Official Virtual AMPEG Portaflex Club

[PrietoBass]

Ok, makes sense. Thx!

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by adambomb

I really don't need it now since the 30 pin upgrade but, I used to use it as a kind of noise filter. I didnt like the noise filter provided (noise was obviously a problem for the irig everyone talks of the annoying hiss) because, a bass guitar typically runs in the 4.4Hz and down to around 40Hz. I found with the 6.4Hz slider dropped all the way down it took care of all the hiss without destroying the high end of my signal.
When the provided noise filter was engaged at its lowest setting, it did the job of getting rid of the hiss but it sounded muddy and bland.

Even with the iRig I do not find Amplitube too hissy, but engaging OD or distortion will add hiss. Noise filter? I never use it.

[Rip Topaz]

Ok I'm in. After hearing the "not so happy birthday" clip, I'm buying the B15. I've been an AT user for a long time, never really got on with it for live use, but this will work!!



I'll post something soon.

[Rip Topaz]

Ok, so I've had a chance to set up the B15 and play for awhile.

The EQ settings right out of the box didn't really do it for me, but I fiddled with the knobs a bit, and the mids came out really nice. REALLY nice.

The CL didn't have this good of a sound to me. I'm really liking it through phones, tomorrow I'll hook it up to the PA and see how it sounds. Fingers are crossed.

[Duke21]

Yes the mids on this B15 are really nice. I like the dirtier SVT CL but it does not have as nice mids!

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

Ok I'm in. After hearing the "not so happy birthday" clip, I'm buying the B15. I've been an AT user for a long time, never really got on with it for live use, but this will work!!

I'll post something soon.

I use the other mic.

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by Duke21

I use the other mic.

Yeah, I've since switched it.

[Duke21]

I wish the IK guys will give more mic's. From Ampkit I've noticed the mic type have a lot to do with the sonic signature. Also two different mic placement like in Ampkit will be nice

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by Duke21

I wish the IK guys will give more mic's. From Ampkit I've noticed the mic type have a lot to do with the sonic signature. Also two different mic placement like in Ampkit will be nice

I agree. More mics, and choice of placement!! And some more cabs wouldn't hurt either. Also, a DI option would be cool, like a Sansamp or Hartke Bass Attack model.

If I could get a model of an old Peavey 215 I used to have, that would be cool. Yeah, I said Peavey, I know it isn't possible for IK with the licensing and all, but any 215 model would be cool. I'm not into 410's so much.

I really am impressed with the B15, though. It completely changed the way I look at AT. Before, I only used it when I wanted to record something really quick, and I used AmpKit as my practice amp.

Since adding the B15 yesterday afternoon, I've been using Amplitube exclusively.

Today will be the real test, when I hook into the PA in my basement and see how it sounds through 4 15's, and a powered sub.

[PrietoBass]

Here's my effects chain and B-15R settings (pretty much copied from Adam's and Duke's until I can figure out what works for me; note that there are some differences because that was the way I was able to manage noise). I found out that the iRig doesn't have enough juice to drive a set of Sennheiser HD-280 headphones (my experience so far; I may be doing something wrong).... so what I'm doing right now is:

bass -> Art Tube MP -> iRig (AT on iPhone) -> Focusrite Saphire 6 USB -> headphones

That way I can hear it better w/o a lot of distortion (if I don't push things...).

On the recording side I still don't know what I'm doing, but I have Reaper and opened a SoundCloud account so I hope to be sharing there as soon as I go through my "a-ha" moment.

[Rip Topaz]

Yeah, you're running a ton more in the chain than what I run.

I'm still working on getting everything wired up downstairs, but plan on checking it out through my system soon.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by PrietoBass

Here's my effects chain and B-15R settings (pretty much copied from Adam's and Duke's until I can figure out what works for me; note that there are some differences because that was the way I was able to manage noise). I found out that the iRig doesn't have enough juice to drive a set of Sennheiser HD-280 headphones (my experience so far; I may be doing something wrong).... so what I'm doing right now is:

bass -> Art Tube MP -> iRig (AT on iPhone) -> Focusrite Saphire 6 USB -> headphones

That way I can hear it better w/o a lot of distortion (if I don't push things...).

On the recording side I still don't know what I'm doing, but I have Reaper and opened a SoundCloud account so I hope to be sharing there as soon as I go through my "a-ha" moment.

Yes, the iRig will not drive properly any serious headphone as it is a passive thing and depend on the iPad/iOS device power, and as we know mobile devices struggle to drive full size headphones, unless the headphone is build for mobile devices. So generally headphones over 32ohm will benefit an headphone amp. Btw, also the various active interfaces such as Amplink (Ampkit) lack the power to drive full size headphones. I use a small mini mixer or my Samson 4 channel headphone amp to drive my headphone (BeyerDynamic DT770M or AKG 701)

An important thing regarding Aplitube setup is the input-output adjustment in the setup. The input must be adjusted in order to achieve as much input gain without clipping, Same goes for the output adjustment.

