Quick question about the Palmer speaker simulator. My live rig currently is a sansamp rbi into a compressor running direct to the PA. After some experimentation, I’ve decided that I like the sound of a mic’d cab much better with the sansamp. Will the Palmer accurately capture the character of a bass cabinet? I’m thinking the PDi-03. It would certainly be nice to still only have to bring my rack to gigs. Thanks!
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- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,961
- 5
- 220,635
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Just note that these devices are intended for use with tube amps, they do not have the power handling capacity nor the isolation required for using with most bass amps (especially class D and other bridged topology bass amps) as damage could result.
Doesnt the Palmer have be driven from something with a power amp? Maybe run the sans amp into an impulse loader then to the PA. Maybe something from Two-Notes engineering.
I think the poster wanted to use this as an ampless rig? Just his sansamp preamp,the Palmer and compressor? No poweramps involved a la Geddy Lee
Brent
Cab Impulse Response Megathread
Get an IR loader
An IR is a Mic'ed Cabinet
The output would go direct to the PA and sound the same.
Get an IR loader
An IR is a Mic'ed Cabinet
The output would go direct to the PA and sound the same.
Palmers can work at line level or as load boxes. Whether you like the sound is subjective. There are a variety of opinions, especially between the original and the reissued PDI boxes.
IRs are a more modern solution to the problem.
Another thought is to look into some of the other preamps out there, including other Sansamps like the GED series and the VT series. Dark glass also has preamp pedals that you can load IRs directly onto. The RBI is a fine preamp, but it does have a very distinctive sound that does benefit IMO from the warmth and taming added by a speaker cab. There are a lot of similar preamps that will sound more like what you want right out of the box. I think you’ll find the Palmer to be a pricey solution and a bit of a one trick pony. FTR I’ve had the RBI, PDI-05, and everything else mentioned above at some point over the past 10 years.
In fact, you could get a dark glass pedal and use it exclusively as an IR loaded if you want, but I suspect you’d use it for more than that.
IRs are a more modern solution to the problem.
Another thought is to look into some of the other preamps out there, including other Sansamps like the GED series and the VT series. Dark glass also has preamp pedals that you can load IRs directly onto. The RBI is a fine preamp, but it does have a very distinctive sound that does benefit IMO from the warmth and taming added by a speaker cab. There are a lot of similar preamps that will sound more like what you want right out of the box. I think you’ll find the Palmer to be a pricey solution and a bit of a one trick pony. FTR I’ve had the RBI, PDI-05, and everything else mentioned above at some point over the past 10 years.
In fact, you could get a dark glass pedal and use it exclusively as an IR loaded if you want, but I suspect you’d use it for more than that.
I know a few cabinets that simulate a cabinet pretty well.
Just saying.
Otherwise usually software is a easier way. Or another way of getting realatively satisfying direct signal to board.
Plenty of cab emulations in software land
Likewise amplifiers.
Impulse response software was tricky to run or needed decent computer, few years ago.
Nowdays just a pad or realatively simple laptop can run software and impulse response simulations. Literally library's now of specific classic drivers , cabs etc
Believe what your looking at is more for tube amps. Simulating impedance curve of a cabinet/ speaker driver to get a tube amp to respond like it does with a cab.
They do sound different than just a straight dummy load. Many go direct with a tube amp and use impulse response software for recording direct. But even with very realistic modeling. The amp and sound still don't respond like the tubes usually do.
Sounds almost ridiculous, but A/B recorded audio comparison with a more complicated dummy load actually is pretty obvious. Anyhoo...more for tube amps. Solid state...don't serve any purpose
More realistic load for tubes and output transformer
Just saying.
Otherwise usually software is a easier way. Or another way of getting realatively satisfying direct signal to board.
Plenty of cab emulations in software land
Likewise amplifiers.
Impulse response software was tricky to run or needed decent computer, few years ago.
Nowdays just a pad or realatively simple laptop can run software and impulse response simulations. Literally library's now of specific classic drivers , cabs etc
Believe what your looking at is more for tube amps. Simulating impedance curve of a cabinet/ speaker driver to get a tube amp to respond like it does with a cab.
They do sound different than just a straight dummy load. Many go direct with a tube amp and use impulse response software for recording direct. But even with very realistic modeling. The amp and sound still don't respond like the tubes usually do.
Sounds almost ridiculous, but A/B recorded audio comparison with a more complicated dummy load actually is pretty obvious. Anyhoo...more for tube amps. Solid state...don't serve any purpose
More realistic load for tubes and output transformer
Thanks everyone for the responses! Yes, I would just be going from the sansamp into the Palmer, no power amp at all. From what I have heard it seems like that would be ok. I did check out some IR loaders, and the Two Notes torpedo cab m sounds really fantastic. Any opinions on these two devices?
Maybe something like this would be useful:
DSM Noisemaker Omni Cab Sim Deluxe
https://www.dsmnoisemaker.com/omnicabsim-deluxe/yh0m9
DSM Noisemaker Omni Cab Sim Deluxe
https://www.dsmnoisemaker.com/omnicabsim-deluxe/yh0m9
Two notes has the authorized line of Mesa cab IRs for a very reasonable price. I’m a fan.
