Bass Cab Impulse Captures Don't Sound Like the Cab

[Matt Hepworth]

Hi there,

Been recording for a couple decades and have a few cabs that have just been outstanding. However, a couple are getting very near end of life and I need to capture them before they're gone. I've done quite a few IRs of guitar cabs and they always sound really similar to the cab. The bass cabs do not. Too much bass, too few highs, different mids.
For comparison I can reamp and record through the actual cab and it's right. I substitute the IR and it's very different. My thought is this is the limitation of the IR, since it's only able to capture a single static slice and the bass causes the speaker to react different frequency wise dynamically. This, obviously, isn't the case with high gain guitars.

Anyone able to confirm similar experiences?

Same issue if I use my Kemper to profile a bass rig. Just so different than the source...

 

[seamonkey]

Maybe just your recording technique. A little movement of the mic makes a big change. IK Amplitube 5 does 600 mic placements per speaker using a robot.

Here some info on creating your own IR's one at a time
Video - Voxengo Deconvolver | Voxengo

 

[Matt Hepworth]

Thanks a lot for the reply. The mic wasn't moved at all, though. Apogee Symphony converters, Neve preamp (not at all to the point of breakup). I've probably done a hundred or so impulses the last couple years (these are the first bass cab impulses, though) and I don't really feel like there's something I'm doing incorrectly. It feels like it's maybe just the limitation of IRs, especially for something like bass?

Maybe just your recording technique. A little movement of the mic makes a big change. IK Amplitube 5 does 600 mic placements per speaker using a robot.

Here some info on creating your own IR's one at a time
Video - Voxengo Deconvolver | Voxengo

 

[Krisfield]

There’s nothing wrong with bass impulse responses, and I’ll never mic another bass cab ever again.

You have a personal preference for miking your bass cabs, and that’s ok.

You could use a parametric EQ after the IR to further tweak the sound.

 

[seamonkey]

+1

I'd suggest the OP go out and buy a few IRs hear the actual quality of what can be done today.

 

[Matt Hepworth]

If we can count things like Ownhammer, Two Notes, Celestion, et al, it's safe to say I own MANY. ;-)

IRs obviously have substantial limitations (can't react to dynamics, changes over time, can't capture saturation, etc.), but, I guess I expected bass IRs to be as similar to the originals as they can be with guitar, which is admittedly much less dynamic.

What have your results been with the IRs you've created?

+1

I'd suggest the OP go out and buy a few IRs hear the actual quality of what can be done today.

 

[Matt Hepworth]

Can you elaborate on similarities (or lack thereof) with the bass cab IRs vs originals on the impulses you've created?

There’s nothing wrong with bass impulse responses, and I’ll never mic another bass cab ever again.

You have a personal preference for miking your bass cabs, and that’s ok.

You could use a parametric EQ after the IR to further tweak the sound.