Tonedexter vs Alix - Page 5

shufflebeat · #61 01-12-2020, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phcorrigan

I believe there are impedance issues, but I'm not sure of the effect. For example, the BOSS’s FV-500 volume pedals come in low (FV-500L) and high (FV-500H) versions, with the high impedance version called "insert level."

I'm not 100% on this but I suspect."inst. level" refers to "instrument level" as it seems to be designed to accommodate passive electric guitars which do like to have something to push against and the lower impedance input is more in keeping with pre-amped signals, ie., active guitars, insert points, remote control for multiFX, etc.

GuitarLuva · #62 01-13-2020, 09:23 AM

Panda,

Almost all my guitars are equipped with a HFN and I also have a Tonedexter which I think is a great device. In most of my scenarios I plug a HFN equipped guitar straight into my Fishman Loudbox Amp with no preamp and the EQ flat on the amp and I love the tone I get. I find using a Tonedexter in that particular scenario doesn't give me anything extra. If I plug straight into a mixer or audio interface I can hear a hint of piezo tone from the HFN, which is perfectly normal, in that scenario I use Tonedexter. Doesn't really matter for me I'm quite happy either way. Tonedexter was a great purchase I'm happy to own one and the HFN is still my favorite pickup.

PANDAPANDELO · #63 01-13-2020, 10:43 AM

Thank you for the feedback, GuitarLuva!

I have just changed my installation method (I've used tape, and now I've installed it with putty). I have noticed a more balanced tone, but it's far from good. I think it might be a bad eq. I need to get me a looper pedal to hear my guitar in the soundcheck. It will help me to get the tone I want. I see a lot of potential on the HFN, but I think I'm being the problem, not the pickup.

Tonedexter or Felix/Alix, I need to improve the EQing on it, ASAP!

jonfields45 · #64 01-13-2020, 02:50 PM

I like a 50 Hz low cut and a 9 kHz high cut with my HFNs these days. Seems to be most of the goodness I was getting from an IR. Even a sharp low cut at 50 Hz will impact the 82 Hz low E string.

My software is producing IRs but I'm finding the HFN a tough vehicle to demonstrate improvement :~(. Cuki sent me some UST recordings to try out next.

GuitarLuva · #65 01-13-2020, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANDAPANDELO

Thank you for the feedback, GuitarLuva!

I have just changed my installation method (I've used tape, and now I've installed it with putty). I have noticed a more balanced tone, but it's far from good. I think it might be a bad eq. I need to get me a looper pedal to hear my guitar in the soundcheck. It will help me to get the tone I want. I see a lot of potential on the HFN, but I think I'm being the problem, not the pickup.

Tonedexter or Felix/Alix, I need to improve the EQing on it, ASAP!

No problem! I too am a putty user. The only HFN install I had an issue with was my very first with tape. I'm still not 100% sure why just guesses but the putty works well for me so that's what I'll continue to use. You might try pushing up on the pickup some more to make sure that it's properly seated. You never mentioned what other gear you're using. You could have a possible impedance mismatch.

PANDAPANDELO · #66 01-14-2020, 05:17 AM

GuitarLuva, I'm using it in a Martin HD28. It goes into a LR Baggs ParaDI or a Session DI (I use both, depending on the situation, but I'm planning to get me a Tonedexter or a Felix/Alix... that's why I made this post. Hhaahahhaha), then into a QSC Touchmix8, and into a QSC K10.2.

It might be an impedance mismatch. I really don't know.

varmonter · #67 01-14-2020, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANDAPANDELO

GuitarLuva, I'm using it in a Martin HD28. It goes into a LR Baggs ParaDI or a Session DI (I use both, depending on the situation, but I'm planning to get me a Tonedexter or a Felix/Alix... that's why I made this post. Hhaahahhaha), then into a QSC Touchmix8, and into a QSC K10.2.

It might be an impedance mismatch. I really don't know.

There us alot of menu driven stuff on the touchmix. So many variables.
maybe too many.
But your going to the board with a di
xlr . So the impedance matching should
be ok from the paradi. The tm has digital
gain as well in each ch. Also lots of eq.
The alix and the felix have nice eq sections as well. adjustments can be made on the fly.rather than through the
menus on the tm. When i play with the
band i have the parametric eq shut off
on the tm. all controls are at my feet with the hx stomp and felix.

GuitarLuva · #68 01-14-2020, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANDAPANDELO

GuitarLuva, I'm using it in a Martin HD28. It goes into a LR Baggs ParaDI or a Session DI (I use both, depending on the situation, but I'm planning to get me a Tonedexter or a Felix/Alix... that's why I made this post. Hhaahahhaha), then into a QSC Touchmix8, and into a QSC K10.2.

