The controls of the ENGL Amplifier section
CHANNEL 1< -- > 2 (channel select)
To switch between Channel 1 and Channel 2 simply press this switch alternating.
LED on means CHANNEL 2 is active.
GAIN (adjustable per channel):
Dial in as much crunch and distortion as you like with the gain knobs. Each of the
channels has its own dedicated Gain control. Channel 1 is the ‘CLEAN’ channel,
Channel 2 is the ‘ROCK’ channel.
GAIN BOOST (affects both channels):
When activated this switch increases the amount of distortion and bite for both (!)
channels. Slightly crunch the Clean channel or push the Rock channel into Heavy
mode by activating Gain Boost. It´s a good idea to use the A/B/C/D setting
switches (described later below) to store clean, crunch, rock and lead variations of
the same or similar amp settings. This way you can turn the ENGL amp plug-in into a
four-channel guitar amp easily and even automate the channel switches in your
DAW.
Tone Stack (BASS, MIDDLE, TREBLE, adjustable per channel):
Just like any guitar amp the ENGL amps have controls to make the guitar tones
sound more mellow or harsher, add or cut low end, and boost or cut mids. There
are definitely no rules when it comes to adjusting the Tone Stack controls. If it
sounds right it probably IS right... You may browse through our presets and listen to
a wide range of different settings, many of which are customized for commonly used
guitars like Teles, Strats or Paulas...
BRIGHT switch (channel 1 only)
When activated you will notice a nice boost of sparkle in your clean sounds. The
more highs your guitar has (a Strat and a Tele work nice, for example) the more
the boost is audible.
Switch BRIGHT off if you experience too much sliding noise when you move your fin-
gers on the fretboard. You may want to switch BRIGHT on for funky rhythm tracks
or ballad picking sounds, for example.
TONE switch (channel 2 only)
The TONE switch boosts mid frequencies and gives you an option for a slightly dif-
ferent, more aggressive guitar tone when activated. Again, there are no rules here.
Try your guitar(s), switch TONE on and off, and whatever you like best is right for
the moment.
STANDBY and POWER
You may bypass all processing of the plug-in with these two switches. Contrary to
the real amp in the plug-in these two switches are linked. No need to warm up
tubes in the plug-in or protect speaker cabinets.
If you only want to bypass the Amp section of the plug-in (to record your own hard-
ware tube preamp, for example) please use the FX Rack / Zoom view. You will find
the needed controls in the Power Soak section. Details below.