Re: [Harp-L] Blues Tunes - Blind Test Results

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Surprised to hear that it was a blackface patch.  The Gain setting is
certainly low enough to avoid excess distortion.  I can suggest a couple
of things to try:
1)  Add compression to the patch.  The compression acts before the
signal  goes through the amp model, so this might reduce distortion
resulting from sudden hot transients, like the attack on a very loud
note.  A compression setting around 5-6, with a fast attack, is good for
a starting point.  I use compression on most of my RP patches.
2)  Try a different mic.  The RE10 may just have too much output for the
RP400 to handle. Cheaper mics tend to have lower output; I use a very
cheap mic, the Labtec AM-22 ($8), with my RP.     
3)  Try working with the EQ settings and cab models to see what reduces
the crunch.  I find that when I analyze the signal from my RP,
regardless of amp model, there's a WHOLE lotta sound coming out around
640 hZ, right in the midrange.  So boosting the mids isn't necessary. 
Try one of the darker cab models, plus a little bit of boost to the
bass.  The RE10 is probably already putting out more treble than you
need, so I'd consider cutting the treble if anything.   

Good luck and regards, Richard Hunter
hunterharp.com 

Chris Michalek wrote:
> 
> I sat down for a few hours with my amp and the digitech.  I used the
> Blackface amp because I have a blackface amp.  I set out to make it
> sound exactly like my deluxe.  I think I did that for the most part
> except that the rp400 doesn't respond in the same way as a tube amp.
> Much less predictable than an amp.
> 
> I don't remmeber the whole patch.  But I used the Blackface amp
> setting, gain was at 31. All of other effects were off because it's
> easier to add to a sound than substract in the studio.
> 
> >
> >
> >
> >---- Original Message ----
> >From: turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx, Chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Blues Tunes - Blind Test Results
> >Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2005 13:32:28 -0500
> >
> >>
> >>"Chris Michalek" wrote:
> >>"I thought it was interesting that many picked up on the fact that I
> >>didn't use my Filiskos on the recording but nobody heard the
> >>difference between my amp and the Digitech...The Blue Energy cut was
> >>played with the RE 10 into the Digitech that was directly patched
> >into
> >>the HD Recorder. To my ears, the RP400 was actually crunchier than
> >the
> >>amp..."
> >>
> >>I heard the extra crunch and suspected that the piece was played on
> >the
> >>Digitech.
> >>
> >>In fact, I thought it was a little too crunchy on the loud notes --
> >a
> >>little too much like digital distortion, as opposed to analog tube
> >>distortion.  My guess is that the GAIN on the amp model used in the
> >>patch is set in the high double digits -- like 70 or higher -- and
> >the
> >>result is a bit too much distortion when the notes are played hard.
> >Is
> >>this the Tweed amp model?  I find that it's difficult to get exactly
> >the
> >>right amount of distortion on that one -- it seems to want to sound
> >>either warm and cleanish, or unpredictably harsh, and not much
> >>in-between.
> >>
> >>For a sound with a lot of crunch, in a nicer, tubier way, try using
> >the
> >>Boutique amp model with GAIN set somewhere around 5-7, or the Stack
> >>model with GAIN set to zero.  (Yes, zero.  That Stack is a very hot
> >amp
> >>model.)  The Stack will sound deeper and fuller; the Boutique will
> >have
> >>a lot of edge on the sound.  Put a little bit of slapback delay on
> >>either and you'll have crunch, punch, and a nice wide sound, all at
> >>once.  Try using the compressor too.
> >>
> >>Regards, Richard Hunter
> >>
> >>
> 
> Chris Michalek
> 
> www.michalekstrone.com
> CD Available
> http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michalekstrone