It might be an impedance mismatch. I really don't know.

Both the session and para di have 10Mohm input impedance so, in theory, you should be ok there. I haven't tried a felix/alix before but for those seeking the "guitar only louder" its gonna be tough to beat a Tonedexter right now.

PANDAPANDELO · #69 01-14-2020, 11:44 AM

I think one of my problems with my tone might be a lack of knowledge using the QSC Touchmix. Sad, but true.

I have a great piece of gear, but without knowing how to use it, it might be bad to my sound. I need to study more every function of it.

shufflebeat · #70 01-14-2020, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANDAPANDELO

I have a great piece of gear, but without knowing how to use it, it might be bad to my sound. I need to study more every function of it.

You don't need to know everything, just the things that you need to know. Unfortunately, how you work that out is not so straightforward. Having someone with knowledge to take you through the process would be a major shortcut.

Chipotle · #71 01-14-2020, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANDAPANDELO

It might be an impedance mismatch. I really don't know.

FWIW, the Alix and Felix have adjustable input impedance. 330k, 1M and 10M ohms.

Doug Young · #72 01-14-2020, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANDAPANDELO

I think one of my problems with my tone might be a lack of knowledge using the QSC Touchmix. Sad, but true.

I have a great piece of gear, but without knowing how to use it, it might be bad to my sound. I need to study more every function of it.

I have a Touchmix. Yes, there are lots of features, and it's nice to understand what's there. It's also dangerous if you try to use too much. You should be able to get a good guitar sound without using most of the features. My "trick" is to run with mostly flat EQ, and a touch of reverb - nothing else. Sounds very good to me. All the stuff that's there can easily really mess up your sound if it's misused. So I'd be careful about feeling that you need to understand "every function" - understand, yes, use, no.

You do need to be using at least a DI with Touchmix, I don't recall your signal chain - you're not going directly into the mixer are you?

PANDAPANDELO · #73 01-14-2020, 12:39 PM

No, Doug. I'm using my Martin equipped with HFN Passive into a Session DI or a Para Acoustic DI (I'm testing both of them, while I don't upgrade to an Alix or TD)... then to the Mixer.

I guess my problem is raw ignorance. Hahahahaha. Seriously. I plug my microphone on the TM input 1. The DI out into the input 2. Then, I set everything as I think that might be a good sound. Then, I use a Cable going from the "Main Right", on the back of the TM, into my QSC K10.2. Is this right? I'm not sure not even about this.

Doug Young · #74 01-14-2020, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PANDAPANDELO

No, Doug. I'm using my Martin equipped with HFN Passive into a Session DI or a Para Acoustic DI (I'm testing both of them, while I don't upgrade to an Alix or TD)... then to the Mixer.

I guess my problem is raw ignorance. Hahahahaha. Seriously. I plug my microphone on the TM input 1. The DI out into the input 2. Then, I set everything as I think that might be a good sound. Then, I use a Cable going from the "Main Right", on the back of the TM, into my QSC K10.2. Is this right? I'm not sure not even about this.

Well, you definitely want to learn enough about the gear that you're sure how it all plugs together! What you're doing seems fine. The part about what you "think might be a good sound" maybe an issue, tho. Start with EQ flat, no reverb. Set your Para DI flat. Then play and listen, adjust as needed based on what you hear. You shouldn't have to guess. If your entire signal chain is solid, you should need very little adjustment to sound "good" - after that, it's a matter of taste, maybe you'd like more bass, or some reverb, whatever. If you find yourself making major EQ adjustments, I'd step back and ask what's wrong.

The main wildcard in your setup is the pickup install. I'd spend some time listening to your pickup on a recording - you can use your Touchmix to record, and just listen to the playback at home, over headphones or speakers or whatever you have. It won't sound as good as it does over the PA speakers, but it should sound acceptable.

ToneDexter definitely has the potential to radically alter the sound of your pickup. Alix is a higher quality preamp than the PADI but it's not going to be night and day as far as your sound. If your pickup sounds bad thru a PADI, I suspect it will still sound bad thru Alix, you'll just hear what it sounds like with cleaner fidelity.

PANDAPANDELO · #75 01-14-2020, 01:19 PM

Great informations, Doug! Thank you very much!

I'll work on my setup soon. I want to sound nice, and I know I can. I just need to work wisely. Maybe I'm tweaking too much. I will try to work with my Session DI, and do the EQ adjustments only at the Touchmix, as needed.

Thank you!!!