Five Common Mistakes With Amp Modelers 

LOL chug, chug, turn a knob - this will be rattling around in my head for days 😂 and it's so true....

Jerrod tells it like it is and is not afraid to tell it like it is and that's exactly why I love his channel.i really love how he exposes the SWAMP CREATURE'S in the guitar world and I really appreciate that very much.thanks Jerrod 🤘🔥🤘

Amazing video sir! I agree whole heartedly with this video. As a helix user, when I first got it, I was falling into the world of watching pedantic helix users that really made shit super complex. I find myself playing way more and creating more music and m not so focused on the complex routing methods. I was starting to hate the helix but then watching your tutorials I’ve become a proficient user and more directed towards actually playing music and getting back to what matters most to me.

"Chug, Chug, Turn a Knob" is my favorite new song!! Great vocals!! I spent the night at my studio dialing in gain levels on my VHX. This was the perfect video to wake up to! Go Jarrod!!🤘

You are first person who do what i do. Put delay/reverbs before cab/IR. :3

I'm guilty of the first one. My last amp was a spider 4. Now I've got a Helix with a 212 Powercab. I've relied on videos and articles to crash course on these topics. So it's been a looong journey. The tone you dialed up sounds great BTW. Thanks so much for the tips. Rock on

I'm 100% with you about all the topics but about the Headrush i'm with you if you are talkin' about the 108 (yeah, very boxy sound), 'coz the 112 sounds really really good! I have a pair of Headrush 112 in stereo (and a Kali 1000watt subwoofer) and i tweak my AxeFx II patches on a pair of KRK VXT8 or a linearized Monolith headphones and i can tell you that while the patches sounds very "surgical" on my references (monitors or headphones) than they translate very well on the Headrush 112 with a plus of some "life" in it like a live rig must sounds. Even on a pair of Montarbo W17 600watt (real devastating italians 600watt P.A. speakers... not that hype fake 2000watt of the Headrush!) the patches sounds how i expect! ... and... btw... i'm not 14... i'm a 59 old fart! ;o)

The greatest thing I learned any my helix was to put a drive pedal between the amp and cab. Very low gain. It's amazing and I would never have done it except I saw it on a video like this. Maybe even this channel I'm loving alpaca rouge but I'm only getting started with this but I'm so much happier with my heavy rock tones now. I'm tweaking a lot less. It even sounds great in helix native which has never really worked for me before this and v 3.50

two minutes in, lost the will to live listening to you loving your voice.

Right on brother! Definitely cracked me up, and "chug chug" GUILTY! Ha ha ha! I love it man!

Such a great video! I really enjoy your humor as well. Laughed so hard during the "Bro-Science" section 🤣

Thoroughly informative & entertaining. 👍🏼🔥🎸

Indeed... Thats True Big Bro... Thanks

Loved the video. Great sense of humour

Guilty of each and every one of these as recently as this morning lol. Thanks for the vid!

Dude, Im a fairly new sub, this is hilarious!! More please!!

This was awesome and 100% true!!

Great video brother!

Love the "Turn the knob" song, it really made my day! I have a pair of Neumann studio monitors, and I can't entirely agree about the Headrush speakers. The 112 variant does have some problems; however, the 108 version sounds absolutely fantastic, especially for the price! I use these all the time when I play my outdoor classical guitar gigs.

Everything you said in this video is certainly true. Good advice. "chug chug turn a knob!" was hilarious. So true. I have been down that rabbit-hole with my Boss Katana and ToneStudio software. Spending all day tweaking patches and saving presets, while suffering from ear-fatigue. A few days later when I pick up the guitar again, all that tweaking sounded like crap. So I have to go back in and try to fix it. And the Katana is pretty simple compared to something like a Helix or an AxeFx-3! I can only imagine what I would do with an FM-9. Spend the rest of my life messing with the endless amount of settings it has. I've actually been using my Katana with pedals, just to keep from going back into the Katana software and tweaking stuff. 😆

That was great! I also found the sence of humor in the video Hysterical

All Guitars in this song are completly recorded with the MOOER GE200 Amp Modeler. Rain Air - Sitz Platz Bleib (Rammstein Style) Official Video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xxxjsjRtIRg.html

I had trouble dialing in my HX Stomp for a long time, which led to a lot of complicated tweaking. Not long ago, I learned that "real" Guitar Amp Speakers have a steep high frequency roll off at around 5kHz, some even as low as 3kHz! The HX Stomp had a "default" High Cut in the Cab Block at 8kHz! Depending on your specific use scenario, that might be perfect, but it sent me down many a rabbit hole trying to figure out how to get rid of the harsh high end so many users complain about. I have the 3.50 Update, and before I touch any other Block settings, I look at the Cab Block, listen to the sound. If it is too bright or harsh, I lower the High Cut to about 5kHz. If it is still too bright, I try different Mics and positions. That usually fixes the problem for me. With that taken care of, I find the Amp Block Parameters to be pretty good, and dialing everything else is easy, and minimal.

