Systems and methods for amplification are shown that include a pump preparation module configured to provide a pump output that includes a plurality of pump modes; an amplification module configured to accept a multimode signal input and the pump output, such that the pump output causes an amplification of a plurality of modes in the signal input to produce an amplified signal output; and a gain control module configured to adjust a balance of the plurality of pump modes in the pump output to produce a predetermined amplified signal output.