Cab Impulse Response Megathread

[Zbysek]

Comes without.

Thank you.

 

[ellipsis]

Question for Shiftline products owners: do Cabzone/Olympic pedals come with microSD card? Or does one need to buy it separately? THX.

The newish CabZone X is loaded via USB and doesn't need a card.

 

[Zbysek]

The newish CabZone X is loaded via USB and doesn't need a card.

Good to know-Thank you!

 

[pfschim]

although I don't have the NUX model in my hands just yet, it would appear that it loads via mini-USB cable and NUX provides software for loading other IR's.

 

[JKos]

it would appear that it loads via mini-USB cable and NUX provides software for loading other IR's

Correct except that it's micro USB. There are four factory IRs you cannot overwrite and four user IR slots. Each IR slot has its own IR Gain, Lo Cut (a.k a. HPF), and Hi Cut (a.k.a. LPF) settings.

EDIT: I just realized I totally assumed @pfschim was referring to an NBP-5. My answer may not be correct if not.

 

[mikeGJ]

Correct except that it's micro USB. There are four factory IRs you cannot overwrite and four user IR slots. Each IR slot has its own IR Gain, Lo Cut (a.k a. HPF), and Hi Cut (a.k.a. LPF) settings.

EDIT: I just realized I totally assumed @pfschim was referring to an NBP-5. My answer may not be correct if not.

NUX Mini Studio, 3 banks of 8 default sims, all positions loadable and restorable.

He referred and linked to it a few posts back.

I’m interested.

 

[pfschim]

got the little box today. Will check it out this evening. Funny thing I noticed right away though, is that the guitar IRs are printed on the side of the unit. So, while there are Bass and Acoustic IR's available by holding the switch down until the indicator light changes color, only the guitar cabs are printed on the pedal.

ok, now down to listening.

 

[pfschim]

Correct except that it's micro USB. There are four factory IRs you cannot overwrite and four user IR slots. Each IR slot has its own IR Gain, Lo Cut (a.k a. HPF), and Hi Cut (a.k.a. LPF) settings.

EDIT: I just realized I totally assumed @pfschim was referring to an NBP-5. My answer may not be correct if not.

I got the Mini Studio ... model NSS-3 and it does have a micro USB port.

 

[pfschim]

ok, so kind of frustrated with the NUX Mini Studio device so far.

First, it does work, but it defaults to guitar cabs, so while I can hear the different guitar cab IRs and how the profiles change as I switch through the 8 cab options it's not terribly useful to me in this default state.

The VERY minimal manual says that to switch to the available 8 bass cab IRs you just hold the foot switch for 2 seconds and the indicator light will change from red (guitar) to bass (orange). This does not happen on my unit (so far). So, huh, not quite sure what to do about that.

What I decided I might try is the firmware update, thinking my unit may be back level. This process is not contained in the VERY minimal one page manual. It is online and it's a good thing it is too, because there is a very specific order you must follow to powering the unit on, holding the foot switch down at the right time and plugging in the microUSB connection at the right time. It's not just a matter of connecting the unit and updating. I have not been able to do this successfully yet. Getting kind of frustrated, so I'm going to wait and try it again in the clear light of day .

not a great start, that's for sure.

 

[Hypercaffium]

I would return it and never look back.

 

[pfschim]

in the clear light of day I was able to follow the directions to update the NUX Mini Studio and the update seems to have made the non-guitar cab IR's to be switched as advertised.

So, the NUX works as advertised once I followed all of the directions.

I used the headphone output (nice feature) and have been able to play around with the various included bass cab IRs. Some sound pretty good, particularly the Ampeg cab IR's (SV810 and SV212) some are not to my taste, but that's to be expected.

Although I would not to expect to use the NUX with my live rig (pedals, head and cab), I'm going to work with the box to see how I might use it for tracking and also see how it sounds through my live rig (currently this is bass => Cali76CB => Noble DI => Mesa Walkabout (or WD800) => Berg NV212t).

 

[pfschim]

So, quick update on my initial trial of the IR loader NUX Mini Studio, and also a question for all you more experienced IR users.
I have used the NUX in 3 ways so far; last in line into my live rig, just thru headphones and with my small home studio setup.
While it works ok with my live rig (Cali76CB => Noble DI => Mesa Walkabout (or WD800) => Berg NV212t), it seems pretty clear that while I can hear the various cab IRs at work in the live rig, it also just seems like I am stacking yet more EQ settings in my signal chain. I'm already stacking the Noble EQ and the Mesa's EQ. Works, allows me to hear the NUX in action, but probably not going to be part of that signal chain on a regular basis.

Using the NUX thru headphones via its onboard headphone jack works really well and definitely sweetens up the sound of my basses in some positive and useful ways. Its a pretty limited application, but it works quite well.

When I finally got around to putting the NUX into the signal chain for some tracks using a Focusrite 18i8 and Reaper, I was very happy with the results. It definitely adds a nice flavor to the tone and feel of the tracks and the 8 included bass cab IRs give some good options to choose from. I'm particularly happy with the Aguilar 8x10 and Ampeg 8x10 IRs. Of course, this is flavoring the bass signal up front in some pretty specific ways and that may not always work out depending on who I'm doing tracks for. Some folks just want a very clean unprocessed bass track.

Question:
Once I got started with the NUX, I pretty much focused in on just a few of the 8 provided bass cab IR's. Looking around the web I see that there are any number of options.
So, is there a specific format for IR's ? will pretty much any IR work with the NUX ? I have the NUX Mini Studio app up and running and I think I see how to load an IR, but I don't see that there are specific file types or specs for the IRs that can be loaded. What should I look for ?

Given that the NUX offers 3 banks of 8 IR slots, I would think I could find some others to replace those that I don't find particularly useful.

there you go, quick update.

