5 Ways To Make Your Amp Sim Pedal Sound More Like A Real Tube Amp (Universal Audio Dream '65)

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Which one of these tips did you find the most helpful? And are there any that you think I missed?

[@jrlajarin]

To me, compression

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@@jrlajarin It makes such a difference. Especially with single coils.

[@jrlajarin]

@@andrewclarkeguitar Yep, i'm building a fly rig without amp, the dream is a serious option. I am using for this tour a Headrush device, that works fine (with good IRs) but I want to try this pedal. Everybody say that is a game changer !

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@@jrlajarin The Headrush is cool from what I've seen. Haven't used one. But the Dream honestly totally changed my mind on digital rigs.

[@mr.d.572]

I did not know about compressors with a blend control. I have the MXR Dynacomp and a few cheap Caline and Coolmusic compressors and they are okay but I always thought something was missing in terms of the tone I'm after. I'll check into those (more expensive) compressors, thanks. I also found the EQ suggestion very helpful. Specifically the comparison you did between changing the bass on the Dream 65 VS. adjusting it through the EQ pedal. So far I have resisted the idea of adding another pedal for EQ (I do not like to have too many pedals), but maybe I will be rethinking that. Any brand or model you recommend?

[@Jesse615]

I have the Ruby '63 pedal -- the vintage AC30. It breaks up nicely on its own, but I also pretty much always use an overdrive (TS-type), and combine a little break-up from the amp with the pedal, and it sounds really tasty! The pedal also provides another treble boost; a good thing with an AC30 style amp.

[@natrixxvision6997]

I find with overdrive pedals, as long as you can approximate the same tone as you get with the dry signal, you’re good to go. From there it becomes very simple. Then the amount of overdrive or distortion is up to you. I’ll probably start with a touch of overdrive from the amp sim pedal and go from there. I like having multiple layers.

[@mrmeeks85]

Loving my dream 65 so far! Haven't felt the need to go beyond the included cabs

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Same here! Very happy with it so far. Which is your favorite cab?

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@Ricky Reid Nice! The EV is my go-to, but I've been enjoying the Greenback as well. So far those are the only two I've been using consistently.

[@mrmeeks85]

I've been alternating between the EV12 and S-verb 🤘🏼

[@Santaheckler]

The EQ pedal is the most misunderstand but powerful thing you can add imo. Love my D65, it’s great to add to even an amp on stage! I love playing with my guitar sound wrapped around me.

[@natrixxvision6997]

What I’ve noticed is that before you get into other effects, you need to make sure you’re happy with the sound from the speaker sim. That is what changes the sound more than anything else. So before you even get to the compression, start there.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

That's a totally understandable approach. Speaker sim makes the biggest difference, for sure.

[@blueslawyermemes7958]

I dunno about you, but my Dream '65 has fooled me into thinking it's an actual amp on...every occasion that I've used it

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Maaan, you gotta be careful saying things like that on the internet. The UA haters will come for ya.

[@Glicksman1]

My "always on" pedals are guitar into a Cali 76 into an Xotic SP compressor, both set moderately, into an Xotic EP (Echo Plex pre-amp boost into a Nocturne Atomic Brain (Space Echo pre-amp) boost. After those comes a Catalinbread Belle Epoch delay, a few OD peals, a volume pedal with a buffer, then a TC Electronics Q-Strip, a UA Ruby Vox AC-30 simulator (fairly middy sounding) with the volume clean but just up where it sounds as if the amp is working a bit, then a few reverbs, a chorus/phalanger and a tremolo pedal. All of this goes into a Focusrite Scarlett into my computer, and I listen with Sennheiser 600 headphones. I can dial in any guitar sound I want, and it always sounds very amp-like to me, the dual compressors doing the heavy lifting for sure.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

That sounds like a killer setup! Very cool.

[@Glicksman1]

@@andrewclarkeguitar Thanks. Yes, I like it. It only took me forty years to figure out what works best. :D

[@theflamerising1767]

Why do you need the sp compressor after the cali76?

