Presence: What Does It Do? | Too Afraid To Ask

[@ScienceofLoud]

This video was sponsored by Skillshare. First 500 people get 2 months FREE membership here: skl.sh/csguitars4 The only 'stupid questions' are the ones you are Too Afraid To Ask. "What does a Presence control do?" is the question for this TATA video. Let's look at amplifier topology and power amp feedback loops to find out. Leave your TATAs in the comment section and I'll make a video answering them. More from CSGuitars: Gain access to exclusive content at: www.patreon.com/csguitars Buy CSGuitars Merchandise: csguitars.bigcartel.com/ Website: www.csguitars.co.uk Contact: [e-mail]

[@AlejandroFloresmotorsport]

can you make a video about SweetSpot?

[@ScienceofLoud]

I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you mean?

[@Kris.Gately]

Can't help but feel like you need to do a related follow up on this now, explaining the resonance knob. Haha

[@jacktowers7533]

excellent video mate, I’m gonna take an educated guess based on how it sounds, that a resonance control basically does the same thing with the negative feedback loop and overall colouring of tone and gain, just with the Lower Mids and Bass frequency’s?

[@AlejandroFloresmotorsport]

@@ScienceofLoud i mean the sweetspot of the amp, the best sound you can get on the amp

[@hazardeur]

FINALLY someone who plays the SAME riffs when comparing settings. THANK YOU!

[@KC9MDO]

what judas priest and mozart are different?

[@SuperGingerRob]

@@KC9MDO I think he means he plays the same riffs after tweaking a setting, pointless to tweak something and then play something else

[@Jack_Rivet]

I've been waiting for someone to play something into a looper and do their tweaking while that runs

[@hazardeur]

@@Jack_Rivet agreed, it would be so simple. by now, i don't even trust anyone that doesn't compare the exact same soundbits. who knows, maybe they want to downplay some shortcomings that would be way too evident otherwise.

[@leviathan_is_me]

Yea, I hate it when they play some heavy palm muted riff then an open chord rock lick to compare...

[@enricodemeo]

Nice of you to show a timer during the add 👌

[@tungtobak]

Yeah I did not at all fast forward to when the timer disappeared.

[@user-jh1jj9rj3g]

9 minutes 59 seconds long instead of 10:01? Timer during paid promo? Why can't all youtubers be like this. The timing is also an amazing compromise. Steadier pay for youtubers, people can skip through without skipping too far.

[@dionr1168]

You know, I bought a guitar tutorial DVD done by Scott Ian of Anthrax about 14 years ago, and there was a part where he was going through his amp controls and explaining what they do. When he got to the Presence control, he simply showed us the setting where it sounded good to him, and blatantly stated that he didn't know what Presence was, other than a Led Zeppelin album.

[@DMSProduktions]

LOL! Not very 'pro' was he?

[@DonPiruflo]

if the knob was called 'led zeppelin', no explination would be necessary, just turn it all the way up to 10

[@inthefade]

@Shockheadd45 Someone didn't watch the video... Dion R; I find musicians start to get confused when you explain phase cancellation to them. The idea that a wave can cancel another, including soundwaves, tends to make their eyes glaze over.

[@shrayesraman5192]

@Scooters Videos lmao!

[@thekramer1097]

@@inthefade I think some guitarist needs some physics lessons

[@triledink]

So you tweak your tone with bass mid treble to get your sound and after that you tweak the presence to tweak the tones tone.

[@NathanielBTM]

Pretty much

[@caixiuying8901]

yo dawg, I heard you like tone so we added tone to your tone so you can tone while you tone

[@NathanielBTM]

@@caixiuying8901 I tone so hard that my tone is toneception

[@MrColmdonnelly]

Sort of! Until you turn up the amp, and the negative feedback has less effect. Then it’s just tone.....but loud.

[@Spikehead777]

@@NathanielBTM [Inception sound intensifies, but with more presence]

[@N8sLaxLife]

I know resonance is essentially the presence for the bass/low frequencies, yet I’d still love to a see a video on it. It seems like it’s rarer than presence yet your demos showing the context of presence made me want the same thing for resonance. Cause why not? XP

[@robertperez9808]

Literally what I was thinking throughout the whole video 😂😂

[@Cthulhu_Awaken]

Yay! We want resonance!

