Has profiling replaced amp switching/channels?

[Sascha Franck]

The power amp behavior affects all channels at once which makes the effect of those controls apply to all amp channels, globally.

A handful of amps wouldn't agree with you, though...

 

[laxu]

One of the issues with multi channel amps is multiple EQ sections which is probably why most amps have global presence and resonance.

Nah, as said those are controls for the poweramp. Could they make those per channel? Sure, but it can be more useful to have options that govern all channels. If your sound is too dark, turn up presence and it will handle that for all of your channels.

Multichannel amps often need multiple EQs to make the most of each channel. Where the gain, EQ and channel master are placed in relation to its gain stages can have a big effect on how those channels sound and behave.

I'm not saying you can't use captures to replace amp channels and boost pedals, but you might end up just removing the things that you want to adjust, or find the EQ tools on the Tonex don't work for you to get it sounding the way you prefer if you e.g change guitars, play somewhere else and so on.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I wouldn’t say captured in particular, any kind of modelling makes things a lot more flexible than before.

Honestly I can’t see there being that many new DO IT ALL 4 CHANNEL behemoth amps being released a la JVM or VH4. They are almost getting to the point of being an analog modelled - different amp circuits for different channels, complex fx routing if you want it.

I think it’s as much as the decline of people needing big amps for a lot of things as it is technology getting better. And it’s largely down to cost+ease of going on the road with something small and light vs having to travel with huge amps, which is literally going to be a deal breaker for many bands when trying to tour and not come out at a loss.

 

[mbenigni]

All I Need Never WorksTM

 

[Shredder777]

I'll also add, analog up front; digital in the loop.

Business up front, party in the back.

 

[Elric]

A handful of amps wouldn't agree with you, though...

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Of course, there may be a few exceptions; and it is of course entirely possible to make a switching network that switches the feedback when the channel switches; but most manufacturers do not complicate their design like that since it's really past the point of diminishing returns for most cases.

Regardless it's a function of the power amp and tends to be global in the vast majority of amplifiers because of that.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

No… the reason presence and resonance are global is because they are a function of the power amp; they affect the filtering of the negative feedback in the power amp and that in turn affects power amp response. The power amp behavior affects all channels at once which makes the effect of those controls apply to all amp channels, globally.

Those controls are not part of the preamp tone stack which is where most amplifiers’ BMT controls live.

Recto…