darren1 wrote:
clean channels when the gain level is boosted the volume goes up, and on a distortion channel the volume stays relatively the same
You did answer your own question in a way. Gain means amount of amplification so the volume should go up. Distortion (as in guitar effects distortion) is an effect that occurs when an amp cannot produce more volume and starts to clip. So chances are that more gain on an overdriven gain stage does not produce more volume, an effect also known as compression.
There are several threads on this forum on clipping, distortion in transistor and tube amps and compression; I suggest you have a look around because the answer to your question is a lot more complicated than the above.
Keep asking ?
