ADA Depot - A Forum To Support Users of ADA Amplification Gear

ADA Preamps => MP-2 => Topic started by: vansinn on December 03, 2016, 02:59:23 AM

Title: MP-2 Presence usage
Post by: vansinn on December 03, 2016, 02:59:23 AM
I have the feeling most of you, like me, in most presets up's the Presence in the 4-band stack by a healthy amount, and practically never down's it.
I'm thinking that whenever we up some EQ point, this potentially creates noise and could degrade the signal quality - which is of course a Bit over dramatized, as EQ's are there to be used ;)

Still.. I feel the MP-2 tube circuitry could be improved with a small beef-up in it's overall presence, to avoid up'ing the Presence too much for making it 'cut through the mix'.
I'm looking into adding the type of presence circuitry as is often found in tube amps, directly as part of the tube circuitry.
This would be a fixed presence boost, corresponding to, say, two clicks on the Presence parameter.

Now, the difference between the amp presence circuitry and a solid state presence EQ is that the amp version makes the presence appear more crispy, while the solid state presence merely up's this part of the frequency spectrum.

Do comment on the need, or practicality, of this.
Title: Re: MP-2 Presence usage
Post by: Slimjim on December 03, 2016, 04:21:28 AM
I haven't done it in years, but we were instructed here at the forum how to ajd tiny dials near the tubes, after noise mod, and it changed some coloration...
Title: Re: MP-2 Presence usage
Post by: vansinn on December 03, 2016, 04:39:03 AM
Oh? I don't seem to recall [info on tube board trimmers], and yet.. mmnn.. must be related to deteriorating cells at the upper floor..
Where can this be found?
Title: Re: MP-2 Presence usage
Post by: rnolan on December 03, 2016, 07:47:17 AM
Hey Van, presence is a very interesting area and used in the guitar context a little differently (maybe) than general audio. E.g. sm57s/58s have a presence hump built into them to "cut" through the mix (and to some extent that's how it's used in guitar context but not totally (if you get what I mean ?).  So basically presence is a 5 or 6khz (notchy) area, as as you say, boosted (rarely cut)).  So this is in the area our ears are most sensitive, thus helps things "cut" through a mix. But it's more (seems to me anyway) with guitar tones, and again as you say, depends where it's applied..
The other thing to keep in mind with eq (as yes it's there to use) is to keep your gain structure, if you add a bit consider taking away a bit.
Title: Re: MP-2 Presence usage
Post by: Dante on December 03, 2016, 09:05:27 AM
van,

Rigs vary, for sure, but my Presence is usually flat. Or, I have my Pres on +2 and the Treble flat or cut 1 or 2 notches. Apparently, my rig or my guitars are a bit too trebly. I like a darker sound, without the wool, but with a big bottom end. Now, my classic rock patches usually have a flat eq, possibly with a raised midrange. That cuts (for me).

YMMV
Title: Re: MP-2 Presence usage
Post by: vansinn on December 03, 2016, 12:06:03 PM
@Nolan: I agree, and would comment that I do use subtractive filtering, i.e. taking something off the grid rather than constantly up'ing too many other ranges.
Interestingly, this is the same going on in photography, i.e. using a dark panel to suck away light on one side of the model to add more contrast, rather than ry to add more and more light to the other side.

@Dante: Indeed, and I do like my [distortion] tone a Bit on the aggressive side of things, while I generally prefer my cleans to be nicely open and rounded - except for pop rhythm works, which does not at all make it any easier reaching a balanced sound scape.
Guess I forgot to say I just love Marty Friedman's very juicy sound.. ;)