How do I set my gain structure??

[g string]

Hi there-
I have a guitar rig that I have had for awile, but I am a little confused about all the different in/out gain settings. What I really want to know is, is there a general rule to follow when setting things up. For example, is it better to crank up the output on the power amp and use the pre amp as a master volume, or is it better to crank up the pre amp and use the power amp as a master volume, oooorrr keep them about the same? I've fiddled with it but can't seem to come to a conclusion as to what is better. The only real noticable difference that I can tell is that when the power amp is creanked up, there is more noticable noise (hiss). I am using my rig only for recording so I don't need massive volumes. But I would like to benefit as much as possible from the tubes in my amp, that is why I keep the the amp levels up. Am I even going about this the right way?

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by g string

Hi there-
I have a guitar rig that I have had for awile, but I am a little confused about all the different in/out gain settings. What I really want to know is, is there a general rule to follow when setting things up. For example, is it better to crank up the output on the power amp and use the pre amp as a master volume, or is it better to crank up the pre amp and use the power amp as a master volume, oooorrr keep them about the same? I've fiddled with it but can't seem to come to a conclusion as to what is better. The only real noticable difference that I can tell is that when the power amp is creanked up, there is more noticable noise (hiss). I am using my rig only for recording so I don't need massive volumes. But I would like to benefit as much as possible from the tubes in my amp, that is why I keep the the amp levels up. Am I even going about this the right way?

If you want clean turn up the master and turn down the preamp. If you want dirty, turn down the master and turn up the preamp. If you want in-between, set them, well, in-between.

[g string]

Thanks, I'll try that!