I just received my Radial X-amp and decided to have a go at reamping some material through my Krank Rev Jr. and I've been less than pleased with the results. Here's the current signal chain:
Cubase 6 mono out > M-Audio Fast Track Pro > Balanced 1/4" to XLR feeding the X-amp input > TS9 > Krank.
So right out of the gate, the output level is not only abysmally weak even with the Fast Track and X-amp outputs cranked but the low end of the DI tracks has been stripped. The sound out of the amp is weak and unbelievably thin, like a pickup wired out of phase. I do some interwebz research and I find that weak output seems to be a common problem with the X-amp but I have not seen anything about low end being robbed. To help get a more desirable output, I then ran the output of the Fast Track into a Yamaha mixing board I had laying around. So now its:
Cubase 6 mono out > M-Audio Fast Track Pro > Balanced 1/4" to 1/4" feeding Yamaha mixer (at unity gain) > Mixer output > Balanced 1/4" to XLR feeding the X-amp input > TS9 > Krank.
Output levels are much better with this setup, (I actually had to lower the gain to avoid the clip LED on the X-amp), but the tone is still robbed of lowed. The treble spikes are absolutely ridiculous. Although the output is improved, its still not as good as plugging into the amp directly. I'm thinking the gain makeup must be done post X-amp output, and perhaps that's where the thin tone is coming from.
For what its worth, the DI tracks are of good quality. Passive pickups into Countryman Type 85 > Fast Track > DAW. They sound lovely and beefy fed into VST amp sims.
Anyone have a handle on what's going on here? I've tried multiple cables and combinations of things as well. If not, I'm just going to return this unit and get a redeye or something. Suggestions?
Cubase 6 mono out > M-Audio Fast Track Pro > Balanced 1/4" to XLR feeding the X-amp input > TS9 > Krank.
So right out of the gate, the output level is not only abysmally weak even with the Fast Track and X-amp outputs cranked but the low end of the DI tracks has been stripped. The sound out of the amp is weak and unbelievably thin, like a pickup wired out of phase. I do some interwebz research and I find that weak output seems to be a common problem with the X-amp but I have not seen anything about low end being robbed. To help get a more desirable output, I then ran the output of the Fast Track into a Yamaha mixing board I had laying around. So now its:
Cubase 6 mono out > M-Audio Fast Track Pro > Balanced 1/4" to 1/4" feeding Yamaha mixer (at unity gain) > Mixer output > Balanced 1/4" to XLR feeding the X-amp input > TS9 > Krank.
Output levels are much better with this setup, (I actually had to lower the gain to avoid the clip LED on the X-amp), but the tone is still robbed of lowed. The treble spikes are absolutely ridiculous. Although the output is improved, its still not as good as plugging into the amp directly. I'm thinking the gain makeup must be done post X-amp output, and perhaps that's where the thin tone is coming from.
For what its worth, the DI tracks are of good quality. Passive pickups into Countryman Type 85 > Fast Track > DAW. They sound lovely and beefy fed into VST amp sims.
Anyone have a handle on what's going on here? I've tried multiple cables and combinations of things as well. If not, I'm just going to return this unit and get a redeye or something. Suggestions?
. I am sure there was a thread that showed how to mod the X-amp (cap and Resistor, I know you shouldn't have to, but it was from Radial themselves IIRC.)
