Gain nob on pedals?

[Duncorama]

I recently purchased a Boss ODB3 and a Boss Mega Distortion and although i've read the manuals etc i still understand why they have both a volume nob and a 'gain' nob.
Can anyone enlighten me as to what effect the gain nob has an the sound and how i should be using it?
Cheers!

[Jimbob Jones]

gain is the amount of distortion/overdrive, or whaterver.

volume is just the actual amount of volume coming out at the end of the pedal, it doesn't affect how the pedal sounds at all, just makes it louder or quieter.

[Duncorama]

Ah right i see, so the blend nob doesn't actually effect the ammount of distortion, it just allows me to decide how much clean bass i can hear at the same time. Is that right?

[Turock]

What's a nob?

[Duncorama]

One of the little round pegs at the top of an effects pedal. They can also be found on amps, guitars and on space shuttles.

[Turock]

Originally Posted by Duncorama

One of the little round pegs at the top of an effects pedal. They can also be found on amps, guitars and on space shuttles.

Sorry, but that is incorrect.

[cheapbasslovin]

Originally Posted by Duncorama

Ah right i see, so the blend nob doesn't actually effect the ammount of distortion, it just allows me to decide how much clean bass i can hear at the same time. Is that right?

You got it. A handful of dirt pedals won't have a gain or drive knob ::cough holy stain cough::. In those cases, the way to control the gain is to increase or decrease the input signal.

[paradigm_shift]

...and more commonly spelt "knob" for those not spelling impared...

[Duncorama]

Originally Posted by Turock

Sorry, but that is incorrect.

How's that then big lad?

[kevteop]

Originally Posted by paradigm_shift

...and more commonly spelt "knob" for those not spelling impared...

"impaired".

[Turock]

Originally Posted by Duncorama

How's that then big lad?

Look it up.

[bongomania]

OK, a little grownup intervention here:

Gain does not mean distortion. Gain means how much your signal level is increased going into/through a circuit. In devices that are designed to distort, like guitar amps and distortion pedals, increasing the signal level going in will cause more distortion. On pedals that don't have a gain control, you can use any other device (like a preamp/boost pedal) to increase the signal level going in, which will result in more distortion.

The volume knob controls the overall output level, and the blend knob controls the mix between clean and distorted bass.

[ehque]

Um, i've always thought of it as -

Gain - Pre Effect Gain
Vol - Post Effect Gain

So set the gain until the pedal sounds like you want it to, then use the volume knob to match the volume of the pedal at 'off' to the pedal at 'on'.

[tomhanzo]

Originally Posted by bongomania

OK, a little grownup intervention here:

Gain does not mean distortion. Gain means how much your signal level is increased going into/through a circuit. In devices that are designed to distort, like guitar amps and distortion pedals, increasing the signal level going in will cause more distortion. On pedals that don't have a gain control, you can use any other device (like a preamp/boost pedal) to increase the signal level going in, which will result in more distortion.

The volume knob controls the overall output level, and the blend knob controls the mix between clean and distorted bass.

+1

[TMacATK]

Originally Posted by bongomania

OK, a little grownup intervention here:

Gain does not mean distortion. Gain means how much your signal level is increased going into/through a circuit. In devices that are designed to distort, like guitar amps and distortion pedals, increasing the signal level going in will cause more distortion. On pedals that don't have a gain control, you can use any other device (like a preamp/boost pedal) to increase the signal level going in, which will result in more distortion.

The volume knob controls the overall output level, and the blend knob controls the mix between clean and distorted bass.

^
Listen to this one!

[brivello]

Originally Posted by ehque

Um, i've always thought of it as -

Gain - Pre Effect Gain
Vol - Post Effect Gain

So set the gain until the pedal sounds like you want it to, then use the volume knob to match the volume of the pedal at 'off' to the pedal at 'on'.

Gain affects the sound outside of overall volume. Volume does not, be sure to make that distinction.

[Sean S]

Bongo to the rescue...again!

[cheapbasslovin]

Originally Posted by bongomania

OK, a little grownup intervention here:

Gain does not mean distortion. Gain means how much your signal level is increased going into/through a circuit. In devices that are designed to distort, like guitar amps and distortion pedals, increasing the signal level going in will cause more distortion. On pedals that don't have a gain control, you can use any other device (like a preamp/boost pedal) to increase the signal level going in, which will result in more distortion.

The volume knob controls the overall output level, and the blend knob controls the mix between clean and distorted bass.

Much better stated than mine.

[Jazz Ad]

A distortion pedal is basically a preamp. Trat it just like you do with your amp.

[Duncorama]

Excellent!
Thats cleared it up for me hugely cheers.