Optimizing Levels - DigiTech Artist GSP-2101 Owner's Manual

Using mixers in the GSP-2101 Artist is especially important because, you may want to turn
individual effects on or off using the optional Control One foot controller. If your Algorithm has
chorus, delay, and reverb, and you turn off the chorus, you would expect the delay and reverb to
stay. Look back at fig. 3-12 and you'll see that if you turn off the chorus, the signal doesn't even
get to the delay and reverb. The only signal at the outputs is through the dry Master Mix path.
The way to solve this problem is shown in fig. 3-13, where each Module has an individual feed
from the Module before it, and through the mixers.
What's the point of the Master Mix control? The Master Mix control works best for single
effect Algorithms, like Factory Algorithm #7 (GigaVerb for Gtr). However, if you find that the
overall effect levels are too high in multi-effect setups, you can use the Master Mix control to
scale back all the effects at the same time.
O L
PTIMIZING EVELS
Combining the worlds of analog and digital signals can be a real challenge at times. Fortunately,
the 2101 gives you all the flexibility you need to make sure the two worlds come together per-
fectly. When optimizing your levels you have 3 goals:
1) Get great sounds
2) Get optimum signal to noise performance (while avoiding unwanted clipping)
3) Set proper playing levels when moving from Program to Program
Before we go any further, remember what distortion is and isn't. It is a signal that is purposely
being clipped and is not very dynamic. One thing that you will notice when you first plug your
2101 in is that the Headroom meter doesn't go as high on distortion sounds as it does on clean
sounds. This is normal.
Since distortion sounds are much more compact dynamically, they sound louder, all the time,
even though the meter makes it look like they are quieter. Since clean sounds are more dynam-
ic, they will usually need the most help level optimizing. There are LED indicators to help indi-
cate possible problems in your Program.
Headroom meter - Like any digital device, it is possible to drive the GSP-2101 Artist's
internal signal level too high, causing clipping. Most devices, however, can only show
the level at one point in the signal path even though the signal may be clipping in other
areas. The GSP-2101 Artist headroom meter shows the signal level at four points, the
highest of which registers on the meter. If clipping occurs, the location of the clip in the
signal path is indicated by one of the clip indicators (Input, Gain1, EQ, Level).
Clip indicators - These indicator LEDs tell you which section of the circuitry is clipping.
The clip indicators show clipping at the following points: the input stage (immediately
after the guitar input), the first gain stage, the local (analog) EQ stage, and the Master
Volume (level) stage. The guideline for these indicators is let your ears be the judge. If
the indicators light occasionally, and no audible or undesirable distortion is present,
they can be ignored. If undesirable distortion is audible in the output signal, simply
scroll to the indicated location and turn down the level.
GSP-2101 Artist Owner's Manual
Section 3 - Editing Effects
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