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Up to Discussions in DT 50 User's Group
1426 Views 6 Replies Latest reply: May 10, 2011 1:13 PM by wolbai RSS
bigden25 Just Startin'
bigden25
20 posts since
Oct 28, 2010
Currently Being Moderated

May 8, 2011 10:38 AM

DT50 Tube vs. Modeled Tone

 

How do I know when my DT50 is using the tubes to produce the tone vs. the built in modeling?  I was trying to explain to a guy last night about how the DT50 uses both modeling and tubes to produce the tone.  He then stated that the tubes must really make the DT50 sound better than one the solid state line 6 amps.  I didn't know how to respond.  I like the amp’s tone, but I don’t know if it’s the tubes I’m hearing or really good modeling.  Can you guys tell if you are getting real tube tone from your DT50, and when you are getting a software generated tone?  Is there a way to set the amp up to ensure the tubes are making the tone (other than play really loud)?  I normally run my DT50 with my POD HD 500.  I'm just trying to understand how much value having the tubes adds to the overall good tone I'm hearing.

Tags: dt50
  • Rowbi Expert Line 6 User
    Rowbi
    7,745 posts since
    Nov 25, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    May 8, 2011 11:35 AM (in response to bigden25)
    Re: DT50 Tube vs. Modeled Tone

    the DT50's preamp is basically the same as the POD HD's pre models. the DT50 ALWAYS uses a DSP modelled preamp.

     

    it's the poweramp that's the different bit.  the DT50's poweramp reconfigures itself to be the same setup as a real poweramp.

     

    so e.g. on DT50 voicing 3, the preamp is modelling a VOX AC30 preamp, then the DT50's analog poweramp is reconfigured to be like an AC30 tube poweramp.  this is when on normal master volume.

     

    if you pull out the master volume on the DT50 is lowers the volume into a sort of home practice level of volume.  in that case the power tubes wont do enough to give you the tube tone, so the DSP modells the whole amp (preamp and poweramp) and the DT50's poweramp tubes just make it a bit louder to hear it.  that's actually how the spider valves work.  they model the whole amp tone, and the SV tubes just amplify that signal as cleanly as possible.  obviously they do add a little tube warmth, but it's not quite as good as a real poweramp making all of the poweramp tone.

     

    does that help you???

     

    just remember, POD HD + DT50 will sound identical to just the DT50 on its own.  but obviously only when using 4 of the POD HD amps vs the 4 voicings in the DT50 standalone.

  • wolbai Just Startin'
    wolbai
    177 posts since
    Mar 30, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    May 8, 2011 12:01 PM (in response to bigden25)
    Re: DT50 Tube vs. Modeled Tone

    Well, no easy answer on that. I will give you my understanding of the DT50/POD HD. Please bear in mind that I am not a technician. I am more a simple guitar player.

     

    Please be aware that LINE6 does not describe how the tonal building between the traditional tube amp technology and the software driven tone building works. So, therefore you will find a lot of "interpretations" on that - here and in other forums (just my subjective thoughts).

     

    The DT50 has a software driven pre amp section. So the amp is a hybrid between a traditional tube amp (analog technology) and a modelling amp (digital technology).

    If you play the DT50 you will not here a difference to a traditional tube amp. So modeling technology does not necessarily stands for bad sound quality.

     

    You can run the DT50 in a high volume mode (master volume not pulled out) and in a low volume mode (master volume pulled out). If you run the DT50 with master volume pulled out the DSP part of the overall tone building is higher. Again: this does not mean worse sound quality. The more you increase the master volume the less is the DSP portion in the overall tone building. I found that after 12 o' clock the DSP part is significantly reduced.

     

    If you use a POD/HD to run the DT50 you can use pre amp or full amp models.

     

    If you use pre amp models the modeling part of the overall tone is not that high as if you are using full amp models.

     

    With full amp models the software will emulate the power section of the amp too. Again: this does not mean worse sound quality. In that scenario you can get a good distortion sound at a reasonable volume level.

     

    If you use pre amp models you have to play at high volume levels to get a distorted sound - in that case generated by the tube amp section. This scenario has the least modeling amount. But the consequence is: you have to hit the tubes on a realy high volume level. Using pre amp models does not necessarily mean better sound quality (just my subjective thoughts).

     

    Hope that helps as a starting point. I think other forum user will add additional / may be different infos and thoughts to you.

  • wolbai Just Startin'
    wolbai
    177 posts since
    Mar 30, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    May 8, 2011 12:07 PM (in response to bigden25)
    Re: DT50 Tube vs. Modeled Tone

    Hi, thought I was the first one to anwser you. As english is not my mother tongue it takes a while for me to answer. So my answer is mainly redundant to rowbi.

  • bigden25 Just Startin'
    bigden25
    20 posts since
    Oct 28, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    May 8, 2011 12:58 PM (in response to bigden25)
    Re: DT50 Tube vs. Modeled Tone

    hanks for the quick response.  So I guess unless I'm playing loud, the tubes are not really adding to the tone very much.  I don't play all that loud so I'm mostly hearing the software working, I guess.  Does anyone know if an attenuator will work on the dt50?

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