IR's, Load boxes....

[MrDowntown]

Ok...so, i'm usually a few steps behind the group here.

The whole IR thing... is now, or has been for a while, the best way to get a quality tube amp tone w/o rattling windows. At the least that's my understanding of some of what one is able to do w/this gear.

Couple simple questions:

1) Does it really work? I've heard some good recordings, but the guys that i've heard are typically "players" that can make all kinds of gear sound good.
2) If you've ever followed any of my posts/comments/gear purchases...you'll know i'm a bit of a frugal guy...that said, what is the least costly approach to get into the IR game? There are some different variables of gear offerings, some of which have been around a while now so a used component may be a very cost effective approach.

You guys are the best at helping !

thanks for any feedback and guidance.

 

[GregM]

1) Does it really work? I've heard some good recordings, but the guys that i've heard are typically "players" that can make all kinds of gear sound good.

Yes, very well! I've been using a Suhr reactive load and Two Notes Wall of Sound for several years. I have kids that need to take precedence over music, so all of my guitar tracking is done at night. I don't have to worry about waking them up or finding a sweet spot on a speaker with a mic. With Wall of Sound you can click and drag the mic(s) around all you want, after you've gotten your track down. Check my Youtube link to listen to my recordings if you haven't before, all my split screen videos have been done with a Reactive Load.

2) If you've ever followed any of my posts/comments/gear purchases...you'll know i'm a bit of a frugal guy...that said, what is the least costly approach to get into the IR game? There are some different variables of gear offerings, some of which have been around a while now so a used component may be a very cost effective approach.

Two Notes Wall of Sound is free, and just a couple dollars for each cab. The only load I've used is the Suhr and haven't felt the need to look for anything else it's a little more expensive than some of the others but you should be able to pick up a used one for $3-400.

 

[MrDowntown]

yea man...i remember that Soundgarden cover of you and your brother... so all those vids (AIC mostly) were suhr load box, and 2notes wall-0-sound? hmm..sounds good man.

two notes has a load box as well..a bit less costly than the suhr

thanks for the feedback.

 

[GregM]

The Soundgarden song was done that way and everything else I've uploaded from mid 2016-present was Suhr and Wall of Sound.

Two Notes does have the Captor which is cheaper and they have more impedance choices, but from the couple Captor videos I watched I didn't think it sounded as good as the Suhr.

 

[trey85stang]

Although I dont use it often, the torpedo live is my favorite piece of gear. But I gotta admit that boss waza looks freaking cool as well.

 

[frthib]

Ir files have a their creator signal chain (ss power amp, tube power amp, mic pre, console, cable, converters) and eq "interpretation" baked in.

You will need to shop IR "makers" as you shop different studio for a certain sound.

I don't think there is a 100% transparent Ir. IMO.