How to get the best Wha Pedal sound ?

Bossie · Jan 2nd 2015

I've been working on some lead sounds on my PowerRack for live use and I ran into a little problem. I use a Behringer fcb1010 with Uno4Kemper 1.3 chip.
I programmed a Wha in some profiles and although everything works fine, the Wha sort of stops working after I reach the D note on the high E-string in 10th position. Everything after that sounds
normal. I can hear a slight shift in tone, but no quack whatsoever. Whereas on the low strings and up to the high D is sounds absolutely great.
I've tinkered around with it, used different wha's, adjusted parameters but the sound doesn't improve.
I must admit I'm not a technical person and mostly wing it using my ears.
So I thought I'd try my luck here and see what people's experiences with the onboard Wha's are and maybe get some tips along the way. Thanks in advance.

My parameters are pretty much default I think. I use a modified Fischer Xtacy 4 profile for lead with a CryBaby Wha for instance.
My settings are:
Manual 3.0
Peak 6.5
Pedal Range +26%
Peak Range -25%
Pedal Mode bypass@stop
Mix 100%
Ducking 0.0
Volume 0.0

nightlight · Jan 2nd 2015

Fool around with peak, pedal range and peak range. Think of the peak as the intensity of the effect, the pedal range as the impact of the pedal and peak range as the interaction point between peak and pedal range, i.e. how much the pedal position effects the peak intensity.

Bossie · Jan 2nd 2015

Okay, I will try that some more. Already tinkered a little with them, but the sound got worse rather than better.
Is there a comprimise to make or is it possible to have Wha on the lowest notes as well as on the highest? If you know what I mean?
Also forgot to mention I positioned my Wha first in line in the Stompboxes, which what I'd normally do with a wha-pedal.

O3restes · Jan 2nd 2015

however the best way is not using the 100% mix if you want not to be aggressive using any of the wha

michaelmellner · Jan 2nd 2015

uhm...........aren't you happy with the crybaby preset? i found it outstanding....as many with me

michael

paults · Jan 3rd 2015

There is a really good wah in this post:

http://www.kemper-amps.com/for…n-a-rare-Wah-let-me-know/

bshaw92 · Jan 3rd 2015

I use the first one. I was glad for the post because the other wah settings didn't do it for me. I would like it to be picked back up and get some other settings to try.

Bossie · Jan 3rd 2015

Quote from paults

There is a really good wah in this post:

http://www.kemper-amps.com/for…n-a-rare-Wah-let-me-know/

This looks very interesting indeed. Not sure as where to get them, if that's already possible. Any idea's?
As far as the mix parameters are concerned, I see they're up to 95% in the two examples DonPetersen is giving.

I do think the CryBaby profile is great. Better than my original that kept breaking down:-) I use it for leads. Also love the CAE, which suits me better for rhythm.
I also would LOVE to have a Dunlop Zakk Wylde in a future firmware update. Really digging that vocal growl.
But like I said, up to a high D the wha is clearly audible, after that it's just gradually disappearing. Which I don't get, hence the post.
Maybe I'll send DonPetersen a pm, looks like he's got some experience on the matter.

paults · Jan 3rd 2015

You can manually enter the parameters that Don suggested.

viabcroce · Jan 3rd 2015

This. also, have you tried some of the wah presets? Select a slot then turn the Browse knob and choose any "WaXXX" entry

Bossie · Jan 4th 2015

I did try out all available presets. Didn't notice a difference on the higher notes though.
Will try out setting the by Don suggested parameters manually and see where that lead.
I wonder though, does nobody else have this issue with wha/quack not being audible on high notes when using the wha presets?
Can't be the only one. Or can I?
Appreciate all the tips though!

JuLai · Jan 4th 2015

ups, wrong thread..

penatuna · Jan 4th 2015

Try to calibrate your FCB1010:

http://www.google.fi/url?sa=t&…2MQ&bvm=bv.82001339,d.bGQ

Bossie · Jan 6th 2015

yeah, already done that.

Booyah · Jan 7th 2015

DonPetersen wrote: GCB95 modded with Whipple inductor

Manual 3.6
Peak 7.4
Pedal Range +25%
Peak Range -37%
Mix 94%

Try that, it worked great for me right off the bat.

JuLai · Jan 7th 2015

Quote from Booyah

DonPetersen wrote: GCB95 modded with Whipple inductor

Manual 3.6
Peak 7.4
Pedal Range +25%
Peak Range -37%
Mix 94%

Try that, it worked great for me right off the bat.

Display More

This worked for me too, although for cleans I liked to back off the mix a little bit for somewhat milder effect and fatter sound overall.

duckman · Jan 7th 2015

Quote from Booyah

DonPetersen wrote: GCB95 modded with Whipple inductor

Manual 3.6
Peak 7.4
Pedal Range +25%
Peak Range -37%
Mix 94%

Try that, it worked great for me right off the bat.

Display More

works great with me too, especially with my strat.

Ingolf · Jan 7th 2015

Another thumbs up for the whipple inductor settings.

paults · Jan 7th 2015

Agreed! I did minor tweaks to it to get the pedal curve the way I like it (but, I'm the kind of wah user who adjusts the potentiometer position in a real wah to fine tune the pedal curve, too)

DamianGreda · Jan 7th 2015

Quote from paults

Agreed! I did minor tweaks to it to get the pedal curve the way I like it (but, I'm the kind of wah user who adjusts the potentiometer position in a real wah to fine tune the pedal curve, too)

You can always try to change the curve of the potentiometer in your pedal( by adding some parallel or serial resistance or changing the pot from lin to log or inverse log + adding the parallel resistance).

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