Congrats man !!! Very nice video, lots of cool tips. Less is more ever !!!

Great video!! We need to hear that patch from 12:20-14:20 though!

Haha! I couldn't begin to tell you how to play guitar through a computer, but as a Marshall code owner, you damn sure hit the nail on the head with "chug chug turn a knob"🤣 👌 you made my day brother ! Thank you 😉

great job i agree

Well I know what riff is going to be stuck in my head the rest of the day; thanks. You nailed that Vera de Milo impression from In Living Color.

Love the advise, I am looking at getting either axe fx II XL+(used) or boss GT-100 (fullsize) or maybe a Helix. I am using with my JP2C+ as effects(mostly just for delays, reverbs, chorus, and such) and some modeling when we practise with just a PA(simple type set up plug in and practice)I used to use a gigboard which was brilliant for simplicity but it hated my recording set up. which one would you pick? i am really leaning toward the boss .

When you don't have (or can't accommodate the necessary volume levels of) good studio monitors or FRFR speakers, would it work to dial in your tone with IEMs? Are there good IEMs out there that translate well for this use case?

So happy with my tubes...Also happy with my katana which I don't do Chug chug turn a knob tooo often(Song of the year), but when I do it's fun. Using a Zoom G6 now as an effects only 4 cable method to my Marshall JVM410 through peavey 4X12 6505 with Celestion V30s. Soon i'll bring up my Mesa 2X12.

Your falsettos are on point!

Good video

Thank you amazing how the easiest tones are the best sounding Jared do you have any experience with the ISP THETA PRO MSX please that is the modeling unit I have it’s remarkable.

The hot setup for the modelers is to put the speaker as the first component in the chain, then you add a reverb, then a preamp, then 2 4x12 cabs into a power amp, then you create a loop with a flanger and a phaser, then a delay with the repeats set to 40,000, then you add another power amp, then 4 1x12cabs, then the output into a alto 1x10 frfr. This is the hot setup. Believe me.

I completely agree... i'm one of them. I'm trying to sort this out- i mean tweaking!

Re: Chug a little, turn a knob -- that segue was awesome. Caught me off guard / wasn't expecting that. To add to the conversation... I refuse to spend over $1k on any modeler. I had the Pod XT live for a decade, and I upgraded to the Pod GO (adding the zoom ms70-cdr in the effects loop). The big thing for me to add: pay attention to mono/stereo. Further, pay attention to what is generating stereo from mono versus just letting stereo pass through (or inbetween).

CHUG CHUG TURN A KNOB! Gonna be in my head all day now. Great vid man.

"TURN A KNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBBBB!!!", ROFL!!! Imagine if Rob Halford could've done the high-pitched vocal part, that would be awesome. Love it.

So funny and very true 😂

1:18 - too much tweak and test - chug / turn knob 5:17 - use FRFR headphones and speakers 8:45 - keep it simple 22:13 - buying presets

What’s your thoughts on Choptones they sell packs for headrush for amps that are not in the headrush saying they sound like such and such i emails them and said can’t we just dial in the same sound and they responded no you have to use the pack they sell because the amp has been modified in the preset block

Omg I'm bawling over here... If that wasn't worth a subscription click then no video I've ever seen was lol... Effing hilarious

lol, good video Jarrod

Which method would you reccomend connecting a line 6 pod go with an evh 2x12 combo?

hahaha hilarious! Thanks for the "infotainment" haha. I don't go for the same types of tones you do but you def get some killer ones and I appreciate the tips I get from this channel.

*starts whisteling nervously while looking at his two headrush frfr 108's on both sides of his kemper*

Great video. What about using a Line 6 Powercab?

Hi Jarrod! New subscriber to your channel (that amp head collection is sick!). Re: the Headrush FRFR 108, would you say that it could work as an active PA speaker (in a pair) if not for powering a modeling guitar rig? Looking for a compact, high-power solution for a garage band-type setup. Thanks in advance and great tips here as well!

2:00…. I normally pick an “amp” that sounds good to me… mess with the gain and EQ til I find the sound I like…. That’s it… takes only a few minutes…

Chug Chug (Turn a knob) needs to be on streaming.

Hi Jerrod, Do you recommend checking Helix Tones on the Kali Studio Monitors instead of Headphones? I have the DT 770 250 Ohm Headphones but I don’t want to get a rude awakening on the gig from setting my patches to them. Thanks!

