Perform Live with Your Amp Modeler
Guitar players often ask what they need besides their amp modeler for live stage performance. Let’s take a look at the gear that will fulfill your performance needs beyond what your amp modeler provides, from optimizing your amp modeler’s output to incorporating cab emulation or real speakers.
Use a Line Isolator
The solution is to use a line isolator like the Radial Highline or Radial Highline Stereo to balance your signal and hit the mixing board with the same signal strength your amp modeler is outputting. While amp modelers feature a line-level output to connect to a mixing board or powered speaker, many use an unbalanced 1/4-inch connection: that makes your tone susceptible to noise and sonic degradation over long cable runs.
Line isolators place a transformer in the signal path which eliminate noise and maintain your signal strength with long cables. It also de-couples your amp modeler’s outputs from the mixing board, protecting your amp modeler from phantom power if the sound engineer happens to toggle it for some reason.
A line isolator can also be handy for routing your signal on stage, as many feature a Thru port to connect to a monitor. A stereo line isolator can also be useful for summing a stereo signal down to mono, allowing you to connect your stereo amp modeler to a single mixer channel without needing to re-balance your patches.
Why Your Amp Modeler Needs a Line Isolator
- Maintain your signal strength over long cable runs
- Maximize the sonic performance of your modeler’s unbalanced outputs
- Protects your modeler against phantom power from the mixing board
Use a Speaker Emulator Direct Box
Use a dedicated speaker emulator DI like the Palmer River ILM or the Hughes & Kettner Red Box 5 to solve two problems simultaneously. First, you have a focused selection of realistic cabinet emulations to choose from. And second, you’ll be able to convert your amp modeler’s line output to a balanced XLR connection for a low-noise, high-strength signal all the way to the mixing board.Speaker-emulating direct boxes are also often used with real amplifiers to deliver consistent tone at any venue. But their functionality is also perfectly suited to gigging with an amp modeler pedal. Connect your amp modeler to your speaker emulator’s line input, select your preferred speaker cabinet, and send a balanced XLR line straight to the sound system.
Why Your Amp Modeler Needs a Speaker Emulator DI
- Add realistic and streamlined cab emulation to any amp modeler
- Optimize your modeler’s output by converting to a balanced XLR connection
- Ensure a low-noise, high-strength signal all the way to the mixer or recording interface
Use a Real Speaker Cabinet
Playing your modeler through a real guitar cabinet will sound and "feel" more inspiring than going direct to the sound system or recording interface. You can have the best of both worlds: use your amp modeler to dial in your ideal amp and cabinet combination, and then send the output through a speaker cab to fill the room with your modeled tone.
To reproduce the true sound of your amp and cabinet emulation you’ll want to use a full-range full-response (FRFR) loudspeaker like the Headrush FRFR-108 MKII powered speaker. An FRFR loudspeaker is specifically designed to reproduce the sound of amp modelers as accurately as possible, avoiding coloration that would alter the final sound of your carefully-crafted modeled tones.
You could also combine your amp modeler with a traditional guitar speaker cabinet, you just need a power amplifier like the Seymour Duncan PowerStage 200 power amplifier. The PowerStage 200 is a 200W power amplifier that connects between the output of your amp modeler and your cabinet’s speaker input. It also features a cab-sim output that you can use to record your tone direct with speaker emulation while also driving the speaker cab.
How to Use a Real Speaker Cabinet with Your Modeler
- Connect your modeler to an FRFR speaker cabinet to accurately amplify your amp+cab models
- Connect your modeler to a guitar power amplifier to drive a traditional guitar cab
- Remember to disable your modeler’s onboard cab emulation if using a guitar cab
Performing Live with an Amp Modeler FAQs
Why does my tone sound fine at home but thin/fizzy on stage?
It’s because you’re dialing in your tones at low volume, and then performing at high volume. Our ears are less sensitive to bass and highs at low volume, so you turn them up to compensate. Create your tones at gig volume, or dial down the highs and bass 3-6dB in anticipation of turning up.
Why do my tones sometimes get “lost” in the mix?
If you apply too much reverb or gain (distortion) your tone can quickly be lost in a mix with drums, bass and vocals. Reduce the amount of reverb you add to your tones until it’s just barely audible: you’ll still hear it at gig volume. And reduce the amount of distortion you use; lowering the gain will reduce the harmonic content in your signal and help the fundamental tone shine.
Do I ever need to turn off cabinet emulation?
When you’re sending your amp modeler directly to a sound system or FRFR speaker, leave cabinet emulation on. When you’re connecting your amp modeler to a speaker emulator, or a power amp to drive a speaker cabinet, turn your modeler’s cabinet emulation off.
Optimize Your Modeler for Performance
The best way to perform live with a modeler is to anticipate how you’ll connect to the sound system, and how you’ll monitor yourself. A quality line isolator will ensure your tone is delivered to the sound system with maximum fidelity, no matter how long the cables are run. You can take control of your monitoring experience with a full-range full-response loudspeaker in place of a standard floor monitor. Or you can create your ideal hybrid rig by connecting your amp modeler to a compact power amp and driving your guitar cab of choice. With just a few pieces of additional gear, you’ll be ready for practically any gig.
Find the perfect amp modeler for you with our Amp Modelers Buying Guide!
- Introduction
- Use a Line Isolator
- Why Your Amp Modeler Needs a Line Isolator
- Use a Speaker Emulator Direct Box
- Why Your Amp Modeler Needs a Speaker Emulator DI
- Use a Real Speaker Cabinet
- How to Use a Real Speaker Cabinet with Your Modeler
- Performing Live with an Amp Modeler FAQs
- Optimize Your Modeler for Performance
