2 quick questions - I use a strat with vintage output single coils - please can you link me to guidance on how to set up to get best out of &00 Naked as think you did them mainly with Humbuckers .
Also I will be going direct into pro level digital mixer - what is the best global output setting to get my gain staging correct in relation to the patches and also using external Neunaber Immerse reverb on fx loop for all AX8 reverb duties ?
Hi Nick: So glad you are loving these!
On question one, with any single coils, I'd advise you to use the MicroBoost drive block, with the drive set to between 2 and 3.5 to fatten up the single coils going into the amp, that will compensate pretty well for these being dialed in with humbuckers initially.
An alternative way to do this is to raise the AMP TRIM from it's default setting of 1.0 up to between 1.5 and 2.0 in the AMP BLOCK. The advantage of that is it frees up a drive block and doesn't use any CPU.
EDIT: Let me add, there are a few amps (like Marshall Plexi Highs) that are dialed in for humbuckers can be very bright if used with single coils. The solution is easy: just roll your guitar's TONE knob back between 20% and 33% to dial that out.
On Question two, you can see my video on Gain Staging/Leveling your presets. It also depends on what you mean by "direct into a digital mixer."
If you are only using the rear AX8 XLR outs into mixer, you can leave the I/O MENU setting on the AUDIO Page (front of unit, not in Axe-Edit) for NOMINAL OUT value at +4db (default value) rather than -10db (other option) and then set your Out1 knob to NOON. That produces a good -12db average signal out the XLRs on the back to any mixer.
BUT if you are using the S/PDIF digital output to go into a digital mixer, or a DAW, you basically need to change it the NOMINAL OUTPUT to the -10db setting instead of +4db, and then crank your Out 1 to maximum clockwise, to get the digital signal to leave at an average of -12db, good for sound guy.
For the AX8 only, the S/PDIF signal is controlled by the Out1 knob (but not true for the Axe-Fx). (For any Axe-Fx II readers of this, the S/PDIF signal is fixed, and setting your front Out1 Knob to about 11:30/Noon is about -12db into a mixer with these presets).
As to the external reverb, are you talking about this being added at the mixer board, or using your AX8 effects loop?
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