Ruby crackling sound
- Thread starter michaelc
- Start date
hotspot
Venerated Member
Ok, let's have a quick listen here, just because it's well done.
Can you hear the crackling at any point here?
I don't.
Even if the input is set to noon or above. It's actually exactly the sound you want from an AC30.
So it should work. So where is the weak point? Turning the guitar down is not really the solution, as this is counterproductive for the sound.
Depending on the available guitar selection, is that really the case with all your guitars?
Unfortunately I don't have a Ruby (although after watching the video I have a sudden urge - but no, an AC15 is enough for me).
Can you hear the crackling at any point here?
I don't.
Even if the input is set to noon or above. It's actually exactly the sound you want from an AC30.
So it should work. So where is the weak point? Turning the guitar down is not really the solution, as this is counterproductive for the sound.
Depending on the available guitar selection, is that really the case with all your guitars?
Unfortunately I don't have a Ruby (although after watching the video I have a sudden urge - but no, an AC15 is enough for me).
hotspot
Venerated Member
This is about the Ruby and not the Lion or Dream65, but I think the principle is the same. It seems to be working out there - do we agree so far? So there are two possibilities: your devices are defective and need to be swapped, or there is a problem somewhere in your chain that is still being overlooked. If the latter is the case, you have to approach it and rule it out piece by piece.
It's not about proving that it doesn't work, is it?
It is about finding out why it works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't.
And it is obviously a problem concerning all UAFX amp pedals.
Here it is in the Ruby: listen to the chords at 1:49 to 2:00, where that "sound" is very prominent.
I've never heard anything like that on my AC30. Or any other properly working amp.
Either you like the sound of the pedal or not. I do not like it. It is my personal taste and I am glad if others like the pedal - because I am going to sell it to those others
And it is obviously a problem concerning all UAFX amp pedals.
Here it is in the Ruby: listen to the chords at 1:49 to 2:00, where that "sound" is very prominent.
I've never heard anything like that on my AC30. Or any other properly working amp.
Either you like the sound of the pedal or not. I do not like it. It is my personal taste and I am glad if others like the pedal - because I am going to sell it to those others
hotspot
Venerated Member
That's simply because you've probably never heard your Vox without a room. Just like here, completely dry - completely pointless if you want to compare it with the sound of a real amp.
But as you say, it's probably just not your taste. Then get rid of it and don't dwell on it.
klasaine
Hall of Fame Member
Regarding the L’esprit Ruby video …
He’s using the Silver Bell speaker, which as I mentioned, in a real 1963 AC30, breaks up almost immediately. That’s the sound of that amp. A great sound but not what you’re looking for.
As I noted in my earlier post, a new Vox AC anything, hand wired or not, has very little in common with an original from the 1960s. The new ones have more clean headroom, as do the boutique Voxy offerings from Dr Z, Matchless, Bad Cat, Naylor, etc.
He’s using the Silver Bell speaker, which as I mentioned, in a real 1963 AC30, breaks up almost immediately. That’s the sound of that amp. A great sound but not what you’re looking for.
As I noted in my earlier post, a new Vox AC anything, hand wired or not, has very little in common with an original from the 1960s. The new ones have more clean headroom, as do the boutique Voxy offerings from Dr Z, Matchless, Bad Cat, Naylor, etc.
+1 on the Silver Bell.
I just played my Ruby for a while using my Genelecs and headphones. I don’t have those digital artifacts you guys are talking about. The sound is great and can get very mellow and smooth even in the BRIL channel when using Cut and EQ controls. No issue at all for me.
Especially in the recording on the phone, it sounds like an overloaded camera mic by bright frequencies. Sageryd, please try your pedal setting Volume to 11:00, Cut to 10:00 or more and Bass + Treble at noon. And Boost off. Ruby tends to get really bright when not using the Cut and brighter cabs, it can definitely distort input stages or mics of your recording equipment.
My sound can get super clear and the crunch from amp and speaker sounds analog, organic and very touch sensitive. Same with Lion and Dream. There is nothing to complain here…
I just played my Ruby for a while using my Genelecs and headphones. I don’t have those digital artifacts you guys are talking about. The sound is great and can get very mellow and smooth even in the BRIL channel when using Cut and EQ controls. No issue at all for me.
Especially in the recording on the phone, it sounds like an overloaded camera mic by bright frequencies. Sageryd, please try your pedal setting Volume to 11:00, Cut to 10:00 or more and Bass + Treble at noon. And Boost off. Ruby tends to get really bright when not using the Cut and brighter cabs, it can definitely distort input stages or mics of your recording equipment.
