Fixing Common Modeler Problems

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I can't get a good sound with it. It doesn't feel like a tube amp. It's not "amp in the room!" Like many guitar players, I've definitely said the above statements a time or two in my early days of using modelers. But these issues have more to do with other factors than the modeler itself. Watch this video and learn to understand your modeler rig more completely and eliminate these common problems.
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PRS DGT sweetwater.sjv.io/KjdaXe
PRS McCarty 594 sweetwater.sjv.io/DKd9eb
Strandberg Fusion NX sweetwater.sjv.io/9gd4zE
Strandberg Original NX sweetwater.sjv.io/5g02Z1
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Line6 HX Stomp sweetwater.sjv.io/AWMx3a
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Fred Kelly Bumblebee Jazz Picks amzn.to/41sE5Eq
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STUDIO GEAR
Studiolive 32C sweetwater.sjv.io/OrdVKP
StudioLive 32R sweetwater.sjv.io/R5dgnv
Eris E5 sweetwater.sjv.io/daJNV2
Rode PodMic sweetwater.sjv.io/MmdGyn
QSC K10.2 sweetwater.sjv.io/xk6VQy
QSC K12.2 sweetwater.sjv.io/PydJ4R
Behringer P1 Personal Monitor Amp sweetwater.sjv.io/q465ZN
Presonus HP4 Headphone Amp sweetwater.sjv.io/5g02Y3
Studio One+ sweetwater.sjv.io/eKZygX

[@lexzbuddy]

I just use a regular amp. Flick a switch and that's me good to go. The end.

[@patrickcasey357]

For me it’s : Helix into an ISP Stealth stereo power amp into a stereo 4X12 Marshall cab. Sounds great. Also EQ your highs around 5 to 6K to eliminate the fizzy high end.

[@AudioAtmos]

Great video talking about a topic that will make the eyes of many people glaze over. Well except those of us who are tone and tech junkies.❤ Oh and I love my FM3 and QSC K12.2’s. Thanks Mathew!👍

[@larrysmith2703]

Thanks for the input setting advice. I use a Boss GT-1000 and love it. I can't wait to experiment with the settings per your suggestion.

[@Cpt_Adama]

One of the best discussions of this subject i’ve seen. Great intro song by the way.

[@mathew_dale]

Much appreciated!

[@jhamilton2661]

Always great info Matt....cheers

[@RichardStone-ld9us]

Always great advice. Thank you.

[@tzd]

One problem not covered in this video is people trying to run 4-cable method between their modeler and an amp with Line-level Effects loop (like many Mesa Boogies). This will frequently run into the problem of level mismatch, because very very few devices out there (the only one I know of is Fractal FX8) allow you to set different levels for the same pair of Effects Loop (i.e., Instrument Level for FX Send, but Line Level for FX Return), yet this is what you will need to do since the amp's FX Send AND FX Return are both hard-coded to Line level.

[@scottpeters4401]

I have never run into a level issue running 4cm…output 3 and 4 on the Axe FXIII are unity gain when the level knob is full up,which goes to the front of the amp,the inputs on all the Fractal are adjustable,and can match just about any FX loop on any amp…FM3 output 2 is unity gainl with knob full up..I run 4cm and a variation of 4cm all the time,integrating my amps and FX into the Fractal and have never had an issue with a level mismatch,almost all amps FX loops have more than enough headroom..between that and being able to adjust the in and out levels on all ins and outs on the Fractal makes integration of outboard gear very easy..it does it almost seamlessly..

[@SnakePool]

Headrush prime will allow line level volume changes in their fx loop.

[@1970Richiez]

This so good at explaining it... thanks for the info

[@dmac3316]

Cool video! Very informative, I learned some new things!! Thanks!!

[@sseltrek1a2b]

totally agree with cranking up the volume while adjusting/creating your patches...once you get a modeler going through a p.a., etc, you're going to notice a huge difference in the sound quality if you don't take this into account from the get-go (ie: set-up your patches for their "live environment" equivalent...)...

[@mathew_dale]

Absolutely!

