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Topic: problem with multi-effects unit |
Tommy Boswell
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 2 Mar 2013 3:21 pm |
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| I have a Digitech RP155 that's giving me some unwanted distortion, or clipping, or fuzz, whatever you call it. Could my PSG single-coil pickup be too hot for it? Just wondered if anyone else has had the problem, and how did you solve it? I like the sounds I can get out of if, but it's just not clean like it should be. |
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Bobby Snell
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 2 Mar 2013 3:59 pm
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Do you have a volume control on the guitar? If not, there are commercial and plans for DIY units that clip on the leg of the steel to attenuate the signal coming out of the guitar.
Do you run through an active volume pedal on the way to the Digitech? You may be able to adjust how hot the signal is coming out of that, or try a passive pedal.
Anything else, like a tuner, in the path? That can affect it.
Long answer is, yes, the steel guitar pickup can be too much running into a guitar effect or amp, especially solid state. Also, many 6-stringers use a volume control on the guitar itself. |
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Bill Moore
From:
Manchester, Michigan
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Posted 2 Mar 2013 5:51 pm
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| If you are using any of the amp models, it's very easy to end up with the gain too high. For example, I have found that the twin reverb model is the cleanest, but you can only turn the gain up to about 20, higher then that seems to cause distortion. Now, I don't use any amp model, but I do use a speaker model, usually the bassman 4x10. Are getting the distortion when the effects only? |
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Clete Ritta
From:
San Antonio, Texas
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Posted 3 Mar 2013 6:03 pm
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What amp are you using? Are you running the effect thru a loop? If not, you may want to try that. You may be clipping the unit if pugging in direct from the steel. Let us know what else is in the chain.
Clete |
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Larry Bressington
From:
Nebraska
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Posted 4 Mar 2013 4:49 pm
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I have had some clipping on my Pod XT that was not able to be removed...I lowered the pick-up and that lowered the output to where i could be full volume without clipping.
Check you're not overloading with a compressor turned on etc.
_________________
A.K.A Chappy. |
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Helmut Gragger
From:
Austria
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Posted 5 Mar 2013 1:40 am
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Be careful that the Master Volume does not get above 50.
Digitech has been sloppy telling people about some of the functions and controls there, but I have read stuff like that in the user forum.
The DSP must work with a huge headroom to prevent bit clipping.
-helmut
_________________
feel at home at: http://me.aquataur.guru |
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Steve English
From:
Baja, Arizona
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Posted 5 Mar 2013 10:56 pm
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Tommy,
I suggest that you send a preset that you're having problems with to another RP-155 user to see if the problem is duplicated on their end. Very easy to do via email.
Bill Moore: What "gain" are you referring to?
Helmut: What "Master Volume" are you referring to?
I have not used any amp modeling, however I run my "Preset Level" slider (upper right hand corner on the X-Edit program) at 99 on all of my presets and have never experienced any problems. I typically use the lexicon reverbs, analog delays, chorusing, and distortion in my preset banks.
I've used my RP's with Emmons, Sho~Buds, MSA, GFI, EMCI, Rittenberry, Desert Rose, and Stage One guitars with no overloading problems.
Added edit:
If you use the X-Edit program, you can press the <PrtSc> key on your computer to capture the display of your RP with the settings, then open in Paint and save as a jpg pic file.
Example:
If nothing else, someone might be able to spot a problem in settings by way of the pic....
_________________
Always remember you're unique..... Just like everyone else |
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Helmut Gragger
From:
Austria
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Posted 6 Mar 2013 3:15 am
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| Steve English wrote: |
Helmut: What "Master Volume" are you referring to?
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Both the Rp-355 and the Rp-500 have a control knob on the top labelled "master level" or similar.
Its value is supposed to go not beyond 60 according to Digitech forumites. Its function was not entirely clear, particularly in respect to other volume controls, but it was assumed that the headroom decreases when you wind this up.
On a digital system with 24 bit resolution bit noise will not be an issue, but bit clipping will be serious and should thus be avoided at all cost.
-helmut
_________________
feel at home at: http://me.aquataur.guru |
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Bill Moore
From:
Manchester, Michigan
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Posted 6 Mar 2013 5:37 am
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Steve, if you choose to use one of the amp models, the gain and the level controls of the eq section are active, even if you have not chose to use the eq section. Look at the picture posted above. The program illustrated shows a Marshall amp, the gain, first knob, is turned up all the way. The right most knob is the level, it's set to about 60. This particular program would give extreme distortion, if the amp model was turned on. All of the amp models are greatly affect by these two settings. Now, I don't use any amp model, I set it to direct, but I do use a speaker model, usually the bassman 4x10. The twin reverb amp model is the cleanest, but I would never set the gain above about 25. So, if you use an amp model, and set the gain above about 20, no matter what else you do, you may have some distortion.
edited to show a program that I like and use quite a lot.
Last edited by Bill Moore on 6 Mar 2013 7:12 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Tommy Boswell
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2013 5:48 am
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Thanks for all the tips. I'm just getting to know the RP155, haven't tried XEDIT, but maybe I will.
I think I narrowed the clipping problem down to the RP155, with or without using one of the amp models. Also, same problem when I plugged into loop of Peavey Special 112, or input 1 or 2 of my Bassman 70.
I do have another guitar I could try, to get a comparison to another pickup. But trying all these combinations takes more time than I've got right now. Maybe when I retire! |
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Steve English
From:
Baja, Arizona
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Posted 6 Mar 2013 8:53 am
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Thanks for the info Bill and Helmut. I've never used those products or functions, so I appreciate the info.
I'll try the amp modeling settings and see what effect that has in the way of clipping.
Tommy, I run mine from the vol pedal out to two amps. I've not tried mine in an effects loop scenario.
Good luck with tracking down the problem. If you want to try different presets via email, let me know...I'm always game. 
_________________
Always remember you're unique..... Just like everyone else |
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