Digitech Genesis 3

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 22 Jan 2004 3:45 pm

I spent a couple of hours playing with the Genesis 3 last night, and I'm a bit disappointed. Maybe I'm expecting too much.

The amp models sound okay, but they don't respond to variations in attack the way that a real tube amp does. I'm used to getting a fairly clean sound when I pick softly, with distortion increasing as I put more signal into the amp. That's the way a real tube amp works. I'm not hearing that from Genesis 3 at all.

I don't know how they can call that one effect "ROTARY". No matter how I dialed it, it never sounded at all like a rotating speaker to me. Has anyone found a sweet spot in the parameters?

Lastly, is it noisy in there or are my ears ringing?

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 22 Jan 2004 5:26 pm

Hi Bobby,
I'm not sure about the clean to crunch via volume pedal. You might have to dial it in with pre and post gain and program it to seperate storage?
I've been experimenting with this unit for a few months and have a current program...subject to change. I'm trying to zero in on the warm, but clean sound. The "More" "Clean Tube" that Buddy has posted is good, but I'm currently working on the "blackface".
I'm entering it with a 1976 all birdseye MSA U-12 with 18K TT pickup. I'm playing the Genesis into a Peavey Classic 50/50 Stereo tube head. This tube head also has bass and treble controls up front. Give this a try:
Amp= Blkface
Cabinet= 65 1X12
Fq= Bass 70hz Mid 625hz T= 3000hz
Delay= Spread, 380ms, 41, 1, 22
Reverb= Arena, 3, 1, 35, 35
Tone= Bass= +12, Mid= -4, T= +12
Utility= FX2X12
Everyone has their own tone preference, guitar, electronic gear, amp,etc, etc. But the gear I'm using is zeroing in on the growl that I've been looking for. As soon as I get the new TT pickup in my U-12 Zum, I'll be experimenting with it and the Genesis.
Dennis
[This message was edited by Dennis Detweiler on 22 January 2004 at 06:09 PM.]
[This message was edited by Dennis Detweiler on 22 January 2004 at 10:41 PM.]

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 22 Jan 2004 5:33 pm

Bobbe's that guy in Nashville.

Thanks, Dennis. I'll give that Blackface setting a try.

I didn't have much trouble dialing in a clean country tone. My main problems center around getting the rock effects I like - rotary and distortion. Is the Genesis 3 lacking in these areas, or am I just missing the sweet spots somehow?

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 22 Jan 2004 6:29 pm

Bobb(y)

I edited the above post.
I experimented with a crunch setting a few weeks ago, but haven't pursued it since.
I've found the Genesis to be an "ultra tweakable" processor. It seems to require alot of patience and time. The parameters you're looking for are probably there, but requiring hours of experimentation. Higher gain on the pre's and lower on the post's might be controlled in the end with the volume pedal? If not, you may have to get your favored crunch as a preset. In that case, adding volume pedal may not add more crunch? I haven't experimented with the Leslie sounds. I would bet you can get what you want with alot of experimentation. It took me a long time to get a reverb setting that I liked. I ended up extending the delay a little more and cutting back on reverb. The "Arena" setting seemed to add the right amount of depth as long as I set it's parameters lean. My Alesis MicroVerb may have a little edge in quality. I can probably get the Genesis reverb a little tastier with a little more time spent on it.
Another note: I'm also playing into 1505 15"BWs. Hence, the treble setting I have may be a little harsh for an aluminum centered 1501?
Dennis

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 22 Jan 2004 8:41 pm

I haven't even tried it in the open air yet. Since I mainly got it for recording, I've been working in my trusted headphones. I'll plug it into a Boogie this weekend and make some noise.

Maybe I'm asking too much of it. I'm used to a Mesa V-Twin preamp, a Rotosphere and a Lexicon MPX-100. It may be a pipe dream to think that one little box can emulate all that, even if the specs say it has similar features.

The reverb sounds nice.

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<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Hotb0b.gif" width="96 height="96">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (Emaj9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (C6add9),
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6),
Roland Handsonic, Line 6 Variax

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 22 Jan 2004 9:12 pm

Dennis, I tried your settings and they sound great! Thanks a lot for the pretty clean sounds. I would have never thought of scooping out the mids like that.

(By the way, I'm playing my Sierra Session SD-12 with the BL-712 pickup.)

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 22 Jan 2004 10:00 pm

b0b.

If it's like the Podxt and you have it after your volume pedal, you're not going to get an acceptable fuzz distortion. I'd have to get a pedal board and extension volume pedal to get it to configure in front of the volume.

Like the old "boss tone" or the Turbo Drive stomp box that I have. Sadly, compression is similar. I Dunno how the Genesis is configged but if it is after the VP you're pretty much stuck.

Unless the "Rotary" is a 'Stereo' you're not going to get to 'rotate'. The "rotary" on the Podxt is only a "phase shifter", as are the "vibes". The Pod xt has a "autopan" that is "true rotary" sound. I like it all in all.

EJL

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 22 Jan 2004 10:38 pm

Also, while you're in the utility mode to set the FX2X12, set the unit to stereo if you're using two amps.
The "Spread" selection in the Delay will bounce the 1st repeat from one amp to the other. Repeats that follow the first will go through both amps at the same time. It gives the delay and tone a fatter sound.