Official Virtual AMPEG Portaflex Club

[Duke21]

Yeah, a decent headphone amp is gonna make ALL the difference to you. Maybe pick up one of the Rolls units, they're pretty cheap and pretty good quality. You can also try Behringer (if you're ok with the brand). They make quite a few.

On the setup page, start by turning the output slider OFF. Focus on the signal going into Irig first. Set it so your signal hits the yellow every time you hit a note, and NEVER hits the red. I usually do this by playing an open A or E, because when you hit them hard they tend to cause the loudest signal.

After you get your input signal situated, THEN do the same thing for the output.

If you set up like this, you can still get a pretty clean tone at 100 watts through the B15R, and a bonus is that you'll get a little hair when you really dig in.

Of course, this is ALL dependent on having the input and output signal tweaked just right.

So many people dismiss Irig as junk, and they never bother to take the in setup. Irig is a very powerful tool, but it is NOT plug-and-play.

I usually hit a chord hard, so a D major chord on the 12th fret, so it will be an A, a D and a F#. This chord gives lots of energy.
So I do the same thing as Rip, thus keeping the input gain clean. But I usually use only the 100W, master dimmed and preamp gain.
Btw, we are all getting old here.... Some have hearing aid, some spinal stimulation machine... And me? I've hiss in my ears... Even the 30pin interface does not fix that!!

The iRig is a good interface, but it is limited as we know.

 

[Rip Topaz]

I'm thinking about starting a YouTube channel for experimenting with my Irig tones.

I could use my laptop for the video so I'll have my iPhone available for Irig. I've done a few other videos where I was able to use a direct signal and add it to the video feed from the laptop, so there's no room noise and you'll get a better idea of the actual tone.

The signal chain for this is pretty crazy, but I'm gonna see what I can work out. Maybe if I send the links to IK, they'll get the point.

Here's one I did to demonstrate a pickup mod on one of my P-basses.
http://youtu.be/HnUjisgpLzY
The audio comes from the record out of my PA mixer, and is the best example you can get of the true sound. This isn't Irig in the video, but patching it in wouldn't be too difficult. The tones in the video are from my pedalboard.

 

[PrietoBass]

Preitobass,

I also have a remote control device, though not in my ears. Mine is called a Spinal Cord Stimulator, basically a tens unit (like they use for sore muscles) only mine works on nerves instead of muscles, and is hardwired to my spine!! I've got a remote control with four "programs", that changes the electric impulses. Kinda cool technology, but doesn't work for me. The surgery to remove it will be scheduled this coming week.

Rip, I sincerely hope all goes well with your surgery.

Ok, guys. I could take it no more... I left the Macy's parade to play around with this stuff to try to make it work. I got the levels right (not reaching the red zone) but I could not get rid of pops and some of the hiss. I disabled WiFi, but I can't place the phone on air mode because I need to be reachable by my employer 24x7.

Anyway, I went:

bass -> AT/iRig -> mixer. I don't understand how to use the recorder in AT yet, so I went from the mixer into a Focusrite USB, from there to my old laptop, and from there into Reaper. In Reaper I normalized the track and used a bit of of ReaGate to try to get rid of some of the rumble/hiss on the low end.

Here are a couple of sample. Just a few bars to have something to share with y'all.

The bass is an SX Ursa 6, and I'm still getting used to the string spacing and the extra string (I primarily a 5ver guy).

Here goes:

This Is Your Life by Switchfoot

The Low Rider by War

As get the hang of things I'll post a complete song. But my wife is calling me for lunch so I better go.

 

[PrietoBass]

Before I fall unconscious...

See/hear the horrible hiss?

 

[Rip Topaz]

Before I fall unconscious...

See/hear the horrible hiss?

Which iPhone are you using? I noticed a dramatic reduction in hiss when I upgraded to the 4S.

What's your signal chain inside of AT look like? Can you post a couple screenshots of your settings?

For the recorder, make sure you push the button to arm the track, as well as the upper button to assign the effect to that channel.

 

[PrietoBass]

Which iPhone are you using? I noticed a dramatic reduction in hiss when I upgraded to the 4S.

What's your signal chain inside of AT look like? Can you post a couple screenshots of your settings?

For the recorder, make sure you push the button to arm the track, as well as the upper button to assign the effect to that channel.

Mine is the 1st iPhone 4 that came out. I'll post AT screenshots in a bit.

Yes, I thought I was arming the track and selecting the FX button, but nothing was being played back after I supposedly recorded something...

Another reason why I want to upgrade my laptop/sound is that I don't have an accurate/reliable way to play back what I record. When I play it in my music room or at church I sound one way (acceptable), but when I record myself and I play it back I find that that's not how my amp sounds. Those two samples sound completely different on my iPhone, and each computer in our home.

