I believe all controls affect all the outs (xlr, 1/4, and headphone) but I’ve not tested this. I certainly didn’t see any way to configure them separately.
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M-Vave IR Box review
- Thread starter ETJ
- Start date
I'm gonna type a few additional review notes here.
The pedal uses Bluetooth to connect to the iOS CubeSuite app, probably true for the Android app, as well. It's possible the smart device and unit need to be very close to each other.
The Mac & PC CubeSuite app requires USB to connect. On my Mac, I had to go to System Settings/Privacy & Security, then scroll down to where there was an option to "Open Anyway...." After that it worked as expected, until I went to quit the app, as the quit option was greyed out. I realized I have to either close the edit window first, or hit the "ESCAPE" key on my keyboard to exit the editor, then after that I could quit.
The pedal sounds good, with clean signal and no noticeable noise on the 1/4" out. The pedal was smaller than I was expecting. The Low Cut, High Cut, and Level knobs are tiny. Their effect is global, and independent of the level and EQ settings that are part of the preset. The knobs aren't "scanned" very often so I was hearing little steps as I turned the knobs, but they have enough resolution to set where I need them.
The EQ along is pretty great; especially given that you can edit it pretty easily via BT on a phone. Again, the changes are a bit slow to register, but they work as they should. NOTE: The Q setting for the individual bands on the iOS app has a range of 1.0-160.0 (the decimal is probably off by one place), in the Mac app, the range is 0.1 - 16.0 (which is probably the correct range).
The unit also functions as a USB audio interface with both a mono input and mono output via the 1/4" out, as well as a stereo out via headphones. Be warned that there is no level control and the headphone output for USB audio level is HOT, so you probably won't want to use this function unless your headphones have an inline volume control.
The pedal uses Bluetooth to connect to the iOS CubeSuite app, probably true for the Android app, as well. It's possible the smart device and unit need to be very close to each other.
The Mac & PC CubeSuite app requires USB to connect. On my Mac, I had to go to System Settings/Privacy & Security, then scroll down to where there was an option to "Open Anyway...." After that it worked as expected, until I went to quit the app, as the quit option was greyed out. I realized I have to either close the edit window first, or hit the "ESCAPE" key on my keyboard to exit the editor, then after that I could quit.
The pedal sounds good, with clean signal and no noticeable noise on the 1/4" out. The pedal was smaller than I was expecting. The Low Cut, High Cut, and Level knobs are tiny. Their effect is global, and independent of the level and EQ settings that are part of the preset. The knobs aren't "scanned" very often so I was hearing little steps as I turned the knobs, but they have enough resolution to set where I need them.
The EQ along is pretty great; especially given that you can edit it pretty easily via BT on a phone. Again, the changes are a bit slow to register, but they work as they should. NOTE: The Q setting for the individual bands on the iOS app has a range of 1.0-160.0 (the decimal is probably off by one place), in the Mac app, the range is 0.1 - 16.0 (which is probably the correct range).
The unit also functions as a USB audio interface with both a mono input and mono output via the 1/4" out, as well as a stereo out via headphones. Be warned that there is no level control and the headphone output for USB audio level is HOT, so you probably won't want to use this function unless your headphones have an inline volume control.
I'm happy with the purchase. It was delivered pretty quickly, too. Thanks @ETJ for bringing it to our attention.
I don’t really have any need for this thing, but I am super intrigued by it.
Yea that describes about half my pedal "inventory".
A tiny $27 box with 32 presets, 9-band detailed parametric EQ, 2048 sample IR loader, global level & HPF/LPF, USB audio interface, it's hard to pass up.
I was kinda in the same boat. I'd hadn't gone into the IR rabbit hole, but it's one thing my multieffect doesn't do (Zoom G5n hacked to use B3n effects), and it was dirt cheap. I really like it though!
Interested in finding what IRs you like.
I'm mostly using the stupidly inexpensive Dr. Bonkers (@dr bonkers ) stuff. Get his "In this together" ($1!) and "Silver and Black" ($1.99!) packs. I'm surprised but delighted how much I like the Sunn IRs, esp the 2x12. I'll probably buy others.
Science Amplification and Shiftline have some nice free ones too.
There's an "IR Megathread" with a lot of links.
Thanks for the recommendations about IRs. I don't have any faves as yet. They mostly just seem like EQ tweaks when I hear them, also, I don't have a long track record of playing with millions of amps where I have some nostalgia for something specific.
I'm probably going to run a sweep on my gigging amp with the settings that I like and see how it sounds as an IR. If it sounds cool and worth sharing, I'll post here.
Great! I'm not setup to actually create any IRs but I think I know the jist of the process. I'd love to get an IR of my rare oddball Bassman 20 which sounds great but can't get real loud.
I'm glad you're liking the box. Its an amazing little thing for the money. It would be amazing if it was only a HPF/LPF, or only a parametric EQ, or only an IR loader, and decent if it was only a direct box, interface, or headphone amp. Being ALL these things for under $30 is something else.
