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NPD DSM Noisemaker OmniCabSim

#241
dannybuoy said:
I just thought of a good reason to use this over the Torpedo CAB...

Digital modellers introduce a small time delay due to the processing involved. If you have an on-stage rig and are just using the cab sim to go to the PA, if there is a time delay between the signals you will get nasty comb filtering effects (kinda like a frozen flanger). An analog filter won't have this problem!
Click to expand...
Not to get gritty witty about it, but you're oversimplifying a huge field with lots of problems. Are your cabs phase aligned with the speakers of the PA? No they never are and never will be and it does not matter at all.
Yes, digital effects have a latency. But so does sound when travelling through space.

I think the biggest advantage of the Omni is the limited set of controls (in comparison to digital devices), it's instant tweakability and (if yes) the good sound. Does a cabsim need to have more controls than that? I don't think so. I like analog pedals that provide me with what I need.
 
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#242
Hey guys!
Just
Vlad5 said:
...and hooked it up.

Vast improvement!
I'm considering selling my amp and cab now and going straight to powered speakers.
I may have to get another one for my guitarist (trying out other possibilities first).
Where my bass sounded either muddy or fizzy (or both, if you can believe it) through my 300w full range powered speaker; now it is punchy, articulate, and thumpy.
More testing of course, but I usually know within 5 minutes of tweaking an effect whether or not it's worth keeping.
This one is a keeper without a doubt.
So good.

Thanks Daniel, well done sir!
Click to expand...

Hey Vlad! so glad you liked it!!
 
#243
aledeville said:
Not to get gritty witty about it, but you're oversimplifying a huge field with lots of problems. Are your cabs phase aligned with the speakers of the PA? No they never are and never will be and it does not matter at all.
Yes, digital effects have a latency. But so does sound when travelling through space.

I think the biggest advantage of the Omni is the limited set of controls (in comparison to digital devices), it's instant tweakability and (if yes) the good sound. Does a cabsim need to have more controls than that? I don't think so. I like analog pedals that provide me with what I need.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think I overestimated the importance of a digital processing delay vs the effects attributed to speaker placement and room size etc. I thought it would be way more that 1.7ms. Still, all these short delays add up so I guess it's best to keep A/D -> D/A conversions to a minimum when running parallel chains!

The instant tweakability is definitely one of the reasons I placed my order last week! Any pedal that involves menus or knob positions not relating to their actual values does not hang around in my possession for long.
 
#244
Dsmnoisemaker said:
The omni can take line and instrument levels, the gain pot allows to avoid clipping if the signal is too hot..

The through output works as a splitter to go to the amp with no effect..
Click to expand...

So, if it accepts instruments levels, I assume it can used as an 'effect' in a regular chain? Just like any reg pedal? And still run the DI out to FOH?

I guess what I'm asking is can I add to to the end of the pedal board and just plug it in like it is a B7K, VMt what ever pedal you choose.
 
#245
Duke, absolutely the OCS can be utilized as a pedal in a standard signal chain. Mine is at the end of my chain with the DI to the board, and the thru to my amp just like I have done with my VMTD. A couple weeks ago, I forced my guitarist to utilize the OCS at the end of his chain (5-6 pedals in front of), remove his amp and DI straight to the board. Result; best tone he has had in the 5 years we have played together.
 
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#246
Snowglo said:
Duke, absolutely the OCS can be utilized as a pedal in a standard signal chain. Mine is at the end of my chain with the DI to the board, and the thru to my amp just like I have done with my VMTD. A couple weeks ago, I forced my guitarist to utilize the OCS at the end of his chain (5-6 pedals in front of), remove his amp and DI straight to the board. Result; best tone he has had in the 5 years we have played together.
Click to expand...

My issue is I have a Verellen with no effects send or return
 
#249
@Dsmnoisemaker will have to chime in. I believe the OCS can accept both line and instrument levels. However, the line level will result in lower overall output.

I'm not a SME by any means.
 
#251
Snowglo said:
@Dsmnoisemaker will have to chime in. I believe the OCS can accept both line and instrument levels. However, the line level will result in lower overall output.

I'm not a SME by any means.
Click to expand...
Instrument and line levels are very confusing terms, for example, a professional line level is +4dBu (1.4V rms) and consumer line level is -10dBm (350mV rms) instrument level is closer to -10dBm.
The OCS has around 7V pp headroom, so with the gain at 0dB (middle) it can happily accept line levels.
If the input is low level, you can boost the gain 6 or 10dB and the output will be line level..

