knstrock Posted November 9, 2023 Share Posted November 9, 2023 Hi everyone, I've been using a processor for a while now (9 years), and while it still performs remarkably well in many respects, it's beginning to show its age. I'm aware that some people have moved on to using cab sims, but I've decided to take a different route. I've been charmed by a particular tube amp sound in my processor, and it led me to purchase an Orange AD30HTC. Now, I'm curious about the possibilities of integrating my new tube amp with the processor, and I have a few questions: Is it possible to include the amp in the processor's loop chain if it outputs at 8 or 16 Ohms and 30 Watts? Can the amp's output be used as a line-in for the processor or directly for the guitar without damaging it? Can the processor's output be used as an input to the amp? (This seems likely, but I'd like confirmation.) Is it feasible to use the processor's screamer, distortion, and reverb effects with a USB output, or will this setup not achieve high-quality linear-USB sound? What about adding a cab sim into the mix with Amp? I'm simply looking to record high-quality tube sounds on my computer, not for live performances. Any advice or experiences you've had with combining real amp heads with processors would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianoguyy Posted November 10, 2023 Share Posted November 10, 2023 1. no. But you can reverse that - put the processor into the amp's loop chain. Of course, that isn't going to help with digital recording. 2. no. 3. yes 4. yes. If I understood that correctly. 5. yes. In this instance, the general rule is "twist the knobs until it sounds good. When it sounds good. Stop twisting knobs." On 11/9/2023 at 5:50 PM, knstrock said: I'm simply looking to record high-quality tube sounds on my computer, not for live performances. Any advice or experiences you've had with combining real amp heads with processors would be greatly appreciated! But that will require analog recording (microphone on the cabinet). You cannot get digital recording from physical amps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knstrock Posted November 10, 2023 Author Share Posted November 10, 2023 Thank you, sir! Also, I found two pictures of the scheme. Could you please approve them? And what do you know about attenuator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianoguyy Posted November 11, 2023 Share Posted November 11, 2023 The 2nd picture is easy - that is what we call 4CM (four cable method). it is using a speaker, it is not going into a daw. It uses the line levels for the pod, not the powered signal. 4cm allows you to do a "mix and match" with the pre and post of the amp with the pre and post of the Pod. We can go more in depth about 4cm if you need it, but it has already been written at length if you'd like to search first. The 1st one is a little more advanced. It is using a 2nd device that is similar to the L6 stuff, in the sense that it has modeling built in. I mean, it isn't good as the L6 stuff, but it also does accept a powered source and sends out line level and digital. In this instance, you would be able to go into the DAW and get your amplifier tone. But it is an $800 device. Which is almost double the price of the Pod (and half a Helix). In this particular diagram, the speaker has no personality which allows the Torpedo to provide cabinet modeling. The Torpedo is accepting the powered source from the amplifier, allowing you to get tone from the head. And then, I assume the L6 product is just there for fx. Why someone would use an L6 if they were planning on using an Achon amp and a Torpedo cabinet model... beats me. But, I guess L6 needed to have a diagram of 'what if'. But, yes, that is your solution if that is what you are looking for. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knstrock Posted November 13, 2023 Author Share Posted November 13, 2023 On 11/11/2023 at 5:48 AM, pianoguyy said: The 2nd picture is easy - that is what we call 4CM (four cable method). it is using a speaker, it is not going into a daw. It uses the line levels for the pod, not the powered signal. 4cm allows you to do a "mix and match" with the pre and post of the amp with the pre and post of the Pod. We can go more in depth about 4cm if you need it, but it has already been written at length if you'd like to search first. The 1st one is a little more advanced. It is using a 2nd device that is similar to the L6 stuff, in the sense that it has modeling built in. I mean, it isn't good as the L6 stuff, but it also does accept a powered source and sends out line level and digital. In this instance, you would be able to go into the DAW and get your amplifier tone. But it is an $800 device. Which is almost double the price of the Pod (and half a Helix). In this particular diagram, the speaker has no personality which allows the Torpedo to provide cabinet modeling. The Torpedo is accepting the powered source from the amplifier, allowing you to get tone from the head. And then, I assume the L6 product is just there for fx. Why someone would use an L6 if they were planning on using an Achon amp and a Torpedo cabinet model... beats me. But, I guess L6 needed to have a diagram of 'what if'. But, yes, that is your solution if that is what you are looking for. Thank you! Yes, that's a complete rundown on my question. My goal is to record in apartment. I can afford to make some noise, but definitely not to unleash all 30 watts, haha. So, the conclusion is that I'll need to buy an attenuator regardless. Can I then just connect the attenuator output (which will handle the necessary impedance for the tubes) directly into a regular audio interface, like a Scarlett 2i, and work in a DAW? Ive seen attenuators ranging from $150 to $1000 (with a built-in USB output), but it might be more logical to just buy the cheapest one and use a quality audio interface, right? There's another question: what kind of equipment is used in professional studios like Capitol, Sony, etc.? They have entire racks of gear, but I'm sure 80% of it is unnecessary. I'm asking this because I came across an ad for a guitar rig used by Satriani himself. It included a 4-band EQ, compressor, attenuator, cabinet, and something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianoguyy Posted November 14, 2023 Share Posted November 14, 2023 On 11/13/2023 at 5:00 AM, knstrock said: There's another question: what kind of equipment is used in professional studios like Capitol, Sony, etc.? They have entire racks of gear, but I'm sure 80% of it is unnecessary. 80% is unnecessary... until it isn't. The reason studios have everything is because of the large masses of everything that comes through the system. Example, I prefer a Les Paul over a Stratocaster. But what if a studio only stocked a Stratocaster - I'd be lost. So, instead, they keep both on hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pianoguyy Posted November 14, 2023 Share Posted November 14, 2023 As to the rest.... How you get a 'good' tone is up to you and requires trial and error. But at least now you know you can't plug a powered signal into your Pod. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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