[@thatmechanicguy8773]

Yes! A resonance video would be good.

[@rickc2102]

Presonance.

[@mikejones-vd3fg]

Interesting thanks for the info, ive been using a TPA-1 power amp vst, it emulates a power amp and you can pick the tubes and adjust a bunch of setting including a "resonance" knob which I always wondered about. In the end you just turn it up or down and listen if it sound good but it would be good to know whats really going on, and for some reason the resonance sound good turned up. Its a free vst plugin by ignite amps if anyone want to try it. You put your own preamps before it, software or real ones, like for example im using a digitech rp7 a floor effect thing that has a tube in it as the preamp, but its also got a presence knob so i dont know what thats about, maybe its got a poweramp in it too? While were at it might as well get into those bias knobs and settings too :)

[@shinjial]

I'm so glad you started this series. This was another very important, very informative video that I'm glad it's here for everyone to check. Thanks a bunch!

[@shinjial]

@Johnny Tightlips True! I've been following it and it has been super helpful.

[@Pfaeff]

My amp has "Tone" and that's probably one knob too many already.

[@Pfaeff]

@@recreationalelmersglue6053 Joyo Zombie

[@themennissvids]

Mine just has a gain knob.

[@Lucartes98]

@@Pfaeff I love the simplicity of mine because there is so much less I can fuck up than my previous amp, It always sounds good.

[@djsnowman06]

I've got a micro dark and have no idea what I'm doing...

[@Pfaeff]

@@Lucartes98 I don't need the possibility to dial in 100 different shitty tones and a hand full of good ones. Give me one knob to cycle through the ones that are actually useful to me.

[@cmacdhon]

The best explanation I have ever heard. I'll just fiddle with the knob until it sounds good.

[@ragingchimera8021]

Nothing wrong with that!

[@swissarmyknight4306]

I never thought TATAs would tackle a question it hadn't occurred to me to ask. I mostly just left my presence controls at noon and worried about other things. Well done man! You have improved my tone immensely.

[@RÅNÇIÐ]

If there's a presence control... is there an absence control?

[@blahblahsen1142]

yep. volume knob on your guitar. if you got a passive pickup, rolling it down makes all the good sounds absent. basically an acoustic-inator,.

[@hjelpinternet]

My dad has that knob!

[@spacejazz6272]

@@hjelpinternet seems an odd reason to bring your dad's knob into the conversation mate

[@matthewkennedy7283]

A limiter knob

[@Stomach_achesx]

@@blahblahsen1142 best comment xD

[@ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy]

"Remind me to talk about fourier transform sometime." Colin, talk about fourier transform! You're welcome.

[@TylrVncnt]

Guitar Nerd - I second this.

[@funnyfarmband4410]

Yes

[@index7787]

Plz

[@reaganharder1480]

Or watch 3blue1brown's video on the topic. Or, perhaps both would be good.

[@ThiagoRochaA1]

And then Laplace Transform :)

[@hazrod13]

Learning so much every time ! I recently bought a guitar and an amp, so my parents asked me a lot of questions about what does everything and how, and I'm proud that I was able to answer every one of them thanks to your videos. You really are making me more clever with every single video. And the quality is so good ! Can't believe that you are still doing all of this by yourself, well done mate, you deserve every single subs you have and even more 🤘

[@ScienceofLoud]

Thanks friend, I'm really glad all that knowledge is sinking in and becoming useful to you. Good luck with the new guitar!

[@davidfuller581]

Depth/Resonance controls/boosts also exist here! They're a high pass filter (the presence control is a low pass filter), so they behave basically the same way, but for low end. The only exception to this is the presence control in the Mesa Rectifier's modern mode - the negative feedback loop is disconnected so it's a treble dump right at the end of the tonestack.

