jma
Inspired
I just finished setting the levels on my Axe and I'm curious if I should have done anything differently. Here is what I did, step-by-step:
1) increase the Instr In level to just barely lighting the red LED while strumming hard (using the loudest pickup, which in my case is the middle one); I had to increase the Instr In level to 95%.
2) load the Bypass preset.
3) set the front panel Output Level 1 knob to max for unity gain.
4) while strumming hard, set the input trims of my audio interface to just below clipping (Echo Gina 3G, connected to Axe via balanced XLRs).
At this point, the Axe Instr In and Echo Gina 3G inputs are set optimally for the Bypass preset. Now when I load any amped preset it's hot, hot, hot! (on the Echo Gina)
5) I turn down the gain in the Global EQ panel all the way to -12dB and all the amped presets are still very hot.
6) Now I throw "unity gain" out the window and turn the front panel Output Level 1 knob down to the noon position. Now most of the preset levels are in the ballpark for minor tweaking, some need to be increased, some decreased.
So now I'm wondering if I should even care about unity gain. Should I have done the level adjustment differently? The settings seem skewed but the unit sounds fine and there's absolutely NO noise (incredible, considering I'm playing a 30 yr. old Strat with original electronics 5 ft. away from florescent lighting.)
1) increase the Instr In level to just barely lighting the red LED while strumming hard (using the loudest pickup, which in my case is the middle one); I had to increase the Instr In level to 95%.
2) load the Bypass preset.
3) set the front panel Output Level 1 knob to max for unity gain.
4) while strumming hard, set the input trims of my audio interface to just below clipping (Echo Gina 3G, connected to Axe via balanced XLRs).
At this point, the Axe Instr In and Echo Gina 3G inputs are set optimally for the Bypass preset. Now when I load any amped preset it's hot, hot, hot! (on the Echo Gina)
5) I turn down the gain in the Global EQ panel all the way to -12dB and all the amped presets are still very hot.
6) Now I throw "unity gain" out the window and turn the front panel Output Level 1 knob down to the noon position. Now most of the preset levels are in the ballpark for minor tweaking, some need to be increased, some decreased.
So now I'm wondering if I should even care about unity gain. Should I have done the level adjustment differently? The settings seem skewed but the unit sounds fine and there's absolutely NO noise (incredible, considering I'm playing a 30 yr. old Strat with original electronics 5 ft. away from florescent lighting.)
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