 

[JKos]

So, is there a specific format for IR's ?

Yes. In the case of the NSS-3, you are looking for mono, 24 bit, 44.1 kHz IR files.

it also just seems like I am stacking yet more EQ settings

Yeah, using IRs into an already colored system doesn't do as much as into an FRFR system.

 

[Zymba]

Does anyone know of an IR that is a "blank slate"? That is, one that has no built-in EQ curve at all, that could be uploaded into a cab sim device. Or, better yet, one that provides only a HPF/LPF option. There are times, particularly when using an octaver and/or synth patch where I'd prefer to have no additional coloration. Having a 12db slope filter for the highs and lows, with no added peaks and dips, would be outstanding. I am running full-range speakers. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JKos]

@Zymba ,
There are IR design software tools available which can help you do exactly that. Even Audacity can do it.

To get a flat IR, you can either download one, or create a new file of the bit depth, sample rate, and length that you need. Then, zoom into the very first sample and max it out. Boom, a flat IR. Now use Audacity's filter tools to add your desired EQ.

Found this:
"I do that with Audacity. Open an impulse file (.wav file) with Audacity

Next view the Frequency Analysis of your Impulse Response (Analyze --> Plot Spectrum)

Then use the internal EQ effect (Effect --> Equalizer) to make a 2db cut at 400Hz.

Now you can Export (File -->Export) your new improved IR."

- John

 

[Zymba]

@Zymba ,
There are IR design software tools available which can help you do exactly that. Even Audacity can do it.

To get a flat IR, you can either download one, or create a new file of the bit depth, sample rate, and length that you need. Then, zoom into the very first sample and max it out. Boom, a flat IR. Now use Audacity's filter tools to add your desired EQ.

Found this:
"I do that with Audacity. Open an impulse file (.wav file) with Audacity

Next view the Frequency Analysis of your Impulse Response (Analyze --> Plot Spectrum)

Then use the internal EQ effect (Effect --> Equalizer) to make a 2db cut at 400Hz.

Now you can Export (File -->Export) your new improved IR."

- John

*Just to be clear, you're saying that I can load a regular cab IR into Audacity and then flatten everything out?*

So I imported the IR (wav. file) into Audacity. I zoomed in as much as possible but I'm not sure what you mean by "max it out". Also the spectrum analyzer doesn't register any data. Here is a screenshot of the IR fully zoomed:

 

[Roxbororob]

Question:
Once I got started with the NUX, I pretty much focused in on just a few of the 8 provided bass cab IR's. Looking around the web I see that there are any number of options.
So, is there a specific format for IR's ? will pretty much any IR work with the NUX ? I have the NUX Mini Studio app up and running and I think I see how to load an IR, but I don't see that there are specific file types or specs for the IRs that can be loaded. What should I look for ?

Given that the NUX offers 3 banks of 8 IR slots, I would think I could find some others to replace those that I don't find particularly useful.

there you go, quick update.

I had a bit of a breakthrough with my NUX mini studio last night. Ive been only lukewarm with mine because it was so not user fiendly to update the firmware and the IRs were only OK....
Also I could only upload 44.1Khz 24B IR files (and they still didnt seem right so I kept reseting to default).

So last night I finally got around to hacking away at it again, I managed to get the thing to actually work as expected.
The firmware update instructions are correct (but you have to follow them exactly) but there are no instructions on the Editor. The key (if you guys havent already figured it out also) is to:

1. Disconnect everything after firmware update.
2. Start the editor on your computer.
3. Power up the pedal engage it (click it on)
4. Only then connect the USB cable between the pedal and computer.
5. It might take two tries.
6. You shoul get an error (ignore it, click it off)
7. Go to the settings button on the editor (sprocket, top right)
8. On the MIDI tab, NUX mini studio needs to appear in both input and output boxes.

Presto, everything works:
I can load any IR and they respond beautifully.
The IR Level button on the Editor now works (and is needed).
My favorites so far are the various DR Bonkers HypeReal Cab Mixes (at 96KHz_32B..!)
I really like the Shiftline SVT-810E as well.

So what I decided to do is keep all the stock the NUX IR in the BASS bank (and brought them to life by adjusting the IR level), then filled the entire ACOUSTIC bank with 810 IRs. The 96K32bit IRs are very very good (but need to be attenuated with the IR level control).

Using Fdeck/SV Pre/mini studio the results are really satisfying, my ampless rig can now be a fridge! Much happier am I.

Screen shots of two (notice the different IR level positions).

Dr. Bonkers

Shiftline:

 

[jcburn]

Nice work @Roxbororob. I love seeing those frequency charts - I just find it interesting to visually see what the cab IRs are doing.

For owners of any of the Shiftline IR loaders I made some cabsim\poweramp hex files files last night using the Redwirez DB115 and a few of my favourite mic combos (namely AKG D12, EV RE20 and Neumann U47FET). Really good results with the KT88 and EL34M poweramps. They add some harmonic colouration and tame the top end with what I will call harmonic compression. I'm not sure if that's a thing but it seems to tame top end but not dull the sound like turning down a tone knob. Still retains some "air", but reduces any clack or clang that sounds bad.

My absolute favourite combo is the Redwirez Aguilar DB115, AKG D12 placed edge of cap\cone, 2 inches back combined with the KT88 poweramp.

 

[jcburn]

I've also been eyeing off a few of the Lancaster Audio cab packs - anyone tried their Mesa Powerhouse\SVT\Bassman cab IRs?

 

[socialleper]

Is anyone interested in the upcoming release of Amplitube 5?
I like their guitar sims, but wasn't wow'ed by their bass selection in ver 4. They were all a little muddy.
Amp wise it seems like they added an Aguilar amp, but still only have one weird GK combo amp, no Mesa, no SWR, and no Eden.