[@stefanstojanovic9442]

Seriously, this series is phenomenal. Being completely selftaught, playing for about a decade, i never had anyone to explain some of these things like this to me, so this Michael Scott- esque "why don't you explain it to me like i'm 5" way of talking about those seemingly complicated and scary things is awesome. Much appreciated

[@koffieverslaafde627]

Gotta love the combination of hair, accent and good info

[@levikalkman5934]

Nu nog een kopje koffie :)

[@koffieverslaafde627]

Levi Kalkman daar zit in nu aan ;)

[@Rozzantbakancs]

Fefties.... :-)

[@kevinrasch7815]

I just want to thank you for making this video. I have been using an amp with a presence control for well over a decade. Until today, I had mistakenly believed that it controlled a frequency band above treble and was otherwise no different than the other eq controls. Thank you for opening my eyes!

[@SirVicc]

I've been running my presence at about 2-3 o'clock once I heard Pete Thorn say increased presence adds more complex distortion. I lower the treble to compensate. Glad you confirmed all this in detail.

[@radiojet1429]

Thanks Colin. After viewing many, many guitar technical videos over the years, I have come to the conclusion that yours are superlative. Your technical knowledge, understanding of what guitar players really want and your exuberant presentation style put you head-and-shoulders above the rest of the crowd. Outstanding.

[@simon_patterson]

Well that explanation was just perfect. Thank you, I have wondered what that control did for about 30 years!

[@reverendayglow]

Unlike so many other videos on these same subjects which are hit and miss, Colin, you seem to know exactly what I need to know and you convey it in a way that makes perfect sense. Thanks so much.

[@d.sandell2555]

The scientific as well as the layman explanation is extremely helpful. I can always find out what I'm looking for. You're crushing it Viking! Very well done.

[@jamietaylor8663]

He's not a viking though, his people were pillaged and raped by the vikings...

[@stanyoung453]

I have had amps with presence controls for years and my ears can hear what happens when I turn them, but now I know what they actually do. Best description on KZbin. Thanks.

[@Dartheomus]

I learned something. Thanks for digging into the technical part of it. I always describe Presence & Resonance as the "Treble & Bass" controls of the power-amp section. The preamp tone controls help you push the part of the signal you want to break up, and the power-amp tone controls let you shape the final tone as you've already pointed out. Do you have a detailed video on the "Resonance" control?

[@rikosborne1212]

Great info! I've not had much experience with "presence" controls, and my simple, uninformed experimentation with it left me with the impression that it was just basically "more treble than treble", like maybe it was doing something above the frequency range covered by the regular "treble" knob. I noticed it tended to "brighten up" the sound.

[@skarfie123]

Yes to Fourier transforms! Finally I've found a guitar channel that gives th scientific explanation!

[@index7787]

Right! Such well rounded content.

[@reaganharder1480]

I will not lie, when he pops schematics up, I sometimes pause the video to try and figure out exactly what's going on with my somewhat limited electrical understanding.

[@mal2ksc]

He should do a collab with Because Science. They could have an epic hair battle.

[@MrJumboblimpjumbo]

As a mechanical engineering graduate I absolutely love your videos, they pick up right where my formal education left off. It's like getting to go back to school, but learning about amp design which is just brilliant. Thanks for doing what you do the way you do it!

[@CLardPercussion]

I always thought it controlled the volume on Zeppelin's best album. Don't most amps have that album built in?

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

CLardPercussion, Achilles Amp Stand, with some models.

[@joelspaulding5964]

Nice

[@CLardPercussion]

Niiiiice

[@getulioprates]

I used to boost Presence when playing Dark Side of the Moon tunes. What an irony, or big mistake. Nobody's fault but mine.

[@kevinbradshaw1420]

Hmmm... Not hearing anything but mangled zeppelin coming from my amp. Must need a presence upgrade.

[@frankdstrack]

Love it. I've also been told - and based on your explanation I'm inclined to believe it's true - that boosting the presence boosts the frequencies that tend to cause the most hearing loss. I've always kept my presence (very) low because of that, but I'm inclined to try to find a happier medium.

[@prook2001]

As usual a brilliant explanation of something that could become incredibly over technical. Great work.

[@rzk_audio]

Great A/B. High presence sounds great on extended range/baritone guitars, rreally tightens and brightens them which they always need.