So here is the way Amplitube is set up for my Rickenbacker 4003 and my Geddy. As you see the input gain is on +3. If I use my CV60 P bass I put it on +1.



Btw, there is some differences in the "sound card" of the iPad/ iPhone and iPod thus the gain structure is a bit different between these units. So it is not necessary that +3 on iPad 1 is the same as +3 on iPod.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by PrietoBass

Here's my effects chain and B-15R settings (pretty much copied from Adam's and Duke's until I can figure out what works for me; note that there are some differences because that was the way I was able to manage noise). I found out that the iRig doesn't have enough juice to drive a set of Sennheiser HD-280 headphones (my experience so far; I may be doing something wrong).... so what I'm doing right now is:

bass -> Art Tube MP -> iRig (AT on iPhone) -> Focusrite Saphire 6 USB -> headphones

That way I can hear it better w/o a lot of distortion (if I don't push things...).

On the recording side I still don't know what I'm doing, but I have Reaper and opened a SoundCloud account so I hope to be sharing there as soon as I go through my "a-ha" moment.

Btw, why do you use the the Art Tube MP? You for sure should check that your input gain is not too high.

[PrietoBass]

I use the Art to boost the signal going into the IRig, otherwise it is not strong enough. I set the Art so that the input gain hits the yellow light w/o clipping when I dig in, and I set the output so that AT does not clip.

I've used a Xenyx 802 mixer and a BDDI (clean boost, but had to push the gain too) with so-so results.

Adam gigs with his setup, so it must work but I haven't yet made it to work for me.

But I'm confident I'll get it down.

Thx for sharing. I'll experiment a bit with my settings.

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by PrietoBass

I use the Art to boost the signal going into the IRig, otherwise it is not strong enough. I set the Art so that the input gain hits the yellow light w/o clipping when I dig in, and I set the output so that AT does not clip.

I've used a Xenyx 802 mixer and a BDDI (clean boost, but had to push the gain too) with so-so results.

Adam gigs with his setup, so it must work but I haven't yet made it to work for me.

But I'm confident I'll get it down.

Thx for sharing. I'll experiment a bit with my settings.

What kind of bass you have? Low output pups?
Anyway this is the weakness of the iRig, but Apogee jam 30 pin interface should makes things much better.

[PrietoBass]

Originally Posted by Duke21

What kind of bass you have? Low output pups?
Anyway this is the weakness of the iRig, but Apogee jam 30 pin interface should makes things much better.

Squier CV 60s J w/stock pups.

Squier Affinity V with Nordstrand NJ5F pups.

The CV is the better sounding of the two, but the V is decent and much improved with the Nordstrand pups.

I have the same problem with both basses through the iRig... I ran into the same problems with the stomp... I suspect it's the iRig, or it may be that the (my iPhone) is just noisy.

I've thought of the full AT (the PC version) but now we're talking $200, plus updates, and other costs... so I'm still processing that.

I'll take a look at the Apogee.

[Rip Topaz]

Ok, so I hooked up the Irig to the PA this morning, and it performed as hoped.

Using just the B15 into a Carvin 2153 setup with powered sub, I was able to get an acceptable amount of volume without noise using a P-bass with flats.

I A/B'd it against my normal DI, and the DI had a bit more girth to the tone, but the Irig setup worked just fine too. I'd be ok with either one.

The interesting thing is that I've finally got a DI setup that doesn't require my amp behind me for me to be happy with my tone. I'm sure if I added the amp for more volume it would be fine, but I'm trying to keep the stage/monitor volume low.

I've also got a separate mixer going for an IEM mix. I use an old Yamaha MX12/4 for my monitor mix, just for me. The wedges are run through the Carvin head. I have the option of hearing myself through the wedges and mains, or wired IEM.

The Ampeg sounds great (and the SAME, very important) through both.

[PrietoBass]

Rip, do you have your iRig hooked up to an iPad, or an iPhone?

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by PrietoBass

Squier CV 60s J w/stock pups.

Squier Affinity V with Nordstrand NJ5F pups.

The CV is the better sounding of the two, but the V is decent and much improved with the Nordstrand pups.

I have the same problem with both basses through the iRig... I ran into the same problems with the stomp... I suspect it's the iRig, or it may be that the (my iPhone) is just noisy.

I've thought of the full AT (the PC version) but now we're talking $200, plus updates, and other costs... so I'm still processing that.

I'll take a look at the Apogee.

iPhone is more noisy then the iPad. When I use my Rickenbacker 4003 or my Geddy I set the signal at the input stage to +3 while when I use my Squier CV60 P bass I set the input to +0 or +1.
The hiss and noise is due to the iPhone at (at higher gain) and the analog iRig. Apogee one use digital out so it should be much better.

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by PrietoBass

Rip, do you have your iRig hooked up to an iPad, or an iPhone?

iPhone 4S.