Getting a more consistent amp sound at different volume levels

[GuitarStv]

No neighbors, no problems.

Sharp knives, duct tape, and several rolls of dark plastic should fix the issue. And reduce food costs for a few months.

 

[GuitarStv]

Where have you been?

Picking out a nice chianti . . .

 

[pskorz]

If I’m reading the OP correct, are you saying that you are happy with what you are hearing from the amp at both soft and loud volumes, but the recorded playback from the loud isn’t good?

sounds like a different mic placement could solve the problem. And I apologize if I’m talking down like you haven’t tried that already.

 

[GuitarStv]

If I’m reading the OP correct, are you saying that you are happy with what you are hearing from the amp at both soft and loud volumes, but the recorded playback from the loud isn’t good?

sounds like a different mic placement could solve the problem. And I apologize if I’m talking down like you haven’t tried that already.

Not quite that. I can use the same mic setup at high volumes and get great sounds - but it requires very different EQing for both channels of my amp.

I do most of my writing and practice at home in my basement at low volumes - and am regularly playing around with the amp settings to find different tones. But the tone at low volume doesn't translate into the same tone at higher volume. I'd love a way to be able to keep the sound consistent so that the low volume while practice tones could be replicated exactly at higher volume while playing out without needing to spend the five or ten minutes figuring out where to set the dials to approximate it.

 

[Demanic]

Not quite that. I can use the same mic setup at high volumes and get great sounds - but it requires very different EQing for both channels of my amp.

I do most of my writing and practice at home in my basement at low volumes - and am regularly playing around with the amp settings to find different tones. But the tone at low volume doesn't translate into the same tone at higher volume. I'd love a way to be able to keep the sound consistent so that the low volume while practice tones could be replicated exactly at higher volume while playing out without needing to spend the five or ten minutes figuring out where to set the dials to approximate it.

You know that this is all related to how humans perceive sound. Are you certain that 15' in front of the cabinet at high volume, that it doesn't sound significantly different from 3' at a low volume? Especially taking room size and environment into consideration.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[GuitarStv]

You know that this is all related to how humans perceive sound. Are you certain that 15' in front of the cabinet at high volume, that it doesn't sound significantly different from 3' at a low volume? Especially taking room size and environment into consideration.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

No, like I mentioned in the first post this doesn't have to do with the Fletcher-Munson curve. If I record the same way with the same settings at high and low volumes and then play them back with volume equalized they sound very different. The amp sounds different at high volume.

 

[Ewizard]

My answer..... Two Notes Captor X. Best $600 I have ever spent on my volume and speaker needs problems. I'm not kidding, it is that good, and the price is not horrid. Forget about a speaker cab at all, you can go direct to the PA, your monitor, use a power amp into a speaker cab if you want, whatever, it is the fix you need.

 

[Demanic]

No, like I mentioned in the first post this doesn't have to do with the Fletcher-Munson curve. If I record the same way with the same settings at high and low volumes and then play them back with volume equalized they sound very different. The amp sounds different at high volume.

Ok, I just wanted to make sure. But one more question, if you don't mind: when you record at different volumes, do you back off the mic several feet when you record loud?

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[eclecticsynergy]

Short of loadbox/IRs/power amp/FR monitors, a good attenuator might be a decent interim solution.
Not perfect, but it should bring your softer vs loud tones a lot closer together than they are now.

 

[GuitarStv]

Ok, I just wanted to make sure. But one more question, if you don't mind: when you record at different volumes, do you back off the mic several feet when you record loud?

Nope. Backing the mic off the cab (or moving the mic to a different position) changes the sound a whole bunch.

 

[Mincer]

The most consistent sound really comes from a modeler. That is really the only 'amp' that can sound and feel the same either at arena levels or over headphones.

 

[GuitarStv]

The most consistent sound really comes from a modeler. That is really the only 'amp' that can sound and feel the same either at arena levels or over headphones.

I don't have any experience using modelers live. They sound the same at low and at high volumes? Is this when running them through a cab, or a DI thing?

 

[LLL]

Light natural compression (not from a compressor pedal) is the key here.

Think about it.

 

[GuitarStv]

Light natural compression (not from a compressor pedal) is the key here.

Think about it.

If it is, it's compressing the high frequencies more than the low ones. Basically that's what I hear when I turn it up . . . the higher frequencies get brighter. I've got to drop highs and presence to get back to a similar setting to what I originally had.

 

[Mincer]

I don't have any experience using modelers live. They sound the same at low and at high volumes? Is this when running them through a cab, or a DI thing?

Yeah, no matter what volume, they are the same. They do that particular thing very well. They can be made to sound good through a full range cab or guitar cab...it is all how you program it. But once it is set, no matter the volume, it is the same tone/feel.

 

[LLL]

If it is, it's compressing the high frequencies more than the low ones. Basically that's what I hear when I turn it up . . . the higher frequencies get brighter. I've got to drop highs and presence to get back to a similar setting to what I originally had.

What amp is this?

And compression evens out the sound/levels, it doesn't make say, the treble brighter.

 

[GuitarStv]

What amp is this?

And compression evens out the sound/levels, it doesn't make say, the treble brighter.

It's a Traynor YCV40 - Has a Fender style tone stack on the clean channel and a Marshall style tone stack on the gain channel . . . but both get noticeably brighter as it's turned up.

I wonder if dialing in sounds with the bright switch on at low volume, then turning it off at high volume would keep things more consistent - usually I leave it off.

 

[playas]

Sounds like a good place to start.

 

[LLL]

It's a Traynor YCV40 - Has a Fender style tone stack on the clean channel and a Marshall style tone stack on the gain channel . . . but both get noticeably brighter as it's turned up.

I wonder if dialing in sounds with the bright switch on at low volume, then turning it off at high volume would keep things more consistent - usually I leave it off.

Is there a bright cap on the volume, and if so, do you know what value?

 

[GuitarStv]

Is there a bright cap on the volume, and if so, do you know what value?

The bright cap is on a switch that I usually leave off.