The DI output does not boost the signal 6dB (as typical xlr output do) since i prioritized headroom over output level.

In other words, yes you can use it with line or low levels with no problem..just adjust the gain knob to compensate levels and avoid clipping..
 
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#252
DirtyDuke said:
No idea..... that's the question. There is no out of the Verellen except the DI out
Click to expand...
If you use the Verellen clean, you can put the OCS in front of it..
Or you can use the verellen DI out into the ocs into the PA..no problem (you'll need an adapter ,though)
 
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#253
Got it today, and spent a good half hour tweaking through my Rumble 100 practice amp. That amp is a bit more than I need for my condo (where I have neighbors above, below, and on two sides), so I thought it would be a good test. I normally roll the Bass control nearly off to be nice to aforementioned neighbors, but I used the OCS to trim the rumble from the Rumble without totally killing the lows. OCS usage isn't as obvious as EQ, but it's intuitive enough. EDIT: forgot to mention that I liked the result!

The real test will be at the gig. My absolute favorite cab for tone is the sealed Bergantino NV610, but it's a big heavy beast so I got a pair of Berg CN210 cabs (neo) for lighter weight and modularity. The CN210s sound like modern ported/tweetered cabs: they have more bottom, more top, and less punch than the NV610. I'm hoping that the OmniCabSim will tighten them up ("vintage-ize" them) with better results than using amp EQ. I don't expect the OCS to magically turn apples into an orange, but on first impression I think it might get me in the ballpark. No gig until the following weekend, but I'll report back. :)


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#255
Snowglo said:
For me, the single 15 setting gave me a vintage vibe without a muddy bottom end.
Click to expand...

Wait... sample settings? Is there an online manual somewhere? I seem to recall a PDF with detailed explanations of the controls but I can't find it...

Never mind, found it on page 3 of this thread. Yay, me!
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
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#256
Dsmnoisemaker said:
Instrument and line levels are very confusing terms, for example, a professional line level is +4dBu (1.4V rms) and consumer line level is -10dBm (350mV rms) instrument level is closer to -10dBm.
The OCS has around 7V pp headroom, so with the gain at 0dB (middle) it can happily accept line levels.
If the input is low level, you can boost the gain 6 or 10dB and the output will be line level..

The DI output does not boost the signal 6dB (as typical xlr output do) since i prioritized headroom over output level.

In other words, yes you can use it with line or low levels with no problem..just adjust the gain knob to compensate levels and avoid clipping..
Click to expand...

Is there a clip LED on the pedal to indicate clipping?

Having a clip LED would be a nice touch as then one could simply back down the GAIN a bit from that point and achieve a healthy working S/N.

Cheers!
 
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#257
CharlieC said:
Is there a clip LED on the pedal to indicate clipping?

Having a clip LED would be a nice touch as then one could simply back down the GAIN a bit from that point and achieve a healthy working S/N.

Cheers!
Click to expand...
Thats a good idea.. maybe i will add that on the third version..
 
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#258
CharlieC said:
Is there a clip LED on the pedal to indicate clipping?

Having a clip LED would be a nice touch as then one could simply back down the GAIN a bit from that point and achieve a healthy working S/N.

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Perhaps, but few DI/preamp pedals have a clip LED. Many really popular ones (SansAmp, Darkglass, etc) don't.

My safe path is to set pedals for unity gain, but I keep things simple. I'm sure some have different needs, such as using a pedal for serious boost to overdrive another pedal or amp.
 
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#259
Back to the OmniCabSim: I had been thinking about getting a dedicated HPF for awhile, so the OCS' main selling point for me was (and is) Cab Size+Resonance. In particular, I'm looking to give my modern-sounding neo cabs a more vintage vibe, especially down low. I'm bummed that I won't get to use it with my neo cabs for another full week, but I've continued to use the OCS at home with my combo, experimenting with low end control. The more I tweak, the more I like it!

The additional controls on the OCS should useful as well. It's interesting that the LPF has a small peak at the cutoff -- not nearly as drastic as the Stellartone Tonestyler I have in one of my basses, but audible. I like that, too. The mid controls are also unusual: boost only at 800, cut only at 450. The overall point though is that this is a cab simulator, not an EQ.

The real test will be at the gig, not my apartment, but after becoming more familiar with the controls I am confident that the OCS can "vintage up" my neo cabs. That said, I also like the way it tightens up my practice combo -- the end result sounds much nicer than rolling down the Bass knob.
 
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