Help me figure out my XB Driver?

[Ecglaf]

Hi there!

I've been working with my new Sansamp XB Driver for a while now. Generally speaking, I love it. I'm having a hard time figuring out how to optimize the HPF and the LPF though. Frankly, I'm not entirely sure what they do...

It's my understanding that rolling the LPF all the way to the left (counter-clockwise), I'm reducing the frequencies that I allow through on the clean channel.
Likewise, when I roll the HPF to the right (clockwise), I'm similarly limiting the frequencies that get through. Is that correct?

Also, with that said, I'd love to hear any tips you have for dialing these in. I've been using my XB for two different tones: I've got a smooth, no-edge tone on my clean channel that I use for our more mellow songs (folk/jazz and the like), and then I tap the Mix to bring in a grindy edge. I'm trying to go for something like Geddy's tone, but a little bit more reserved. Still grindy, just a little less so.

I'd really appreciate any advice!

 

[Bag of Lazers]

Geddy’s sound is in the manual. I recommend dialing it to those specs and then pulling back the drive a bit, etc. to get the sound you are thinking of.

 

[Ecglaf]

Geddy’s sound is in the manual. I recommend dialing it to those specs and then pulling back the drive a bit, etc. to get the sound you are thinking of.

That's pretty much what I've done. Just having a hard time figuring out what the HPF and LPF does. Any advice?

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Are you asking what an LPF and HPF do, or what those controls specifically affect in the XB Driver circuit?

If the info isn't in the user manual, you'll probably get further by asking Tech 21 support. I also think they have a user account on here.

 

[Bag of Lazers]

That's pretty much what I've done. Just having a hard time figuring out what the HPF and LPF does. Any advice?

The high pass filter cuts off frequencies below where the dial is set and the low pass filter cuts off frequencies above where the dial is set. Just keep tweaking and playing around until you find a sound you like. I found myself overthinking it, and then eventually realized that if I just started from settings in the manual and then fiddled till I was happy, then it would all work out. I always play with mix mode in and crossovers engaged. It just depends on how gnarly I want the sound. It’s capable of a lot. Just spend some time with it, which is fun to do anyway.

 

[Ecglaf]

The high pass filter cuts off frequencies below where the dial is set and the low pass filter cuts off frequencies above where the dial is set. Just keep tweaking and playing around until you find a sound you like. I found myself overthinking it, and then eventually realized that if I just started from settings in the manual and then fiddled till I was happy, then it would all work out. I always play with mix mode in and crossovers engaged. It just depends on how gnarly I want the sound. It’s capable of a lot. Just spend some time with it, which is fun to do anyway.

Thank you so much! That makes it much clearer. I appreciate it.

 

[Lowbrow]

I keep both the HPF and LPF at about the same spot when using the crossover, in my case just a notch above (clockwise of) 500hz.

 

[Fuzzbass]

That's pretty much what I've done. Just having a hard time figuring out what the HPF and LPF does. Any advice?

You already got great advice. Just adding: the low pass filter changes the frequency at which low frequencies pass thru, and similar for the high pass filter and high frequencies.

And no worries: the XB is laid out well but still a complex device with a learning curve. I'm familiar with multi band / dual channel distortion, but still learning mine.

 

[Nodak Savage]

I've owned this pedal for about a year now. Gig with it regularly and like multiple sounds I've gotten out of it between my industrial band and my doom/stoner band. With that said theres one thing that always seems to boggle my mind with some of the presets in the manual. For example, on the Geddy settings, on the clean channel, why boost the mids right above 450hz but then have the LPF set at around 300ish? Doesnt the LPF cut out anything above that? How does the boosted 450 come through when it's notched out with the LPF? Multiple other manual examples do this which throws me off a bit.