Distortion Techniques....

Since my multi effects units does not have a distortion, I got a Boss distortion pedal to use in conjunction with my keybords and drum machines. When I put the pedal in line with an output from a keyboard or I found the effect to be overwelming. So I am now running the pedal thru the in and out of line 4 on my digi 002 and and trying to mix it into a sound via line fader. When I do this, I am getting too much of a distorted ambient sound and I do not get a solid signal. Any one have any solid techniques for applying subtle distortions? How can I get rid of the backround noise before hits and notes? Will a gate be good for this? Any advice is appreciated.

Go get the free pluggo runtime and then down load all of the free pluggos,,look for the thread that i started in this forum its called PLUGGO 3 IS A GO-GO,,theres a couple of good distortions out there,,

Depending on what gear you have at your disposal, split yr signal, record one normal, and then route the other to an old analogue console/reel to reel tape machine/4 track whatever you can get yr hands on and experiment with absolutly burning the level through the channel or device. Makes for some very nice warm analogue distortions which can sound unlike any of the plugs. And if all else fails you have the normal track there to either mix in with the distorted channel or go the plug in route if things go badly. Personally think nothing beats real signal overload distortion. Plus i like red lights..

put a line signal into a mic in.... some pres sound really cool like that. Others (mackies) sound crap.