Cab Impulse Response Megathread

[jcburn]

This is a new area for me. I was wondering how many IR formats are out there and what interface they require? The two main players I'm aware of are Dr. Bonkers and Two Notes and from what I've read they use different formats. I'd rather not buy more hardware but am open to software plugins. I have a MacBook Pro with Garage Band and OS X 10.11

My Atomic Bass Box accepts 3rd party wav files. I assume there is a pretty good assortment of them? I'd like to get the Mesa Subway cabinet collection but it looks like that is Two Notes and might not load into my Bass Box.

Hey man. Shiftline offer a "pay what you want" pack of excellent (if not a little quirky) bass cab IRs that should work.
Also Redwirez have the Bass Box which has a bunch of great files.
All support the fairly typical .wav files used by most cab IR loaders. I'm not sure what the Atomic Bass Box will accept as a file type.

 

[5StringPocket]

I think Bass Box accepts .wav files. Thanks for the suggestion on Redwirez.

 

[jcburn]

Folks is there a simple way to create a WAV file that could be used in an IR loader that simply active like a HP and LP filter?
For example - however it's done - create a snapshot with highs rolled off steeply above 4/5khz and lows rolled off maybe between 30-40 hz?

Just a thought. Kinda creating what Josh Broughton does with his HP/LPF pedal but without the selectable cutoff frequencies?

 

[JKos]

Folks is there a simple way to create a WAV file that could be used in an IR loader that simply active like a HP and LP filter?

Yes, there are IR creators/editors. You can even do it in Audacity if you have an IR to start from.

 

[jcburn]

Sweet - Audacity is my jam! Well it's about the only DAW I've ever used!
Might go and do some searching for instructions.

 

[OldogNewTrick]

Sweet - Audacity is my jam! Well it's about the only DAW I've ever used!
Might go and do some searching for instructions.

Please do share !
I have tried messing with loading and mixing IR's in audacity and creating from the mix a new IR with Voxengo Deconvolver, but with underwhelming success.
This Oldog needs still to learn that NewTrick.

 

[OldogNewTrick]

Treated myself to this;
Bass IRs and DSRs: PULSE15 1×15 Ported Speaker Response

For my tastes and application, Celestion got this one right. So far my preferred choice for headphone practice.
I have got IR packs from Redwirez to Dr Bonkers, from Shiftline to any freebie I could find on the net.
I always felt, the commercial products were primarily geared towards DAW applications.
The playing style IR's sound very good to my ears.

Now I need to worry about the xmax of my eardrums......

 

[jcburn]

Treated myself to this;
Bass IRs and DSRs: PULSE15 1×15 Ported Speaker Response

For my tastes and application, Celestion got this one right. So far my preferred choice for headphone practice.
I have got IR packs from Redwirez to Dr Bonkers, from Shiftline to any freebie I could find on the net.
I always felt, the commercial products were primarily geared towards DAW applications.
The playing style IR's sound very good to my ears.

Now I need to worry about the xmax of my eardrums......

Hey man - I've always felt this about the commercially available IRs as well - more aimed at recording than either going to headphones or front of house.....hard to put my finger on why but I think I find all the current IRs I've used are still hyped in lows and highs that I don't think accurately transfers to how I hear my live cabs.

Would you say that is what the Celestion IRs provide? Are you digging them for rehearsal? I've been thinking lately I might even try just a HP\LP filter pedal for rehearsing and FOH. I might try a Celestion 15" and a Celestion 10"?

 

[OldogNewTrick]

This is exactly what I meant to say.
The Playing Style IR's give you exactly that tone which sits right for live playing, at least for headphones.
Some of the tones which you hear on records may fit very well to the song, but would for me at least be awful for live playing.

These have become the benchmark to which I now compare all others.
Next on the list will be a 10" set, just not sure yet wether the BL10 (brighter) on the BN10 or the Pulse 10.
Have to check the soundsamples some more...

 

[OldogNewTrick]

Here are some frequency response plots for some of the cab sims.

Pulse15 "Finger Basic"

Pulse15 "Plectrum Agressive"

Pulse15 "Plectrum Basic"

Pulse15 "Slap"

 

[OldogNewTrick]

Looking at some IR's, you won't believe it's the same cab (Aguilar DB810) due to mic selection and combination...

 

[fivestringgecko]

I have got IR packs from Redwirez to Dr Bonkers, from Shiftline to any freebie I could find on the net.
I always felt, the commercial products were primarily geared towards DAW applications.