[@s.e.n3264]

Yea! That tone! I personally like to crank up the presence, makes it sound heavier and clearer too! My favorite ENGL amp is the Powerball

[@timmymulls5706]

Awesome video! Not only did it give me a better understanding of how the presence control is supposed to work, but in a roundabout way it helped me understand why a Vox ac30 doesn’t sound like a Marshall and gets confused for being a class-a amp. Strong work dude!

[@ReiCow]

This is one of your best vids, Colin. Great description of this feature! Moo

[@pauloalexandre-dd4nl]

This blogger surprises me everytime. The information that I learn from this gent is informative. Smart. Well explained and thumbs up. You should have 1 billion subscribers by now

[@rafaeloda]

Is there a Colin's Scottish english accent class on skill share??

[@NsteveA]

I can't begin to imagine what a transcription of this would look like in American English. 😂

[@xneurianx]

"Scottish English" is a term you REALLY want to avoid in Scotland!

[@geetarwanabe]

Spend an hour in Glasgow and see if you think he is hard to understand. I'm Scottish and I can't understand half the people in Glasgow at times.

[@rafaeloda]

@@geetarwanabe I meant to learn how to speak Scottish accent, it's awesome!

[@jamiemacmillan4056]

@@xneurianx last time I checked more than half of us were perfectly happy being united with England 😊

[@Gregorovitch144]

I admit to having played my old marshal Mk2 lead for years without knowing sweet FA what the presence actually does, only fiddling with it occasionally and generally effectually, usually leaving the damn thing at 12 o'clock and forgetting about it. This explanation is pure gold. I have never come across anybody who has explained this at all never mind with such accuracy, clarity and useful practical applicability. My score for this video is 12/10. Bravo.

[@tolvajakos]

Amazing topic. I have a friend who was hired as a session musician to do some recordings at abbey road studio (yes that one), tours internationally, heard him live and heard bonamassa live, and comparing those two performances I'd much rather listen to him than Bonamassa, his tone, his feel is absolutely amazing. Even he could not tell me what the presence exactly was. "Jus set it to middle, nobody ever gets their tone from turning that up and down anyway!" :) And he is not ignorant, he knows his gear, but nobody ever was able to explain it properly to him either.

[@loeffel999]

I already knew what the presence control does to the sound, but I never thought about how it actually works. Very nice explained!

[@Bad_Phil]

Excellent overview of presence! Can you do one on Depth next? And maybe the relationship and interplay between depth and presence? Cheers!

[@hazujh7]

This is one of the best explanations I've ever seen on KZbin about any gear anytime. So detailed and yet so comprehensible. Subscribed (:

[@mieszanesztuki]

PLEASE COLIN, TELL US ABOUT RESONANCE NEXT!

[@ZILtoid1991]

And the depth, which is present on other amps

[@davidfuller581]

Let me beat him to it. Like the presence control, a resonance/depth control (same thing) is an active EQ control. Instead of cutting high end in the negative feedback signal, though, it cuts low end - which means an increase in low end at the output of the amp. The usual configuration is a low-ish value capacitor (around 4.7nF-6.8nF, generally) in parallel with a potentiometer. Capacitors cut low end based on their size, and you can adjust how much signal goes through it with the pot. It comes before the presence control in the negative feedback loop, usually right after the resistor that sets the amount of negative feedback.

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

Lol

[@Caged63Man]

Amptweakers 'Depthfinder' pedal, will give you all your answers in real time. It turns good amps into ultimate beasts, and shite ss amps, into tube tone gods!

[@kevinmcguinness1113]

​@@Caged63Man"shite ss amps" - all relative my friend. I've been running SS amps for over 20 years and would never go back to tubes.

[@redguitar6062]

Excellent explanation. 30 years playing and I never had a clue.

[@rchlclr]

I had no idea that I didn't know this, thank you!

[@foofy14]

Best series in the Guitar community. So brilliantly explained. Thanks as always, Colin!

