Best cab sim?

[Hank-]

Re: Best cab sim?

Ace do ya have some of digitech x-series od or distortion pedals lying around? Well my df7 has two outlets, it can set such that the second outlets or both outlets activate speaker sim. The Bad monkey has the speaker sim on the second outlet but im not sure if it works with the pedal bypassed on the monkey, it does on my df7 though. You can plug the line out/preamp out on your amp into these & send the signal to the mixer with cab sim.

Other options that are on a reliable side since your gigging would be the digitech cab driver, amt cab pedals(pangea & chamelon), palmer pdi09, logisy EPSi, etc. The mooer thing is nice but there but some failure reports, not sure id risk a gig with it.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Best cab sim?

The Red Box is cheap, but doesn't sound that great compared to modern DI options. I'd go with a modern IR pedal, like this Digitech. There are other companies that do this sort of thing, as well.

For $184 that pedal is way worth checking out.

Another idea is the Marshall JMD1 modelling/tube amp. It has a built in emulated xlr out. The emulation is a 1960 4x12 cab. They are relatively low priced used now and you get another very good amp added to your stable too.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Best cab sim?

The Red Box is cheap, but doesn't sound that great compared to modern DI options. I'd go with a modern IR pedal, like this Digitech. There are other companies that do this sort of thing, as well.

Just looking at this quick it does not seem to be a load box as well.

 

[YeRedHouseOverYonder]

Re: Best cab sim?

Ace, does your amp have a line out (balanced or unbalanced)?

Sent from my LG-H931 using Tapatalk

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Best cab sim?

The Red Box is cheap, but doesn't sound that great compared to modern DI options. I'd go with a modern IR pedal, like this Digitech. There are other companies that do this sort of thing, as well.

Ahahahahahah oh my ****ing god

Plug your tube amp into this pedal at your own risk. Or just watch the fireworks.

If you're trying to go direct with a tube amp you need a load box AND a cab sim.

 

[devastone]

Re: Best cab sim?

No, you can't plug your speaker out into the Digitech, but you can run the slave/DI out, it's still unclear exactly what Ace is looking for. Per the OP, his first experiment was apparently running the slave out to the board, that would have worked with some kind of cab sim. If he wants to go speakerless, that's a different ballgame. Probably as cost effective to check out a 6505MH or Tubemeister head that is made to run DI without a speaker as to get a load box with cab sim, assuming the DI outs of those are up to your needs.

 

[LLL]

Re: Best cab sim?

It's cool to see so many options nowadays... that whole speaker iR thing has exploded in the last year or two.

That also means guitarists need to start thinking outside the "guitar goes to amp, amp goes to speaker" box!

Yes, you can have great cranked tube amp tone at any volume... if you know what you're doing.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Best cab sim?

This thread is pure :lol:

(the "master of slaving" is dumbfounded!)

:burnout:

Dear LLL, please delete your post. It adds nothing to the discussion and I'm not really interested in your opinion, no matter how learned it may be.

Thank you,

The OP

 

[Aceman]

Re: Best cab sim?

The Red Box is cheap, but doesn't sound that great compared to modern DI options. I'd go with a modern IR pedal, like this Digitech. There are other companies that do this sort of thing, as well.

Well, the Red Box (now of 5????) is still apparently a tried / true approach. Didn't know they built them into the little H&K Meisters!
Never a bad thing to have on hand with a PA anyway....

But dang! That Digitech box really looks like a simple tone-tweak beast, especially compared to some of the Uber-didn't-read-the-post suggestions. In terms of simplicity and speed/cost I'm going Redbox, but if I'm not happy, this is my next stop!

Great suggestion!!!!!

 

[Aceman]

Re: Best cab sim?

Ace, does your amp have a line out (balanced or unbalanced)?

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I have a Mesa Stiletto Deuce head. My options are either something that handles the speaker load (i.e. Redbox) or a Cab Sim of some sort as there is a Slave out with a level control.

I will try the Redbox with box Speaker + through and also direct through the Slave out - I'll go with whatever sounds best.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Best cab sim?

No, you can't plug your speaker out into the Digitech, but you can run the slave/DI out, it's still unclear exactly what Ace is looking for. Per the OP, his first experiment was apparently running the slave out to the board, that would have worked with some kind of cab sim. If he wants to go speakerless, that's a different ballgame. Probably as cost effective to check out a 6505MH or Tubemeister head that is made to run DI without a speaker as to get a load box with cab sim, assuming the DI outs of those are up to your needs.

