Emulating Other Tones

GoaT

Hey guys,

Sorry, this is a bit of a tough one and I am really hoping I can get some advice on this.

I am currently working on creating some custom Patches for my GNX3000 based upon various artist's recordings that I listen to. I am getting close, but just can't get the EQ's spot on.

I am wondering what techniques or software you guys use in order to determine the \"shape\" of a particular sound so that you may be able to set the frequencies and volumes of the EQ's at the right level. Is there a freeware program (or even a PTP function) that allows you to analyze the frequency shape of both a recording and the output of the GNX as well, so a comparison could be made? I have tried various Winamp Spectrum Analyzer plugins but they are just not accurate enough, or don't have a good frequency/volume legend. Besides, I am no expert when it comes to this.

Also when I am tweaking a Patch in X-Edit, because I am unable to play guitar and adjust the settings simultaneously, it can be very frustrating. I have even tried drop tuning my guitar so I could at least hit an open powerchord with one hand while my other used the mouse to change the sound. Is there any way that a looped dry guitar recording could be fed into the unit so that it could render the loop real time with FX as I change the settings in X-Edit?

I searched this forum for a similar subject, but did not find one. I am sorry if this has already been asked and covered here.

Thanks for your time.

Kewlpack

Um - why not just feed your regular amp with the 1/4\" outputs???

Then you can tweak and play simulatneously...

Or if you don't have an amp (??) just feed the GNX phones output to your PC soundcard's Line In... easy as pie.

As far as matching tones on recordings like CDs... don't burn too much time on it. Everything you hear on a CD has been EQ'd, tweaked, and overhauled by sound engineers. The guitar tones you hear are not simply straight from an amp to a mic to a lasered CD...

Get close, make it your own - rock the house. The audience will love it and you won't need to fret too much (pun intended). 8)

GoaT

Thanks for your reply.

I have tried using a Spectrum Analyzer to determine what frequencies to cut and boost with the EQ, only the pattern of frequencies is too complicated and isn't possible to replcate with the GNX EQ.. So what your saying Kewlpack makes sense. I didn't really think of it that way. However, I have been checking out some of the GNX4 patches and some are amazingly close to the artists they are emulating. I guess the real key here is to make a cabinet and amp model that will shape the sound 95% and then EQ the rest of the way. That's gotta be tough.

Regarding the ability to tweak and play at the same time. What I want to do is record a riff to loop on guitar and then send it through the pedal so my hands are free to play with the dials. Thanks for your info, but I am still not sure how to send the recorded riff to the pedal. Should I record a bypassed guitar signal and then play it out of my SBLive's speaker out, into the GNX's guitar input? I will have a play with that today. The only thing I am worried about with that method is mucking up the resistance and breaking something on the pedal.

Again thanks for your reply Kewlpack.

Kewlpack

\GoaT\ wrote:

Thanks for your info, but I am still not sure how to send the recorded riff to the pedal. Should I record a bypassed guitar signal and then play it out of my SBLive's speaker out, into the GNX's guitar input?

Hmm I don't have the GNX4 anymore (had it a couple of years ago) so I can't honestly tell you how to do this. Someone will pipe up soon I'm sure.

GoaT

Actually, I have a GNX3k. :- Bought it about 3 weeks ago now. Amazing peice of hardware. Was originally saving for the GNX4 but when this unit came on the market, it was exactly what I wanted, the GNX4 without the 8-Track. The only problem with the GNX3k (for me) is that I can't assign \"Wah Enable\" to anything. Even the expression pedal - When Wah is enabled the expression pedal is totally hijacked for \"Wah Position\" and no matter what else you have assigned to it - it is ignored! Sorry.. Going a bit OT here..

archon

in my dreams the GNX4000 WILL have a dedicated reverb on/off pedal and two expression pedals (1 for wah - 1 for....well expression basically) it will also have a post EQ or seperate parametric eq section instead of the frequency tweaks you can do on the Amp EQ at the moment.

it will also have modelled mic's = i know the Line 6 AIR stuff is just a spot of cabinet tuning and some reverb - but it would be cool sto have an SM57 off axis and another one micing the back of an open back cabinet (dontcha think?) - or maybe this could be incorprated into Pro Tracks as it wouldnt need to be in the pedal for performace purposes.

oh yeh = and the mic/guitar and line inputs will be able to go through seperate patches so it will be a true mixer/tonegenerator for the whole band..

oh yeh and SPDIF cos everyone loves it - (if its not obsolete by that time)

because im CERTAIN that the digitech designers hang on my every word for inspiration

:P

[/u]

GoaT

I figured how to loop a guitar signal through the FX. There is a good tutorial on \"ReAmping\" here:

http://www.guitarworkstation.com/tutorials.htm

It's pretty easy if you use X-Edit to change the Audio Setup.

Awesome pedal