My sound can get super clear and the crunch from amp and speaker sounds analog, organic and very touch sensitive. Same with Lion and Dream. There is nothing to complain here…
You should open a ticket with support 'cause this doesn't sound right. I have none of these issues with my Ruby with any guitar.
I can have Volume and Output at 12 o'Clock all day long and it breaks up like a AC 30, no artifacts.
Just a quick question. You are aware that treble and bass work the oppsite way on Ruby, ie the more you turn them up the less bass and treble you get?
Cut works the same way. This is how the old Vox amps worked. Your AC15HW works the "normal" way.
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Thanks for the reply. Very familiar with the Vox controls. I have actually owned an older AC30 for many years and also currently own a handwired AC15 that is a beautiful amp. So very aware of the original vs my current AC15HW. After hours of using this and spending time with it, I guess I will just say maybe the '63 AC30 they 'modeled' just has almost no headroom. This is on the 'Brilliant' channel on the Ruby. I will say if I run the volume and output at 12 o'clock on the Ruby with a tele or strat on the Brilliant channel, it doesn't break up like my other experience with my different Vox amps.
The sound of the Ruby has the vibe of a real Vox better than any other modeler I have used, but the break up definitely has way more crackle than my current & previous experience. As I've mentioned in the other posts, I can get a very clean jangly Vox sound with no issues. I've never used a Vox sound for my work when it comes to major heavy crunch sounds (I use other amps for that) but I almost always use my Vox amps with a Tele for the great Vox spanky edge of breakup sound.
So others don't seem to have the crackly attack sound. I guess I have a difference sense of what is working for me. One final question, if you use any of the 'presets' on the Ruby as far as their vibrato channel, do you get a beautiful clean sound? That channel isn't a priority for me, but in my short time of working with it and then trying out all their presets, I really had a hard time getting an actual clean sound, especially with a Les Paul. But I didn't spend much time on that.
I appreciate all the help here. I have found a sound that I can use as far as the edge of breakup that I think will work for me when I am on the usual crazy deadlines. That is the main reason I bought it.
Thanks.
The sound of the Ruby has the vibe of a real Vox better than any other modeler I have used, but the break up definitely has way more crackle than my current & previous experience. As I've mentioned in the other posts, I can get a very clean jangly Vox sound with no issues. I've never used a Vox sound for my work when it comes to major heavy crunch sounds (I use other amps for that) but I almost always use my Vox amps with a Tele for the great Vox spanky edge of breakup sound.
So others don't seem to have the crackly attack sound. I guess I have a difference sense of what is working for me. One final question, if you use any of the 'presets' on the Ruby as far as their vibrato channel, do you get a beautiful clean sound? That channel isn't a priority for me, but in my short time of working with it and then trying out all their presets, I really had a hard time getting an actual clean sound, especially with a Les Paul. But I didn't spend much time on that.
I appreciate all the help here. I have found a sound that I can use as far as the edge of breakup that I think will work for me when I am on the usual crazy deadlines. That is the main reason I bought it.
Thanks.
I've not delved into the presets at all. I treat it as I would do with a real amp and turn the dials until it sounds good.
The boost function does take out headroom and even with a Strat or Tele I never go higher than 12 o'clock. Only briefly tried the vibrato channel but tend to stay in the Brilliant channel for the most part, and the Normal channel for some parts. Les Paul, even with PAF style pickups saturates Ruby quite easily so I'm using it for clean and jangly sounds.
I too have an AC15HW. It's a beauty, love the sound of it.
The boost function does take out headroom and even with a Strat or Tele I never go higher than 12 o'clock. Only briefly tried the vibrato channel but tend to stay in the Brilliant channel for the most part, and the Normal channel for some parts. Les Paul, even with PAF style pickups saturates Ruby quite easily so I'm using it for clean and jangly sounds.
I too have an AC15HW. It's a beauty, love the sound of it.
807 production studio
New Member
I am seeing the same thing on my end. I have the Ruby and the note decay (on long sustained notes/chords) fizzles. But also, I get a lot of what sounds like digital clipping, especially when any boost is applied. I also wonder if it's aliasing... It would be nice to know if this is due to converter bit depth/sample rate. I really want to get a UAFX Lion, but I am concerned that it will have the same issue.
