MayPRS Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 I bought a HX Effects earlier this year. My setup is based on Guitar + Treble Booster + Vox AC30 (this is my "base tone"). Then I have the HX Effects (formerly I used a G-System) for delays, reverbs, chorus,.... I started using the HX Effects on 4 CM (it was impossible to do so on the G-System because the G input is buffered and the TB didn't reacted well in the G input). It worked much better than the G-System but, to my ears, it suppressed some of the warmth I was used to so I switched back to 3 CM: Guitar -> TB -> Amp Input HX Effects L Input -> Amp FX Loop Send HX Effects L Output -> Amp FX Loop Return I recovered the full sound I was used to so I stick with this configuration. Besides 4 CM vs 3 CM, I always had this problem with the HX Effects - on some effects (the most problematic is delay!) I hear a distorted sound even when I clean up the volume on guitar (this didn't happened on the G). It seems like something is clipping a block on the HX Effects. My basic signal path is: Noise Gate (0 db) and then the effects I need (for instance Simple Delay at 0db). I don't know what could be clipping the HX Effects blocks (if this is indeed the problem of course). But it's a very unpleasant harsh sound, even when the guitar cleans up. I notice that specially on the delay block (be it Simple Delay or Dual Delay). No matter what I try, I always get that "distorted" and unpleasant sound beneath the notes I'm playing. I use Snapshots - at the end of the signal path I have a Vol/Gain block that I trigger at + 3db for solos (but that's after ALL THE OTHER BLOCKS). It also occurs when the Vol/Gain block is disabled/bypassed... At Global Settings I have the Input and Output at "Instrument Level" - no difference on the "distorted" if I use "Line Level". Also the amp haves a -10 db/+4db switch for the FX Loop. No difference also using one or the other... Any help/clues/tips would be much appreciated. I love the sounds I got from the HX but I cannot stand that "distorted" stuff underneath my playing of course... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codamedia Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 On 9/7/2022 at 4:34 AM, MayPRS said: Guitar -> TB -> Amp Input HX Effects L Input -> Amp FX Loop Send HX Effects L Output -> Amp FX Loop Return I hear a distorted sound even when I clean up the volume on guitar (this didn't happened on the G). It seems like something is clipping a block on the HX Effects.... Also the amp haves a -10 db/+4db switch for the FX Loop. No difference also using one or the other... In your 3CM setup... set the HX Effects IN/OUT to Line Level. Now you can stop guessing about the configuration... it's matched regardless of how you set your amps loop. I'd usually set the amp loop to +4, but since you are encountering "possible" clipping, set it to -10, at least for testing. Start with a blank HX Effects patch. I don't mean turn off the effects, I mean nothing in it, not even a noise gate. If there is no clipping sound on the blank patch... slowly add one effect at a time to see where the problem begins. If the "clipping sound" is there already... then there are only a few possibilities. Try engaging true bypass mode on the HX Effects (it's in the manual) to see if it goes away. If it does, you may have a faulty HX Effects. If the problem continues in true bypass mode, the fault is likely in a cable or within the loop of the AC30. Test the loop of the AC30 by inserting a small patch cable between the send/return Don't assume your cables to the HX effects are good. Properly test each one of them. If you follow those steps, it will pinpoint the exact spot the problem arises and will take any guessing out of the equation. 1 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayPRS Posted September 7, 2022 Author Share Posted September 7, 2022 On 9/7/2022 at 1:23 PM, codamedia said: In your 3CM setup... set the HX Effects IN/OUT to Line Level. Now you can stop guessing about the configuration... it's matched regardless of how you set your amps loop. I'd usually set the amp loop to +4, but since you are encountering "possible" clipping, set it to -10, at least for testing. Start with a blank HX Effects patch. I don't mean turn off the effects, I mean nothing in it, not even a noise gate. If there is no clipping sound on the blank patch... slowly add one effect at a time to see where the problem begins. If the "clipping sound" is there already... then there are only a few possibilities. Try engaging true bypass mode on the HX Effects (it's in the manual) to see if it goes away. If it does, you may have a faulty HX Effects. If the problem continues in true bypass mode, the fault is likely in a cable or within the loop of the AC30. Test the loop of the AC30 by inserting a small patch cable between the send/return Don't assume your cables to the HX effects are good. Properly test each one of them. If you follow those steps, it will pinpoint the exact spot the problem arises and will take any guessing out of the equation. Great advice. I will do it asap and post the results. Many thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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