[@guitaristinterrupted3558]

You’re too smart! Thank you for your videos!

[@rodolfoamaralguitar]

Great content!

[@nmtodorow]

Thanks Great info!

[@Burkhimself]

Another tip is be sure and set your hi/low pass filters on your cab blocks. Most amps have a frequency range of 80hz to around 4/5K. I usually run mine at 100/5100 depending on the amp. My $.02

[@mathew_dale]

Absolutely! Great tip

[@juanvaldez5422]

Why does it have to be one or the other ? I run a Kemper on side A and a PRS MT-15 controlled by a helix on side B … you can use both 🥴 with great results

[@bradhartwig7959]

Matt. Very informative video! I also have the FM3 and QSC K10s. Amazing equipment for sure. Just curious how (height, in front/back of you, etc) you have your k10s positioned in your studio. Also curious which of the sound settings in the QSCs you prefer in your studio. Thanks in advance. Love your videos!

[@mathew_dale]

Thanks so much! I have my k10s in front of me at either side, about a foot and a half off the wall, and they are on the floor in wedge config. I have them set to "flat" on both switches, and I use a bit of GEQ on my mixer to dial out the rest of the boomy low end in my studio environment.

[@wickedmetalhead]

Wow.. what a useful video that was. Many thanks, Mathew! A question: Right now, I am using my HR prime into the return of a tube amp going into an Orange cab with Vintage 30 speaker, with disabling the cab sims or IRs. I was contemplating to get a Laney LFR-112. But then again, the Prime sounds great through the guitar cab. So my question is, am I missing out by not buying an FRFR speaker and being able to use cab sims or Its for different flavours?

[@mathew_dale]

I wouldn't say you are missing out on anything tonally, especially if you already love your tones. Do you usually play through a PA? If so, take a listen to your tones through the system. The only thing beneficial about adding the LFR-112 or a powered PA speaker to your set up would be to reference what you are sending to FOH with IRs.

[@wickedmetalhead]

@@mathew_dale so the takeaway from your response is that those FRFR speakers are beneficial for gigging guitarists only and I am not one of them. I just play at home. Many thanks for your response. This just saved me a lot of money.

[@mathew_dale]

@@wickedmetalhead Yup! If you like the sound of your cabs, an FRFR wouldn't really be a big enough upgrade to justify the price for a good unit for home studio use.

[@wickedmetalhead]

@@mathew_dale Many thanks, Mathew! You have been extremely helpful. Love your channel. Cheers!

[@Quarashi1]

While I agree with most of what you're saying, some people think it's a volume/pushing air out of the speakers thing when it comes to "feel". Some even talk about how people got used to their speakers pointed at their legs, which drastically changes the perception of tone and feel. These things do make a difference and are true, to an extent. However, I believe there are plenty of people like myself that are talking more about how a certain tube amp responds to playing and it makes us play differently. (Combination of sag vs. stiff-feeling, pushing air, amp responsiveness to our playing in other ways (perhaps interaction between tubes, transformer, etc.), among other things. I am not an amp builder. If an amp makes me play differently due to how it responds, that is a make or break. A big frame of reference, for me, is a '93 Matchless Lightning. The transient sag combined with the bloom of notes is something modelers are not creating, but I haven't tried them all. I tend to "play" the amp if it responds well, and it makes me play more the way I want to play. Do some of them create the general tone of this style of amp well? For sure. Is the feel the same regardless of how I set everything and turn it up? Nope. Is this the fault of modeling companies or captures? I don't believe so. The interactions taking place are hard/impossible to recreate. Anyway, great video and thanks!

[@mathew_dale]

Good points! Thanks for watching!

[@jesterraj]

This begs the question when u setting up a patch which spkrs do u use ? the studio monistor or the guitar amp or the powered monitors??

[@mathew_dale]

Generally speaking, I use the powered monitors since I'm playing out through PA systems mostly.

