Amps in Stereo...ABY Switch or more too it?

[VESmedic]

You definitely can not just “flip a phase switch” and have all your issues magically disappear, let’s just put that out there if it hasn’t been said yet…


Different frequencies travel at different speeds and hit the ears at different times… in laymens terms, you will always have phase problems, managing and how you deal with it is what matters. The lows and low mids as stated are where most of the cancellation happens, so listening critically is important here. Generally speaking, if your amp is out of phase with another, it’ll sound like you are playing down a hallway, or in a tunnel, that’s a good way to describe it. Like a slow chorus on the high frequencies too.


Complete pain in the ass. Did it for years, no where even close to worth it, and tones nowhere near as good as with one amp.

 

[Metalhex]

What cab?

My cab is an OS mesa with v30s but if I go to the studio, I don't know what cabs/speakers he has there

 

[311splawndude]

My cab is an OS mesa with v30s but if I go to the studio, I don't know what cabs/speakers he has there

Does the back plate on the Mesa have 2 jacks on the left that say "Split for Stereo or Bi-Amp" and are 4 ohms each?

I believe that would be the top 2 and bottom 2 speakers. I will say, most people have found that 2 amps into 1 cab does not sound that great but you won't know until you try. Then, additionally, if potential phase issues are there like Vesmedic is saying - it would make matters worse.

 

[Bouncingbuddha]

I’ve been playing with the mimiq now for about 6 months… best I’ve found is putting it in the fx loops of both amps if available. You’ll need isolators to stop ground looping but it works and sounds a million times better than front of amp… once you’ve eliminated the noise that is. Dry and effects essentially become master volumes, tightness and dubs are the only interactive controls.

Never understood why you’d use the pedal for studio work or recording though…. Record your guitar again…. On a separate track….???

 

[Markedman]

"Complete pain in the ass. Did it for years, no where even close to worth it, and tones nowhere near as good as with one amp."

This makes me feel good about my rig, it sounds so so so awesome with 2 amps at the same time and when I hit the Mimiq it does magical things. I set the Mimic to the third toggle and set the blend knob all the way to the right and adjust the volume to be slightly louder when kicked in. I use it on certain songs, like at the beginning of "The Hellion" to great effect!

 

[DanTravis62]

There is more than one way to get the stereo image though. I run the shotgun to the front of three amps. Then I have an eventide h9 max in stereo through the loop of two of my amps. I get a stereo image on the wet amps and keep the third as my dry amp. Sound glorious.

I do this exact same thing with a Strymon volante. It works great ?

 

[DanTravis62]

You definitely can not just “flip a phase switch” and have all your issues magically disappear, let’s just put that out there if it hasn’t been said yet…


Different frequencies travel at different speeds and hit the ears at different times… in laymens terms, you will always have phase problems, managing and how you deal with it is what matters. The lows and low mids as stated are where most of the cancellation happens, so listening critically is important here. Generally speaking, if your amp is out of phase with another, it’ll sound like you are playing down a hallway, or in a tunnel, that’s a good way to describe it. Like a slow chorus on the high frequencies too.


Complete pain in the ass. Did it for years, no where even close to worth it, and tones nowhere near as good as with one amp.

This is why I use the line out of one amp into a separate power section for W/D/W.

At least for me, two separate amps in "stereo" is just too much of a pain in the ass - especially if you use any digital effects. If you don't have kill dry/dry thru function, there's literally NO way to get it completely in phase.

 

[311splawndude]

Dan - I trust your ear, and VESmedic....does this sound out of phase? I'm not even sure what out of phase sounds like.

I also don't remember how I had the Mimiq set but it does have 'dry' feature.

 

[DanTravis62]

Dan - I trust your ear, and VESmedic....does this sound out of phase? I'm not even sure what out of phase sounds like.

I also don't remember how I had the Mimiq set but it does have 'dry' feature.

I'll have to listen on my monitors when I get home from work, but it sounds like an in the room recording, and that introduces more variables where it's much harder to tell. Reflections off the walls, and the angle and distance from the mic, etc.

 

[VESmedic]

Dan - I trust your ear, and VESmedic....does this sound out of phase? I'm not even sure what out of phase sounds like.

I also don't remember how I had the Mimiq set but it does have 'dry' feature.

No way to tell, you gotta mic them up homie and see. Phase is very easy to hear. It’ll sound chorusy, or like you are playing down a hallway/tunnel. But just playing in the room with no mics, this won’t really introduce phase issues like we are talking about.

 

[DanTravis62]

No way to tell, you gotta mic them up homie and see. Phase is very easy to hear. It’ll sound chorusy, or like you are playing down a hallway/tunnel. But just playing in the room with no mics, this won’t really introduce phase issues like we are talking about.

Absolutely. Once you have them close miced up it will be unbelievably easy to tell.

Besides the chorus/hallway effect, in addition, "in phase" will be noticeably louder in volume than "out of phase" - this is why you can have weird phase issues stacking harmonized leads with digital delays that aren't outboard/in the box.

 

[311splawndude]

No way to tell, you gotta mic them up homie and see. Phase is very easy to hear. It’ll sound chorusy, or like you are playing down a hallway/tunnel. But just playing in the room with no mics, this won’t really introduce phase issues like we are talking about.

OK. I see. Thanks guys.