“Sag” control (a limiter?) like a Kemper so can go from clean to dirty with my Vol

I would love to see an option that specifically emulates the way output tube + transformer gradually limits and saturates. Kemper has this feature, it’s in the amp section and it’s a parameter called “sag.” It can go from 0-50% and behave like a large to small wattage amp, above 50% to 100% you can actually have the driven sound be quieter than your clean sound. This is a really great thing if you are like me and love the way you can roll back your guitar volume or picking to clean up the sound and then open it up to drive the amp hard, but the output volume remains fairly even.

Yes! A dedicated limiter would be awesome.

Can you not already achieve this with the QC’s existing compressor blocks? Asking out of genuine curiosity; not trying to be snotty.

This.

Any of the compressors that go to a supper high ratio (above 20:1) basically become limiters.
Use the fastest attack and adjust release to taste.

Alternatively, crank the Master control on the amp block to add more power tube ‘drive’ and reduce the Output control as needed.

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What you’re describing sounds more like compression. If you haven’t yet, try the 1176 modeled compressor called Legend 87. It sounds fantastic, very smooth and open and it doesn’t turn your low-end to mush. I use it on all my clean presets but haven’t tried it on any OD presets. It may do just what you’re looking for. Make sure you put it after your Amp and Cab blocks so your guitar volume will respond naturally. I like backing off on the mix control to allow some of the attack through. Please let us know your results.

Don’t you guys find that the highest compressor ratios increase “hiss” too much?

I don’t use them :sweat_smile:

They probably will do though. If you’re using higher ratios, you will (probably) want to use a higher threshold, or even a blend unless you really do want it to sound super-slammed.

I have thought that I could just use a compressor, but I can’t seem to duplicate the outcome. I understand compression, but coming from a Kemper and before that, tube amps, I think there is something going on that I can’t duplicate with any of the compressors.

The “sag” feature on the Kemper is nearly perfect, not sure if it’s a compressor or a limiter, or if there is some side chain eq/voodoo integrated with the amp section, but it sounds and works quite well.

I can get closer to the sound by using a one knob “limiter” in either a behringer or Yamaha mixing console, thus I requested a limiter. I am going to edit my post since what I really want is the “sag” feature like a Kemper (however they do that) I’d be happiest if it wasn’t using a block, but was just a parameter in the amp models.

Dream on I guess…

What is "Sag"?

Here’s a way of using compressors to emulate the sag, I’ve done this myself a bit but it’s a challenge to keep it from getting too hissy:

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Cool, thanks for the link, I’ll check it out!

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