matching tones across outputs

[bobdobbs]

So I use my Helix a bit unconventionaly: (Stereo) XLR> poweramp> 2 closed back guitar speakers (scumback) loaded 1x12"s.

the other signal flow is via SPDIF to my interface for recording. Once i get another interface that i can daisy chain via ADAT i'm ditching the SPIDIF - its not secure enough of a connection

The tone im getting out to the speaker cabinets is absolutely great. wouldn't change it for the world But.......

What i get out of the headphones from the helix and what i get out of the SPDIF... Meh, it sounds like a turd lately. fizzy like digital clipping, but weird. like the the signal is clean but there is this underlying fizz going on. This is most prominent when Im using the preamp versus the amp. the Problem is that the preamp sounds better to me "In the room" when going through the poweramp>cabinets.

I Know that there is no possible way to match the sound exactly. its apples and oranges i know. but is there a good/better process to match the sound coming from my guitar speakers?

Oh and side question Given the example below, What signal is fed to the headphones, is it the signal with the cab or not?  Thanks in advance and happy humpday 

 

[DunedinDragon]

Well it really comes down to the cab block and what you're using to listen to your recorded signal and your positioning relative to the speakers.  The ribbon mic is a pretty decent choice although I tend to prefer R121's.  But I doubt that's the real difference.  Putting some more early reflections on it would help give it a better "room" feel to compare to your live speakers.  But I think one of the things you are most likely dealing with is trying to match your live cabinet to the modeled cabinet because the tone of the live cabinet will change depending on where you are positioned relative to the speaker.  Get directly in front of the cap on that speaker and I'm pretty sure you're going to hear the same fizzy stuff or stand off axis to the speaker and it will likely sound darker or muddier.

The good news is you can address the fizzy stuff in the digital signal which you can't on the live cabinet unless you mic it.  I might first try using a combination of two mics like one dynamic mic such as an MD421 and your ribbon mic.  The MD421 will add more mid presence articulation which might help better mask the fizzy stuff.  The other thing that might be affecting it is your listening position relative to your studio monitors if you're using them.  The fizziness typically doesn't carry too far when it's overwhelmed in the room when it combines with the rest of the sound, so if you're too close to the speakers or they're not properly positioned in an equilateral triangle to your position, the fizziness could be more prominent.  And a LOT can depend on the type of speakers or headphones you're using for the recorded signal as well.

Those are the things I'd probably start with.

[rd2rk]

2 hours ago, bobdobbs said:

Oh and side question Given the example below, What signal is fed to the headphones, is it the signal with the cab or not?  Thanks in advance and happy humpday 

 

 

If the "Headphones Monitor" setting in Global Settings>Ins/Outs is set to MULTI, then you're hearing BOTH the Digital Out with cab and the XLR Out without cab.

If it's set to XLR, then you're only hearing the XLR without cab.

That could be the problem.

[bobdobbs]

Thank you both I will keep on experimenting