A few ambient rig questions. plus a soundclip

[hot_rats!]

here's what I sound like on my own at this moment. (http://fileserv1.soundclick.com/fastg6\HiF/skyence+runningoutofbatteries.mp3)

I am setup like this:
cheap pawnshop guitar(AAEABC#)--->
Dunlop MXR Bluebox---->
Ibanez FZ-5 soundtank---->
MXR dist.+---->
Small Stone---->
Boss DD-5 with tap tempo device---->
some analog delay---->
Tweaked Ibanez DL-10--->
Digitech PDS1002 delay---->
effect return on amp

I need to upgrade the analog delay someday as it is a piece of junk. picks up radio stations in most areas(actually thats pretty cool when its controllable), feedbacks, adds lots of noise and ringing etc... analogs are so expensive though. lately guitargeeks like the DE-7 better than real analog delays right? is it possible for digitals to do mine's sound where it turns slowly into clicks? i think its the clock time bleeding through, is that right? at 3:27 is the delay click sound im talking about.

also what can i do to keep all that delay clean? around 4 minutes in that clip my amp is distorting even though i bypassed the preamp. if i ever consider a new amp, which are the absolute cleanest? and what are the alternatives to using amps?

[doingtheunstuck]

Originally posted by hot_rats!

also what can i do to keep all that delay clean? around 4 minutes in that clip my amp is distorting even though i bypassed the preamp. if i ever consider a new amp, which are the absolute cleanest? and what are the alternatives to using amps?

that is one of the banes of my existance and part of why i hate amps. they don't stay clean enough. NO AMPS stay clean enough. best ideas i can suggest:
a) look into compression/limiting... an option i will eventually try to find a method to use without pissing me off.. but my past experiments annoyed me.
b) what amp are you using? SS or tube?
c) if you are going direct to a power amp, grabbing a full PA amp can be a pretty good method of staying clean...

[hot_rats!]

Originally posted by doingtheunstuck
that is one of the banes of my existance and part of why i hate amps. they don't stay clean enough. NO AMPS stay clean enough. best ideas i can suggest:
a) look into compression/limiting... an option i will eventually try to find a method to use without pissing me off.. but my past experiments annoyed me.
b) what amp are you using? SS or tube?
c) if you are going direct to a power amp, grabbing a full PA amp can be a pretty good method of staying clean...
i dont think i can use compression because i want the delay explosions to be explosive, limiter sounds like a good idea though.

my amp is a SS/tube hybrid, theres only one tube and im pretty sure its in the preamp. thats why ive bypassed it but it may be a power tube. im just not sure.

having a PA would be awesome. maybe i can get rid of some stuff or get a job to make that happen.

[doingtheunstuck]

Originally posted by hot_rats!
i dont think i can use compression because i want the delay explosions to be explosive, limiter sounds like a good idea though.

my amp is a SS/tube hybrid, theres only one tube and im pretty sure its in the preamp. thats why ive bypassed it but it may be a power tube. im just not sure.

having a PA would be awesome. maybe i can get rid of some stuff or get a job to make that happen.

i know what you mean about the compression... and with limiting, you have to be very aware of how you set your levels and such.

and with the big SS PA, they can be had for some pretty nice prices.

[simeon]

a limiter would be a good idea, just to prevent the sound levels going beyond what the amp can handle

two things though - firstly - if you get a PA, you'll still have to use some limiting - it's still a solid state poweramp, like you're using now in your combo

secondly - the other route to go may be to use a valve poweramp - then you'll get some natural valve compression and if it does distort, it'll do so in a nice way, rather than in a horrible way like a solid state amp will. it will also add some pleasant characteristics to the overall sound as well.

cheers!

sim

[hot_rats!]

Originally posted by simeon
a limiter would be a good idea, just to prevent the sound levels going beyond what the amp can handle

two things though - firstly - if you get a PA, you'll still have to use some limiting - it's still a solid state poweramp, like you're using now in your combo

secondly - the other route to go may be to use a valve poweramp - then you'll get some natural valve compression and if it does distort, it'll do so in a nice way, rather than in a horrible way like a solid state amp will. it will also add some pleasant characteristics to the overall sound as well.

cheers!

sim
you're right, PA is still an amp, though the cool part for me is I can plug in all my cheap keyboards that I can't justify buying an amp for.

If I can try out using the distortion to my advantage in a store I will. doingtheunstuck informed on IM how he has used that sound before.

btw youre website is great! very good soundclips for the gforce

[doingtheunstuck]

Originally posted by simeon
a limiter would be a good idea, just to prevent the sound levels going beyond what the amp can handle

two things though - firstly - if you get a PA, you'll still have to use some limiting - it's still a solid state poweramp, like you're using now in your combo

secondly - the other route to go may be to use a valve poweramp - then you'll get some natural valve compression and if it does distort, it'll do so in a nice way, rather than in a horrible way like a solid state amp will. it will also add some pleasant characteristics to the overall sound as well.

cheers!

sim

when i talk about a SS PA, i mean something with stupid amount of watts. there are amps out there that approach "does not distort much with stupid amounts of signal being thrown at it." my problem with them is that my ears are becoming more sensitive to ear fatigue...

and as far as tubes... i don't know about hot_rats, but i generally dont' want a mushy signal :D i hate how tube guitar amps react and sound with the kind of stuff i do... they are the devil. i guess i can't talk about hot_rats though :)

[hot_rats!]

Originally posted by doingtheunstuck
and as far as tubes... i don't know about hot_rats, but i generally dont' want a mushy signal :D i hate how tube guitar amps react and sound with the kind of stuff i do... they are the devil. i guess i can't talk about hot_rats though :)
personally im not sure there is a type of distortion(natural or not) that will give a good sound afterwords a few delay pedals. I might as well try it out in guitar center. then again they seperate pedals from tube amps. :/