Hey man - I've always felt this about the commercially available IRs as well - more aimed at recording than either going to headphones or front of house.....hard to put my finger on why but I think I find all the current IRs I've used are still hyped in lows and highs that I don't think accurately transfers to how I hear my live cabs.

I'm thinking you both might be right. As I get further into trying & tweaking IRs both at my home IEM practice setup and back into limited band rehearsals, I've started to wonder if I'm forcing the IRs...

Over the last week or so, I switched to a PJ and turned off the amp sim and IR in my Stomp in favor of just some simple (but tried and true, effective) comp/EQ/preamp settings. It was actually a bit refreshing. *gasp!*

I know that's counterintuitive to the discussion in this thread, but that also prompted trying a couple other basses with and without the IRs as well, and I discovered similar feelings to what made me get rid of my Sansamp BDDI. Some of them sound pretty good, but I've never quite truly settled into any IRs... No matter what bass I'm playing through them, I've started to feel like I'm playing the IR's sound, and not the sound of my basses... if that makes sense. I've been running them at 100% mix in my Stomp, and will try dialing the mix back and see if I still feel the same.

5sg.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

I'm thinking you both might be right. As I get further into trying & tweaking IRs both at my home IEM practice setup and back into limited band rehearsals, I've started to wonder if I'm forcing the IRs...

Over the last week or so, I switched to a PJ and turned off the amp sim and IR in my Stomp in favor of just some simple (but tried and true, effective) comp/EQ/preamp settings. It was actually a bit refreshing. *gasp!*

I know that's counterintuitive to the discussion in this thread, but that also prompted trying a couple other basses with and without the IRs as well, and I discovered similar feelings to what made me get rid of my Sansamp BDDI. Some of them sound pretty good, but I've never quite truly settled into any IRs... No matter what bass I'm playing through them, I've started to feel like I'm playing the IR's sound, and not the sound of my basses... if that makes sense. I've been running them at 100% mix in my Stomp, and will try dialing the mix back and see if I still feel the same.

5sg.

I've been dialing the 3rd party IR's back to about 25% and also hitting the HPF's on them pretty hard at about 60 hz.

EDIT: IMO, YMMV, etc etc....Think of them as a "tone control" vs a "speaker cabinet IR". I've been really liking the results.

 

[jcburn]

I don't have the option of running a blend of IRs. I have a Shiftline IR loader, and have always gone back to using their IR files as they feel and sound the most "unhyped" to me. My issue with the Shiftline cab sims though is that they are a little eclectic. Most of the cabs represented are a little left of centre. They do have a few Ampeg 810 IRs, but not much else in the form of other standards (SWR, GK, Trace, Aguilar), and still no one doing an Ashdown 10" speaker IR.

I'm gonna give a few of the Celestion cab IRs a run. Beyond that I think I may get Mr. Broughton to make me a HP/LPF pedal.

 

[seamonkey]

Looking at some IR's, you won't believe it's the same cab (Aguilar DB810) due to mic selection and combination...

Nice work.
Just like in real life - move the mic a little and it sounds different.
The dance floor sounds different than the seating. Stand in a different spot on stage and it sounds different. Some IR makers are doing wonders capturing all different positions and different rooms.

There's some cool tech in some IEMs now where you can turn your head to adjust your mix. Sounds a little silly but makes sense when your doing backgrounds to turn your own voice up with a little head tilt.

 

[jcburn]

Holy crap - I just purchased the Celestion Pulse playing styles pack......there are more choices in here than I expected......different mics, mic mixes, then mixes based on playing style (pick, fingers, slap etc).
More rabbit holes

 

[Bonsist]

Holy crap - I just purchased the Celestion Pulse playing styles pack

Sigh... Unzips... my wallet. I had to get a zipper installed into my wallet for moments like these, but I truly just have a weakness & bass cabs aren't laying by the side of the street like guitar cabs are. These are going to be next on my list now.

 

[jcburn]

I tried a few basic IRs in my lunch time (working from home!!). They sound fairly decent actually - very similar to the Redwirez package using either a U47FET or RE20 mic close to the grill.

I think I would definitely recommend them - no hyped frequencies, just sounds like bass coming through a cab.

 

[OldogNewTrick]

Holy crap - I just purchased the Celestion Pulse playing styles pack......there are more choices in here than I expected......different mics, mic mixes, then mixes based on playing style (pick, fingers, slap etc).
More rabbit holes

Have fun

I am also going to get a 10" pack in addition to the Pulse 15, just not sure which one.
BTW, which pack did you get? 10, 12 or also the 15?

 

[jcburn]

I grabbed the 10 mate.
Yeah I think I'll get a 15 at some stage too.