Little things like string noise are not that big of a deal in a band context; they get lost in the mix. However, the recorder doesn't lie, so when you record yourself every little squeak is there for your reviewing pleasure. However, this is what I want to do (to record myself well) because that is going to be the only way to accurately gauge my progress, IMO.

Screen caps coming up...

 

[Duke21]

Before I fall unconscious...

See/hear the horrible hiss?

Indeed lots of hiss. But it could be worse!!

 

[PrietoBass]

B-15 settings attached.

 

[Duke21]

Which iPhone are you using? I noticed a dramatic reduction in hiss when I upgraded to the 4S.

What's your signal chain inside of AT look like? Can you post a couple screenshots of your settings?

For the recorder, make sure you push the button to arm the track, as well as the upper button to assign the effect to that channel.

There are two issues in PrietoBass recordings.
The hiss can be partially due to the iPhone 4 itself. Putting it on flight mode might be "a must" regarding tone. In addition, do you have the latest iOS and the latest Amplitube version?

Thereafter. You record the track on you laptop so you analog sound is going through LOTS of devices/ units.
Bass --- iRig --- iPhone ---- iRig (again) --- mixer --- Reaper --- laptop.
So, 6 stages!! If you have recorded you track in the Ampitube recorder you will only have Bass --- iRig --- iPhone regarding the tone in the recording as you goes only once through the iRig interface.
If you play live then you have
Bass --- iRig --- iPhone --- iRig --- mixer --- PA, so quite many stages as well were all is analog sound. But I think that a major part of the hiss can come through the laptop itself as you send you analog sound into the line-in jack. I do not think many laptops have good hardware on the analog side!!
So, I think that if you will try to record your rune in the app (Amplitube) the sound will be better with less hiss.

 

[Duke21]

B-15 settings attached.

Try not to use the ultra low button, and put the amp on 60W mode. Otherwise I can't see any issue with your setting as they are very "mild".

 

[PrietoBass]

Ok, back to the drawing board.

 

[Rip Topaz]

B-15 settings attached.

Two things I see:
1) turn your master all the way up. Use the gain to control your volume. Stick around 1/4 of the way up to stay clean.

2) I use the ultra low, too, always on. The ultra high injects a bunch of noise so I rarely use it.
The ultra low will add noise as well, but it can avoided.

If you adjust your gain structure it should fix things.

I use the 4S, NEVER put it in airplane mode unless I'm playing out. The 4S doesn't have any problems keeping up. The hiss can be removed, it just takes a little tweaking.

 

[Duke21]

Mine is the 1st iPhone 4 that came out. I'll post AT screenshots in a bit.

Yes, I thought I was arming the track and selecting the FX button, but nothing was being played back after I supposedly recorded something...

Another reason why I want to upgrade my laptop/sound is that I don't have an accurate/reliable way to play back what I record. When I play it in my music room or at church I sound one way (acceptable), but when I record myself and I play it back I find that that's not how my amp sounds. Those two samples sound completely different on my iPhone, and each computer in our home.

Little things like string noise are not that big of a deal in a band context; they get lost in the mix. However, the recorder doesn't lie, so when you record yourself every little squeak is there for your reviewing pleasure. However, this is what I want to do (to record myself well) because that is going to be the only way to accurately gauge my progress, IMO.

Screen caps coming up...

This is exactly what I'm thinking about!! When you try so sett you signal chain in order to record yourself on the laptop you add noise compares to when you play live! Try to record your music in Amplitube, the recorder is one of the stronger sides of Amplitube.

 

[PrietoBass]

I give up for today.

#@*+*((~?!! iPhone/AT interface.

I'm tired to fool around a tiny interface where I fat finger everything and am constantly fighting the darn thing to do what I want it to.

I want a computer interface like that of the Matrix, where I can grab things with my hands and move them where they #@!? need to go!

There was no way I could get my bass signal hot enough to be usable... so I had to use my Art Pre to increase the signal. That did it, so the signal went up, and so did the noise.

I also need/want the pedals/amp volume control to be independent of the iPhone's volume control. The metronome's click is way loud, but if you lower it you also lower everything else.

You have things hidden in little menus. I know I have to RTM. I'll get to that.

I want to enjoy music, not have to fight the ##### tools to have them work for me.

Anyway, enough for today.

[end of rant]

 

[Duke21]

I give up for today.

#@*+*((~?!! iPhone/AT interface.

I'm tired to fool around a tiny interface where I fat finger everything and am constantly fighting the darn thing to do what I want it to.

I want a computer interface like that of the Matrix, where I can grab things with my hands and move them where they #@!? need to go!

There was no way I could get my bass signal hot enough to be usable... so I had to use my Art Pre to increase the signal. That did it, so the signal went up, and so did the noise.

I also need/want the pedals/amp volume control to be independent of the iPhone's volume control. The metronome's click is way loud, but if you lower it you also lower everything else.

You have things hidden in little menus. I know I have to RTM. I'll get to that.

I want to enjoy music, not have to fight the ##### tools to have them work for me.

