HX Stomp & Blackstar HT20 in 4CM causing clipping when using OD channel

[wyremfunk]

Heya guys!

 

I hope that someone will be able to help me with this…

 

I’m using the HX Stomp connected to my Blackstar HT20 using the 4CM. Everything is beautiful when I’m using the clean channel on my camp. But when I switch it to a boost voice or overdrive, the sound comes out as if clipping on top of being boosted. I’ve tried with all the possible input and output volumes, switching the FX loop into -4db and nothing has helped. I’ve checked all the channel on my amp as well with just the guitar plugged in and it doesn’t happen then. It goes like this only with HX stomp. Anybody has an ideas what might be going on?

Thanks for your time guys!

[Schmalle]

Here is a simple test that will help us moving forward:

 

Set Global Settings->Ins/Outs->Input Level to Inst.

Set Global Settings->Ins/Outs->Output Level to Inst.

Create an empty patch (check input and output blocks for default settings).

Crank the VOLUME knob.

 

Connect guitar -> IN L. Connect OUT L -> amp input. Does it clip?

Connect amp send -> IN L. Connect OUT L -> amp return. Does it clip?

 

[wyremfunk]

Just did that, and no clipping at all at this point.

[Schmalle]

Ok, cool, make the empty patch an 4CM patch now:

 

Add an FX Loop L block.

Set Global Settings->Ins/Outs->Send/Return L to Inst.

Set Global Settings->Ins/Outs->Return Type  to Return.

Connect guitar -> IN L.

Connect OUT L -> amp return.

Connect SEND -> amp in.

Connect amp send -> RETURN L.

 

Does it clip?

If not - there you have your 4CM preset template. You can add blocks one by one and identify at what point the clipping comes in.

[wyremfunk]

Did that - working fine on the clean channel, but starts clipping as soon as I use the boost voicing or OD channel :(

[Schmalle]

On 5/4/2024 at 1:44 AM, wyremfunk said:

Did that - working fine on the clean channel, but starts clipping as soon as I use the boost voicing or OD channel :(

On 5/3/2024 at 12:58 PM, wyremfunk said:

Just did that, and no clipping at all at this point.

These two statements shouldn't be true at the same time. Puzzling. Both the main input and the return normally behave identical when it comes to input clipping (if the input block's Gtr Pad is set to Global or Off).

 

What we know so far is that is not the input of the amp that clips, because the clipping doesn't happen with the clean voicing. It happens after the amp's send.

 

A)

With connecting amp send -> amp return directly: does it clip?

 

B)

Redo the 2nd test from my first post:

Create an empty patch, crank the VOLUME knob.

Connect amp send -> IN L. Connect OUT L -> amp return.

 

Does it clip?

 

C)

going on from B...

In the input block turn the lower knob one step right so that it displays "Input Return L/R"

Connect amp send -> RETURN L. [Connect OUT L -> amp return.]

 

Does it clip?

 

D)

When you get clipping in boost voicing, do you get less clipping in -10dBV mode?

[wyremfunk]

Heya!

Sorry for the late reply!

An update: I’ve just realized that it’s clipping on the clean channel as well, only a bit less. 

Re D) : no change in clipping when changing to -10dB mode

[Schmalle]

Good luck!