Thought you might be able to help me - just got my QC which is connected to a single HS-8 speaker. the presets sound sound too metallic with no depth…they all sound pretty much the same. What could be the problem ?
Even the plug-ins I had purchased sound pretty much the same…
Here’s a sample of EV101III RED factory preset using REPEAR DAW. Does it sound normal ?
the volume knob on the QC is at 100%
The guitar is a KH-2 by ESP with active pickups, and this is the config page of the device:
inst1 :
Start with the basics, I/O levels etc. Your input level is set to -12dB, so I would play your instrument and increase your input until you are just below clipping (in the red). That alone will make a big difference. Normally, I would adjust the impedance level to what best suits your guitar. With active pickups, it doesn’t make much of a difference but might be worth adjusting/testing etc. Your sound sample appears to have really low input which is making it sound lifeless. Also, it sound like you have a noise gate enabled and possibly cutting too much which as your tone is breaking up and disappearing too quickly.
Your input and output settings seem totally wacky (I used that word in the other thread).
Input:
Try going back to the default setting of 0 dB with 1 Mohm impedance. Play your active-pickup guitar at its full volume and only dial down the input level as much as is necessary to accommodate the full range. I highly doubt that it needs to go down to -12 dB.
Output:
Try going back to the default setting of 0 dB. Ground lift if you need it.
Amp block settings:
Play around with Bass/Mid/Treble settings here, as well as the Master control. You can also try tweaking the amp block’s Output control setting, though I’ve found that I typically never have to do this.
Cab block / EQ / everything else:
Especially play around with cab mic settings, as that will make the biggest difference in tone. This may solve the “metallic” problem you’re having much quicker than adjusting input/output settings.
Stock presets may or may not sound good based on the guitar and listening environment of the player who created it, versus the guitar and listening environment you are using. Get in there and tweak some amps and cabs. You shouldn’t have to make drastic changes to input and output settings.
Clip just sounds like you are getting cut off by the input gate, which makes sense given you have low input level. It’s a similar sound to a dodgy guitar lead as the sound cuts in and out. Other than that it sounds pretty normal.
Set your input 1 level to 0, and put the input impedance back to 1MOhm, turn the Out 1/2 level down to 0 too and just use the volume knob to turn the main level up as needed.
I would also check on headphones that you know work if that doesn’t solve it.
Thanks for the input, guys. I appreciate it.
Even with headphones the sound is still very thin and metallic
as instructed, Right now I’m barely scratching the clipping point in Reaper:
On the upper right side in small letters on your I/O settings page you’ll see the words “Global EQ” just tap them to get to your eq settings. the page will look like this:
Here’s a recommendation I found on the discussion board as a place to start with.
Try setting your Low-Pass filter at about 5100-6300 Hz and your high-pass filter at about 100 Hz. I use frequencies between 250-440 Hz to add or reduce “girth and warmth,” 700-2000 Hz to add or reduce “bite and excitement,” 2100-4000 to add or reduce “Presence”.
This sound sample almost sounds to me like it was missing a Cab block. But it’s a factory capture, so it definitely has a cab block.
Do you maybe have the “global bypass” (manual page 55) activated?
I don’t have a very musical ear, but I don’t think they sound the same, despite using the same settings…
OK. So, I found someone who EQ’d his HS-8. Now, I know it’s very case dependent, but could you please show me how I translate these EQ settings to the global EQ of the QC : Imgur: The magic of the Internet ,please ?
Just to be sure: most factory captures are made WITHOUT a cab block (according to Doug Castro), since this gives more flexibility - add and customize a cab block to taste.
But according to the OP, he is using the EV101III factory preset (I assume that’s 1F), which uses a model, not a capture, and it definitely has a cab block built into the preset.
Overall, this sounds like a dodgy input signal. Also, I keep hearing not only the distorted, but also parts of the clean guitar sound in the recording. Not sure if this is due to your input level being so low (so that only the highest peaks of your signal actually get clipped and the rest is clean)?
How are you recording this - just driving the active speaker from QC output and recording via mobile phone?
I can only concur with the others here: reset your input settings to “normal” values and try again. Maybe also share some recordings of clean sounds, so we can get a better feel for the quality of the input signal. How about recording just an empty grid with no effects? Or just a clean Fender amp + cab?
