Levels hitting the amp (in dBu) when reamping and/or capturing

[Richard_G]

In my own setup I'm going from the line out of a Motu M4 into a Lehle P-Split III, giving a dBU level of 14,8 dBu when following the simple @MirrorProfiles procedure in the linked video. I'm a bit worried this is too hot for running into pedals and or amps for reamping and/or capturing? But then again; at what level is the actual DI and/or training file ending up at...

Absolutely fine to do that, and honestly, I’d recommend using a level like that (slightly louder than what your guitar outputs) so that the training has examples of the amp being pushed hard. This’ll make it more accurate in more situations (like using different guitars or boosting with a pedal). FWIW, a TC integrated preamp (or peppers dirty tree) adds over 30dB of level. So I wouldn’t worry about hitting an amp 5-10dB higher than a pickup might output.

Much better to train with a loud signal, rather than too weak. The reamp file will have a wide range of dynamics already - the louder you can get it will give the model more information to train from.

Thanks - I really appreciate the advice!

I’ll probably leave the reamping chain as-is when making NAM captures.

But what about Tonex captures? How do you guys reconcile your usual reamp setup with Tonex’s capture guidelines? Do you leave everything as-is, or do you make adjustments to follow their recommendations during the process?

I guess I'm mostly wondering about the return level…

 

[Sascha Franck]

I guess I'm mostly wondering about the return level…

Isn't that only responsible for the final level of the capture?

 

[Richard_G]

And also:

I might be missing something, but I don’t really understand how adjusting the guitar input (Input 2 of my audio interface in my setup) affects the Tonex capturing process. The training signal is sent from a line out of my audio interface, through the reamp box to the device being captured, and then (via DI) into Input 1 of the interface.

I don’t really see how the gain on Input 2 affects anything—aside from the comparison stage during the process. Is that its' only purpose?

 

[Richard_G]

Isn't that only responsible for the final level of the capture?

Perhaps? But why would you change that from your normal reamp chain setup? (Perhaps the signal-to-noise ratio during capturing is an argument?)

 

[Sascha Franck]

(Perhaps the signal-to-noice ratio during capturing is an argument?)

That's what I would imagine.

 

[2dor]

Thanks - I really appreciate the advice!

I’ll probably leave the reamping chain as-is when making NAM captures.

But what about Tonex captures? How do you guys reconcile your usual reamp setup with Tonex’s capture guidelines? Do you leave everything as-is, or do you make adjustments to follow their recommendations during the process?

I guess I'm mostly wondering about the return level…

I leave the chain as I calibrated it for NAM & ignore ToneX guidelines. I got the best results this way.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I leave the chain as I calibrated it for NAM & ignore ToneX guidelines. I got the best results this way.

This is the way

 

[Chocol8]

I don’t really see how the gain on Input 2 affects anything—aside from the comparison stage during the process. Is that its' only purpose?

Yes, and that’s what they people don’t understand about Tonex. I know a lot of people think calibrated capture levels to arbitrary numbers is an important thing. It isn’t.

If you match YOUR guitar level and the comparison sounds good, it is good.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Yes, and that’s what they people don’t understand about Tonex. I know a lot of people think calibrated capture levels to arbitrary numbers is an important thing. It isn’t.

If you match YOUR guitar level and the comparison sounds good, it is good.

Yeah, this is fine for an individual’s own rig, assuming they don’t intend on sharing it with anyone else.

The problems only arise if you intend on using the same captures on another rig and want them to behave consistently. It’s just easier to be on top of your levels and then you never have to think about it again, rather than constantly guessing and adjusting and never being totally sure.

 

[Chocol8]

The problems only arise if you intend on using the same captures on another rig and want them to behave consistently. It’s just easier to be on top of your levels and then you never have to think about it again, rather than constantly guessing and adjusting and never being totally sure.

That’s no different than if you were using tube amps with different rigs. We survived for close to 100 years without any guitarist fretting over how many dBu their input signal was. We just turned a knob until it sounded right with the new rig.

Now that it’s digital and you can make precise level readings people suddenly think numbers matter. There can be some value from a convenience perspective, but it’s not something that deserves the attention it’s been getting. Trust your ears first and foremost, not a number reading, and you will be just fine.