Unity Gain & EQ Compensation for GT-100

Getting the same volume level for all patches on the GT-100 and compensating for the tonal coloring when it is in use. Video #3

[@CharlesEBusa]

Thanks for the vid! I noticed the tone coloring the other day. It was like even with all the effects turned off, my tone just lacked a bit of oomph. It sounded slightly muffled and compressed. I tried different settings-line in/stack/combo, you name it, but I still wasn't pleased with the results. Gonna give this a shot.

[@jonconver]

I found the GT-100 tends to take some of the low mids off of your sound and adds higher frequencies. The changes I made in Global Settings are a good starting point to compensate for that (with this guitar and amplifier combo). Without the ability to accurately analyze the frequencies of your guitar and amp before and after plugging into the GT-100 you can’t fine tune the missing and added frequencies perfectly. One day I may try doing this and see if I can get it even closer. Thanks for the comment

[@GuitarNTabs]

Hi Jon. Your video has some fine points, and it all depends on what you're looking for, and how in-depth you want to go. I like to go quite in-depth, when I check my patches for unity gain, and that's why I use a studio quality dB-Meter for checking my levels. It works like a charm and it's super fast! It has saved me lots of headaches and given me an accurate read of both the effects and preamps onboard the GT-100. I've seen some people use the Tuner Bypass option, as their 'base level' starting point, and that can be just fine. Given that I use the onboard Preamps from the GT-100, I like to use the Preamp I'm selecting for my patch, and have that as my starting point, measuring what output it's sending out. I mainly use the Clean Twin simulation, with the speaker-type set to 2x12, and with its level and EQ by default it gives a nice output - so perfect. I then use that level and match the remaining effects I add to the chain, to match that same level of the Clean Twin Preamp. I never use the Patch Level-knob.. I always leave it at 100.. I really don't think you should mess too much with it, and rather spend some time leveling out the preamps and effects onboard the GT-100 instead. The preamps act differently from each other, so when I use another preamp, I'll have to check the level and basically match it to the level of the Clean Twin. Some preamps have the same level, and some are quite a bit below.. That's the same for the effects - especially for the effects that adds gain to your signal chain - Compressors, od/ds, etc. I check every effect I add to the chain, in order to make sure that they're all within the same level. It has improved my sound and the quality of both the preams and effects a huge amount! Have a good one Regards & Cheers!

[@jonconver]

GuitarNTabs I️ appreciate the tip. I️ rarely use the preamps within the GT-100 because I️ have an amazing Marshall DSL 40 tube amp and I️ like the way it sounds by itself. I️ tried using the preamps and found it was sucking the natural sound. If I️ alter the tone at all it’s with an EQ. This is why I️ have to make the adjustments to the Master Level of each patch. But I️ will look into testing the levels with a db meter.

[@GuitarNTabs]

Hi Jon :-) Oh yeah, I see! The DSL 40 is an amazing amp, I can see why! Many people are being thrown off by the sound of the onboard GT-100 preamps, and it's a shame, because all it really requires is a little time and tweaking... I know most people just wanna go straight to the playing part, but they miss out... and that's when all the questions start coming.. :-) I see, alright :-) Yeah, see what the dB-meter says. Nice talking to you! Cheers!

[@GuitarNTabs]

Adjusting only the Patch Level knob won't give you Unity Gain/Volume... Well, it might, but not in an ideal way... You have to ensure that all your effects, and their parameters, are adjusted as well.. So that no effects is louder than the other - unless it's desired, of course. If you have a compressor, with the level up high, then an overdrive pedal with the gain lower and another distortion with the level higher, then the different volume and gain stages will be all over the place... The idea with the Tuner in Bypass mode is good, if you're able to measure its signal level - for example by using a dB-meter, or something similar. I always use a dB-meter, when creating new patches - and I'm making sure that I have a Target Level to reference all remaining effects and parameters to.. I never touch the Patch Knob, I don't need to, because I have all individual effects/parameters level matched - and that's the ideal method.. It has a HUGE impact on your patches, and their overall quality, and sound.

[@michaelmattson3515]

Great information. Was wondering about unity. Thanks.

[@tomnowlin7396]

Well done sir!

[@Angel-ZX]

And what about the treble? in the global eq, on page 2, is the treble pot, how do you configure it? do you leave it at 0?

[@tobiasp7941]

Hi, but how do I know if my patches have all the same sound level? The sound mixer last weekend told me he had to adjust my sound level all the time. Is there a possibility to show me the output level in db?

