Tight to Loose?

[themetallikid]

Is there a setting or a combo of settings that will take an amp from a tighter feel to a looser feel? 

 

I typically like a looser feel on my lead tones and I'm familiar with the Sag/Bias settings, but they don't always seem to get me in that realm of making an amp looser 'feel wise'. 

 

To be fair, I haven't played with the other parameters outside of Sab/Bias so I apologize if I just haven't explored enough yet.  I usually think of these things while at work and don't have the unit in front to play around. 

[phil_m]

Sag and Bias will have an impact for sure. I think, though, that lowering the bass on many models helps tighten them up. The mic can impact it, too. One thing I've found is that increasing the Early Reflections parameter in the cab block seems to make things a little tighter sounding for some reason.

[themetallikid]

I'm fairly knowledgeable with how those affect the sound, except for extreme settings I've played with these a bit.  I'm curious....how does Bias X and the Hum/Ripple apply to the sound.  According to the 'manual' online it states

 

 

 

Bias X

Determines how the power amp tubes' voicing reacts when pushed hard. Set low for a tighter feel. Set high for more tube compression. This parameter is highly reactive with the Drive and Master settings.

 

 

 

Hum

Controls how much heater hum and AC ripple interacts with your tone. At higher settings, things

get freaky.

Ripple

[vmoncebaiz]

The power amp controls do affect feel, but they are subtle, at least to me.  I notice the feel difference with moderate adjustments.  I usually have to make large adjustments to really notice a difference in the sound.  I've found that Sag and Bias work well when turning them in opposite directions. That way I don't have to get extreme with either parameter to make a noticeable change.  So for a tighter feel, I drop sag and raise bias.  For a looser feel, I raise sag and lower bias.

 

Note that the higher the master volume parameter is, the more noticeable the adjustments will be for all of the power amp paramters.

 

I don't use the bias excursion, hum, or ripple.  I have messed with them and found that changing an IR or a mic and its distance works out better for me.

[GenoBluzGtr]

 

I don't use the bias excursion, hum, or ripple.  I have messed with them and found that changing an IR or a mic and its distance works out better for me.

 

I agree with this, except that I can use 'Ripple' sometimes to slightly darken a bright preset.  Overall, it sound better and more open with a low ripple settings, but if there is a bit of "ice pick", I can reduce it by turning up the Ripple setting a bit.  

 

Sag was the one that surprised me.  I LOVE a real amp with noticeable Sag... but on the Helix, something below 1.0 is almost always better to my ears.

[AlexKenivel]

You could always drop your low cut if you have any on a cabinet block to let more looseness through. The amps deep editing parameters definitely impact the feel.

 

In the full metal preset pack that I made a while back I included snapshots loosely named "Focused" or "scooped" where I made the Focused snaps tighter and midrange pushed, while the Scooped snaps sound a little looser. I edited those DEPs along with the obvious on-the-surface eq changes.

 

Amps that include a depth or resonance parameter make tightening and loosening easier. Bringing up the hum adds subharmonic content to your tone and can give a looser feel.