[@harmonyvegan]

starts 2:09

[@chimperikson8308]

I've been playing for 6 years and because I learned most of what I know through KZbin, this series is a blessing for me because a lot of these terms are just thrown around and expected to be known, so thanks

[@johnjgibson6807]

Definitely Explained Well My Friend, We Always Have To Remember That not everyone Knows All This Stuff So It Hs To Be explained on Beginner Mode And You Did It Rockin 👍👍🎶🎶🎸Keep Bringin The Awesome Videos.

[@marcelmiagi4579]

I’ve learned more from you in the past month than I have from everyone else in the past 10 years. Thank you for these great videos!

[@InsomniacMatt]

So that means Peavey's Resonance (Depth on Revv amps) is the same, but for the lower frequencies

[@tolvajakos]

I've played amps that had both. Resonance and presence. I might be early with my comment, haven't seen the video all the way through, I am just rejoicing over the topic.

[@5roundsrapid263]

Ákos Tolvaj The 5150 amps have both.

[@davidslattery6750]

finally i know what that control does after all these years of not being bothered to investigate myself! thanks man. nice level of technical detail without it being too complicated or inaccessible

[@flyingwondercat739]

VERY informative. Before watching I was like "I know what presence is why would I watch this" but your comparison of presence with distortion was eye opening

[@Chord_The_Seeker]

So, basically, it’s like a built in treble booster that doesn’t bleed off any low end signal?

[@ScienceofLoud]

In a sense, yes. Obviously it's a bit more complex than that, but not a bad way to look at it.

[@SheaRecordmetal]

Resonance : bass tone shaping Presence :mid/high tone shaping This is how i always thought of them. But , this Video actually changed my mind a little bit. since he actually explains were the frequencies are being sent through the signal chain. 👍🏼 I have a Peavey 5150 II. Old version of 6505+ This amp has tones of gain and grit. people can abuse the presence knob not knowing what they are doing. There is a reason it is all the way on the right side of most amps. Go left to right To set tone. It is the last thing you set after all EQing is done to taste. It’s like the cherry on top. The sundae is good without it but it adds to the experience.

[@pakxenon]

Thanks for this Tata! Could you do one on amp choices of Boutique, Crunch, Tweed, Ultra etc in multi - effects processors? Maybe add the cabinet choices like 4x12 and mic placement emulators.

[@lobsterbark]

I don't see what you are asking. Do you wanna know what amps those are supposed to be? Or are you asking how shitty effects processors are in practice?

[@PhreddCrintt]

Colin.... I cannot thank you enough for this!! After all these years!! A 'Revelation'

[@meyekull]

when you’ve only got gain, volume, bass, and treble on your main amp

[@snape1464]

When you've only got volume xP

[@santi-xj1qr]

When you only got input jack

[@joshs8344]

great explanation Collin! I think this is the greatest channel for explaining the science of loud. I think one thing to note about presence controls is that not all presence controls are made equal. For instance: I have three tube amps, A Marshall JCM2000 DSL50, a Marshsll DSL100HR, and a Marshall Origin 50. The presence controls on the honest to god, made in England JCM is paramount in adding definition to the red channel gain and does exactly what you have so eloquently described here. On the outsourced to Vietnam amps (DSL100HR and Origin 50), the presence controls seem to affect the tonal characteristics in a different fashion, at least to my ears. The DSL does okay with the addition of presence but what really makes it a metal behemoth is the resonance control. On the ORI50H, adding too much presence (in my experience, anything after 10 o'clock) tends to make the tone too fizzy for my taste. Let me know what you think about that Collin... maybe I'm approaching it incorrectly. Keep up the awesome and hilarious content coming man!

[@Streamer727]

Now we need an explaintaion of what the "Contour" control does:D

[@Daniel-be6ue]

Contour is a mid cut

[@michaelniemeyer6164]

Wow someone who really knows what he is talking about. BEST explanation I have seen.

[@onidevil]

Got an amp with dual "Resonance" controls for the corresponding video? :-)

[@Jack_Rivet]

I think the important question is how it sounds when you set your preamp tone controls for NO MIDS! Seriously though, this is the best, clearest explanation of what the Presence control does and how it works I have ever seen.

[@davidpilandii1837]

hey CSGuitars for your next TATA what is RESONANCE/DEPTH on an amp?