[@jcaryali]

Hello Mathew from Spain. You say in the video that you prefer like stage or live monitors PA system more than frfr guitar (Fender tone master, headrush, friedman, etc). I'm looking for a system to sound great with my FM3. Can you tell me some good PA system monitors quality/price and sound good to play guitar live??. Thanks

[@mathew_dale]

I love my QSC K10s, and would love to try out the QSC CP8. Others I've had good luck with would be JBL and Yamaha powered speakers. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@henrydanielgatlin9774]

I love my gx 100 through seymour duncan power stage stereo amp into two 2x12's!

[@mathew_dale]

Love it! Been thinking about buying the Power Stage Stereo for a bit.

[@s54b32i]

The best solution for me in a hard rock band setting is the power amp and can, but sending a do signal to the pa with an ir. Also making an ir of my own cab. The sound of stage wedges is not my favorite

[@mathew_dale]

Definitely a "best of both worlds" rig set up!

[@PuddinHead-t4o]

Part of the "feel" you get from listening to an amp at 104db, is the feel of permanent damage being done to your ears.

[@TheMusicalSchizo]

Okay, what is it with people having RA-500s behind them? I own one, too, but I’ve seen multiple KZbinrs (Tim Pierce being another notable one in the guitar space) with these reverb units, too. I guess I need to move mine to my background and start making videos because it’s such a weirdly specific piece of vintage stereo gear. It was literally my first guitar reverb. I’d take little radio shack adapters and run my guitar into it and then that into my Gorilla amp (that had no reverb). I’m sure it sounded awful. But anyway, great tips. If you can’t make any modern modeler work for you, it’s probably because you’re not doing it right in some way. This is a great start to give you info to fix those issues.

[@mathew_dale]

Ha that’s hilarious! I got mine from a relative getting rid of stuff and have only used it for decoration lol. Thanks for watching!

[@godsinbox]

extra pre amp valves negate the volume issue on tube amps. and tube amps are so cheap right now.

[@JoeRadachi]

👍

[@dv8322]

Modeling is the future. Seeing a band as big as Metallica not using amps on tour, instead preferring to use Fractal, speaks volumes. There are just too many benefits to modelers, including tones that are indistinguishable from their amp counterparts. Consider the ability of a gigging musician who plays cover tunes to model the original tone of every cover song he plays, in addition to having different tones for all his original songs. Modeling creates a more authentic experience for the listener. The patron at the bar leaves thinking, "Wow, that guitarist really did sound like the real deal." In addition, modelers make it so much easier for the musician. No more amps and pedals to lug around. Far fewer cables and batteries and signal chain issues to figure out. I love amps. I have a walk in closet full of amps I have collected for 30 years, but when I bought the Fender Tone Master Pro, my amp mindset changed. I can honestly say my days of using amps are just about over. It's a great time to be a guitar player.

[@TimsonThunder]

The guys who have a different sound for every tune are a nightmare for the soundguy. They make a mix based on everything in the mix and then 1 thing changes drasticly, so they need to adjust every song to fill in gaps or create space for the guitar.

[@dv8322]

@@TimsonThunder I see what you are saying but isn't that the sound guy's job?

[@charliesno]

No. I love using modelers.

[@MattW4319]

Just use an amp. Modeler problem fixed 😂

[@yaniv-nos-tubes]

why nobody speaks about the elephant in the room? on live gigs when the mix is dense and you play a solo...nobody hears you! modelers just disappear since they lack presence is my guess.

[@YouSoundButtHurt]

Because it's not a thing? Do you know how many professional touring acts use these things?

[@mathew_dale]

That would mostly be a "tone creation" issue and nothing associated with modeling specifically. A good tip is to use a lead boost like a filter or graphic eq for an overall level boost (maybe 3db to start) and add a bit of a hump around 1K to 2.5K. This helps cut through.

[@mattdelany6799]

Ridiculous. Just get 2 full stacks, Grow your hair down to your waist, and be a rock star. Too many mediocre Nashville gear salesmen. Pedals are for little boys.

[@mathew_dale]

Lol, that is definitely a method!

[@mattdelany6799]

@@mathew_dale all you people playing guitar through headphones, and pedals. Move some air molecules.

[@fallingsky9242]

👎👎👎and boring 😴

[@mathew_dale]

Thanks for watching anyway.