Amp Pre or Amp Post (PodHd500)

[TheAlex2405]

Hello,

 

I own a PodHd500x and it sounds so great ! There's one thing I don't get tho, because I understand guitar and all but sometimes the amp stuff is hard to follow...

 

I use 3 amps mainly, a marshall, a vox and a bomber... I selected the Marshall (Pre) and the Bomber (Pre) and they sound great, but I chose the Vox without the Pre option (so, I guess, post...) because I prefer the sound.

 

What does it actually change, pre or post? Physically I get it (before or after the mixing stuff) and soundwise maybe it's only a matter of taste, but is there a difference of signal or something else (that's where it's tricky for me)? Are there any better solutions or really like "you choose"?

 

Thanks !

[silverhead]

Actually, Pre means only the preamp portion of the physical amp is modeled; there is no Post. The terminology has nothing to do with where the amp is positioned in the signal chain relative to the mixing stuff. The alternative to using the Pre amp is to use the full version of the amp which includes cab and mic modeling.

 

Normally you select the Pre version of the amp when your output signal is being routed to a physical external guitar amp/cab, preferably to the power amp portion - bypassing the physical amp's preamp and using only the Cab section of the physical amp. The full (i.e. non-pre) version of the amp is used when your output signal is being routed to a PA/mixer or computer recording setup.

[TheAlex2405]

So if I follow you, if I don't use a "pre" amp, I can choose direct signal (no cab)? And if I do I must choose a cab?

[silverhead]

If you set Output Mode to Studio/Direct - meaning your output device is a PA, mixer, or computer - you should use the full version of the amp model and also choose a cab and mic. If you set Output mode to one of the Live modes - meaning your output device is a physical amp - you should use the Pre version of the modeled amp and choose no mic or cab.

 

However, these are just guidelines. In the end let your ears tell you which setup sounds the best to you.

[pianoguyy]

And if I do I must choose a cab?

 

There is no MUST in music. There is only what works. 

However, there are things that have been tried by a million people over the years. Some of them work better than others. That is where 'rules' come from -- the people who have done it before you. 

 

But there are exceptions to every rule. For example, I run direct to the PA. I have numerous patches that use Pre only. Sometimes with cab and mic, sometimes without. Other times I use the full. I use what sound I can get, not what the rules tell me to use. But the rules are not there for me (a 30 year veteran of the entertainment business). They are there for guys like you -- The ones that are just learning. 

 

I will point out, however, if you are using a guitar amp, then I can't say that you will be able to get 'great tone' while using full amps simply because you will be adding amp on top of amp, which means  noise on top of noise. That doesn't mean you can't try. It just means that it is one of those 'rules' from the people that have already tried it. 

 

 

 

It is kind of funny that hughnico is apologizing for repeating information, because as I was reading the posts, I was going to say exactly what he said --- explaining it in terms of real amps. 

[TheAlex2405]

All right, thanks everyone for your answers ! I finally chose to keep the Marshall pre, I just prefer the sound.

 

It's been a while since I started playing music but I never really took the time to understand all of this, I just got along with what sounded best for our songs when we play live !

 

Thanks again and take care !