Ok, so recording my gain channel of my Krankenstein I get a perfectly centered waveform, no offset. But I noticed when trying to level match the Uber pedal thru the clean channel of the same amp, that I was clipping the input (of my audio interface) yet the sound was not as loud... Looking at the recorded waveforms it is not centered, the waveform is decidedly shifted down.
Never really noticed this happening before, can I get rid of it at the source (rather than using the remove DC offset function)?
Ok, center of wave form is actually centered, so this is not DC offset, but a lopsided waveform. freaky.
Haha. Basic Diode/Tube Clipping Variations 101... Just makes it harder to match levels.
Yep, welcome to the world of assymetrical clipping... We've dealt with that in some high end gear, for example, the Universal Audio LA-610 outputs larger negative than positive waveforms.
If you want to nail down a culprit, I can help. I'm not sure you're using it in this case, but the first place I'd look is the Wylde overdrive. AFAIK, that's a modded version of a Boss SD-1, which uses, surprise asymmetric clipping diodes in the negative feedback path of the opamp. This may also be a feature of the preamp tubes (JFETs) in the uber, asymmetric clipping is widely used to provide a more aggressive tone with more odd harmonics... for example, it's the most prominent difference in the distortion characteristics between a tubescreamer and a DS-1.
Thanks charger. You know what the crazy thing is? The Wylde OD > gain channel produces a very balanced looking waveform. It's the Uber pedal > clean channel that is producing the lopsided one. And the look doesn't really matter. I was just concerned it was DC offset, which it clearly isn't. Back to dialing in sounds :)
one the the unusual favorite clipping combinations for the Screamer at the BYOC forum is one type (can't remember) of diode on one side and NOTHING on the other. Talk about assymetrical! yet even GeekMacDaddy himself says it's a very nice sounding option. Bet that has a cool wave form.