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Post subject: Are amp tone controls active or passive?
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 11:21 am
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Location: East Carolina
Do the bass, mid, and treble controls cut frequencies, boost them, or both? Or does it vary according to the amp model?


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Post subject: Re: Are amp tone controls active or passive?
Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2017 3:35 pm
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It's an amp modeler; it had better be modeling the actual tone stack for each amp.


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Post subject: Re: Are amp tone controls active or passive?
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 12:28 am
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dswo wrote:
Do the bass, mid, and treble controls cut frequencies, boost them, or both? Or does it vary according to the amp model?

Each amp model should default to usable state, where a typical user
can start to craft their tone, and a fender expert might even recognize the amp.
It would be pointless to default to completely minimized frequencies,
and the virtual knobs do what the real ones do, no more, no less,
assuming proper programming of it all. You can always save some presets
in a way that best suits your needs.
Cheers


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Post subject: Re: Are amp tone controls active or passive?
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 4:58 am
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You're referring to the traditional tone circuitry on older valve or transistor amps.
Modelling is digital so copies what the original amp does.
The questIon is not really applicable here - but FWIW will mostly be closer to active.


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Post subject: Re: Are amp tone controls active or passive?
Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2017 11:33 pm
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$omeday there'll be motorized knobs that move
when a new preset is loaded 8)


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Post subject: Re: Are amp tone controls active or passive?
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 1:06 am
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guildorf wrote:
$omeday there'll be motorized knobs that move
when a new preset is loaded 8)


More likely there will be no knobs, just a touch screen. Motorized knobs can be found on some high end mixing desks but they are very expensive and out of the question on a low-cost amp like a Mustang GT.


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Post subject: Re: Are amp tone controls active or passive?
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 1:23 am
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Re motorised knobs - there's a cheaper solution that some manufacturers use.

You have 360 degree rotating knobs , like the main controller, and have a series of LEDs around the knob that indicate where the knob is pointing. As you turn the knob the LEDS light up to indicate position.
No idea of actual cost for these!

Screen based knobs is a terrible idea for live usage.


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Post subject: Re: Are amp tone controls active or passive?
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 1:39 am
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markcc wrote:
Re motorised knobs - there's a cheaper solution that some manufacturers use.

You have 360 degree rotating knobs , like the main controller, and have a series of LEDs around the knob that indicate where the knob is pointing. As you turn the knob the LEDS light up to indicate position.
No idea of actual cost for these!

Screen based knobs is a terrible idea for live usage.


Yes, I have rotary encoder knobs on my Digitech TRIO and SDRUM which are a possibility. As far as screen-based interfaces go, there are good ones and bad ones. I don't like screen-based knobs that emulate rotation. They are unreliable at best. The interface for the LIne 6 Amplifi range, uses linear controls (sliders) which are much better on a screen and are more readable that rotary ones and more appropriate for touch screens. They can be read from a greater distance that rotary knobs and there is the opportunity for them to change colour with function and position. But, in the end, potentiometers cost pennies, all the other options are going to put prices up considerably. I imagine that a product like a Kemper modelling head would benefit from a large touch screen (that is designed for purpose and not mearly apeing a traditional amp interface.)


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Post subject: Re: Are amp tone controls active or passive?
Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2017 1:50 am
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Yeah.. I've also read about haptic feedback screens - where something makes your finger feel imaginary ridges so you get some sense of touch. Great if it works.


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Post subject: Re: Are amp tone controls active or passive?
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2017 3:52 pm
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Back in the 20th century, Yamaha built a modeling combo with motorized faders.
It was fun to watch it change. It was also an all analog signal path. The motors functioned as the digital interface.
It was expensive to build and was still limited in what it could do with just twisting knobs to their limits. A modern processor goes way past those limits.
I expect amp builders to ditch controls altogether on complex amps. Its becoming much cheaper to WiFi control operations to your phone or tablet. That way, they transfer those front panel costs to you. The upside is they are not prone to damage any more.


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