[@Glicksman1]

@@theflamerising1767 Well, it's not a matter of "need", but rather a matter of reducing or eliminating compressor anomalies such as “breathing”, loss of attack, etc. that occur when a single compressor is set at high values. When using two compressors set at moderate values, the second one further compresses the moderately compressed signal from the first one, producing a strongly compressed signal with no anomalies. In this manner, neither compressor needs to be set so high that it produces anomalies and the signal becomes strongly compressed. Many years ago, I was introduced to this technique by Roger McGuinn who used/uses this when recording. Dual compressors create a unique, very pleasant, musical sound for guitar and other instruments. I use it for everything that I record.

[@rowbags3017]

Thanks for this video - it's really useful. I've got the Dream '65 and I love it - but I've got it ahead of my Neunaber Immerse II. I'm definitely going to try switching that around and also experimenting with a bit of compression and overdrive.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Sweet! No right answers. Compression is a game changer for sure though!

[@rowbags3017]

@@andrewclarkeguitar Cheers Andrew - I've ordered a compressor. It's only a cheap one (a Joyo PipeBomb), but Henning (EytschPi42) described it as very "transparent" when he reviewed it and it's got a blend control. So, it should be useful one way or another - and I like the idea of it being "transparent", because the primary reason I bought the Dream '65 was its tone (so I don't want to mess with that unless it's by choice). I've tried switching the order of the Dream and the Immerse II and I like it. I don't know if it's "better", but it definitely works (what's "better" - an amp-coloured reverb, or adding reverb to an amp tone? Both sound great with this gear! 😎). I've also tried adding an overdrive. My first thought was my EHX Glove, but it coloured things too much for this experiment and I ended up preferring Greg Koch's signature Lil Heat from Tone City - really cheap and cheerful, but it did just what I was looking for, simply adding a bit of "grit" on its minimum settings to the Dream's clean sound. Thanks again for the really useful video - I love it when something makes me stop and think again about gear which I've begun to take for granted. 👍All the best, Rowan

[@marcusflores2184]

I’ve discovered that if you use the D-TEX mod on low settings it gives you that tube compression feel that the pedal seems to be missing. Easier than using a separate compressor pedal.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Ah cool! I should play around more with that setting.

[@01taira]

Very informative. Adding gentle compression sounds more real and musical Thanks for sharing Sir, if it is not too much to ask, I would like to know your compressor setting. Attack and release time. Ratio. About how many dbs of reduction when you hit hard?

[@Whoosh12345]

Thank you! These are great tips to help me dial in a good tone on my ACS1

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Nice! I'm glad you found it helpful :) The new ACS1 updates make it look like a great pedal!

[@Whoosh12345]

@@andrewclarkeguitar I just updated it last night and the gain settings work so well now

[@kentcrawley]

I highly recommend the Boss EQ 200... I use two in my stereo rig! The first one runs pre and post of my overdrive section of my board. The second I use after the amp sim in stereo!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Ooooo, I never really considered that one. That thing is crazy powerful.

[@kentcrawley]

@@andrewclarkeguitar give it a try! I think you'd dig it running pre-post with your KOT. I use it with my Gladio and I get so many useful/flexible tones live and in studio!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@@kentcrawley I will! I've actually got a Gladio on the way. :)

[@ryleuty]

Xotic Labs makes a great compressor too.

[@vincentfender87]

Very well done! I also own the Dream 65 pedal, but it’s very noisy. Do you have any tips to reduce the noise?

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I get zero noise from mine. What kind of power supply are you using? It sounds like you may not be powering it correctly.

[@vincentfender87]

@@andrewclarkeguitar I use an isolated Boss PSA-120s (9V). Which one are you using?

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@@vincentfender87 Interesting. That shouldn't cause any issues. I use the large Mono isolated power supply that powers my whole board, including 4 UA pedals. Zero noise for me.

[@justinbishopmusic]

What cables are you using coming out of the Dream 65? The power at my house is a little noisy, so I’m trying to figure out all the best components. Thanks for these great videos by the way! I bought a Dream 65 after hearing you play through one.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I'm a little lucky and have pretty clean power in my apartment, so I'm not sure how good my cables are. But I'm just using Yorkville Studio One cables. I'm not sure how available they are outside of Canada, but I'm kind of hoping to move on from them to Evidence Audio, which is what the pedalboard is wired with. Cheers!

