Atomic Amplifire Bass Box at NAMM

[Wissen]

Power supply issue maybe ? I assume you're using the included power supply if there is one ?

have you tried different outlet / room ? Just to eliminate electrical issues ?
otherwise I'd contact their support I found them very responsive when I needed help with an Amplifire 6 a while back.

Got a different bass to compare? Nothing like this happening with mine that is out of the ordinary....my low-end basses with dubious wiring hum as always, and the better quality basses are quieter or dead quiet with normal settings.

Update: Turns out it was the power supply. Time to get a new One Spot. My bass does need to be properly grounded, but since I have been using wireless these last four years, I only found out when I finally decided to skip my board and plug in the old fashioned way.

I am digging this box, but it I am going to have to work harder than I expected to dial in what I want. I'm no tone junkie, but I don't think this thing sounds amazing out of the box. Hard work, waaaaaa.

And while I'm at it, I was looking for an answer to a question that was posed a while back. Were the Solid State and Tube amp sims based on any particular amps? I would love to have an Ampeg, a Fender, and an Aggy amp/cab trio as my three presets. I think. For now. Probably.

 

[jimfist]

I am digging this box, but it I am going to have to work harder than I expected to dial in what I want. I'm no tone junkie, but I don't think this thing sounds amazing out of the box.

Of course. Beyond the 'different strokes' aspect of any toy, you can get wild variations of sound depending on which EQ setting you select, and how they are set, as well as the amp model & cab IR. How are you listening to the Bass Box? Ideally, you'd want to use a full range speaker cabinet (preferably as flat an EQ response as possible) if using the cabinet IR. If you're running into a traditional bass amp, I'd suggest dis-engaging the cabinet IR.

If you haven't done so already, downloading the computer editor and playing with the selection of cabinet IRs will have the most impact, and (with latest firmware) you can have a "bypass/null" IR which is essentially an flat EQ setting for the cabinet. This will allow you to hear the preamp tone and amp model tone much more clearly, and you may like it better than the cabinet sim IRs.

Were the Solid State and Tube amp sims based on any particular amps?

IIRC, the first amp model is a solid state, fairly flat, uncolored amp model. No idea what it is. The second amp model is also unknown to me, but described as a "tube amp" model. The third amp model is known to be an ampeg SVT amp model, I believe.

 

[Wissen]

Of course. Beyond the 'different strokes' aspect of any toy, you can get wild variations of sound depending on which EQ setting you select, and how they are set, as well as the amp model & cab IR. How are you listening to the Bass Box? Ideally, you'd want to use a full range speaker cabinet (preferably as flat an EQ response as possible) if using the cabinet IR. If you're running into a traditional bass amp, I'd suggest dis-engaging the cabinet IR.

If you haven't done so already, downloading the computer editor and playing with the selection of cabinet IRs will have the most impact, and (with latest firmware) you can have a "bypass/null" IR which is essentially an flat EQ setting for the cabinet. This will allow you to hear the preamp tone and amp model tone much more clearly, and you may like it better than the cabinet sim IRs.



IIRC, the first amp model is a solid state, fairly flat, uncolored amp model. No idea what it is. The second amp model is also unknown to me, but described as a "tube amp" model. The third amp model is known to be an ampeg SVT amp model, I believe.

Thanks for the info on the amp sims. I didn't know if they ever admitted specific models, but it doesn't really matter in the end.

I am currently hooking it up to my rig, which is a Carvin head and 210 cab. It is about the blandest sounding setup I've ever heard, so I have been exploring preamps. My two current favorites are the Q\Strip and the Sadowsky SBP. I wanted some good dirt, and the dirt, amp/cab sim and compressor all in one box was the selling point for the Bass Box. This will handle my FOH DI tone, and someday I would love to upgrade my rig.

It didn't help that during my first two tests I misremembered the positions of the amp/cab selector switch, so I was fooling my ear and I'm not experienced enough in this world to know better. When I pulled up the editor on my computer I felt like an idiot.

I'm not a tone hound, so I'll never have a Eureka moment, nor will I be on a never-ending quest for "the sound I hear in my head." I don't have one. I'll get what I need out of this box, and it will make me happy. Or I'll track down a Downtown Sound and use that instead. Que sera.

 

[hbabels]

Update: Turns out it was the power supply. Time to get a new One Spot. My bass does need to be properly grounded, but since I have been using wireless these last four years, I only found out when I finally decided to skip my board and plug in the old fashioned way.

I am digging this box, but it I am going to have to work harder than I expected to dial in what I want. I'm no tone junkie, but I don't think this thing sounds amazing out of the box. Hard work, waaaaaa.

