Some tips on using powercab212+

[oddacio]

I haven't seen much help or support on getting the most out of this thing so I though I would post some learning lessons and best practices that I've learned.  I run an axe fx3mkII in front of a powercab212+ and it has been a struggle getting what I would expect out of this rig.  Many guitarists in my area have started ditching their modelers and profilers, moving back to tube amp setups.  I'm stubborn.  

 

I will keep this short, and again it is more of any fyi of what I've learned playing with this thing in live setups.

 

1.  Stop trying to get what you hear through your headphones, out of the powercab, or any other setup for that matter, it wont work.

2.  Clean and slightly dirty sounds with the speaker models work pretty well without any changes.

3.  I configured all 12 powercab212+ speaker model presets with a +6db left and right.  In my setup, I want the signal to noise ratio to be as high as possible, just where it starts clipping.  Watch the LEDs by the volume knob and adjust your modeler output signal to where it starts to flash yellow.

4.  This thing is sensitive to db level and room reflections.  So, it sounds different at 90+db in my basement with plush carpet compared to our rehearsal space with concrete floors.

5.  I use the following output config:  output1 for home studio/desk monitors/headphones using cab IRs, output2 for front of house during rehearsals/gigs using cab IRs, output3 to the powercab212+ using no cab IRs, and using the various speaker models directly.

6.  Game changer for me was putting a graphic eq right before the output of my modeler(axe fx3).  I'm boosting 250k, 2k,4k, and 8k as a default.  At each venue, including rehearsal space, I tweak the Master Q which takes my 10band EQ and essentially either scoops or boosts the middle.  This allows me to have a single knob to slightly tune the output depending on where I am.  Sounds like a real amp setup now.

7.  When I was the only guitar and no keys, we could play at any volume, and could hear everything ok, I wasn't competing with the drums, bass, or singer.  We've recently added keys and all of the sudden, everything is louder, and I can't hear myself sometimes.  I believe the fix is going to be asking the keyboard player to start playing up an octave so we don't compete for the same frequency space.

8.  Front of house output is just for stage monitors, not for the crowd.  I don't believe we'll ever play venues that will require us to be so loud that I need to mic through a PA.

9.  I play rock, alternative/indie, pop, and metal.  I have been using mostly the Vintage30 model with the dirty stuff, Jarvis(fender twin speakers I believe) for the cleans, and Herald speaker model for my Rectifier amp models.  Initially, the Herald model sounded awful and muddy regardless of the amp model EQ.  Again, the graphic EQ brightened it up, and the Master Q is my friend.  Sound good now.  Does it sound like a natural V30 cab being pushed by a matrix amp? no clue.  But it does sound like what I would expect.  On my metal stuff, I use a schecter hellraiser hybrid with EMG57/66 pickups and drop C.  pretty happy with it.  This setup sounds much better than my gibby LP with PAF buckers, for metal.

10.  My live sound, by itself, is underwhelming.  With the band, it fills the space its supposed to and sound really good, i complements the band sound. 

11. My home studio sound using cab IRs sounds really good at home.  With the band( while cutting below 100hz and above 8000hz), sounds, well, not right.  Sounds thin, and brittle

 

Again, this is just my experience with it, your mileage may, will vary.

 

 

[rlagos144]

amazing info thanks! I use the 212 with my FM9 and I like it a lot, love the stereo, love the FRFR but was kind of frustrated with the speaker models, I really like the LF RAW, but with the speakers I feel it lost low end (thump) and high end and was looking a lot about EQ parameters to compensate, will try it today based on your suggestions.

 

amazing!

[adagosto]

Nice post. There's a few nuggets in there for me. If you are still following this thread, please post your graphic EQ settings. Sounds like it's a parametric EQ??

[rlagos144]

its a 10 band Graphic EQ where you boost the 250, 2k 4k and 8k frecuencies, i do it between +3 to +5db, game changer