[@jonconver]

Tobias P - If you set the tuner to “BYPASS - OUTPUT” where you hear sound when you tune, compare that volume level to the level of your patches and adjust the patch level accordingly (up or down). I didn’t compare the volume levels with a db meter, but I will. There’s a great free db meter and EQ monitor called “Spectrum” that can be used on your phone. It’s always best to check your volumes through the same amp (or an amp similar to what) you will be playing through as all amps will vary in sound output based on whether they are solid state or valve/tube amps. If you created a patch not knowing what you’d be playing through at a show, I could see there being some variation in the volumes from patch to patch. There’s also something called Perceived Volume vs Actual Volume. This happens sometimes when you go between clean and distorted sounds. When you add distortion to your sound you change the frequency of the sound and compress it. Sometimes what you perceive as louder than a cleaner sound is your ear hearing the gain/dirt. If you played both sounds against a loud drummer you might find that the clean sound actually cuts through louder than the distorted sound. The sound person may have been perceiving your tone as louder if it was dirtier than a cleaner sound when they might actually both be at the same db reading. Make sense?

[@tobiasp7941]

@@jonconver yes, it does. Shall I compare all patches in bypass or the patches with effects with the reference patch in bypass? Because I thought in bypass mode I hear the clean sound of my guitar and all patches have the same volume level. I have the amp simulation off and on stage I plug in a Kemper amp, which does the amp simulation (always the same amp simulation). Thanks for your support!

[@Pinguinsose]

How did you find your parameters for the global EQ?

[@emonmaitra7837]

Same problem

[@jonconver]

Emon Maitra Hit the SYSTEM BUTTON. The 3rd option to the right is GLOBAL. Hope this helps

[@headbang71]

I was about to sell my gt100 until i saw this video i use the preamp of my evh 5150 but it doesnt sound as good going through the gt100 i guess bc the eq is set up to a way that it does change your tone going through the gt100

[@jonconver]

I’m sure it does color your sound and takes some of the natural “punch” and warmth out of the tone. If you tried compensating with these suggestions I hope they were helpful.

[@davidlavallee809]

It seems like my GT-100 is silent when I switch the Tuner to "Bypass". ...Something I'm not understanding, perhaps? Thanks in advance for the help.

[@jonconver]

David Lavallee - when you activate the tuner, the 4th knob underneath the OUTPUT option when turned changes what you hear while tuning. I think the default is “MUTE”. “THROUGH” would be the sound of the patch you are currently using. “BYPASS” (in theory) turns off all effects through the GT-100 and is what your guitar would sound like plugged into your amp with no effects.

[@Joejoe-nt3gc]

So to set the unity gain… its suppose to be on “bypass “ or “ through”???

[@soulmusicproduction7354]

Sir .. What is the High level In global equlizer setting.. you shown that your High Mid Mid fre Mid Q but High ?.. which is in 2nd page.. pls reply

[@jonconver]

Saikat Dey - The high level is set to 0. The dial is at 12 o’clock. I didn’t alter this setting as I found for MY amp, the Marshall DSL 40C, the high end didn’t seem to be altered by the coloring of the GT-100 going into it.

[@RonaldvanHoveUITH]

Unity gain; you do this with all patches seperately? It's not reauly clear to me!

[@jonconver]

Yes. For each patch I create, after it’s saved into the GT-100 I compare the volume of that patch against the volume of the guitar in tuner mode (set to BYPASS). If the volume of my patch is too low or too high compared to the volume of the tuner (in BYPASS) I raise it or lower the patch using the master volume at the end of the signal chain within the patch.

[@alessandromarziali3459]

Is Unity Gain a tip for harmonize the volume of a set of patches?

[@jonconver]

alessandro marziali - (in theory) unity gain would mean all patches have the same volume level from one to the next so you wouldn’t have to turn your amplifier up or down to be heard. I haven’t actually compared the volume levels with a db meter, so they’re more or less at unity gain with one another.

[@amieljohntaduran4214]

Wahta are your settings for santeria?

[@mijorchard6206]

The background music seriously detracts from this...just sayin'.

[@jonconver]

That’s helpful. And you may be right… I’ll RE-edit the video, remove the audio, take this video down and lose the views and any positive comments thus far. Or I’ll leave it as is since that would be a lot of work

[@mijorchard6206]

@@jonconver Clearly, the latter is preferable, but my comment is no less valid. Your video is a short and useful instructional -- it doesn't need elevator muzak for the benefit of those with seriously impaired attention spans.

[@jonconver]

@@mijorchard6206 I agree with you. It doesn’t need the background music. That said, we’re our own worst critics and I couldn’t watch my own video with the background room noise and listen to my own voice without something to distract myself. You ever tried to watch yourself on video or listen to a recording of yourself? It’s brutal

[@mijorchard6206]

@@jonconver Ha! Good point. Still, you could watch your video with the radio on...

[@jailsonrocha3801]

Não entendi nada kkkkkkk