How to approximate this distortion tone?

[JeDu]

I know clean tones and I know high gain tones, but I am having difficulty getting to "in between" distortion tones like this. Aside from all the other effects Nick is using on the clip, what is the "dirt" he has on the tone and how would I approximate it on the FM3? Is it best with a drive block in front of a clean amp setup? Or starting with a high-gain amp and turning down the gain?

Sorry if this is an oversimplified beginner question.

Thanks.

 

[Rex]

If you start with a “clean” amp and start turning up the gain, you’ll start to get some distortion. Play with the gain until you get the amount of distortion you want.

 

[RevDrucifer]

Hm, that sounds more like a DI with something Klon-like on it more than it does a traditional amp tone. I have better luck getting edge of breakup tones from cleaner amps pushed hard than high gain amps turned down, but that's more of a matter of taste. It might be easier to get the particular tone of this vid, or in the ballpark, with a higher gain amp just starting to break up. Slap a compressor on there, too.

 

[rcm78]

I’d try the ODS clean model with a good amount of compression in front.

 

[JeDu]

Thanks all!