[@TylrVncnt]

David Piland II - I second this!!

[@deangullberry5148]

My understanding is that it's the same concept as presence, but for low-mid and bass frequencies.

[@mathewfellows9647]

Perfect! You've completely demystified the presence control! I will no longer be afraid to play around with it on my amp.

[@wbm3085]

Clear and presence danger 👻

[@TrentSolo]

Hands down the best video explanation of presence in the history of amplifiers. AWESOME!!!

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Here is a TATA question for you: What does the Resonance control do on the amp?

[@utubehound69]

Sorta like a bass control of the power section of your amp as is the Present knob is like a Treble control of the Power amp section.

[@scottyd2262]

The lower frequencies ...

[@BCTGuitarPlayer]

Glad I’ve been using the presence on my amps correctly as I truthfully was not aware of it's (technical) functionality until watching this. Thanks, Colin👍

[@onurkeremozmen6729]

Why does increasing output level on an overdrive or distortion pedal that is in front of a dirty channel increase the "angriness" of the sound?

[@Stoney3K]

That's because overdrive adds harmonics which are the cause of the 'dirty' sound in the first place. Put those through your amp which is already overdriven, and you have odd harmonics which are the result of all of the other harmonics, causing the angry, fuzzy sound instead of the crunchy overdrive sound which is comprised of even harmonics only. Tubes cause even harmonics (overdrive) while transistors cause odd harmonics (distortion and fuzz). One of the main reasons we're still using tubes in our amps or try to imitate them digitally. Colin should really do an item on Fourier transform which describes this really, really nicely.

[@onurkeremozmen6729]

As someone who is currently studying physics this subject really interests me. I hope colin does a video about it.

[@SteeltheGodsandFate]

Thanks for demystifying presence. Mad respect for your presentation skills, intelligence and accent.

[@jamesfd94]

Do TATA Ceramic vs Alnico magnets.

[@Cthulhu_Awaken]

Omg this please!

[@ianyoung8392]

Presence in a nutshell....... if you find yourself washed out in the mix and want to be more "present" and accounted for then turn that thing up. Wanna mellow out? Turn it down. It's like a filter on an already good photo. How much do you need to contrast with your surroundings when playing in an ensemble?

[@owwillis]

This guy must of hit the lottery or robbed a music store. He sure got a lot of nice equipment awfully fast.

[@ScienceofLoud]

I'm just getting a lot better at sweet talking gear companies into letting me borrow things.

[@curtpozzi5527]

@@ScienceofLoud Colin, those companies appreciate nice T.A.T.A 's like all of us should. Thanks to the likes of you, we all learn something new all the time. Keep them coming!

[@AKAMustang]

Holy crap, such a great explanation, never had an amp with a presence control before, so no reason to look into it myself, other than for interest of course. This is why your videos are the best, having someone with a technical background actually sharing their knowledge, rather than the myriad of other guitar channels out there with fluffy Chinese whispers explanations that makes absolutely no sense.

[@johnnolan4312]

Thanks for this post, I'm embarrassed to say 40 years of playing and wasn't sure ,you explained it nicely, I always tweaked the presence but never exactly knew why it worked clean vs dirty

[@thejeffersonlee]

This is something I've heard and noted, but never understood at the technical level. I love the nerdy guitar sound explanation stuff. Your channel is a personal boon.

[@sweptinblack]

Great video. I always though that presence was just an extra high treble EQ control, pretty sure everyone I've ever talked to about it has thought the same thing. This knowledge is so important for guitar players. How can you go for tones if you don't understand what you're doing?

[@rstuartcpa]

Just watched a PBS show on the great Viking invasion and one of the artifacts was a hammer of Thor. Noticed yours, Colin, and realized we share that heritage as well as our love of guitar. Thanks for generously sharing your knowledge.

[@rodsimmons9337]

I've looked up the Presence control before but didn't understand what it does: I now know! Thank you for this great video, I have learnt something today.

[@JosueFCarrera]

As an engineer with Guitar as a Hobby I really like how you use circuits. signals and components to explain the function of everything.

