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Clipping noise!

T

thechrispetit

Jun 19, 2012
5
0
Ontario, Canada
#1
Hey!

If I can get some help on this issue I would LOVE it. I've been messing around with settings and I can't seem to get the tone I want.

I'm using a MusicMan Stingray with a MarkBass LMII and SansAmp RBI (connected through effects loop), plugged into a MarkBass 410HF and 115HF.

Now the problem. I bought the RBI because of it's gain feature, I love the crunch you can get from it. The problem I'm having is whenever I reach the point of crunchiness I like I find I'm getting a HORRIBLE clicking/clipping noise. I've tried killing the treble in different configs using my bass, amp and RBI but when I kill the treble too much I loose the crunch.

The only thing I can think of is my VLR and VRF settings (signature to the LMII) but thats what's giving me the good tone I want.

Help, I don't want to get rid of my LMII. I love it too much.
 
#2
not sure, clipping is distortion. so its hard to tell what it is when you say " clipping" I'm sure its obvious above the distortion so maybe a sound sample?
If this is audible at low levels could be many things, if a high levels only could be speaker crackle.

or to throw out a guess, ditch the effect loop and try just the amp input, or lower the send/return levels of the loop if it has any.
 
#3
It sounds like you are either overloading the input to the RBI or the RBI is overloading the circuitry of your amp. Music Man bass' have a fairly hot output. Can I assume that the clip light on the Mark Bass is not coming on?

How exactly are you running everything? Are you running the send of the amp's efx loop to the RBI?
 
#4
Hey guys, thanks for the quick reply.

To better explain my clipping noise, it's sounds like my treble is cranked. I play with a pic so there's a HEAVY tingy sound. Best example I can give you is our cover of Beastie Boys "Fight For Your Right" at Invalid Link Removed

Like I said, I've tried EVERY config I can think of without compromising that crunchy tone. I've even dialled down my tweeter db's on both my cabs. Still the same.

Oh and super important. I spent 20 minutes perfectly my re-amp Gain level on my LMII so it's clipping (lighting up) minimally.
 
#5
You still haven't explained your signal chain. It sounds like a gain staging issue. How exactly is everything hooked up?

From the Mark Bass manual:

...if playing through the amp causes the blue CLIP light to turn on at all, you should turn down the GAIN control to avoid distortion...
Click to expand...

The SansAmp circuitry in the RBI when used correctly is designed to give you vintage tube amp "musical" distortion. The Mark Bass seems to be designed to be a very clean amplification platform.
 
#6
@tech21nyc

My Amp runs at 500 W at 4 Ohms, I run my head into two separate Markbass cabs at 8 Ohms (110HF and 115HF, both tweeter dials set to half). Amp is connected to both cabs via Speakon connection. My SansAmp RBI is connected into my Send/Return on Markbass LMII via Instrument Cable.

And to clarify about my CLIP light. It will flash on every once and a while. Only when I'm doing fast triple chugs. But I play hard and the CLIP does NOT come on all the time at all. I know it's not causing the issue because the clipping sound happens throughout all playing, not just during peaking.
 
#7
I'm not familiar with the SansAmp RBI but I do have a SABDDI. If there is a presence setting on the RBI then I am pretty sure that is the problem. Try turning the presence down and see if that makes it better.
 
#9
That's not really the proper way to run the RBI. If you look at the hookup diagram in the manual we recommend using an A/B box with a bass amp with an efx loop. This is assuming you want your amp's preamp tone as well as the RBI.

Unfortunately the Mark Bass efx loop is parallel though it can be modified for series.

If you want to run the RBI as a distortion effect with the Mark Bass we would suggest running your bass into the rear input of the RBI. You may need to engage the input pad if your bass's output is really hot. Then take the 1/4' SansAmp output to the input of your Mark Bass. Make sure you set the output of the RBI for "unity gain." This means the output level of the RBI is the same volume of your guitar.

You need to gain stage properly when using two preamp in series. In your case you are running 3 preamps, since the bass is active and you also have three tone stacks which can make it difficult to adjust the overall tone.

Also the Mark Bass has those VLE and VPF filters which are similar to our speaker emulation and mid scoop in the RBI. Just experiment. As long as you get a tone you are happy with and are not overloading the Mark Bass or RBI inputs you should be fine.
 
#11
@tech21

I followed you're instructions for hooking up the RBI, it worked WAY better than my last set up and I now understand the issue with EQ bypass on my MarkBass LMII.

I had one other question for you. I read that plugging my bass into the input 2 on the back on my RBI will help the tone. What is the real difference between the main Input and the Input 2 other than the decibel switch (0dB-20dB)?
 
#12
thechrispetit said:
@tech21

I followed you're instructions for hooking up the RBI, it worked WAY better than my last set up and I now understand the issue with EQ bypass on my MarkBass LMII.

I had one other question for you. I read that plugging my bass into the input 2 on the back on my RBI will help the tone. What is the real difference between the main Input and the Input 2 other than the decibel switch (0dB-20dB)?
Click to expand...

There shouldn't be difference from a tonal standpoint using either input. They are both 1MegOhm. The advantage to the 2nd input is the pad switch. If your bass' output is on the hot side like with an active bass, you will have more headroom. Your Stingray probably has a fairly hot output. It could benefit by using the pad. No right or wrong, just experiment. Remember that with the pad engaged you will probably need to increase your drive and level settings.
 

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