Talk to me about the TwoNotes Reload attenuation

[Kapo_Polenton]

So my Hotplare is on it's way out (lights don't work, line out is crapping out) and I just bought a radial DI and Pro RMP for reamping. Of course it dawns on my a few weeks later that the Reload has reamping (and signal matching built in), attenuation, and load built in. This means I am essentially getting 3 features should I ever wish to go direct with cab sims due to annoying things like the dog moving my mics or nudging my arm while playing. (he's 100 lbs) The downside is that it is more expensive than something like a Rivera but when I think about the features, it almost seems like a bargain for home recording where you are limited to times when you can crank an amp and shake the basement walls.

I would see it breaking down financially to probably less than what DI/reamp box, good attenuator, and reactive load would cost. I have listened to a few of the demos but wondering in the room and head to head with say the Fryette and Rivera rockcrusher, how is the attenuation on this unit? Is it natural sounding? Or do you need to compensate after the fact? I generally set the hotplate on -4 or -8 db (which is still loud as hell) and it would be nice to take it a bit lower in conjunction with some baffles to keep the sound down. Attenuation, then reamping, then cab sim would be my order of importance.

 

[Jdub]

I Just bought both the PS 2 and the Reload. primarily for attenuation but also for the silent recording di etc.
As n attenuator, the Fryette is much better to me. Feel real, the Reload sounded pretty good but felt brittle. The Fruette isIt is pretty damn transparent even at high levels. Easy to tweak because of the bypass with to a/b. Plus add the fact that is is good little power amp and has an effects loop. it is no brainer for me. PS2 by far!

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

But then I am guessing as a direct to daw with cab impulses.. the two notes is better? Listening to Pete Thorn's clips on this , the reload sounded clearer to my ears. The suhr being the best.

 

[ziggystarrdust]

I just posted in another thread about this and now i feel like a shill! anyway, I have a reload in my nyc apartment and it has been amazing. I'm really happy with the tones that i am able to achieve at low volumes and the recording direct with cab impulses is really fantastic. I imagine for anyone with old plexi's etc... that need to be cranked these things are mana from heaven.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

i have recently dusted off my reload

makes low volume recording really easy with zero latency tracking.

i go from gtr amp reload. split one into daw recording raw amp di, monitor off the other split into reload load attenuation with internal power amp to speaker cab for monitoring of the guitar.

i prefer to track from listening from the guitar cab and use the monitors for the backing track. it feels more natural for me and i get better performance results than tracking and listening to the guitar through phones or monitor

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

i have recently dusted off my reload

makes low volume recording really easy with zero latency tracking.

i go from gtr amp reload. split one into daw recording raw amp di, monitor off the other split into reload load attenuation with internal power amp to speaker cab for monitoring of the guitar.

i prefer to track from listening from the guitar cab and use the monitors for the backing track. it feels more natural for me and i get better performance results than tracking and listening to the guitar through phones or monitor

That's what interests me about the unit. I also would like the option to record cranked amp attenuated though. I have read online that some people worry about the fact that it is going through a solid state poweramp. Resistive loads are essentially going through a small network of resistors as well. How much (if any) do you feel that the tone is affected by the attenuator on the reload?

 

[fuzzyguitars]

I actually did a little shoot out the over the weekend testing loads.

thd hotplate

two notes vb 101 resistive load

two notes reload active load

rivera rock crusher active load

suhr reactive load.

I had some very interesting results.

when I monitored through the DAW monitors I definitely favored the suhr reactive load box.

this had the best feel and the best sound when listening and tracking through the DAW and monitors.

this was closely followed by the Rivera rock crusher, and very close behind the two notes reload active load.

next and also very close was the two notes VB 101 and the THD hotplate, I was careful on the hotplate to have both the enhancement switches for basin trouble turned off as this will affect the line out and tap off troubles and base if they are engaged.

however the recorded amp di tones once processed through the WOS plugin sounded quite similar.

but, my best playing performance was obtained using the suhr.


it was interesting that when I used all of the above while tracking through a real cab using the reload

I found all of them quite usable and feelwise they were all pretty good.

when I recorded the direct amp DI and then put it through the two notes WOS cabs, I again was able to get great tones irrespective of which loadbox was used for the load.



I found it very interesting that the feel while tracking with all the different types of loads, did not feel drastically different when I was tracking using the reload to power the cab and monitor through the speaker cab While tracking.

so that was an eye-opening moment for me.

i have recently dusted off my reload

makes low volume recording really easy with zero latency tracking.

i go from gtr amp reload. split one into daw recording raw amp di, monitor off the other split into reload load attenuation with internal power amp to speaker cab for monitoring of the guitar.

i prefer to track from listening from the guitar cab and use the monitors for the backing track. it feels more natural for me and i get better performance results than tracking and listening to the guitar through phones or monitor

That's what interests me about the unit. I also would like the option to record cranked amp attenuated though. I have read online that some people worry about the fact that it is going through a solid state poweramp. Resistive loads are essentially going through a small network of resistors as well. How much (if any) do you feel that the tone is affected by the attenuator on the reload?

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Well the plot thickens then ... I don't really need the reamp feature as I have à DI and reamp box so it comes down to how they sound as a load with the option of IRs and more importantly, the attenuation and how much it alters the sound. I am stuck between the rockcrusher and reload. I have heard the line out of the rock crusher is ". Dark " sounding but I have a suhr line out box so even that doesn't worry me too much.

 

[fuzzyguitars]

Line out in rock crusher is fine use the hi z balanced.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Alright, been doing shoot out with clips back and forth on youtube since last night and I am leaning towards the standard Rock Crusher. I think i like it a tad more as the volume drops. Powerstation is more expensive and has a tube poweramp driving the attenuation but if I have EL34's, I don't see the advantage of then going out through 6L6. Also, listening to Pete thorn's impulse and load comparison clips, I really did not like the sound of the PS clip when used direct with cab impulses. Also, for the cost to me up in Canada, I can almost buy the suhr reactive load and rock crusher for the same price as the powerstation..