If only you did a joke with your mom calling you up for dinner at the end🤣 sick tones man really sick.

Let me take a sip of my coffee suuurpppp 😅 hahaha nice video buddy loved it and so true ❤🎸🙌🏻

The Bro Science segment and voice had me laughing my ass off. “My mom’s making dinner upstairs. I’m 40. Anyways…”. Great vid! Definitely guilty of the “chug chug turn knob” habit. Thanks for the monitor tip. I’ll check the Kali out.

Chug chug turn a knob, chug chug turn a knob😆 that will stick in my head for a bit!

Lol that was epic!

I just got a headrush 5x I’m still lost on how to use it.

For my Helix presets, every single one has EQ -> Comp -> Amp -> Dual Cab -> Ambient Reverb -> Comp. And that's just the most basic of basic setup. Granted each step is subtle and definitely makes the tone better. But it does make things complicated. I basically fill out all 2 rows in every preset. I don't understand people who use the HX stomp with a single Amp+Cab block.

Yes! I like this "keep it simple" logic. I made vid with great metal tone that is dialed in under 2 minutes. And people like it. It sounds better than many of that super weird payed presets with extra unnecessary tons of EQ's, compressors and all that stuff.

Chug chug turn a knob is my new favorite song I think..

Is it possible to get a good sound with helix, power stage and a 2x12 Mesa cab?

Kinda weird comment about Headrush...I decided to play through them at rehearsal and I got complements on my tone.

What are your settings for the searchlight reverb? Time? Predelay? Mix? Thank you.

5:25…I use two Tech 21 PA60 power amps…… have been since the X3 Live days……

what kali monitors do you recommend?

That is so funny i like that song and your voice could be close to King Diamond just had to subscribe great video 🤘

Great video, the parody Brochannel video was awesome. It's funny with the modeling stuff. Just change what needs to be changed. It's OK if a preset is just an amp, if that's all you need for it. Also, too many when they get at gig/stage volume, they think the unit sucks when they just never spent time at that volume adjusting it. Other good practical guys are Steve Sterlacci and Scott's Guitar Playground. Edit to add: Bonus points for the use of litany.

LOL I mostly use Kali LP-6 V2s, too XD They're great. If someone really just wants a combo amp, Phil Jones combos are typically FRFR iirc (my BG-75 is). My peasant ass uses a Zoom G6; it has a really weak CPU so I can basically just run an amp, a cab, and a few effects. Done. No multiple routes for me :D Zoom noise gate, Krampus amp, 4x12, and rhythm tone is done. Maybe an EQ in there. People sleep on the Zooms because they aren't a Helix, Quad Cortex, etc but tbh I think it sounds great and it's just simple to program. Thanks for sharing! These will be helpful to people just getting into amp sims, etc.

I just got a Powercab plus best thing and super useful , mission engineering could be beter but doesn’t have its own irs built in but still very good

Damn, I'm gonna have "Chug Chug Turn A Knob" stick in my head all day lol. Great video brother! I was completely stuck in that loop forever when I first bought my Helix. 99% of people who hear us play at gigs or wherever, have no fn clue what good tone is compared to great tone. Unless you're tone is ear piercing, nobody gives a shit 🤷

fair to say Chug chug turn a knob still works perfectly at double speed!

Imma keep making all these mistakes and no one can't stop me !!!!!!

what do you think of the Line6 Powercab?

man... thats really true , in real life we rarely changing the bass/treble/mid on amp, but why in digital world we always tweaking 😂😂

Except for the small modulation on modern reverbs (which yours has, but is set to be subtle) it makes no difference if you put the reverb before or after the delay. (Modulation-less) filters, delays, reverbs are all linear time invariant systems unless they clip and can be re-ordered without any change to the system. Try it by setting up a patch with two signal paths and different orders and see if you can hear when you switch between them.

"my mom's making dinner I'm 40" 😂😂😂 subscribed

Guilty as charged! Thank you for the reality slap 😅😅😅

Man that song was fucking awesome! 😂 I find myself stuck in that cycle sometimes and then think what the hell am I doing?! Lol

I think you Gota hit song there Jerrod! 🎸🤘so funny brother

i agree. Headrush is junk. I'm surprised so many fractal owners use them. Then they ask how to eq their preset to make them sound good. Dude, if you need to EQ a "Flat Response" speaker, you bought the wrong speaker

I would like tp know if there a possibility to use a mix/blend trick with distortion block. I want to blend an fuzz like tone with an amp but I want to adjust the amount of the distortion that I need in my sound. I wanted to use parallel but it s not that great. If you can help you will be a lifesaver. By the way, thanks for the video that will help me a lot to maximize great sound without making to much trouble

Mornin J sounds big awesome

You so right on many things! Haha

Tweek all you want! It's your time and your equipment. Regardless of how well you play, if the sound/tone isn't exactly what you want then it will suck for you. when you tweek you are accomplishing everything. You are understanding that you're closer to the tone you want or getting farther away. The better the tone the more you'll want to get better. Wasting time tweeking is much more beneficial than wasting your time taking advice from a video on RU-vid.

