Volume Fade Controls Guitar Distortion.. Why?

[tim_morell2011]

So here's the issue. I have a friend who took one of my guitar tracks and messed around with it on Logic. He put a fade on it (Volume swell) and it sounded great. What made it sound great was the fact that the distortion on the guitar did not change at all in the fade but rather the volume of the part did. Makes sense that it should do that right?

So why in the world does Pro Tools fade the distortion of the guitar along with the volume? I know how to fade, I have used it multiple times and I understand it is gain, but is there a way that I can just affect the volume and not the guitar distortion/sound? Thanks.

[cwsand]

Originally Posted by tim_morell2011

So here's the issue. I have a friend who took one of my guitar tracks and messed around with it on Logic. He put a fade on it (Volume swell) and it sounded great. What made it sound great was the fact that the distortion on the guitar did not change at all in the fade but rather the volume of the part did. Makes sense that it should do that right?

So why in the world does Pro Tools fade the distortion of the guitar along with the volume? I know how to fade, I have used it multiple times and I understand it is gain, but is there a way that I can just affect the volume and not the guitar distortion/sound? Thanks.

Yes, of course you can. How do you have your channels and tracks set - what is the signal flow? You have to make sure the fade comes after the amp/distortion plugin - assuming that's what you're doing.

If you have an audio track with the direct guitar signal, and send that to an aux track with an amp plugin on it - then you should do the fade on the aux track, not the audio track.

[JCBigler]

Alternatively, setting the send to the distortion effect to pre fade, should accomplish this also, correct?

[cwsand]

Originally Posted by JCBigler

Alternatively, setting the send to the distortion effect to pre fade, should accomplish this also, correct?

Yes in the example I gave it would, but I don't even set it up that way though. I just insert the amp plugin right there on the audio track with the direct guitar signal and the output volume of the track can be automated without affecting the level going to the plugin.

[tim_morell2011]

Originally Posted by cwsand

Yes, of course you can. How do you have your channels and tracks set - what is the signal flow? You have to make sure the fade comes after the amp/distortion plugin - assuming that's what you're doing.

If you have an audio track with the direct guitar signal, and send that to an aux track with an amp plugin on it - then you should do the fade on the aux track, not the audio track.

cwsand, Thank you soooo much! That worked. I used a bus for the guitar and never thought of creating fades with the volume on the bus. Appreciate it!

[cwsand]

Originally Posted by tim_morell2011

cwsand, Thank you soooo much! That worked. I used a bus for the guitar and never thought of creating fades with the volume on the bus. Appreciate it!

Good deal!