knob.
Think of a dummy load as a silent speaker.
I will always extol the virtues of the dummy load / slave setup, because it changed my "life". I struggled for decades trying to find a solution to ****ty bedroom tone (master vols, attenuators, etc)... then one day I looked outside the typical gear advice du jour from forum parrots and found the answer.
Device-wise (all semantics aside), there's a difference between an attenuator and a dummy load. Also, there is a huge difference in tone if said attenuator is attenuating drastically.
Regarding the semantics ("attenuate"):
Think of an attenuator as a big adjustable volume knob.
Think of a dummy load as a silent speaker.
I will always extol the virtues of the dummy load / slave setup, because it changed my "life". I struggled for decades trying to find a solution to ****ty bedroom tone (master vols, attenuators, etc)... then one day I looked outside the typical gear advice du jour from forum parrots and found the answer.
Gtrjunior
New member
Jacew
New member
Re: Bedroom Levels
I don't have much experience with the topic, but fail to understand why it would be so much worse?
Attenuator is basically just dummy load parallel with speaker. Why that would be worse than a dummy load without the said speaker? Adding cab sims and/or effects after power amp of course makes difference, but that's other thing.
I was very close at going the same route with my home rig. Eventually opted out, mostly because I couldn't find quality load that would be cheap enough. Lost interest in that kind of comlex rig after switching to Egnater Rebel: That amp sound just as good in any volume.
I don't have much experience with the topic, but fail to understand why it would be so much worse?
Attenuator is basically just dummy load parallel with speaker. Why that would be worse than a dummy load without the said speaker? Adding cab sims and/or effects after power amp of course makes difference, but that's other thing.
I was very close at going the same route with my home rig. Eventually opted out, mostly because I couldn't find quality load that would be cheap enough. Lost interest in that kind of comlex rig after switching to Egnater Rebel: That amp sound just as good in any volume.
LLL
New member
Re: Bedroom Levels
Because the more your attenuate (with attenuator), the more the tone gets compressed.
At high levels of attentuation (with attenuator), the tone is severely compressed and thus
loses all dynamics - producing a flat, lifeless "cardboard" tone.
Because the more your attenuate (with attenuator), the more the tone gets compressed.
At high levels of attentuation (with attenuator), the tone is severely compressed and thus
loses all dynamics - producing a flat, lifeless "cardboard" tone.
Jacew
New member
Re: Bedroom Levels
Not if that's done with reactive load like you would with dummy load. Other way around, using regular attenuator as dummy load would be the worst, and would kill all the dynamics.
Sorry for getting caught in the semantics, but the basics how dummy load and attenuators work is exactly same. They load the amp with replacement of speaker that turns power in to heat instead of sound. Statement that dummy load somehow is better for tone is only true if you compare equipment of different design.
Not if that's done with reactive load like you would with dummy load. Other way around, using regular attenuator as dummy load would be the worst, and would kill all the dynamics.
Sorry for getting caught in the semantics, but the basics how dummy load and attenuators work is exactly same. They load the amp with replacement of speaker that turns power in to heat instead of sound. Statement that dummy load somehow is better for tone is only true if you compare equipment of different design.
dystrust
New member
Re: Bedroom Levels
+1
Reactive is reactive and resistive is resistive; the load device doesn't care if there's a speaker after (or in parallel with) it or not.
+1
Reactive is reactive and resistive is resistive; the load device doesn't care if there's a speaker after (or in parallel with) it or not.
LLL
New member
Re: Bedroom Levels
Anyhoo......................
For those who haven't, try a dummy load setup sometime (line out to DAW+iRs, or power amp, etc) and compare it to just using an attenuator.
I'll offer an example: my fully cranked (on "10" volume) '66 Fender Deluxe w/ dummy load into DAW+iRs.
In the room, my amp was of course dead silent even though it was dimed. This setup already beats the attenuator setup volume-wise because it's silent... not to mention the tone.
Anyhoo......................
For those who haven't, try a dummy load setup sometime (line out to DAW+iRs, or power amp, etc) and compare it to just using an attenuator.
I'll offer an example: my fully cranked (on "10" volume) '66 Fender Deluxe w/ dummy load into DAW+iRs.
In the room, my amp was of course dead silent even though it was dimed. This setup already beats the attenuator setup volume-wise because it's silent... not to mention the tone.
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LLL
New member
Re: Bedroom Levels
Of course, if you do need "stage" volume but don't want to blow yours and everyone else's eardrums out (not to mention, at home - piss off your neighbors)...
Then you simply run your line out into a power amp and adjust volume accordingly. No attenuator mush!
It's a g-d miracle, is what it is. Love it.
Of course, if you do need "stage" volume but don't want to blow yours and everyone else's eardrums out (not to mention, at home - piss off your neighbors)...
Then you simply run your line out into a power amp and adjust volume accordingly. No attenuator mush!
It's a g-d miracle, is what it is. Love it.
Jacew
New member
Re: Bedroom Levels
I do have interest in building a rack with full amp, dummy load, and stereo power amp, and maybe assorted effects. But can't really justify myself the cost and impracticality compared to a nice sounding amp head and pedalboard.
Just waiting for Orange to release Rocker 32 head, so I can get my rig into stereo...
I do have interest in building a rack with full amp, dummy load, and stereo power amp, and maybe assorted effects. But can't really justify myself the cost and impracticality compared to a nice sounding amp head and pedalboard.
Just waiting for Orange to release Rocker 32 head, so I can get my rig into stereo...
guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: Bedroom Levels
I dunno...I haven't had an amp in my bedroom for years. I'm either playing at a rehearsal, at a show, or at rehearsal/show levels in my jam space. It's not that loud...
I dunno...I haven't had an amp in my bedroom for years. I'm either playing at a rehearsal, at a show, or at rehearsal/show levels in my jam space. It's not that loud...