I don't think I mentioned in my earlier review that it can power directly off the USB interface in lieu of the 9V.
It would be a little more amazing if:
- There was a footswitch to bypass, or a pair of switches to select up/down with feet. I may pop open the box and see if there's any room at all to do that or add a pigtail/jack for an external switch box.
- Ground lift - at that point I'd be able to consider it a real DI box. This should be relatively easy if there's any room at all. Ground lift adapters are available that could be used in lieu of this, but it seems like it would be trivial to add.
- Aux input and/or able to receive audio via bluetooth. It would be a pretty awesome headphone/practice amp if it did.
It’s currently a little over $21 with free shipping on Ali Express for their anniversary sale.
The documentation is pretty sloppy; mentioning "positive-center" even though that is NOT TRUE; (the tip-negative that is inked on the unit is correct). Also in one place it recommends 1A, but in another place it says 300mA.
I suppose it might be possible. Another option would be to mount something on top that mechanically pushes the buttons but could be tapped with the feet. Something with just the right firmness to press, but enough squish to not do any damage. We didn't mention this, but there is quite a bit of level boost available, and with that EQ, it could be a crazy-versatile clean mid-boost into a drive.
I suspect that even if there was room, the way the XLR is mounted to the circuit would make lifting the ground impractical. A short XLR cable (I have som lil 10" cables) could have the ground wire removed on the female connector-- Or a switch could be added.
Yea, I agree. And considering the USB audio out (via headphones) is so insanely loud as to be unusable, Bluetooth audio would have been better.
If some of the functions could be address via Bluetooth (MIDI?) then other footswitch-type controllers (like the Hotone Ampero Control) might be useable to change presets and bypass) but that would require a firmware update.
I also noted that the base cabs are listed as 4x10 in the docs, but I’m not sure that’s true either.
I hadn’t thought of that. That may be the path of least resistance.
Yes a lot of gain is available. I’ve not played with mine in that fashion but I’ll add it to the list of things to try.
Probably true. I’ll open mine up and take a few pics. At this price point I suspect it’s all on one little board with SMD components.
Do you mean the audio coming out of the USB is is hot? Or the headphone feed is hot? If the latter, I’ve found that the volume knob works on the headphone out too. I’ve not experienced anything too loud but I haven’t used the USB for output.
They would be real cool. I wonder if the hardware could support Bluetooth for audio? That seems like such an obvious feature and the Bluetooth hardware is already there.
Yes. On my Mac, when I chose "USB Audio" as a device-- it fed audio to both the 1/4" output and the headphones. The headphone out was stereo but it was VERY loud. There was a little noise as well, but given the insane level, the signal-to-noise ratio is probably fine.
The level knob has no affect on USB audio to headphones. And the volume controls on the Mac are unavailable.
I imagine if they could have, they would have.
I took mine apart. First interesting bit is the knobs are sleeves over pcb-mounted pots. Removing the sleeves (or at least the middle one) makes it a lot easier to get your fingers in there.
To disassemble, remove the four screws in the side corners, remove the sleeves over the pots, and remove the outer part of the 1/4 jacks (11mm socket).
To disassemble, remove the four screws in the side corners, remove the sleeves over the pots, and remove the outer part of the 1/4 jacks (11mm socket).
Once the cover is off, you see they didn’t waste much space:
Further the XLR output is a separate component so the ground wire is easily accessible if you wanted to try to put a ground lift switch somewhere.
I think the only place that would be at all forgiving would be a small push button or mini toggle right above the connector that attaches the XLR itself.
Is a ground lift as simply as disconnecting the ground wire via a switch?
The push buttons have four connections. I don’t know if they are double pole or it uses the other connections just for mechanical support. In any event, I don’t think I’ll try jumping those to an external foot switch when the idea of an external paddle may be way easier.
Anyhow, they squeezed a lot of stuff in this tiny inexpensive box.
Further the XLR output is a separate component so the ground wire is easily accessible if you wanted to try to put a ground lift switch somewhere.
I think the only place that would be at all forgiving would be a small push button or mini toggle right above the connector that attaches the XLR itself.
Is a ground lift as simply as disconnecting the ground wire via a switch?
The push buttons have four connections. I don’t know if they are double pole or it uses the other connections just for mechanical support. In any event, I don’t think I’ll try jumping those to an external foot switch when the idea of an external paddle may be way easier.
Anyhow, they squeezed a lot of stuff in this tiny inexpensive box.
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IMPORTANT!
I also installed the CubeSuite app (called CubeSuit) on an Android device. It works a little differently. For iOS, you don't need to pair it, the link is established in the app. But for Android, I had to go to the Bluetooth in system settings and pair it there first, then it appeared in the app. After that it was working as it should.
I also installed the CubeSuite app (called CubeSuit) on an Android device. It works a little differently. For iOS, you don't need to pair it, the link is established in the app. But for Android, I had to go to the Bluetooth in system settings and pair it there first, then it appeared in the app. After that it was working as it should.
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