Working out what my input gain is on interface (guitar)

thecolourbox

Since upgrading my guitar with EMG pickups I've been playing more guitar through my PC and really enjoying the sounds. I've set up some good templates/track presets for demo purposes, one of which I'd like to replicate in the "real world" as it were, for when I'm playing in the comfort of the spare room rather than through the computer.

The sound in question is a tweaked built in preset on Tonex (called Shimmers). I only really changed the EQ a bit, nothing else. But then the Tonex pedal doesn't sound quite the same, and I know people have said that's a thing generally (often don't sound the same between the full fat and Tonex One pedals as well). But I think some of it is the input gain combination on the PC as it was a lovely clean tone with the guitar volume just rolled off a touch, but still getting a bit of extra when I dig in or go back to full guitar volume.

So I wonder if it's the combination of my interface input gain, plus the Tonex plugin's input gain, which gives that sound and the dynamics. And thus if I can just introduce a nice clean boost to my offline setup, i might be able to replicate that with more control and versatility. My Tonex pedal is already set at the recommended +8.5 setting, and I think the plugin is too.

The dial on my interface (which is set to hi-z input) is just under half way. My interface is a Steinberg UR22c, and the manual suggests the gain range of the Hi-Z input is 0 dB – +54 dB. There are 10 markers around the dial, mine is set at about 4.5 out of 10. But 45% of 54 is 24.3 dB - I surely can't be boosting my guitar signal by 24.3 dB plus the 8.5 dB in the Tonex plugin?

Does that make sense?

For reference, here is the guitar sound in question - it doesn't sound like it's being boosted by 24.3+8.5 dB, surely it would sound like the amp was about to explode?


Thanks

flying_pie

My approach to Tonex One for guitars is as follows:

Set the level trim just below clipping for my highest output guitar and leave it there. That's around 10 o'clock for a high output him bucket in my case.

I usually leave gain in the advanced section on 5 as that's unity - less than 5 is like using your volume knob and more than 5 is a clean boost. I only recalibrate for bass or acoustic but then put it back to 10 o'clock for my guitars.

That way a low output single coil guitar and a high output humbucker guitar will act the same way as they would with a real amp

I've avoided using anything other than the editor into the pedal for making patches. I'm sure there's a way of tweaking it but using an audio interface sounds shit compared to the pedal when I've tried, and it's obvious that it's the different input signal that's the culprit. Jason Sadites has loads of videos on this subject but I'm to lazy to bother when just using the editor works fine for my workflow 

thecolourbox

Yeah that makes sense, but it's kind of the case for Helix Native and the couple of Universal Audio plugins I have too, so although y focus is on this specific base tone on the Tonex, I guess it might also apply to other bits n bobs too. I play quite quietly I think!

flying_pie

You want the level set to be ideal for your playing style. If you play softly then don't set the level so it doesn't clip with much more aggressive playing..

One thing to be aware of with the Tonex software (not the editor) is that both the input dial on the bottom left and the gain knob in the advanced tab act as clean boosts or cuts, and this occurs after the AD conversion so you can mess around with them if needed, but they're not going to fix too weak or strong a signal coming into the software from your interface - that needs resolved in the interface.

Another thing to consider is that the Hi-Z instrument input might not be the best and you may get a more suitable signal using a DI box instead of having the Hi-Z engaged.

I much prefer using hardware than plugins because it removes the variable of the interface. These things are complicated enough without extra hassle