As a guy who is old school and has only ever played through traditional amps, I'm completely ignorant about using sims, plug ins, etc. Anyone have any ideas on a "how to play guitar through your computer for dummies" resources? I literally have no idea where or how to start, but I'd like to try some of this new tech, and experiment with it. It seems like a more cost effective way to expand your tonal options. Any help or advice would be appreciated.

The Headrush speaker thing is kinda crappy but the head rush pedal board is freaking awesome !

Had a guy tell me the headrush sound good and should get one for my kemper after I bought it. I bought one, returned it after a couple days. It was trash

I am definitely guilty of the first one, or at least used to, I was OBSESSED with my sound, to the point where I recorded my songs, kept rerecording again and again and again, maybe that amp model sounds better, or maybe this one, at the end of the day I always come back to the Rectifier model in my Helix, I know that sound, it’s my favorite sound it’s my favorite real amp, and at one point I was like: What the hell are you doing man, you know what your sound is, you always come back to it and get no work done AT ALL 😂😂 Third point too I tried every configuration, now I just tread it like amp and pedalboard =P

Which kali’s. The IN or LP?

You should do a Bob Ross inspired episode, that was pretty close😀

Omg . Do you live with me ? I tweak all day and it’s taking all my time

I mean i have a frfr headrush… but i only use it as a floor monitor 😅

Do you have any links to reputable non bull shit pre-set download links I am going to be buying the helix soon

Not gonna lie, Chug Knob is pretty catchy.

Sometimes i hate modelers because there is to many options and amps. I usually end up back to an old amp and just play

I hate the headrush pedals and the speakers. Run my helix through front of house and I am good to go. I bought the Headrush core and it made me sick.

"Buying crappy presets" (laughs in Quad Cortex) But seriously, every one of your points is valid and relatable. I've been told that the FM9 is superior to the QC because you can adjust the sag, et al, on the amp. Uh, so what? No one you're playing for can tell the difference.

I can wholeheartedly also vouch for the Kali Monitors. I've got a pair of First Gen LP-8's in my apartment pocket studio rig, and they were a huge game changer for home mixing over my former Alesis passive cans and power amp. Not exactly as clear or quiet compared to the ADAM A7's I worked many hours on in my friends former studio, but that's a minimally critical observation, and considering the LP-8 were a fraction of the cost?! Money well saved IMO.¯\_(ツ)_/¯ As far as modelers and plugins go? I mainly always add one crucial "always on" pedal to the input chain (besides a gate). Regardless if it's a standalone unit (AXFX), or interface + plugin (Focusrite/Orange OMEC, PC/iOS, & Biasfx/ML Labs). An analog clean boost is a MUST. IMO, when used conservatively, it just seems to add a bit more "realism" to the overall dynamic feel of the emulation. If that makes any sense?! LOL! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Oh, it's also VERY important to slightly dial back the gain of the amp sim just a smidge than what it was that you were used to prior. Very importante amigo IDK but... I've been using this method for a few months now, and I gotta say... It's been a massive improvement. Well, to my ears anyway.¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Currently doing this with a trusty old (super underrated) Digitech Bad Monkey OD at home (the active EQ adds just a bit more versatility) with the gain anywhere between 0-3 and the output level between 1&3 o'clock, and it's just great. It adds just the slightest bit of analog hair and compression, but in a way that just sounds/feels more convincing IMO? I dunno. Definitely something worth trying out anyway, and especially for anyone who hates amp sims as much as I used to for sure! Honestly any boost from an Xotic EP, TC Spark, Blackstar Dept 10 (really want to try that one), or even one of the uber-affordable N-UX "Lacerate" FET boosts would definitely do the trick. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ While all of this is obviously highly subjective, it's definitely NOT within the realm of impractical "bro science" B.S. advice, and as always... Results may vary. So I gue... " Holy Sh%tballz!! How TF did I type all that just now!? LMAO! Yeah, I do that sometimes. ha! Someone's ADHD meds obviously just kicked in! Bwahaha!😅 Great video dude. Catch ya later✌🤟🖖

"Chug, Chug turn a knob" 🤣