Slaving vs Attenuating vs Load + IR

[Kapo_Polenton]

What's everyone's preference? I've been on a mission to listen to clips and find the "best" attenuator and it would seem that the Ironman II is probably that followed by the "reamping" that the powerstation does and that the Reload II does. In a way, I suppose the Fryette and Reload are doing what slaving does in that you are using the clean power amp of the unit. I don't think anything beats straight in but I tested my 100 watt JCM800 through a 4x12 with the MV on 4 in my amp closet under basement stairs and although you can comfortably talk on main floor, you hear that summa bitch everywhere in the house and feel those lower frequencies. I put my Reload (first generation) in line and knock the vol down to get the MV up to 7 but that clean power amp def takes something from the tone. The trade off is worth it to get the amp in the sweet zone though but I'm greedy and I want a more faithful attenuator without running the output through a SS power amp which is what a lot of these reactive units do. Have you guys gone down the rabbit hole and said screw it, I will just load the amp and use IR's?

 

[dstroud]

I’ll be watching this, might have to check out the Iron Man II

 

[Dave L]

Albeit I haven´t tried the latest and greatest attenuators, but in my experience an attenuator works great for going from super loud to still pretty damn loud and everything beyond that is debatable.

I would much rather use a load and either IRs or another power section depending on if you still want to use your cabs or not. I´ve arrived at a Suhr RL and a hardware Blubox IR unit now myself, in this 1940s townhouse the walls are too thin to be able use my big amps in any other way than straight to desk. It really does work very well.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Albeit I haven´t tried the latest and greatest attenuators, but in my experience an attenuator works great for going from super loud to still pretty damn loud and everything beyond that is debatable.

I would much rather use a load and either IRs or another power section depending on if you still want to use your cabs or not. I´ve arrived at a Suhr RL and a hardware Blubox IR unit now myself, in this 1940s townhouse the walls are too thin to be able use my big amps in any other way than straight to desk. It really does work very well.

My goal is that, still" pretty damn loud" as I have a cab closet setup here and am in a detached home. But maybe you are right, capture my own IR and use direct out with the load from my two notes. I guess the test to do would be Load into PC vs. attenuated and amp on 7. Would have to get an IR of the same mic setup on the 4x12 though.

 

[cardinal]

Ignore this if this is getting off track, but I opted to capture the amp and then add an IR or use a PA type power amp/cab. Capturing a deafeningly loud amp is deafening, but just for two or three minutes. Then you don't have to do it again and can run the capture at whatever volume you want.

I had the power station and it worked well though.

 

[tallcoolone]

Waza TAE does more than any of the boxes mentioned, can be dialed down as low as you desire (not ‘stepped’ either), is a recording interface and can be used with user or supplied IRs to go to FOH or near field monitors.

 

[Simon Dorn]

What's everyone's preference? I've been on a mission to listen to clips and find the "best" attenuator and it would seem that the Ironman II is probably that followed by the "reamping" that the powerstation does and that the Reload II does. In a way, I suppose the Fryette and Reload are doing what slaving does in that you are using the clean power amp of the unit. I don't think anything beats straight in but I tested my 100 watt JCM800 through a 4x12 with the MV on 4 in my amp closet under basement stairs and although you can comfortably talk on main floor, you hear that summa bitch everywhere in the house and feel those lower frequencies. I put my Reload (first generation) in line and knock the vol down to get the MV up to 7 but that clean power amp def takes something from the tone. The trade off is worth it to get the amp in the sweet zone though but I'm greedy and I want a more faithful attenuator without running the output through a SS power amp which is what a lot of these reactive units do. Have you guys gone down the rabbit hole and said screw it, I will just load the amp and use IR's?

Do you use a boost in front of the Amp?

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Do you use a boost in front of the Amp?

Sometimes. I tend to like rythm straight into then boost for leads. I find leads could be done using iR without feeling too much is missing.

I've looked at the Waza but that thing 100% takes away from the tone. It squeezes it at both ends and adds high end yo my ear. It does however do the direct thing well with all the options and effects.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Ignore this if this is getting off track, but I opted to capture the amp and then add an IR or use a PA type power amp/cab. Capturing a deafeningly loud amp is deafening, but just for two or three minutes. Then you don't have to do it again and can run the capture at whatever volume you want.

I had the power station and it worked well though.

What did you capture with? ToneX?

