New axe fx 3 only sounds good with output 1 cranked

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Noahdb123

Member
Hello. I recently received a brand new axe fx 3 and I have it going through adam a7v monitors. From my ibanez gio guitar with emgs. I have everything set to the default setting except the output 1 level set to +4db and the input 1 level tickling the red. However I notice that it sounds pretty good with output 1 cranked very loud but when I lower the volume it seems like it weakens the tone. The input 1 gain knob seems to help out a bit when I crank it all the way but it doesn't fully do the trick. Basically what Im asking is if there is a way to get that full tone from the output 1 knob cranked but keep it at a lower volume across all presets?
 
Do you have a preset? Have you tried a different guitar / cable?

full tone from the output 1 knob cranked but keep it at a lower volume across all presets?
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I don't know what you mean here, you're cranking the output level. . . for tone. . . ?
 
discondition said:
Do you have a preset? Have you tried a different guitar / cable?



I don't know what you mean here, you're cranking the output level. . . for tone. . .
discondition said:
Do you have a preset? Have you tried a different guitar / cable?



I don't know what you mean here, you're cranking the output level. . . for tone. . . ?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

discondition said:
Do you have a preset? Have you tried a different guitar / cable?



I don't know what you mean here, you're cranking the output level. . . for tone. . . ?
Click to expand...
It feels thos way on all the presets. Ive used a different guitar and cable and still the same issue. Im trying to use the output 1 knob simply for volume but it seems that if i turn output 1 up it increases the gain and if i turn it down it decreased the gain
 
Sounds like you've either got something hooked up wrong (turn those monitors down if they're hissing ouch!) or you need to reach out to support. Best of luck!
 
discondition said:
Sounds like you've either got something hooked up wrong (turn those monitors down if they're hissing ouch!) or you need to reach out to support. Best of luck!
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Im pretty sure sure i have everything hooked up correctly. I have 2 xlr cables going to my adams from output 1 and i have my guitar plugged directly into the instr
 
Here's a troubleshooting idea.
Confirm whether it's output or input that's the issue:
  1. Turn down your monitor volume to a fair bit less than your normal listening level.
  2. Create a new preset with an output block.
  3. Add a synth block before it.
  4. In the synth block turn Type to sine and Track to Off.
  5. Slowly bring up your volume towards your regular listening level, you should clearly hear a clean sine wave.
Also worth trying switching the Ouput block to output 2 and hooking that up to your speakers and seeing if that makes a difference.
 
I would think cranking the Axe FX 3 output volume would clip anything plugged to the outputs...? I haven't tried it... But when I'm doing gigs I have the output volume at about halfway and it's already a good strong signal going to the FOH.
 
Output knob all the way up gets you the best signal/noise ratio, which may be what you are describing. To keep that at a lower volume, keep the Axe Output maxed and lower the volume on your monitors.

Also, are you using balanced or unbalanced connection between the Axe and your monitors? Unbalanced will be more susceptible to noise/interference.
 
Noahdb123 said:
Ive tried this but the volume is still too loud
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Turn the monitors down more. The volume knob on a typical speaker will go all the way down to zero, so you should be able to go low enough. Don’t be afraid to have the monitor at what seems like a really low setting.
 
The Output 1 knob doesn't change the tone of the Axe-Fx. It's in your head.

If you slowly turn the Axe-Fx's Output knob up from 0 while turning your monitor down at the same time so the actual volume never changes, you'll hear that the Axe-Fx sounds the same no matter where the Axe's Output knob is set.
 
Noahdb123 said:
Ive tried this but the volume is still too loud
Click to expand...
I have my AF3 running into a pair of A7X speakers, and I have the speaker’s volume at Noon (line on knob pointing straight up). I also have my AF3 set for +4dB output, and when playing with family at home, my output1 knob is quite low; below 9:00 (using the clock face reference), yet it sounds great. I am using TS cables to connect AF3
& A7Xs. Just sharing in case it might be helpful.
 
unix-guy said:
Not exactly true. See below:
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What I said is true. The listener's changes in perception doesn't mean the Axe-Fx's tone is changing.

The next part of my post explained it. Turn the Axe-Fx up from 0 while turning the monitor down from max so that the actual volume never changes, and presuming your monitor's tone doesn't change from adjusting its volume control, you can hear that the tone from the Axe-Fx won't change because of the Axe-Fx's Output volume.
 
GreatGreen said:
The Output 1 knob doesn't change the tone of the Axe-Fx. It's in your head.

If you slowly turn the Axe-Fx's Output knob up from 0 while turning your monitor down at the same time so the actual volume never changes, you'll hear that the Axe-Fx sounds the same no matter where the Axe's Output knob is set.
Click to expand...
What you’re not accounting for is noise floors, signal loss, and interference. Running a full signal from the Axe will result in a better signal/noise ratio. In an ideal environment with balanced cables, little interference, and good quality amplifiers, the difference is small or negligible. In less than ideal situations, it can be more noticeable .
 
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