Amp Out Volume Control

[cdtreadwell429]

Hey everybody, I hope someone might have some insight on this:

 

I have my Pod Go hooked up to my guitar amp from the Go’s Amp Out to my guitar amp’s FX return so I can keep my reverb/delay/modulation FX after the preamp in the signal chain. The problem is I am not getting enough volume from my guitar amp hooked up this way. I can’t compete with my drummer’s loudness. When I plug into the main input/preamp of the guitar amp I am able to get plenty of volume, but I’d rather not get the extra color. I have the preamp channel volume in the Pod Go cranked but not maxed in order to have some play for adjusting levels within the preset. What am I missing? How can I get more volume from the Amp Out? 

[DwtnToronto]

Since you're not using the Preamp and just the Power amp section, maybe in Pod Go Global Settings change the Amp Out to line-level rather than instrument-level.  It assumes by default that you are going to the front of the amp before the preamp so it's expecting to send an instrument-level signal.  That might help.

[cdtreadwell429]

Thanks for the reply. I don’t see an option in Global Settings to change the Amp Out from instrument to line. You can change the Amp Out Source to Pre Cab/IR or Main Out. And you can change the Main Out from instrument to line. I guess by changing the Amp Out Source to main out and main out to line then you would accomplish this. But then you would have to disable the Cab/IR block. 

[silverhead]

On 2/19/2024 at 7:04 PM, cdtreadwell429 said:

…. I guess by changing the Amp Out Source to main out and main out to line then you would accomplish this. But then you would have to disable the Cab/IR block. 

You would want to disable the Cab/IR block if you’re going into the guitar amp’s FX Return, no? Typically you don’t want the signal to be processed by a Cab model or IR and then send it through a physical guitar amp’s cab/speaker.

[cdtreadwell429]

On 2/19/2024 at 7:54 PM, silverhead said:

You would want to disable the Cab/IR block if you’re going into the guitar amp’s FX Return, no? Typically you don’t want the signal to be processed by a Cab model or IR and then send it through a physical guitar amp’s cab/speaker.

Right, definitely disable the Cab/IR block if going into an amp. But I’d prefer to be able to use the Cab/IR block to go to FOH AND use the Amp Out to go to the FX Return of my amp. If I set the Amp Out source to Main Out then I can’t do that, right? How can I make Amp Out line level without making its source Main Out? Or, how can I boost the Amp Out signal?

[silverhead]

You’re right - I don’t think you can do it within the POD Go. But I’m wondering why this is happening. Does your amp not expect an instrument level signal at its Return? That’s the normal usage - physical pedals in an FX Loop typically operate with instrument level signals at both their inputs and outputs so they can be daisy chained. Do you have an analog pedal to test? Can you not just increase the amp’s master Volume (not pre-amp Drive/Gain)?

 

If you really do need to boost the signal the simplest thing might be to get an external boost pedal and put it in-line between the Amp Out and the amp Return. 

[cdtreadwell429]

My amp is a Fender Champion 100, it doesn’t have a master volume; only 2 channel volumes and a gain on the dirty channel. I’m not sure if the FX return is line or instrument. I’ll try an analog pedal as you suggest. Thanks for your help.

[silverhead]

I took a quick look at that amp. Unless I missed something, it doesn’t seem to have an FX Return jack. It has an 1/8” Aux input. Is that what you’re referring to? If so, that’s almost certainly a line level input. What you’ll need is a little preamp box to boost the instrument level input to a line level output. Shouldn’t be expensive.

[cdtreadwell429]

Actually, the “Pre Out/Pwr In” is the FX loop. I’ll look into boosting the signal. That’s a good idea.

 

 

 

 

[silverhead]

OK - but it still seems odd to me. The PWR IN should expect an instrument level signal I think, exactly what the POD Go Amp Out is sending, because it is routing this signal to the internal power amp section. If you need to boost it you certainly can but I would be concerned about speaker distortion. Before buying something, try connecting the POD Go Main Output at Line level into the PWR IN jack. In the POD Go preset just use a preamp model - no FX - and disable the Cab/IR in the POD Go preset. This will tell you what the signal level will sound like if you get a preamp box. Compare it to the sound of your guitar connected directly to your amp guitar input with a similar amp (voice) selected.

[silverhead]

Another thought - does the Channel Volume level knob control the level of the power amp even if there’s nothing physically connected to the Channel Input? If so, there’s your answer because it should also control the output level of the PWR IN signal.

[cdtreadwell429]

How do you set up notifications for topics you are following? I have the “follow topic” button clicked but I don’t receive emails.

[silverhead]

I suspect you need to tweak something in your Line 6 account settings.