Reamping

Reamping

What is reamping?

Reamping helps you to find the best tone for a recording. You basically record the dry guitar tone to feed it at a later stage into the AxeFx. So reamping consists of two stages, first recording the dry tone, then later recording the wet signal from the AxeFx.

On a side note, in this times of ever-improving firmware, this gives you the opportunity to give older recordings the best sound.

How to set it up?

For every of the two phases (recording dry/recording wet) there's two different ways to do it, analog and digital. The easiest uses the analog way. When you go digital, there is a bit more that can go wrong. I usually go a mixed approach, analog in the first phase, digital in the second. It's up to you.

Here's a posting from John Czajkowski:

As do many, I have a love-hate relationship with re-amping; however, I have been really pleased to discover just how well the Axe operates in my re-amp configuration. Here it is:

1. Gtr

2. Axe in 1---[FX loop block]---Axe Out 2

3. Digi Pre DI in---PT HD (@88/24)---out

4. Cuniberti Reamp (this stage is sort of optional)

5. Axe In 2 [amp, cab, FX, etc]---Axe Outs 1

6. Digi Pre DI ins

You obviously need to pop an FX loop in your algorithm. By toggling the FX loop block on and off, it defeats the reamp and lets me really dial the in/out levels to unity. I notice only a very, very subtle loss of highs with this method. I think this re-amps MUCH better than with an actual amp head. I don't hear any phase shenanigans in the mids like you can experience with re-amped guitar amps.

Analog

1st phase, analog

• You take a patch which is close to the sound you want to have (just for joy, it's not technically necessary).
• Now place an FX Loop block as the first block, then connect the Out2 output to the input of your soundcard. You can just use mono signals. You have to be careful with the levels here.
• You can monitor what you're playing on Output1
• Record & play

Troubleshooting:

No sound?

• Have you set in the I/O menu 'Analog front' if your guitar is connected to it?
• Have you forgotten to remove the cable from the back input?
• Input level set to zero?

2nd phase, analog

• Connect your soundcards output to Input1 on the back of the AxeFx. If you have a soundcard with multiple outputs, take not the one with the sum signal.
• Select in the I/O menu 'Analog rear'
• Connect AxeFx Out1 to your soundcards Input
• Route the dry recorded signal (the one we have recorded before) in your DAW to the output of your soundcard (that may be the hardest part, there's a few errors you can make here). Since there is a variety of recording programs and soundcards, I can't give any specific advice.
• Play the song in loop, there must be a signal incoming on the AxeFx. Depending on your soundcard, it may be necessary to solo the track with the dry recording.
• Twist your sound (well, maybe this is the hardest part, given the 4000 parameters of the AxeFx...)
• Record the wet signal.

Troubleshooting:

No LED on Input1 is lit?

• Have you routed the dry signal to the right output?
• If you have Cubase, and you just created the new connection in your soundcards control panel, it might be necessary to refresh the connection panel in Cubase (there is a button 'Reset connections')
• Have you accidentally pressed the mute track button? Is the volume of the track set to zero?

Digital

1st phase, digital via S/PDIF

• Route the Input on the AxeFx with a complete line of shunts to the output.
• If you want to monitor your playing (and who wouldn't?), place a FX loop as the last block in your effect patch AND DISCONNECT IT FROM THE OUTPUT. This results in Out2 having the monitor signal, and Out1 contains the dry signal. I usually don't store this patch.
• Connect Out1 S/PDIF to your soundcards S/PDIF in.
• Select AxeFx as the sync master.
• Record.

2nd phase, digital via S/PDIF

• FIRST SWITCH OF EVERY MONITOR THAT IS ATTACHED TO OUT 1. There will be very ugly signals in a very loud volume which could result in either you being totally shellshocked (been there, done that) or your speakers visiting you. Or both.
• IMPORTANT: Select your soundcard as the sync master, and select 48kHz.
• Connect your soundcards S/PDIF output to the AxeFx.
• In the I/O configuration, switch to 'DIGITAL'. This results as well in ugly, but short signals on all outputs.
• Connect your AxeFx S/PDIF out to your soundcards S/PDIF in.
• Route the dry recorded signal (the one we have recorded before) in your DAW to the S/PDIF output of your soundcard (that may be the hardest part, there's a few errors you can make here). Since there is a variety of recording programs and soundcards, I can't give any specific advice.
• Play the song in loop, there must be a signal incoming on the AxeFx. Depending on your soundcard, it may be necessary to solo the track with the dry recording.
• Twist your sound until happy.
• Record the wet signal on your soundcards S/PDIF in.

Troubleshooting:

Weird noises, very digital, or pulsating?

• This is normal on the analog outputs, so just switch them off.
• If it's on the digital outputs: The AxeFx is not sync'd with your soundcard. Check cables, check if your soundcard is set to 48 kHz. Sometimes Cubase needs to be stopped and started.

No LED on Input1 is lit?

• Have you routed the dry signal to the right output?
• If you have Cubase, and you just created the new connection in your soundcards control panel, it might be necessary to refresh the connection panel in Cubase (there is a button 'Reset connections')
• Have you accidentally pressed the mute track button? Is the volume of the track set to zero?