Anyway, enough for today.

[end of rant]

Sound like a bit of a struggle but we will figure this thing out sooner or later! I hope!
The metronome is not good, IK need to work on this thing, we/ me have been complaining about several issues with the metronome, volume, type of sound, time signature, bleeding into the recorded tracks etc... I never use the metronome on AT but I do use the one on GarageBand or Ampkit.

 

[PrietoBass]

Sorry guys I vented off my frustration publicly; I do get carried away every now and then.

I posted a few more clips with an SM-57 right in front of the cab. Even though I still don't know what I'm doing from a recording standpoint, I think those takes have less noise (or better said, I can't hear it, but my son said they were quieter).

The sound is closer but it's still not the sound of the cab as I sit a few feet in front of it. I need to learn how to record a bass and then of course how to play it properly!

Edited: Let me add that I am bot going to give up entirely on AT, although I may change my approach (PC).

 

[Rip Topaz]

Sorry guys I vented off my frustration publicly; I do get carried away every now and then.

I posted a few more clips with an SM-57 right in front of the cab. Even though I still don't know what I'm doing from a recording standpoint, I think those takes have less noise (or better said, I can't hear it, but my son said they were quieter).

The sound is closer but it's still not the sound of the cab as I sit a few feet in front of it. I need to learn how to record a bass and then of course how to play it properly!

Edited: Let me add that I am bot going to give up entirely on AT, although I may change my approach (PC).

You've still got a gain out of control somewhere. It's better, but there's something that's running way hot.
I would take some time and learn to use the recorder in AT. It's not hard to figure out, it's in the manual but it only took a few minutes without it to figure it out. It sounds like some of the noise is coming AFTER Amplitube.

 

[adambomb]

Hey wow a lot of posts since this morning.

I would for sure try and use the recorder part of AT.

Try a lower input level in settings to lower the hiss and up the output level an try and tame the hiss still there in the pedal section. Before it enters the amp. When I was using the irig live with my iphone4 not the 4s, I bought the 6 band graphic eq and took the 6.4khz slider all the way down that really tamed the hiss. Instead of the noise filter which drains the upper dynamic out of the signal. Then into the amp if there was still noticeable hiss you can drop the high frequency knob a tad and up the mids on the b15 or turn the mid frequency knob up on the svt to max and up the mid knob to increase the upper levels almost high mids a bit to compensate high end loss. When I did use the noise filter I had it set to the minimum and it did a decent job of getting rid of the hiss that's why ik put it in there because they knew the hiss was a problem.

But now that I am typing this I remember at one point where I couldn't get much sound and a lot of hiss was coming out and the track volume in the recorder section was turned way down.... even though my input/output sliders and meters in the setup section seem to be perfect.

Check that track meter that is the dry signal going into the track. make sure it isnt clipping and then turn fx on. that signal is sent to the pedals firsts then the amp and treat the volume on the track as the microphone level because where you have that set it will be recorded or output that way in the headphones. It's the last piece of the output. Not the output slider in setup. The output slider is what's being sent to the dry track into the meter of the recorder. (See edit)

Varying all this you can then get rid of most of the hiss.
Notice I said most.

When I upgraded myself to the ipad2 and I was still using the irig live it sounded good. But when I started using the 30pin it opened up the dynamics and I didn't have to use the noise pedal and i also don't use the graphic eq trick anymore either.

The iPhone 4 isn't the problem. I just needs a bit more tweaking. You'll get it! don't give up.

(Edit: I forgot about the irig being the out put device too so the actual last piece of out put in the chain would be your actual iPhone headphone level. On my ART it has its own monitor output level. Which can be dry/wet mixed from the pre and computer signal too. That is a little something I haven't mentioned with this feature I can give FOH a direct from my bass and the AT signal mixed to my liking.)

 

[Duke21]

I'm thinking about starting a YouTube channel for experimenting with my Irig tones.

I could use my laptop for the video so I'll have my iPhone available for Irig. I've done a few other videos where I was able to use a direct signal and add it to the video feed from the laptop, so there's no room noise and you'll get a better idea of the actual tone.

The signal chain for this is pretty crazy, but I'm gonna see what I can work out. Maybe if I send the links to IK, they'll get the point.

Here's one I did to demonstrate a pickup mod on one of my P-basses.
http://youtu.be/HnUjisgpLzY
The audio comes from the record out of my PA mixer, and is the best example you can get of the true sound. This isn't Irig in the video, but patching it in wouldn't be too difficult. The tones in the video are from my pedalboard.

Cool playing, I admire bass players who master finger playing at such a high level.
Also, very cool tone on this Sheehan style P-bass.

 

[Rip Topaz]

Cool playing, I admire bass players who master finger playing at such a high level.
Also, very cool tone on this Sheehan style P-bass.

I wouldn't call it "mastery", I've just always played with my fingers, but thanks. FWIW, I suck with a pick.