Help getting good tone with PS2 + IRs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ratou
  • Start date Start date
Ratou

Ratou

Active member
I’m struggling to get a good tone using a Fryette PS2 XLR out and IRs – would appreciate some help. I’m pretty sure I must be doing something wrong in respect to the connections / IR set up in my DAW as I’m very satisfied from the tone coming out of the actual cabinet (fed by the PS2 power amp).



The signal chain is as follows:



In the room: Marshall 50W JMP -> PS2 -> 80s JCM800 4x12



Recording: Marshall 50W JMP -> PS2 XLR OUT -> API mic pre -> RME Interface -> DAW -> Monitors



I’m using Ownhammer IRs and whatever cab / mic combination I try the sound is extremely shrill and harsh while the tone in the room (from the real cab) sounds great to my hears. I’m getting a fairly high gain tone with Master 1 at ~7 and Master 2 at ~3 (channels jumpered) and sometimes boosting with a Boss SD-1.



Any help to get better tones using the PS2 / IRs would be greatly appreciated!



Thanks
 
Did You tried lo-pass filter in DAW/IR loader ? EQ setting on PS2 ? How much API preamp affect sound ?
 
I have the Low Pass filter activated on the PS2, set up the PS2 settings to be warm / fat and set the bright switches on flat. Even with that and setting the amp's presence at 0, low treble and bass on 10, the recorded sound is extremely bright and thin (tried with multiple different IRs)...

The APi 512 should be fairly neutral sounding but will try going straight in the interface for good measure. I'm worried there is something wrong with the XLR out on the PS2 or i'm just not setting up the IRs correctly
 
it's been awhile since i had the ps2 but i think the xlr out is line level, maybe run that at line level instead of into a mic pre. or use the tr line level output and cut the api out of the equation to narrow down possible sources of the problem. the simpler the chain, the better. it really shouldn't take much work to make ownhammer IRs sound at least decent. There's got to be something not matched up level-wise or with proper impedence.
 
Make sure you don't have direct monitoring turned on or you will be hearing the dry signal (without the IR) mixed in with the IR signal.
You should be monitoring through the DAW only.
 
Spaceboy said:
it's been awhile since i had the ps2 but i think the xlr out is line level, maybe run that at line level instead of into a mic pre. or use the tr line level output and cut the api out of the equation to narrow down possible sources of the problem. the simpler the chain, the better. it really shouldn't take much work to make ownhammer IRs sound at least decent. There's got to be something not matched up level-wise or with proper impedence.
Click to expand...
Ok thanks for your help will have a look and revert. Was running the API (512c) as line level and below clipping level but only way to be sure. It does indeed sound like there is a gain or impedance issue because the difference in sound from the cab and from the IR is night and day
 
guitarbilly74 said:
Make sure you don't have direct monitoring turned on or you will be hearing the dry signal (without the IR) mixed in with the IR signal.
You should be monitoring through the DAW only.
Click to expand...
Good point will try that as well - thanks!
 
Probably not the culprit, but… I’m gonna go ahead and say it. Ownhammer ain’t all that good. Not sure why people love them, they sound dark and bloated and shrill and harsh, all at the same time to me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top