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View Full Version : GT Ear Training Program. Lesson I (amps and distortion)



piing
09-28-2005, 08:43 AM
There’s a great introduction to GT programming at this sticky post: GT8 'PRIMER' Basics on how to get started. (http://www.bossgtcentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=3419)(thanks Perdi). And we can also learn a lot from the GT-8 senior’s.
What I want to do here is just to propose an ear training method to have a deeper knowledge of all the different tones available at the GT, so with time and dedication we will be a horde of programmers prepared to clone absolutely any guitar sound available out there ;-)

Here is a GT-Pro Librarian file I wrote with 75 patches:

http://www.lohengrinaudio.com/GTPro/All%20Patches%2027_09_05.gtl

- Patches 41 to 70 are all the available distortions played through Full Range amp.
- Patches 71 to 116 are all the available amps.
The name of every patch is the same as the distortion or amp chosen.
Now, let's work:

1 -Spend some time playing every single patch. Read the name of the patch, keep it in your mind and don’t change to the next patch until you feel familiarised with the sound. Adapt your playing to the tone of each patch and change the guitar pickup positions to hear the difference.

2 – Repeat step one, but this time you can tweak the gain and tone controls at the front panel.
Don't get distracted with the GT-Editor!! Shut down the PC!! Don't tweak the FX!! :x

3 - Once you can name all patches and the tone of every patch comes to your mind before you play it (the same as you can think of the difference in between Ritchie Blackmore and Mark Knopfler tones without listening to them), start combining amps with distortion pedals. There are thousand possibilities… And remember to do it wise ie: reduce the gain of a 5150 amp before switching a Metal Zone stomp at it’s input! and take care of the volumes.

4 – Once you’ve chosen your favourite combinations, start trying with different speakers, microphones and microphone distance. Thousand of possibilities again, but once you get familiar with the changes they involve, you’ll know exactly how to tweak everything to achieve what you need.

5- We’ve been playing in single mode so far. Now you can repeat all the above with mono & stereo combinations.

Tip:

- Once you're finished with your favourite patch, press the “Channel Copy” button, so channel B will be a clone of Channel A
- Increase the MIC distance of Channel B
- Select Dual L/R mode

This is a very old trick used at recording studios: to place a second microphone at further distance from the amp, to give more body to the sound of the guitar.

That was lesson one. I think it’s basic to have a deep knowledge of this before getting involved in FX.

Just my 2 cents. Suggestions are welcome.

Good luck :)

PD:

Always use Line/Headphones outputs and play through full range speaker/amp with flat EQ or good quality studio headphones.

Fubbe
09-28-2005, 10:38 AM
hey pingfloid, great work.
This is a really BIG campaign! 8O

This weekend I'll give it a try, but it'll be a torture.
I think I'm too unexperienced for souch a challenge... :(

My ears a very lazy ones. :cry:
But your post gives reasen to improve my skill!

I'm anxious to read the replys from the other users!

piing
09-30-2005, 04:50 PM
I'm too unexperienced for souch a challenge...
That's not true :) When you read this names: Hendrix/Clapton/Blackmore/BBKing/Gilmour, 5 different tones come to your mind. Isn't it? The same can happen when you read the names T-Scream/Guv'nor/RAT/MS1959/5150 after some practice.

We are not less than Paulov's dog. It's just a question of cause/effect repetitions. :wink:

Cheers

Fubbe
09-30-2005, 06:09 PM
When you read this names: Hendrix/Clapton/Blackmore/BBKing/Gilmour, 5 different tones come to your mind. Isn't it?
Yeah, thank's pingfloid! You're absolutely right! :oops:

I'll burn a CD with hundrets of sound-sample-mp3s. 8)
Then you can listen to it in your car. To get the answer you can look to the display of your radio. (the names of the tracks are the ones of the patches)

OK - This CD may erase the weekend. But it'll be worth the trouble!!
Fubbe.

piing
10-01-2005, 05:02 AM
Don't forget to watch the road! :!: 8O :!:

Fubbe
10-01-2005, 05:23 AM
Don't forget to watch the road! Exclamation Shocked Exclamation
ok, that sounds like a good idea to me! :oops:
But if you cover a distance it could be a nice activity...
:?

Fubbe
10-03-2005, 09:22 AM
hey pingfloid:

Increase the MIC distance of Channel B
How to do that? :oops:
Swiching the "mic. distance"-button from "on" to "off"?
Or do you mean to increase the value of "mic position".

piing
10-03-2005, 11:43 AM
Hi Fubb, I meant to increase the value of "Mic Position", but it maybe interesting switching the "MicDistance" at the same time, so one mic will be straight and the other in angle. I'll try it later.

guitarbuddha
10-03-2005, 04:32 PM
pingfloid.
i like what've you done- will the GTPro librarian file work with my GT 8?
thanks for the work...

piing
10-04-2005, 04:17 AM
Hi G-Buddha,

The GT-Librarian shouyld work with the GT-8. Just select GT-8 at the menu "Setup" "Select target model".

Cheers,

Manuel

piing
10-12-2005, 05:50 AM
Read this excelent article from kewlpack:
http://www.thestompbox.net/Home/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=19