 

[Simon Dorn]

Sometimes. I tend to like rythm straight into then boost for leads. I find leads could be done using iR without feeling too much is missing.

I've looked at the Waza but that thing 100% takes away from the tone. It squeezes it at both ends and adds high end yo my ear. It does however do the direct thing well with all the options and effects.

I always liked a miced Cab better than any silent solution i tried, even with the Amp on low volume. As long as you can't turn the Amp up a little, it's a trade off each way.

 

[tallcoolone]

I've looked at the Waza but that thing 100% takes away from the tone

This is nonsense, sorry. I’ve been playing tube amps for the past 40yrs and run some of the best amps in the world through the Waza and without. Where does your strong opinion come from?

I don’t work for Roland/Boss, they don’t give me anything for free I’m just sharing my extensive experience with the unit compared to the plethora of attenuators I’ve gone through in the past.

 

[marvcus]

I like both, but prefer Load+IR for simplicity for recording.

I slave my Plexi into a Suhr RL, out to a Mini Soldano SLO and back to 4x12 to play cranked at reasonable levels at home. Works great! Love the Suhr

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

This is nonsense, sorry. I’ve been playing tube amps for the past 40yrs and run some of the best amps in the world through the Waza and without. Where does your strong opinion come from?

I don’t work for Roland/Boss, they don’t give me anything for free I’m just sharing my extensive experience with the unit compared to the plethora of attenuators I’ve gone through in the past.

Ok, I didn't realize I wasn't allowed to have an opinion on what the TAE does to the tone? My opinion comes from numerous YT clips comparing tone differences between amp and through waza and I hear it. I guess I have been cursed with a good ear and I hear the change. If you don't then you are blessed. Others don't care and are double blessed.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I like both, but prefer Load+IR for simplicity for recording.

I slave my Plexi into a Suhr RL, out to a Mini Soldano SLO and back to 4x12 to play cranked at reasonable levels at home. Works great! Love the Suhr

I'm assuming you go into FX loop of the soldano. I just pulled out my Suhr Iso box. I should have a go at that between my 100 watter and the Torpedo set to Load and put the line out through the Metro FX return of my 50 watt 2204 and give that a go. Shoot them all out against one another. Maybe SS does the slaving thing better but I think Al Estrada had posted a clip a while back of him slaving a plexi through a JCM 800 combo and it sounded bitchin.

 

[tallcoolone]

Ok, I didn't realize I wasn't allowed to have an opinion on what the TAE does to the tone? My opinion comes from numerous YT clips comparing tone differences between amp and through waza and I hear it.

If what you said, “that thing 100% takes away from the tone” is true, then obviously anyone who plugs into a TAE with any knowledge of tube amps would immediately walk away. Surprisingly, that is not the case. I guess that must be because you listened to those uber compressed YT clips with those blessed ears of yours lol?

Opinions based on “numerous YT clips“ are not the same as opinions based on years of use. Not even close

These guys obviously haven't been blessed with your ears:

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

If what you said, “that thing 100% takes away from the tone” is true, then obviously anyone who plugs into a TAE with any knowledge of tube amps would immediately walk away. Surprisingly, that is not the case. I guess that must be because you listened to those uber compressed YT clips with those blessed ears of yours lol?

Opinions based on “numerous YT clips“ are not the same as opinions based on years of use. Not even close

These guys obviously haven't been blessed with your ears:



View attachment 401595

Correct, all 3 of those guys suck, they don't know anything about ToNe ...

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

See this demo.. if you can't hear the effect it has on fullness and how it has sucked out the mids, I don't know what to tell you. I guess it is acceptable for all those players but it for sure is squeezing the tone. My Reload first gen does a better job than that I think.

 

[dstroud]

See this demo.. if you can't hear the effect it has on fullness and how it has sucked out the mids, I don't know what to tell you. I guess it is acceptable for all those players but it for sure is squeezing the tone. My Reload first gen does a better job than that I think.

this was the video that turned me off checking out the waza

 

[tallcoolone]

See this demo.. if you can't hear the effect it has on fullness and how it has sucked out the mids, I don't know what to tell you. I guess it is acceptable for all those players but it for sure is squeezing the tone. My Reload first gen does a better job than that I think.

What's that, a junior version? Never played out of it nor do I know what it does. I'll check it out later tho

 

[fek]

Have not played the Suhr or Waza. I do love my Powerstation though. Never attempted the slaving thing but maybe I should try it.