Impulses vs Emulators?

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glpg80

glpg80

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Live and in the studio, what are the opinions of others out there who have used both/either and can give opinions of their experiences?

trying to design a rack and do not know which way i want to go. the rack will be used for live use (sending a PA mix) and at home recording.

dont really want to have to lug a laptop around in this rig, but i can if the differences are substantial.

with impulses, do you have the ability to input more than one sound and mix them using cubase or protools and then overdub and mix those sounds - kind of like a dual track on guitars?

what impulse programs exist?

what about the palmer speaker emulator? any negatives? i was going to design it around one of these, but now im thinking impulses might yield a better tone.
 
does anyone know of any forums i can join/post this question that would maybe help me answer this? i think RT might not be the right place? :confused: :dunno:
 
I've used both live. The main difference to me was ease of use and variety. I use a Palmer 03 now and I like it for it's tone, simplicity and reliability. (I have used several different emulators through the years, and I like this Palmer the best.)

Impulses give you more choices, but that's not always a good thing. I have used the Axe, Torpedo, Receptor and a lap top at gigs. Much more to go wrong. lol

Faustine has a new proto emulator which I hear is fantastic, but it might be a while.

Generally I thought of it like this:

The emulator is like a cab in the sense you like it or you don't. You can try different cabs (emulators) until you find something you like, and then you simply are done. Usually no worries with the cab.

IRs can be used the same way but kind of overkill if used as a single emulator. Used to their potential IRs can be like changing a cab to fit every single song you do. If you need an open 2x12 for this song - done. Closed back 4x12 with greenbacks - done. etc. The thing is, it can detract from what I always consider my core tone and there is so much more to go wrong. Just like using multiple cabs with some kind of switching system there is simply more to go wrong. I have had the Receptor and a laptop go down on me at gigs. I have never had a Palmer or mic do that.

As far as which is better tone wise, as always, subjective.

All of that being said, I am thinking of giving the Torpedo a run as it is a load as well as speaker/cab/mic emulation. Got to test drive one and it was pretty sweet. If I do it though it is more just to do it out of boredom as The Palmer has been fail safe for a while now.
 
answered all of my questions fully bro. thanks for that post :thumbsup:

i agree i do not like the idea of a computer as a part of a gig......sometimes i am not the only one moving gear on and off the stages or around in general and a laptop is a huge investment for me to have just to run a DAW and impulse extension. i just dont like the idea. one drunk spilling beer or someone dropping it on the floor or knocking it off its case is all it takes for me to be S.O.O.L.

the palmer stuff was used by def leppard's phil collen in his main live rig, and figured that if its good enough for him its good enough for me. i know palmer reintroduced the 03 model.

what do you think of the newer blue units? i think they are called the 05 and 07?

but either way i heard impulses do sound better on recording vs emulators, and i know that Ola uses impulses on his recordings before and they sound great.

im going to check out the two note unit you mentioned, after doing some research that thing looks like a mix of both which is exactly what i would be looking for.

thanks for your help again and also the suggestion :thumbsup:

PS - do you think its worth holding off for the faustine model? i know his reactance load box with line out is pretty well respected.
 
I know Dave likes the way the Palmer 04 (the newer one) reacts better with the head, but the way the 03 sounds. I don't notice the difference in reaction between the 03, the reissue 03 or the 04. And I like the way the original 03 sounds the best. Everyone says the original 03 and the reissue are the exact same, but you can simply open it up and see the difference. Plus the reissue has a "flat" mode that isn't on the original. I think Satch recorded an entire album with one (03 original) and a mic pre. I have used a Manely pre with the Palmer and an Axe FX and it did improve the tone. Just gave it a more "live" vibe.

I think Live I will keep using the Palmer, and for any recording the Torpedo. I want less choices live (again I really like a core tone at gigs with everything a variation from that), and more choices in the studio. Lots of cool stuff out there. :)

I wouldn't hold off waiting for the Faustine. He is in the proto stages and it could be a while.
 
of the clips that i heard, i really like the torpedo's initiative and mic placing strategy as well as updates offered every month (not free though) - DL your favorite mic's and go to town.

plus they are MIDI, and have cabinet modeling.

of the recordings i have heard, i prefer its tone over the palmer recordings. i do agree there is a liveli-ness and in your face character with palmer 03 and 04 - but i like the way impulses turn out better.

the torpedo seems to give me a mix of both - more modest to the impulses which is what i like. so i believe thats the way i will shoot for when it comes time :rock:

im going to use two torpedo's and call it a day most likely(one on at all times for live use, both for recording/studio/direct into a DAW). the rig is extremely complicated - it would be hard pressed to explain it here on the forum. i would be typing all day. but motorpud here on the forum can detest to its layout.

thanks again :thumbsup:
 
I haven't used any emulators, but from comparison clips that I have heard, I like them more than impulses. Mark Had posted a clip a while back that had the AxeFX vs CAE with Palmer comparison. Granted, you have the amps as part of that comparison, I thought the CAE with Palmer sounded much warmer. Same with at similar test with a Torpedo and AxeFX. Again, the amps was part of the test, still, I thought the one with the amp with emulator was warmer.

I use IRs in the DAW but I'd love to pick up a Palmer or Torpedo one day.
 
Just a FYI, the Two Notes Torpedo is fully stand alone, you may add a laptop in order to use the Torpedo remote software as a remote control but all functions are available on the unit's front panel.

I welcome any and all questions regarding the Two Notes Torpedo, either here via pm or at andy@diffusion-audio.com

Andy www.diffusion-audio.com North American distributor for Two Notes Torpedo
 
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