what are some amp and drive modes that work well for getting a lowest-possible-amount-of-gain modern metal sound?

[warrenlu]

right now I'm using fas modern III with jacked mids and the modded ts808. it sounds pretty good, but I'm wondering what other options/tricks are out there to get something that sounds energized and "lit up" but not very distorted; as clean and smooth as possible, where I rely on my pick attack to add the grunt

 

[RifferMcDuck]

This may be obvious, but you're keeping your drive at zero on the OD, right?

Also sometimes adding compression or a gate to the chain prior to the amp block can help smooth out metal tones, as well as playing with the amp block's master volume.

 

[FractalAudio]

Use the Gain Enhancer in the Amp block. This will accentuate pick attack. Lower the gain and use your picking technique to dynamically control the gain.

 

[Budda]

So a compressed clean sound? Check out Leon's double 1176 preset.