ampire xt metal pack tones

opps well hush my mouth

Come on guys, I said I was thankful for you trying to help

it just doesn't help me in the specific matter where I seek help and that is tweaking ampire. Don't misunderstand, I love this forum because of guys like you that REALLY try to help and don't just frie one for asking an obvious question. But I need to lead this thread from this wrong path that it is heading so to speak

it's ok... and good for you to stay focused. maybe i misunderstood... i thought you wanted good metal sounds. i know you said about ampire's metal presets but i did not take it as specific and when others offered other options... i chimed in. and honestly i am not knocking ampireXT... it is better than nothing but on the other hand i have to be honest... there are far better out there. so... i hope someone can help you on those presets.

Well I like the metal pack sounds. Is that on topic?

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 09/05/2014 01:13:20

make him some presets Mr. Wright

if you would and have the time that is cheers! i would if i could.

There's no way I can make a preset for the sound that he's thinking of. Only he can do that...

You can always throw a slow, narrow chorus on there to beef it up with some stereo split to it to help it along. Also mess around with the mic placement settings in the cabinets, it makes a big difference for cleaning up frequencies with a lot of gain for metal. I like the metal pack, though I tend to use them all in channel A as overdrives more than anything. They make some good classic rock or jazz fusion overdrive tones.

Ampire is a tragedy

i think most critical will be your preamp / cable / pickup combination, and the input level into ampire. if you have a clean DI track, you can try adjusting ampire with that to separate the issues. direct into audio interface mic in does not work well with many audio interfaces (e.g. firebox or audiobox), a separate Preamp or DI box helps with that. or active pickups can as well.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 11/05/2014 03:04:29

Hmmh...I kinda like Ampire. These days I am trying to consolidate as much as possible and all in one solutions are preferable to me. I agree with Eike that getting the input level into it is important. Wish there was meter that gave you some kind of guidance on that...

OP what kind of levels are you recording at?

Wilkesin wrote:Wish there was meter that gave you some kind of guidance on that...

You mean like the input level meter in Studio One?

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 11/05/2014 07:40:25

if you are using the audiobox... this is how i set it without a meter:

turn you guitar volume all the up and the input on the interface all the way down (if you have the audiobox... it is only a -10db trim) then begin playing. as you play (and don't play softly... play at your regular action) begin turning up the input trim until you see the clipping light lit then minutely turn it back down until it completely goes away. now with that setting... play the same way but palm mute the strings across the bridge. 9 times out of 10 palm muting will make the clip light show again. while muting... turn the trim slightly down again and stop when the light no longer comes on. that should get you at your peak input on the interface without the use of VU meters no matter what you play or how hard you play. you DO NOT want the interface to clip!

it is also wise after you have the interface at it's optimum to have a VU meter plugin on the track. most come set at -18dbFS but you can adjust if you want... but -18dbFS is pretty much the standard that all plugins need to do their best effect on the signal. understand that 0db on the VU meter is really -18dbFS so when the meter swings to 0db you are safe from clipping. adjust your trim on the track you are recording on (NOT ON THE INTERFACE) so the meter goes up to but does not swing past 0db and go into the red. this will give you plenty of headroom for later.

understand that is TWO different settings. one is maxing the interface without the use of a meter... and two is setting the signal coming in to it's optimum setting to be used by AmpireXT or any other plug for that matter.

Nice write up, jBranam. I also like to hit a good, loud open E chord. That's a pretty loud one for me...

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 11/05/2014 09:18:03

thanks man... sometimes i hit it right... other times... well let's not talk about other times. lol i don't have a hardware VU so i have a routine to get it as maxed as possible each time. and you are right that low open E is about the loudest... i reckon because of the huge swing in it's vibration. but that palm mute is important also... it kinda adds a LOT of bass i reckon because of the body of the guitar resonating. but that routine works really well for me and it can't be that far off.

eike wrote: i think most critical will be your preamp / cable / pickup combination, and the input level into ampire. if you have a clean DI track, you can try adjusting ampire with that to separate the issues. direct into audio interface mic in does not work well with many audio interfaces (e.g. firebox or audiobox), a separate Preamp or DI box helps with that. or active pickups can as well.

Thanks for sharing that eike. I've been slightly battling the input impedance with my audiobox by always plugging directly in, and I really should be (and know better) using a better preamp. I even have them on hand, but since I am using the laptop so often, I get lazy and go direct. The result varies on the guitar as well, as naturally the Fender single coils on my 1954 vintage Strat tend to be noisy (nothing new there). But sometimes I just want that Strat feel/sound as apposed to going to one of my guitars with humbuckers. Well, there's no substitute for a good preamp, so thanks for reminding me about preamps.

I should have bit on the $5 for the Metal Pack, but I usually just climb in and create my own "guitar world". Sounds like good advice though flowing out about improving and editing Ampire. When using Ampire, I typically go to the S1 effects and use those delays, reverbs, chorus' or other treatments by FX sends. It just add's more oomph, and quality, imo.