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Unity Gain Effects
[GT-3] AFB – Anti-Feedback
[GT-5] FL - Flanger
FV – Foot Volume
NS – Noise Suppressor
[GT-5] PH - Phaser
SG – Slow Gear
[GT-3] SL - Slicer
TR – Tremolo/Pan
VB - Vibrato
These effects make NO difference to the level of the effects
chain. If you see their output level higher than the target FX
Chain Level, then check the preceding effect, because it is
most likely that it is not correctly level matched.
Effect Only Level Controls
CE - Chorus
[GT-3]2CE – 2x2 Chorus
[GT-3]DD – Digital Delay
FB - Feedbacker
RV - Reverb
SDD – Short Digital Delay
These represent more of a problem. Here you have three
choices.
Use Master Level to correct.
Alter the level going into them
Accept the increase
OK Lets go through them.
If you use the master level to correct any volume gain
here is OK providing you are not going to switch the effects
on & off. If you do then you will also need to set a control
assign to alter the master level as well. This is probably the
best method for dealing with these effects.
If you alter the level going into them then you need to
make sure that you are not going to switch the effects on or
off AND that you aren't going to switch the effect feeding
them on or off or you will also upset the volume levels. It is
basically twice as bad as the first solution.
If you accept the increase then you need to determine how
audible the increase actually is, as any sizeable increase can
defeat level matching.
To be honest I recommend using the first method and
altering the master level to cope with the volume increase.
External effects loop
When level matching using the external effects loop treat
the loop in the same was as the other effects. Make sure that
the output of the effects loop is level matched with your
Target FX Chain Level. GT-3 users will use the Level
© Copyright 2000-2002 Barry S. Pearce et al.
Section 8
parameter of the OD/DS (Ext OD/DS) to do this; whereas
GT-5 users should use the output level controls of the
external effects to match the Target FX Chain Level. Have a
read through section 29.
Apparent Volume Adjustment
Apparent volume is the situation where we hear a patch
louder or quieter than another patch, even though they are at
the same level on the meters. This 'apparent volume' is
caused by effects that restrict the signal dynamics i.e.
limiters, compressors, distortion, preamp distortion. The
Compressor, Limiter, OD/DS, and distortion producing
Preamp Sims are usually the biggest culprits.
There are two methods that may be employed to deal with
this issue:
Change the output level of the effect that is causing
the increase in apparent volume. This has an added
benefit, in that should you use a manual mode and
switch that effect off (i.e. like distortion) your
effects chain remains level matched and will now
output a higher level to compensate for the lower
apparent volume.
Change the master level to accommodate the
apparent volume difference between patches. This
method is OK if you do not switch effects on/off
within a patch and really are more worried about
simply the apparent volume between patches.
Although the choice is up to you I would urge you to use the
first solution.
Now the other problem here is that chorus, reverb and delay
can make a sound seem 'further away' possibly even sound
quieter than they actually are. Thus you may find yourself
not only lowering the volume of a patch but also increasing
the output of another. Now the problem here is going to be
immediately obvious. If you have a patch whose apparent
volume is less and yet its output is quite high, do you boost
it? Well the answer is Yes & No. You can apply some boost
but you must never break the rule of no peak > 90%. If the
patches are still unbalanced in terms of volume levels you
must lower the output of the other patches (typically dryer
patches require less output than wetter, more reverb, delay,
chorus intensive patches). Other times may result in you
actually altering the amount of reverb/delay you put on a
patch to stop it disappearing backwards.
Output Level Adjustment
Start cheering because yet again here is another step that
only ever needs to be done ONCE!
The output control knob should be set to give the loudest
possible signal into the next device, without clipping its
input. Most users find setting it to about 9 o'clock is good.
Level Matching
43
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