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kilowatt
New
Username: kilowatt

Post Number: 7
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 8:55 am:   Edit Post

I am curios of how SF-2 users are running their systems. I use mine in the effects loop of my F-1X and am looping from channel A to channel B and back to the pre-amp. I would like to see how everyone else is setting up and what filter, frequency, dampening ratio and gain settings are being used. This is an amazing tool, but can be a little frustrating if you are not accustomed to the controls. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Pete
the_mule
Senior Member
Username: the_mule

Post Number: 462
Registered: 1-2004
Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 9:40 am:   Edit Post

Hi Pete, I'm currently running the SF-2 in the effects loop of my amp, but I have also walked the stereo path (preamp setting > two amps). Make no mistake, the SF-2 is the ultimate tweaking tool, and you just have to discover it yourself. The settings in the manual are a nice starting point. But to start from scratch just use one channel, set the damping ratio on 7 to 10 and vary the filter setting per filter type. That way you can slowly but surely get to know the SF-2, and you'll be able to get the sound you're hearing in your head pretty soon.

Good luck,
Wilfred
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 1521
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, March 20, 2005 - 10:27 am:   Edit Post

Here are my SF-2 settings. When you plug your input into channel A and your output is from channel B, you have, essentially, a 3 channel mixer. The three channels are parallel and are combined at the output.



The knob to the left, the input gain, is, in this configuaration, the master volume; and I leave it maxed.

The first filter I have set for low pass. I pretty much always leave the frequency setting where it is in the pic and the damping ratio all the way down. I adjust the filter gain depending on the room I'm in and the cabs I'm using. A typical adjustment might be from 4 to 5. These setting give me a nice broad and even low end.

The second filter I have set for high pass. Again, I pretty much always leave the frequency setting where it is in the pic and the damping ratio at 1.5. And again, I adjust the filter gain depending on the room and cabs. A typical adjustment here might be from 7 to 6. These settings give me a broad and even high end.

The direct gain knob is the third channel and is the "dry" signal. I also adjust this setting depending on the room and cabs. A typical adjustment here might be from 6 to 7 and is often made in conjunction with an opposite adjustment to the high pass filter gain. For instance, going from 6 to 6.5 on the direct gain and at the same time from 7 to 6.5 on the high pass filter can make a big difference in the sound. Adding more direct gain and backing off the gains on the low pass and high pass channels will of course give me more mid range punch.

These settings work with all my Alembics. Note however, that my sound has very little in the way of growl or low-mid punch; it is very clean with clear low end and a lot of broad high end. I would imagine that my sound is not what most players are after.

Don't let yourself become frustrated. It can take a long time to get used to the SF-2; but learning how to use it can be fun. It took me a while to get to the settings that I use; but fortunatley for me, I enjoy practicing.
kilowatt
New
Username: kilowatt

Post Number: 8
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 - 12:34 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks Wilfred and Dave, your advice came in very handy. Once you have a solid point to start from, doing small amounts of tweaking to hit the right "personal sound" is not all that difficult. Again, I thank you for your help. Pete
strangerones
Junior
Username: strangerones

Post Number: 13
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, April 01, 2005 - 12:32 pm:   Edit Post

Can an SF-2 be used through an on board effects loop on a guitar?

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