And while I'm at it, I was looking for an answer to a question that was posed a while back. Were the Solid State and Tube amp sims based on any particular amps? I would love to have an Ampeg, a Fender, and an Aggy amp/cab trio as my three presets. I think. For now. Probably.

Nice glad you got that solved. Power supplies are an under appreciated important part. They're not as sexy to buy as pedals & guitars etc. but sure don't want a bad one.

 

[TonyP-]

Novice question...
Can you add amp sims or just cabinet IRs?

 

[jimfist]

Novice question...
Can you add amp sims or just cabinet IRs?

Only cab IRs.

The pedal has a 3-way selector switch for amp+cab combinations. The editor allows you to change them from factory default, with 3 amp models and a bunch of cab IRs to choose from. Or, you can fill a cab IR slot with a 3rd party IR (.wav file).

I'd love to see more amp models made available in the future, but that's proprietary within the Bass Box firmware vs IRs, which users can change.

 

[TonyP-]

Only cab IRs.

The pedal has a 3-way selector switch for amp+cab combinations. The editor allows you to change them from factory default, with 3 amp models and a bunch of cab IRs to choose from. Or, you can fill a cab IR slot with a 3rd party IR (.wav file).

I'd love to see more amp models made available in the future, but that's proprietary within the Bass Box firmware vs IRs, which users can change.

Thank You Jim...This is helpful.

I want to try using just two inputs and no cab miking anymore. The (2) I'm thinking off are, a REDDI and amp/IR.
For the amp/IR I'm using a GK Legacy with a IR for the CX410 using the two note audio. Its amazing and to quote my guitarist, He said that combo with RE20 from the software on it sounds "%95 like my onstage sound".

I fee like I never have to mike a bass amp in the studio again. If I could load GK amps into the Bass Box it would be a most advantageous for me. Its still worth looking into.

Cheers
-Tony

 

[jimfist]

Thank You Jim...This is helpful.

I want to try using just two inputs and no cab miking anymore. The (2) I'm thinking off are, a REDDI and amp/IR.
For the amp/IR I'm using a GK Legacy with a IR for the CX410 using the two note audio. Its amazing and to quote my guitarist, He said that combo with RE20 from the software on it sounds "%95 like my onstage sound".

I fee like I never have to mike a bass amp in the studio again. If I could load GK amps into the Bass Box it would be a most advantageous for me. Its still worth looking into.

Cheers
-Tony

Sounds like a great way to go, especially when you have very specific amps, cabs, and mics that you want emulated.
The Bass Box leans toward a more generalized set of tools ( though some of the things modeled are based on real world hardware) IMO.

Even with the best modelers available, amp model "abc" and cab IR "xyz" may or may not gel with every end-user's concept of how they sound and behave in application.

I think the Bass Box's flexibility for tone sculpting is its strength vs its ability to get (subjectively) dead accurate emulations of specific amp/cab combos, though I've had real good luck with typical hard rock SVT tones.

Does the GK Plex not provide amp modeling, but just preamps? Seems to me that would be the go-to unit for GK emulations.

 

[TonyP-]

Sounds like a great way to go, especially when you have very specific amps, cabs, and mics that you want emulated.
The Bass Box leans toward a more generalized set of tools ( though some of the things modeled are based on real world hardware) IMO.

Even with the best modelers available, amp model "abc" and cab IR "xyz" may or may not gel with every end-user's concept of how they sound and behave in application.

I think the Bass Box's flexibility for tone sculpting is its strength vs its ability to get (subjectively) dead accurate emulations of specific amp/cab combos, though I've had real good luck with typical hard rock SVT tones.

Does the GK Plex not provide amp modeling, but just preamps? Seems to me that would be the go-to unit for GK emulations.

Hey Jim
I like the plex but it has amp sims not IRs at this time. It also does not have the Legacy but the older GK preamps...

I also like the amount of outputs the Bass Box has as well. I see this in my future with the CX410 IR imported.

 

[jimfist]

Hey Jim
I like the plex but it has amp sims not IRs at this time. It also does not have the Legacy but the older GK preamps...

I also like the amount of outputs the Bass Box has as well. I see this in my future with the CX410 IR imported.

Cool. I really like the Bass Box. Just wish that COVID would finally ease up so I could gig with the thing.
Where are you getting your GK cabinet IRs from? Just curious.

 

[TonyP-]

Cool. I really like the Bass Box. Just wish that COVID would finally ease up so I could gig with the thing.
Where are you getting your GK cabinet IRs from? Just curious.

