yek
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LEVEL and CLIPPING issues: analyzing, deducing and summarizing.
Why and when are some presets clipping?
The signal level is already high in these presets. Easily checked by looking at Utility > Status Meters where the Output Level meter for these presets is touching the top. Combined with high output pickups, especially when hitting low notes on the low strings, the signal reaches a critical point and the clipping warning appears.
Note that (digital) clipping is something completely different from amp distortion!
Is clipping strange, weird, terrifying, should I hide my children, or is my Axe-Fx broken?
No. It's only the digital preset level being too loud. Easy to adjust, see below.
How do I solve digital output clipping?
Do NOT decrease the Input Level in I/O, because it's NOT related to the overall signal level (different from the Standard/Ultra days).
Adjust the preset level by turning down Level in the Amp block, or by turning down Level in Layout > Output > Main. In fact you can turn down Level in any block that's in series on the grid (such as Cab), but using one of the aforementioned parameters is recommended.
Note that decreasing the signal level by turning down Level in blocks before the Amp block may have an impact on Amp gain. But otherwise it won't hurt your precious tone in any way.
But what if I do this and the preset gets too soft when compared to other presets I use?
You have to adjust the other presets too then. The preset closest to clipping should always be your reference.
I hear clipping (or I think I do) but the Out 1 Clip LED doesn't blink?
It ain't the Axe-Fx clipping. You need to check other variables:
- Initialized my Axe-Fx: Utility > Reset > Reset System Params.
- Connected my guitar to the Axe-Fx with a cable. Passive electronics, no need to check a battery.
- Monitoring OUT 1 through studio monitors. No DAW, no USB, no headphones.
- I adjust FRONT INSTR level in I/O. Suhr guitar: 50% or so. Gibson: 40%. My Telecaster (single coil): 70%. Which means that I can safely set it and keep it at 40%.
- While we're at it, let's be clear about setting FRONT INSTR LEVEL: there's NO relation with digital output clipping, or volume, or amp gain!
- Checked a number of factory presets.
- When hitting the strings in a normal manner, clean factory presets such as 59 Bassman, Double Verb, Shiver Clean do not distort.
- When really digging in the strings, using a bridge / neck humbucker, I can make some clean presets distort a little. Nothing wrong here, they SHOULD be getting into distortion at some point, based on their settings. If you don't like that, just turn down Input Drive or Input Trim in the AMP block, that's all it takes.
- Also, I can make some factory presets clip, indicated by the OUT 1 Clip LED.
Don't mistake the IN LED going into red for digital clipping!
Why and when are some presets clipping?
The signal level is already high in these presets. Easily checked by looking at Utility > Status Meters where the Output Level meter for these presets is touching the top. Combined with high output pickups, especially when hitting low notes on the low strings, the signal reaches a critical point and the clipping warning appears.
Note that (digital) clipping is something completely different from amp distortion!
Is clipping strange, weird, terrifying, should I hide my children, or is my Axe-Fx broken?
No. It's only the digital preset level being too loud. Easy to adjust, see below.
How do I solve digital output clipping?
Do NOT decrease the Input Level in I/O, because it's NOT related to the overall signal level (different from the Standard/Ultra days).
Adjust the preset level by turning down Level in the Amp block, or by turning down Level in Layout > Output > Main. In fact you can turn down Level in any block that's in series on the grid (such as Cab), but using one of the aforementioned parameters is recommended.
Note that decreasing the signal level by turning down Level in blocks before the Amp block may have an impact on Amp gain. But otherwise it won't hurt your precious tone in any way.
But what if I do this and the preset gets too soft when compared to other presets I use?
You have to adjust the other presets too then. The preset closest to clipping should always be your reference.
I hear clipping (or I think I do) but the Out 1 Clip LED doesn't blink?
It ain't the Axe-Fx clipping. You need to check other variables:
- CPU usage (Utility menu). You may hear crackling noise because the CPU gets overloaded because of too many effects, even before the CPU Overload warning appears. Keep presets < 90% to be safe. An USB connection always add some CPU usage too.
- Verify that the output of the Axe-Fx is not overloading / clipping the input of your monitor device, audio interface or DAW. Easily checked (if you're running analog out) by turning down the front panel Output level knob. If this makes the clipping sound disappear, it's the input of the connected device.
- If you're using headphones, it may be your headphones which aren't able to handle the signal.
- Try another USB port. Or remove the USB hub or extension cord.
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