father of fires
Commercial User
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father of fires
Commercial User
The MBD is the evolution of a design I had at one point that shredded its fair share of cabs. So tightening low end is something I plan throughout the MBD. But it's not specifically an HPF.
That would be awesome if you put further development into the idea behind this!! Way cool.
Too bad a product called Cab Shredder would be antithetical to sales of said unit.
I'm currently using an SWR Goliath 410, rated at 40Hz to 12kHz. Does that mean a HPF wouldn't help here?
It is my understanding that a speaker cab can filter out low frequency which would in effect perform like a HPF in a live situation. However, that won't help your amp be more efficient. By filtering the low frequencies prior to the signal reaching the amp, allows the amp to work more efficiently with not having to waste effort trying to amplify those frequencies.
For sealed cabs not ported cabs. For ported cabs, HPFs protect the speakers too.
Absolutely, but the point I was making was that a HPF has other benefits besides protecting speakers.
I like using a HPF set at 45hz + para eq to help with resonance from high gain or fuzz. My go-to cab is an Ampeg HLF @28hz so I don't find I need a HPF with clean tones, but I do like to add bass back in above the cutoff to get a little more punch
Any thoughts on how the Terraformer and the MBD-2 compare? I love the Terraformer at 24v for stacking with other ODs, but the MBDs receive similar praise in that regard - and if the two stack well together, even better.
I'm mainly curious about how the clipping differs between the two drives.
The MBD2 is always on for my rock/ heavy metal band.
This little thing really fill and shake the room.
This little thing really fill and shake the room.
I've had the MBD2 for a while now. I'm playing a gig as I write this, the singer is doing a ballad
The MBD2 is still the best OD I've owned.
The MBD2 is still the best OD I've owned.
No, it doesn't mean that at all. Leave the frequency of the cab tuning out of it. Just because a cab has a specific "frequency range" doesn't mean that the amp and cab aren't still trying to reproduce those useless frequencies. That's just not how it works. Your amp can't read your cabinets specifications.
The post by @WorktheWood above is correct.
But isn't how you feel how things work now?No, it doesn't mean that at all. Leave the frequency of the cab tuning out of it. Just because a cab has a specific "frequency range" doesn't mean that the amp and cab aren't still trying to reproduce those useless frequencies. That's just not how it works. Your amp can't read your cabinets specifications.
The post by @WorktheWood above is correct.
But seriously, I do understand what you guys are saying. In a real world scenario, what advantage does it give me to allow the amp to work more efficiently? Especially if I'm not pushing it towards its limits. I'm just thinking about the decades of bass players who did fine without this technology. Please please please correct me if I'm off base here.
father of fires
Commercial User
Sometimes we're at a risk of getting to a caught up in the science and forgetting to play.
That's why I always try for good enough. Only introduce a tool when it has a measurable benefit that you will notice.
That's why I always try for good enough. Only introduce a tool when it has a measurable benefit that you will notice.
I totally subscribe to this "good enough" theory. Like when I was checking out flangers. This little MXR did what I needed without a ton of other options that while cool, I'd likely never use. It was the keeper.
This may not be directly related to amp efficiency, but the big advantage to me is simply sound clarity: those ultra-low frequencies don't usually sound good in most rooms, and cutting them out leads to a clearer mix.
Leaving them in just means your amp is working harder, and will be pushed to the limit sooner. And, as @SunnBass stated, your cab can still try to reproduce those frequencies even if the frequency response doesn't go that low. This is bad for the speakers, and a high-pass in front can therefore also prolong speaker life.
This I think is a YMMV situation. I'll see after this short tour in a few weeks if the need to tame anything comes up.
I see HPFs like compressors. I don’t miss them until they’re gone.
Exactly.
When I set up a HPF, I do so while thumping away on my lowest open string.
Sweep up the LPF Frequency until you just barely start to hear it cutting lows in an audible way. Nudge it back down a tiny smidge.
Now boost your bass a little bit, or a lot if you like.
You’ll be able to get a bunch more tight defined lows without it getting muddy/boomy.
They are even more useful to correct rooms/stages/cabs that amplify certain sub and low frequencies. Sounding to boomy, flabby, or muddy? Everything vibrating but you can’t hear the bass clearly?
Grab the HPF Freq knob and sweep until it clears up. Problem solved! You don’t have to monkey with gain, volume, cab positions, and several bands worth of EQ trying to correct it.
Trim the fat quickly and easily while leaving the meat!
