V. "Digital Clipping" (Crossover Distortion) on "Full" Amp Models

Line 6 modeled the crossover distortion produced by the power section of some class AB tube amps when pushed. This is a particularly-nasty sound that resembles digital clipping. This was notorious with the Blackface Twin and Deluxe models, but it also applies to the Vox amps.

The simplest way to get rid of this is to reduce the Drive on the amp (or turning down the "gain" on a Studio EQ before the amp or change the input settings or pad switch - anything to attenuate the signal hitting the amp's power section). You can also clean them up by using the deep-editing parameters (DEP's). Set Bias/Bias X closer to 100%, and/or turn down Master DEP. Another idea is to find the frequencies that are really pushing the amp into that nasty distortion, and dial them back before the amp using EQ effects, or even using the EQ knobs on the amp itself. For instance, if tones with a lot of presence really bring out a lot of crossover distortion, dial the presence back on or before the amp. To make up for lost presence, use an EQ effect after the amp to dial it back in.

For more on this topic see the elusive clean tone section.

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M. Bad Monitoring

Below are some common issues people have with monitoring, preventing them from dialing in patches that sound best across a wide variety of locations and gear.

I. Acoustic Tone

Use headphones or re-amp to find your tone, especially if you are trying to dial in tone at lower volumes (which is generally a bad idea). The acoustic tone from your electric guitar will mislead you as to what your recorded/amplified tone actually sounds like. Using the HD's looper pre-position is a great way to dial in a tone. Or you can record a dry guitar, output it to a mp3 player, then play the clip on repeat from your mp3 player into your Pod. I use a 1/8" male to 1/8" male cable into a 1/8" female to 1/4" male converter into the guitar input of the Pod. You may need to adjust the gain, because your mp3 player's output level may vary from your guitar, but that's a simple adjustment. It's a good process that works.

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II. Bad Monitors

Similarly, take note of the crappiness of whatever monitoring device you are using. If you are using headphones with low bass response, and you dial in your tones so they sound full-range on those headphones, your tones will probably sound dark as can be on other speakers. The best you can do is match how another artist sounds through those same headphones. Don't tweak from memory, especially when you have monitors that clearly do not have a flat response.

Ultimately, the best thing you can do is buy excellent monitors. But this doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune. I use M-Audio BX8a's, which can be found for dirt cheap on Ebay. They're not exactly professional monitors, but I make it work. Conversely, you can spend lots of money on monitors that sound great but aren't necessarily a flat response, which prevents patches you dial in on them sounding good on other systems. Read lots of reviews with emphasis on a flat response. Also, if they have voicing options, try to set them up as described in the manual to neutralize any room colorations.

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