[@Knoxvillemoto]

I love it when you talk nerdy to me. But seriously, I really do appreciate the more in depth technical explanation. As a matter of fact I'd be interested in any other technical explanations you have to offer.

[@aaronlandry2469]

Have no clue why I hadn’t subscribed to you yet. I find your videos all the time. Thank you for the info.

[@TheJCFan]

To me (Psst! That means its just my opinion...) the sound difference is similar to where I am PRESENT(ly) standing. Low Presense = standing behind the amp (boosted lows, scooped mids/highs) Mid Presense - standing beside the amp speaker (balanced) High Presense = standing directly in front of my amp (scooped lows, boosted mids/highs)

[@sim0n17]

I am not a metal player, but love your videos! Once I got my first amp with a Presence control decades ago, I'll never go back - love me some hi-mids, but I am no mid volcano tube screamer dude.... using P90s and a little bit of presence gets me a tone I like AND gets me an empty space in the mix to be heard easily

[@launder0]

Can't wait to see you talking about fourier transform. I'm doing my masters in neurosciences, studying electrophysiology , and fourier transform is something that I'll have to understand when I start processing my data - which is pretty soon... And relating that with music should help!

[@AlexxCriss13]

Loving this part of the channel! Especially this video. I have a Laney LV300H and its the first amp I've had with a presence knob. Never known exactly what it does. I also has a contour knob. Any chance on a video based on those? And possibly the relation ship between presence and contour?

[@xmillion1704]

A very well done explanation, with the technical aspects delivered simply enough to sufficiently address the sonic details. Now I know.

[@Afroduck91]

Perfectly explained. I always struggle to give people an answer when i've been asked why I have presence on my amp.

[@jaycobie]

To be nitpicky, the presence control does vary between manufacturers but it's always some form of negative feedback. Some designers have the presence control control the local negative feedback of a pre-amp tube or pre-amp section. Still, that would just muddy the explanation and I absolutely understand the omission. Keep up the good work Colin!

[@lanwan]

Another great vid! Here’s a TaTa for you - on a Gibson with the pickup selector set to the middle position, why does reducing one volume control to 0 cut out all volume. Surely the other pickup should still come through? It’s the same for all my Gibson’s!

[@ryanlegner9085]

Awesome explanation. Simple enough to understand, but also very thorough and detailed. Learned a few things, keep up the great work!

[@jg3685]

I love these videos, coming from the type of player that just twiddles the dials until I get the tone I'm after it really is great to understand what they actually do! Thanks man.

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

Great graphics. Terrific explanation.

[@javieraguilera2064]

I been literally tHINKING BOUT THIS SINCE LAST WEEK AND WAS ABOUT TO ASK U

[@ScienceofLoud]

My mind reading device is a success!

[@jd5393]

100%. I was on the verge of selling my savage 60 mk II. Though it was dark overalls, then I just cranked the presence while reamping and voila! Especially impressive on how much of an impact it has on a savage

[@matthew_thefallen]

"We often find it in expensive amplifiers" LOL my cheap Blackstar HT100 has it alongside with Resonance in the master settings! I love it, because sometimes i want to tweak the high frequencies and the low frequencies on the amp when i don't have an EQ pedal

[@Stoney3K]

The characteristic bright sound from Vox amps is caused by their power stage being straight-through and not having any feedback at all, so essentially they always have their presence controls cranked up to 13. It also means they're not prone to any oscillation in the power stage because there is no feedback path to oscillate through, so you can dial the master volume up to crazy levels.

[@slightlyannoying3956]

Which means that if there is any effect of the presence circuit that works exponentially (based on signal gain), then we have a different footprint of presence's effect on the signal shape with every different signal. So a different pickup's tonal character, would affect how Presence works on its signal in a different way, thus making the Presence effect unique for each instrument.

[@Akherousia502]

Thanks for the informative video! Got an Engl Powerball, myself, and it's very clear to me that Presence is a key part of what makes my tone sound so full but I never understand the 'why' exactly. This really helped me check that and further educate myself on a feature of my amp I wasn't very clear about. Now if only I could figure out how the Depth control works! :P

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Excellent explanation of feedback shaping frequency response and distortion harmonics without introducing Fourier. Thanks.