I want BOTH
- Stage volume coming out of the amp cab
- A DI signal to the board
* No mic on stage for guitar

I never thought the Slave was going to sound decent, even though I can run a serial effects loop through a cab sim on my FX unit. Lot of reprograming, on/off-ing if I don't use it, etc...

I'm very optimistic about the current Redbox with a little bass/mid/treble/presence tweek here and there. But if not, I'll likely go Slave to Digitech.

 

[devastone]

Re: Best cab sim?

Yep, the Red Box is the easiest solution if it gives good results, I have one of the original ones but the new ones look really nice.

Some of the ADA ones look nice too - https://adaamps.com/store/products/cabinet-simulators.html some of them should be able to do a speaker pass thru too(?)

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Best cab sim?

I want BOTH
- Stage volume coming out of the amp cab
- A DI signal to the board
* No mic on stage for guitar

The Radial JDX 48 was designed precisely for these purposes. Amp connects to JDX, JDX connects to speaker, JDX connects to board:
http://www.radialeng.com/product/jdx-48/

It is a little more expensive than the Red Box, but Radial is the industry standard for this stuff. Palmer's PDI09 unit is also highly regarded.

I would try the Red Box first as the most budget-friendly option, then the Radial next. Google "Radial vs. Red Box" (and maybe through Palmer into that mix) for relevant discussions.

This may be an extreme solution, but it may also be the simplest one - the Friedman Runt amps, Marshall-esque like your Stiletto, have built-in DI outputs that are evidently quite competent.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Best cab sim?

I did look pretty hard at the Radial JDX 48.

I'm too in love with my Stiletto at the moment. The sound & Fury fit the band.
That said - I could probably run my Zoom box direct with a killer sound if I wanted.
I feel pretty good about the Redbox. Was kinda surprised to see them still rocking on. But there are definitely a lot of options these days.

I'll keep the Redbox no matter how it turns out...but that Digitech still looks awfully good to me.


I saw a guy using a Kemper this weekend. His tone was surprisingly meh. Sounded fine, but I would have thought it would have been spot-on for everything he played. It wasn't....

 

[allstarrme]

Re: Best cab sim?

I use the H&k redbox 5 and it’s supposed to be way better that most amp direct outs, even Mesa’s cab clone box.

The next step from what I’ve seen is that Palmer Bonamassa DI box, which runs about $200 - 300. It’s really good from what I’ve read. Also there may be a new version of the redbox on the way in the near future, as they were showing off an updated version in the black Spirit 200 head.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Best cab sim?

Best bang for the buck as suggested is going to be the Mooer Radar. Works great for live use (& recordng). I loaded a couple of Celestion IR's into mine & they're absolutely killer though the onboard IR's are all pretty much as usable ..nothing wrong with them at all. I bought mine new for $150 new/shipped & it's been worth every penny. It's as cab-like as your going to get out of a box.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Best cab sim?

If you want "usable" tone for practically nothing ($30 or so) the "Little Bear" Cab sim box from China/ebay will get the job done nicely enough

Recorded dry/no fx/plugged straight in with my old Zoom MRS recorder & the Little Bear Box..

 

[DankStar]

Re: Best cab sim?

For sh*ts and giggles, I'd just get this and see how you like the cab sim. I've recorded with it several times and dig the 4 x 12 emulation. It can handle 3,000 watts in between your speaker out and the speaker. So your speaker would still be active, if you went that route. If you went out the slave thingy, that would work too.

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-GI100-BEHRINGER-ULTRA-G/dp/B000CCN15M

Only bummer is the battery compartment is kinda lame. Battery & wires barely fit. (if gigging, I'd probably leave the door off and get a battery snap-to-9v jack and power it like a pedal).

The $150-200 IR modeling pedals would be pretty cool, but do Steve Dallas's fans really care about a bunch of cab choices, or having a great time with some brews and friends?

 

[devastone]

Re: Best cab sim?

Yes, the Behringer isn't bad at all, I picked up a few to use at church and they sound surprisingly good for the price.

FWIW, I think the H&K Red Box is the original cab sim DI box, I remember a friend of mine back in NC raving about them when he was on the road tech'ing for some band in the early 90s and they were using them since they were the opener, made setup and tear down quick and easy and sounded really good.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Best cab sim?

Well, this thread has really opened my eyes to the current world of cab sims! So many sims, so little time. Ahem - excuse me - "IR's"

And also - wow. Willing to spend a crap ton on these things, aren't we?!?!?!?!?! Dang...expensive!

Interesting times we be livin' in! Redbox is here... update will follow.