We made them actually...I have faith for the later half of 2021

 

[MovinTarget]

Checking out this pedal and it looks really good on paper, an upgrade from my TC Electronic SprectraDrive... doing everything it does, but with more features.

It lists on their site for $400 and I can't find used ones on Reverb so:
1) Is it worth it as an upgrade from the simpler SpectraDrive? I travel so I like having a single pedal for (mostly) everything, including headphones and Aux In.
2) Does it draw too much power for a normal pedal chain supply (for when I'm at home)?

 

[ampegfuzz]

I haven't jumped into a "FAD" in many moon. Just snagged one in the classified. Mostly looking for silent practice/recording. Did I read you can adjust the headphone volume in the app?

 

[ampegfuzz]

Atomic bass box has landed. Out of the box I thought it was pretty decent. Some early quirks I noticed is that the boosts blend was effected by the hi/low sensitivity switch. It let thru extra clean tone when pressed out. The 3rd mode for the eq toggle seems to have barely noticeable to eq change and the information took a couple passes to understand what it's doing. After plugging it into a computer it looks like some of the previous owners were playing with the stock settings. I put it back to stock to do some more playing around before doing my own tweaks. Attached photo is where I set my selected banks. Another thing I noticed and wondered about what the reaction to changes in the software while simultaneously playing. Cab sims will make tonal changes on the fly but you need to toggle off of/back on to the position for the amp mode on the unit to change audibly. I haven't messed with the compressor too much but it seems to do what I like compressors to do. That being giving my bass nice consistency across the strings. The boost was where I was going to be most concerned coming in. I was hoping to not need to have a external OD to get a sound I like. While I think the OD and tube settings are pretty decent the fet is not to my liking out of the gate. I would love if a later update made the boost banks changeable if software driven. All and all I wasn't blown away like I was when I got my live rig preamp some time back but this is a pretty handy tool. I haven't put it thru all it's paces and hope it makes it thru the "honeymoon phase".

 

[jimfist]

Cool feedback.

I see you have your blend control set around 2'oclock, which means that you'll always be passing unfettered dry signal through the boost/dynamics/EQ sections. That's ok if you like the results you're getting.

I've made a suggestion to Atomic to allow for more flexibility of placement of the send/ret of the Blend feature along the signal chain, these base only on my personal tastes and preferences. Don't know if it'll ever happen, though. Right now, the Blend is fixed where it sends/returns, so it impacts not only the drive Boost, but dynamics (comp) and EQ, too.

For example, I might want to have a wet/dry blend for ONLY the drive Boost, or just the compressor Dyna section only. These are common use cases for blending dirt and compression for bass. And with the EQ, I'd prefer that it NOT be blended wet/dry so that the EQ itself is as effective as it can be across the whole tone.

I have been able to get some good drive Boost tones, but typically need the Pad engaged to have enough range of control of the dirt (and likewise the compressor). Usually TUBE type is what I go for, but found FET good for "darker" types of OD, to add just a touch of hair. Type 1 is a Tube Screamer IIRC, and thus it kills a lot of low end in the tone. This can be useful for some, but I personally don't have a use for it unless the Boost is engaged all the time and used as the core of my tone. Then I can work with it.

Type 3 EQ is a different animal, and I'd recommend reading the manual with respect to how it works. It's comparably subtle compared to Mode 1 & 2, but certainly there are use cases where it is a good EQ type to use.

 

[ampegfuzz]

Yeah when I did the factory reset I dialed in a bit of clean since I am favoring the "OD" clipping. Factory is fully clockwise (wet). As some people have pointed out you lose a little bit of low end. It seemed to be the best for me to dial it back a hair and let the low end of the amp/cab sim to fill in the void. I'll probably mess around a lot more as time permits. I agree the blend would be best suited for just the boost. I also have favored the tube for adding grit to a core tone and the OD needed to be sculpted around it to have the best results.

 

[DBEUBEBPlayer]

@jimfist Does this pedal work with phantom power from board?

 

[jimfist]

@jimfist Does this pedal work with phantom power from board?

You mean like the SansAmp BDDI? Good question. I've seen nothing in documentation to indicate that it does, but better this be confirmed by someone from Atomic who knows for sure.

 

[Wissen]

No, it does not run on phantom power. It requires a 9V power supply. I do have a unit in the classified, of you're thinking about getting one.

 

[ampegfuzz]

Did some more tweaking today after doing some jimfist settings. I like it slightly more but all and all it might be too much for me. Did some more tweaking in the software and busted out the rat ball.