The sound of input 1

[Thomas Larsson]

I'm wondering about "the guitar optimization" on input one on the ultra .
It seems like no setting will make this input linear. It sounds like if it's eather treble cut or treble boosted.

Input 2 seems to have a more linear sound .
If i'm right i guess all I would have to do to make input one sound like
Input 2 would be to cut a capacitor ?

I'm i right ?

 

[scarr]

The way the inputs work is basically this. If you use the rear inputs (and set the input to rear), it gives you a linear response. If you plug into the front, there is some analogue circuitry that loads like the front of an amp, and provides a more "optimized" signal to the A/D converter. Setting the I/O to "Front" puts a filter in which reverses the EQ of that analogue circuit, thus making it basically linear again.

While you can cross them over if you like the filter for whatever reason, if you match front-to-front or rear-to-rear, you're basically getting a linear signal. Anything else you might here would be from the different impedance on the different inputs. (Remember, the rear is designed for line level signals, not instrument levels.)

 

[Thomas Larsson]

Thank´s for the answer !

I´m still a little confused about the differences in sound .You are saying "basically linear" ..... hmmmm

I always put a boss tuner in front of the ultra . This should mean that the impedance of any
input wouldn´t matter . I really like the sound of input 2 better ,however it´s not easy to route everything that way .
Also ,I have no problem with feeding the converter on input 2 with maximum level even though it´s a "line level" input , weird isn´t it .

If I wanted this "analog filter circuit" removed , would it be hard (cutting or shorting a cap..) ?

Thomas

 

[DJD100]

The front input has analog pre-emphasis while software provides digital de-emphasis for noise reduction (when the I/O is set to front), and it is more forgiving of overloads and soft-limits the signal to some degree. The rear has neither of these so it's flat (when the I/O is set to rear and you're plugged into the rear input), but clips harshly if overloaded.

On my personal Ultra myself and the audio pro's I work with can hear the difference between the two input methods, and we find a more natural sound for recording clean tones via the rear input (set to rear, while being very careful not to clip it!). For live use and recorded distorted tones the differences are mostly lost in the general muck.

Jay Mitchell plotted these two response curves on his personal Standard and the front (set to front) showed maybe a db of high-mid rolloff which is audible in my book with bright guitars, though not in his (he has a locked thread somewhere with his Axe's freq plots, do a search?). It also has to be noted that analog components can differ from their rated values so minor machine to machine variances are to be expected as well.

To sum up my experiences related to my personal Axe only, the front works fine for gain tones, but the rear can sound more natural for clean to edge of breakup type tones depending on a number of variables including but not limited to the guitar, pups, strings, and the individual Axe and it's settings that you're using. Personally I don't worry about it for live use and I just use the front input set to front, though for recording I'll use the rear for cleaner sounds (and line-level re-amping etc, being careful not to clip it).

Not sure of the best method of removing the analog stuff in front, and I'd venture that it wouldn't that easy (surface mount components etc), so if you really want to use the rear I'd just use an external preamp into the back there by not tearing up your Axe.

Good luck...

Thank´s for the answer !

I´m still a little confused about the differences in sound .You are saying "basically linear" ..... hmmmm

I always put a boss tuner in front of the ultra . This should mean that the impedance of any
input wouldn´t matter . I really like the sound of input 2 better ,however it´s not easy to route everything that way .
Also ,I have no problem with feeding the converter on input 2 with maximum level even though it´s a "line level" input , weird isn´t it .

If I wanted this "analog filter circuit" removed , would it be hard (cutting or shorting a cap..) ?

Thomas

 

[Rain]

Hi,
Just a quick question... Would the rear input be better for My AKG Wireless Guitar System....?

 

[DJD100]

Do a search as this has been discussed a lot with varying viewpoints etc.

I'd assume the front input unless your wireless is outputting Line Level (assuming you don't record with your wireless etc, see above...)?

Hi,
Just a quick question... Would the rear input be better for My AKG Wireless Guitar System....?