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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 217
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 217 |
Hi folks,
Question regarding input distortion. I am using a podxt into a tascam US 2x2 audio interface into real band. I have the levels set on the Tascam where the clip light does not illuminate at all. If I play my 335 finger style everything is fine. If I play single note lines it is also good unless I were to bare down which I tend not to do. If I strum chords with a pick it distorts even though the Tascam does not clip.
The output of realband may momentatrily clip but it still distorts even when there is no sign of clipping. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Rich
BIAB 2018 latest build, Window 10 Pro 64 bit operating system
X64 based processor
Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU ES-2670 @ 2.60GHz
16 Gigs Ram
Tascam 2x2 audio interface. Podxt
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2013
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Hi Rich. Check YouTube for tutorial on gain staging.
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Well, I would turn down the input level on the Tascam and test it. Not all clipping indicators are sensitive enough to react quickly enough to show clipping that is occurring. You want the signal gain to be high enough to not hear noise, but low enough to give protection against clipping and also have a little headroom during mixing. It's a balancing act requiring experimentation. I just would not rely heavily on input meters, especially clipping indicators; I would rely on what I see when I open the file in a wave editor, and what my ears tell me.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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I will suggest an alternative to the above. The POD Xt is an audio interface all by itself. You will need to disconnect the Tascam and make the XT the audio I/O device. Use headphones.
This circumvents the Tascam altogether. Once you have your guitar tracks recorded, then you can remove the XT as the audio I/O device and use the Tascam for all of your other stuff.
With your method right now, you are converting A/D inside the Pod, then converting D/A at the pod into the Tascam, then A/D again in the Tascam. There's no need to do this as the XT is an interface all by itself.
If you don't want to do this, then you should be looking for an input V/U type applet for the Tascam, or inside of the PG product you are using that is pointing the the analog inputs of the Tascam.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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FWIW Mac gave a good explanation of gain staging here - http://audiominds.com/gain.html
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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I will suggest an alternative to the above. The POD Xt is an audio interface all by itself. You will need to disconnect the Tascam and make the XT the audio I/O device. Use headphones.
This circumvents the Tascam altogether. Once you have your guitar tracks recorded, then you can remove the XT as the audio I/O device and use the Tascam for all of your other stuff.
With your method right now, you are converting A/D inside the Pod, then converting D/A at the pod into the Tascam, then A/D again in the Tascam. There's no need to do this as the XT is an interface all by itself.
If you don't want to do this, then you should be looking for an input V/U type applet for the Tascam, or inside of the PG product you are using that is pointing the the analog inputs of the Tascam. What he said.  From the manual: " USB - PODXT’s USB jack lets you connect it directly to most computers, and
record your PODXT directly to a wide variety of popular recording software. We’ve included a USB cable for use with our GuitarPort Windows software, Line 6 Edit software for Mac OS X and Windows, our ToneTransfer online tone library, and PODXT driver software. All this software—along with directions for using it—is free foryou to download at www.line6.com." You should also study gain staging, but that's not your immediate problem. Lose the Tascam. Go straight from the Pod into RB. Regards, Bob
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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+1
Less equipment in the signal path is a good thing.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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You need to have a close look at how the signal is being processed. That's where the issue lies in this case.
You don't necessarily need to have the outputs being clipped to get distortion. I suspect the settings in the POD are the source of the trouble and the distortion is coming from the gain settings before it ever gets to the outputs.
I use a POD2 quite a bit and it's possible to have the POD model set so that lightly picked notes sound clean and when you strum or play harder, the notes distort. The distortion is in the preamp stages in the POD models and NOT in it's output so essentially, the signal coming out is nowhere near clipping but still is distorted. The pickup has a voltage/current output when notes are played. One note lightly picked creates a very low voltage that doesn't overload any of the gain circuitry in the signal path. BUT..... strumming.... which is multiple strings and hence a higher induced voltage or single notes played harder DO create a voltage high enough to put the stages into the clipping portion of their working curve..... and the result is distortion. If the master output level is set low, you will not clip the output signal in the DAW.... (No red lights in the meters) but the signal is clipped none the less. In the POD's, much of the gain comes from the particular Amp Model you are emulating.
I know, for example, that if I choose the Fender Black face model, I can get some really clean, glass shattering, tone..... but I can also pull back the master and crank the gain and get some dirty bite...... if I want a singing smooth distortion, the Rectified and Modern Hi-gain models get me there instantly..... so choose the models with care.
A hint or trick: If you need a clean guitar in one part of a song and something distorted in another..... consider the use of 2 tracks and record the parts with different models. I use this "trick" quite often when I need such a thing in a song. With a POD.... you could also use a floorboard controller and program the models onto the channels....I have a floorboard controller but rarely use it.
Real amps act the same way if you set the preamp gain sections up a certain way.
Just a note.... use the audio out from the POD into the interface..... I'm not familiar with the XT version but if it does interface duty, just use it's audio capabilities. If the Interface you are using has audio preamps in it.... you need to be careful that you're not overloading it's inputs as well. When I first got back into digital recording, I was using the mixer part of a Korg D-1600 into my Saffire Focusrite interface. My signals were distorted and nowhere near crystal like I was expecting them to be. At the same time, nothing was slamming the meters into the red either. So, just for grins, I plugged into the Saffire and left the D-1600 mixer out of the signal path.....waaa laaa... crystal!!!! The D-1600 found itself on Ebay the very next day and shortly headed to a new home. So do check to see if the interface you use has pre's in it.... if so, you may need to turn the gain down on the Pod or on the interface. I find myself having to back the gain on the Saffire down a few clicks when I use the POD.
Hope this helps you a bit.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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