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I have this same issue. If you turn the Ruby up to just over the edge of breakup (where you want it), you get this high end sound like paper tearing. I agree it sounds like the digital input being overloaded - but I like how my gain structure is set up, and I've never had this issue with any other pedal or amp.
blhowardiii
New Member
In reading through this thread (and many others), something that would be immensely helpful would be the UAFX editor offering some sort of visual metering that would give users an objective sense of what the input and output gain levels of the pedal look like. I'm not sure what sort of response meters could have over bluetooth, but even if it had some lag, it would be useful information to make adjustments with and I'd be able to change settings in different parts of my pedal chain.
I've definitely had the grainy dirt sounds on both the Dream and the Ruby which sound more digital than anything else. I've owned a number of well-tuned vintage examples of Deluxe Reverbs and know how they're supposed to sound. While I've made peace with turing the input gain almost all the way down, that narrows the palette of sounds considerably.
It occured to me today that a very useful update would be an option to model a tube substitution in v1 for either a 5751 and/or a 12AT7 which would reduce input gain significantly and greatly expand the throw of the input knob. That would make a HUGE difference with the way I personally use the Dream and I think would totally change the selection of clean sounds one could get out of it. I'm doubtful that will happen, but it's definitely technically possible since they've modeled things at the component level.
Thanks for the constructive discussion.
I've definitely had the grainy dirt sounds on both the Dream and the Ruby which sound more digital than anything else. I've owned a number of well-tuned vintage examples of Deluxe Reverbs and know how they're supposed to sound. While I've made peace with turing the input gain almost all the way down, that narrows the palette of sounds considerably.
It occured to me today that a very useful update would be an option to model a tube substitution in v1 for either a 5751 and/or a 12AT7 which would reduce input gain significantly and greatly expand the throw of the input knob. That would make a HUGE difference with the way I personally use the Dream and I think would totally change the selection of clean sounds one could get out of it. I'm doubtful that will happen, but it's definitely technically possible since they've modeled things at the component level.
Thanks for the constructive discussion.
Just got my Ruby today and there is definitely a distinct clipping/crackling noise a the edge of breakup and beyond. Still don't know if this is an issue or just the pedal. Some hear it some don't, it's in some videos and not in others.... Maybe someone will clarify this from UA lol
UniversalAudio
Official UA Representative
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jpmitchell
New Member
I just got a Ruby, and was disapppointed to have a similar experience to what is documented above. For what it's worth, it really doesn't sound like any valve amp-based clipping or artefacts that I have ever heard. It's a harsh digital sound that happens at lower volume with transients—a harsh crackling when using strong attack on lower strings—but is also apparent from slightly higher volume levels and above even as notes fade out. With high gain the sound gets very fizzy.
It does vary with amp types, and I need to experiment a bit more with settings. I also have tried putting an EQ pedal in front of the Ruby to attenuate the input signal without having to resort to the guitar volume pot (So far I've used a Jazzmaster, so not the hottest pickups around). This gets rid of the sound somewhat, but it also means that I can only really work with fairly clean sounds. When I add some gain pedals to the mix I'm back to dealing with the harsh sound again. I'm a bit confused that the problem could be caused by hitting the input too hard, since I thought that hitting the front of an amp—whether 'real' or simulated—was supposed to push it to make it sound its best. I'm happy to learn what I'm missing!
I've read that gain staging for amp sims requires more care than with 'real' amps, but I'm struggling to find the sound I want—some grit—without also getting this harshness. I'm also very envious of the many people who are happily getting great sounds with no trouble. I would love to know their whole signal chain, especially what is going on at the start and the end (is the chain going to a DI, line isolator, what interface or DAW, headphones?).
If anyone has any other advice on gain staging for this or digital amps in general, I'd love to hear it!
It does vary with amp types, and I need to experiment a bit more with settings. I also have tried putting an EQ pedal in front of the Ruby to attenuate the input signal without having to resort to the guitar volume pot (So far I've used a Jazzmaster, so not the hottest pickups around). This gets rid of the sound somewhat, but it also means that I can only really work with fairly clean sounds. When I add some gain pedals to the mix I'm back to dealing with the harsh sound again. I'm a bit confused that the problem could be caused by hitting the input too hard, since I thought that hitting the front of an amp—whether 'real' or simulated—was supposed to push it to make it sound its best. I'm happy to learn what I'm missing!
I've read that gain staging for amp sims requires more care than with 'real' amps, but I'm struggling to find the sound I want—some grit—without also getting this harshness. I'm also very envious of the many people who are happily getting great sounds with no trouble. I would love to know their whole signal chain, especially what is going on at the start and the end (is the chain going to a DI, line isolator, what interface or DAW, headphones?).
If anyone has any other advice on gain staging for this or digital amps in general, I'd love to hear it!