Amp model Power

[SteveFrance]

Hi,

 

I've received my Powercab+ last month and so i modificate all my patches to use with it. I'm trying to obtain the same dB level (with my little ears, it would be great to have an integrated db meter)....

Two days ago, i was jumping from one preset with an AC30 to another one with an AC15. With the PC+, it appears better to me that the AC15 is louder than the 30.

So i have done a test with the two amps in the same preset and with exactly the same setups on every parameters. The same conclusion......It would be the opposite (the same for the fender Twin vs US deluxe normal)

It's not linked to the PC+ cause i don't tweak something and, in fact, i've already noticed that with my FRFR before (amp+cab of course).

 

Have you noticed the same ? Have you some explanation ? Is that due to stereo or stuff like that ?

 

[DunedinDragon]

There's so many possible variables such as the same cab/speakers or mic and mic positions that it's hard to figure out where the difference might lie.  Personally I've never worried about any of that sort of stuff as it's something that's easily adjusted and spending time on it is just wasted time.  I just take the amp model for what it is, assign cab/ir and mic's and a couple of other blocks and start dialing it in.  Normally I'm plugged into a signal meter on a small mixing board so I can pretty easily get the patch to the right volume levels then adjust it all by ear at the end by comparing it to other patches.

 

The way I figure it you can waste a lot of time on stuff that simply is what it is, or you can work on getting the job done.

[codamedia]

2 hours ago, SteveFrance said:

it appears better to me that the AC15 is louder than the 30.

So i have done a test with the two amps in the same preset and with exactly the same setups on every parameters.

 

Two different amp models, with exactly the same settings will not be the same level. Not only are the models different from each other... the tonal quality of the model will also make it appear different in volume. It is very normal to have to balance patches. If you don't have access to a meter (mixer, DAW, etc...) there are apps for most phones that you could use. 

[SteveFrance]

Thanks !

I'm not limited with this but simply estonished. 

Of course, with my last FRFR, i could explain that the cab modeler, the mic'd and so on could bring a difference but i play now through the inside powercab models so i can easily compare directly amp models on the Helix and don't catch why passing by from a simple Amp to the bigger one, i loose volume......The AC30 should blown me away compare to the AC15

[cruisinon2]

46 minutes ago, SteveFrance said:

The AC30 should blown me away compare to the AC15

 

Some models are louder than others, and it has nothing to do with how their real-world counterparts behave.  A "real" AC30 might blow your doors off by comparison, yes...but this is the digital realm. There's one pile of 1's and 0's pretending to be an AC30, and another bunch masquerading as an AC15. There's no "power" coming from Helix at all... the line outs could barely drive headphones. The only actual power comes from the Powercab.

[codamedia]

2 hours ago, SteveFrance said:

... and don't catch why passing by from a simple Amp to the bigger one, i loose volume......The AC30 should blown me away compare to the AC15

 

Primarily, as already stated directly above, the volume of an amp is not modeled, just the tone and feel of the amp. Volume is irrelevant. 

 

Second... quite often larger amps "can" sound quieter in real life. With regards to an AC15 vs an AC30, they are different kinds of "loud"... one cuts, the other fills. A lot of people that play a real AC15 will vouch that they have no problem keeping up on a stage because they cut right through the center of a mix.