[@kodybryantmusic7357]

Get a power conditioner cleans a lot of noise up

[@Dobroz99]

Thanks Andrew. Look forward to trying your ideas. Keep up the good work.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thanks! Hope they help.

[@Dobroz99]

Well I am using a joyo and I thought the compressor and a little over drive helped. I also tried my BBE foot pedal and I thought it livened up the sound a bit. Thanks again.

[@mikevanleeuwen2858]

great tips. To get a real amp sound live with a modeler the stage monitor is very important too , That is for me the most frustrating thing. Recording sounds are great , headphones great sound. Stage monitor ,,,,totaly different plastic sound. Fake sound Even with great IR ;s . There is something with fr fr cabs that sounds not real. Not that punchy , even when playing ;loud. It gets the job done. Maby in a large venue the audiance will not here it but as a guitar playing standing before a drumkit it is not the punchy tuby sound that a good clean Fender style amp gives you . Especialy clean .So, i think that there is work to do in modeling world. Not in modeling itself but the the frfr solutions. They have to sound more tuby on itś own i think.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

That's a good point! I'll be honest, on in-ears I notice almost no difference. But for any other monitoring situation I couldn't do it.

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Great tips man! Thanks for sharing your insight. Love that archer pedal too. Gonna try it out soon.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoyed the video. Yeah, the Archer is so great!

[@jroobz]

sounds great man!

[@BartoszXIV]

I thought that these pedals simulating amps were meant to be all in one box items sounding exactly like the real amp? What am I missing here?

[@quiksilver78]

You mentioned you have a buffer in front of the pedal board. Do you use a buffer in front of the UAFX Dream '65 by any chance? and would you recommend, say, the TC Electronic Polytune 3 with the Bonafide buffer enabled?

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

It's gonna vary from rig to rig. I've actually recently removed the buffer from my board as I prefer the sound and feel going directly into the Cali76. But in most cases, the TC Polytune with the buffer is going to be a good choice.

[@BrockBarr]

Maybe a multi band compressor in post to emulate sag?

[@mookyshoots1]

What's the pedal order of your board and where does the Dream '65 fall in that order?

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

It's Buffer, Cali76, Tuner, Benson Fuzz, KoT, Rockaway Archer, Astra, Starlight, Golden, Dream. I prefer to run effects into the Dream because I've always played clean amps with no effects loop. But you could totally run the Dream before the Starlight or even before the Astra.

[@musik4life24]

Did you guys try it in the Fx Return of an amp?

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I haven’t. My amp doesn’t have an effects loop unfortunately.

[@YouZilaTak]

Hi andrew im planning in buying one dream 65, i was just wondering, did you connect the Dream directly to the interface? And the sound will be good on studio monitors? Or do i need headphones?

[@nizodizo9549]

I just plug into my amp.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Haha, fair. I use my amp 99% of the time. But amp sims are great for rehearsals or when you need to keep stage volume low.

[@edwardthao1991]

Can this connect to a real cabinet instead of direct?

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You could bypass the cab sim and do that, but you would need a power amp. You can't connect it directly to a speaker cabinet.

[@michielroom]

Harley Benton has a nice power amp it’s only € 80 100 W. GPA-100. It also works great at bedroom level.

[@RobertMcIlhenney]

Have you tried Kingsley Pedals? I use a Page and it helps everything sound better. BTW Your tips are spot on.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I haven't! Heard excellent things about their stuff. Would love to try some someday.

[@RobertMcIlhenney]

@@andrewclarkeguitar

[@RobertMcIlhenney]

@@andrewclarkeguitar

[@Laura.Cynthia]

Does "Rack" Compressor better than Pedal Compressor??

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Not necessarily. Pedals are getting better and better, but the high end rack stuff will probably edge it out in a studio scenario. Ultimately, it depends on your use case.

[@moiseslima1060]

ola a todos , otimo video Irmao !!, eu usei pela segunda vez na igreja, era como meu amp fender ligado, so que.... com mais recursos !! salve UAD !!!

[@ricdomrod]

Como você ligou a saída dele? Direto na mesa (PA)? Usou um DI box?