Well, I've been avoiding using IRs for years but I am now being dragged into the 21st century by current noise limitations.
The last time I used IRs was several years ago, using the Two Notes Wall of Sound app. I thought it was ... okay. Recent demos/videos have sparked my interest again, especially since I cannot currently mic my guitar cabs for reamping, nor can I go to a studio and do it due to lockdown. So, I bit the bullet and got the C.A.B. M (I already own a load box from Hot Plate) from Prymaxe.
I typically write music using amp sims, focusing on the performance, and worry about the sonics when the song is getting close to mixing (I usually do editing and reamping when the drums and vocals are being recorded to make the most out of the wait time). My SOP when reamping is to use a Radial PRO RMP to my pedals/amps/cabs, select a microphone, and feed back into my interface via an SSL channel strip.
THE HARDWARE. The C.A.B. M is small (double pedal size), lightweight, and has a very bright OLED display that's quite easy to read. You can access every paramater from the pedal itself using the left and right encoders, which also act as push buttons. There is plenty of room for all of the necessary connectors, though the pedal does slide around a bit from the weight of the cables and connectors. This is not a major problem however.
For today's reamping, I am using four different amplifiers and a host of pedal options.
THE SOFTWARE. The app to control the C.A.B. M is called Torpedo Remote and it is a mobile app that I have on my iPad Mini4 and it connects via Bluetooth. I have had zero problems connecting, though I would not want to try this at a distance or during a gig where there is a lot of RF interference from lights, etc. The software is very intuitive to use and it's very easy to dial in a single or dual mic setup that stays in phase regardless of mic position. I prefer mic'ing a little further back that what is normal, so I selected a classic 57/121 combo and was able to get them balanced in no time. It helps if you already have an idea of what kind of sound you are going for or know something about the cabs and speakers being used, otherwise you could spend a VERY long time noodling around not getting things done.
THE SOUND. I am genuinely surprised by how far IR technology has advanced. The IRs sound eerily close to the real thing and the best part is that the response from using my actual amps FEELS correct; it has the same chewiness/sponginess as if it were an actual cabinet. Very cool!
Am I now an IR convert? Yes ... and no. If presented with the opportunity to mic a cab again, I would do it in a heartbeat over using the C.A.B. M. However, it does allow me to achieve something that would otherwise be impossible.
A note about using the power amp simulations: these have also come a LONG way in recent years. However, to my ears, it still doesn't sound like the real thing -- yet; I'm sure it will get there eventually! In a mix, the difference is negligible, so it comes down to what you are used to, I guess. I do miss the way an actual cabinet resonates throughout the whole house, though!
I will upload audio once I have the tracks edited and a rough mix ready.
The last time I used IRs was several years ago, using the Two Notes Wall of Sound app. I thought it was ... okay. Recent demos/videos have sparked my interest again, especially since I cannot currently mic my guitar cabs for reamping, nor can I go to a studio and do it due to lockdown. So, I bit the bullet and got the C.A.B. M (I already own a load box from Hot Plate) from Prymaxe.
I typically write music using amp sims, focusing on the performance, and worry about the sonics when the song is getting close to mixing (I usually do editing and reamping when the drums and vocals are being recorded to make the most out of the wait time). My SOP when reamping is to use a Radial PRO RMP to my pedals/amps/cabs, select a microphone, and feed back into my interface via an SSL channel strip.
THE HARDWARE. The C.A.B. M is small (double pedal size), lightweight, and has a very bright OLED display that's quite easy to read. You can access every paramater from the pedal itself using the left and right encoders, which also act as push buttons. There is plenty of room for all of the necessary connectors, though the pedal does slide around a bit from the weight of the cables and connectors. This is not a major problem however.
For today's reamping, I am using four different amplifiers and a host of pedal options.
THE SOFTWARE. The app to control the C.A.B. M is called Torpedo Remote and it is a mobile app that I have on my iPad Mini4 and it connects via Bluetooth. I have had zero problems connecting, though I would not want to try this at a distance or during a gig where there is a lot of RF interference from lights, etc. The software is very intuitive to use and it's very easy to dial in a single or dual mic setup that stays in phase regardless of mic position. I prefer mic'ing a little further back that what is normal, so I selected a classic 57/121 combo and was able to get them balanced in no time. It helps if you already have an idea of what kind of sound you are going for or know something about the cabs and speakers being used, otherwise you could spend a VERY long time noodling around not getting things done.
THE SOUND. I am genuinely surprised by how far IR technology has advanced. The IRs sound eerily close to the real thing and the best part is that the response from using my actual amps FEELS correct; it has the same chewiness/sponginess as if it were an actual cabinet. Very cool!
Am I now an IR convert? Yes ... and no. If presented with the opportunity to mic a cab again, I would do it in a heartbeat over using the C.A.B. M. However, it does allow me to achieve something that would otherwise be impossible.
A note about using the power amp simulations: these have also come a LONG way in recent years. However, to my ears, it still doesn't sound like the real thing -- yet; I'm sure it will get there eventually! In a mix, the difference is negligible, so it comes down to what you are used to, I guess. I do miss the way an actual cabinet resonates throughout the whole house, though!
I will upload audio once I have the tracks edited and a rough mix ready.
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