| Symptom | Check first | Avoid jumping to this conclusion |
|---|---|---|
| No sound | Device/channel, audio enabled, input meter, mute, tuner mute, output routing | The capture is broken |
| Clean audio remains | Direct monitor, parallel dry path, Blend, level entering drive | Every overdrive needs Blend |
| Hiss while playing | Source noise, compressor Makeup, input gain/drive, where noise appears | A gate can always separate the noise |
| Sustain cuts off | Gate Threshold/Release, Auto Swell, input level, mute | The compressor is not turned up enough |
| Muffled tone | Double cabinet, amp+cab capture, low-mid, High cut, Tone | Treble must be maximized |
| Sharp fizz | Cab/IR, mic voicing, Presence/high shelf, drive staging | All distortion is ADC clipping |
| Crackles/dropouts | Buffer deadline, device/driver, preset load, sample-rate compatibility | The guitar tone is poor |
| Red Peak but green RMS | Meter type, interval/measurement point, actual CLIP/LIMIT | The lower graph must be red too |
| Parallel paths lose body | Polarity, delay alignment, cab EQ, merge levels, mono check | The paths need maximum gain |
| MIDI Learn does not detect | Enabled MIDI device, channel, CC vs Note, firmware, Apply mapping | A MIDI cable carries audio |
Chapter 20 / 21
Finding the cause of a sound problem
Trace missing sound, hiss, sustain loss, harsh fizz, dropouts, and MIDI problems from the symptom to the right stage.