Frustrated by dummy load and IRs, suggestions?

[hsnyder]

Hello,

So I've got a Palmer PDI-03 which i love for clean and lead sounds. But those damn metal rhythm guitars just don't quite kill properly through it. So I tried using the line out and impulse responses. Well, maybe I'm doing something wrong, but they seem to sound flat and dry... They lack the "pushed air" sound, I guess? They just don't have the right energy IMO. I'm fairly confident that I've exhausted the DI options and am now thinking about going to speakers. Now I can't actually record speakers at proper volumes in my house I don't think, for a number of fairly obvious reasons.

I guess I could record a 50 watt amp on 3 or so, which is loud enough to get the speakers moving I guess, but I probably couldn't go much louder than that.

How about isocabs? Are they a step up from impulse responses, or not really?

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

Have you tried the Two Notes Pi-101 plugin?

 

[hsnyder]

No I haven't. Is it considerably better than impulses?

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

It is based on Impulses but it's better yes. Not "considerably" though, as impulses are far from terrible

 

[hsnyder]

indeed, this is true... TBH I'm thinking I might just have a go at using a real mic and speaker... imagine that.. lol. sorry for the lame thread guys, was just hoping there might be some miraculous solutions

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

Real mic and speaker are not miraculous either, lol
Actually makes me think, have you recorded with real mic and speaker before?

 

[hsnyder]

Yeah I have... But I was lucky enough to be doing that in a space where the volume wasn't an issue. I was much happier with that tone than I am with the sounds I'm getting from impulse responses so far. Maybe I'm just doing it wrong?

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

I don't know, maybe you haven't found an impulse that matches your taste yet? That being said, nothing beats the real thing so if you're very picky (not a bad thing!) you might never be happy Even if the Torpedo is the closest I've found there is still room for improvement.

 

[hsnyder]

Well I'll give it a go anyways. I think it's true that I haven't found the right impulse yet though... I will keep looking, for sure

 

[zakky]

i have the palmer 04, to me it sounds better than impulses but you have to EQ it big time to make it sound good.. i did this a while back with my palmer ,its not the best tone but you get the idea, (2 TRACKS GUITAR)...........http://tonefinder.com/?section=id&value=1322

 

[hsnyder]

oh cool. Thanks Zakky. I can't hear that well cause i only have laptop speakers until I get home this evening, but seems to sound pretty good! what kind of EQ shapes did you use?

 

[zakky]

^^ oh i dont remember the eq shapes, but i messed with it alot with a 30 band graphic eq i used to have... im sure you can use a eq plugin to do it also

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

While we're at it check out this video: http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/equipment/758433-brett-loves-torpedo-torpedo-live-content.html

 

[hsnyder]

Zakky

Whoa man, i just listened on my Shure SHR840s and am thoroughly impressed. Is there a really minor room reverb on the guitars? Just for early reflections type stuff?

Brett

Saw that thread I was very impressed, I downloaded the free version of their plugin and played around with it. I was actually impressed! It still had something I had a hard time putting my finger on that was also present in my IR recordings, not sure exactly what. But a definite improvement. Thanks for letting me know about them.

 

[zakky]

^^ yeah i think i put some reverb on the guitars

 

[hsnyder]

been fiddling with the EQ - it's actually sounding great! It really does need EQ though. I was surprised to find a really harsh spike around 4kHz... its usually around 6 that you need to chop.

Were you using an analog EQ? I'm thinking about getting one for monitor latency reasons...

 

[zakky]

^^^ yes it was an analog rack eq, dont remember the brand,..........try to raise (100hz to 200hz 6db) and (2khz to 4khz 3db) anything over 6khz chop off....try it to see how it sounds,
the more you play with the eq the better results you will get

 

[hsnyder]

Shall try that.. Thanks I'll post results once I've fooled around a bit

 

[CronosBeyond]

Had the same problem and found my current satisfaction in the combination of...

• Acustica Nebula --> Link
• Kalthallen Cabs --> Link

Here are two snippets I made with them, perhaps that can give you a feeling of how that stuff can sound:

• Snippet 1
• Snippet 2

 

[hsnyder]

Nice! Especially on clip 2. Pretty mean sounding. Also very smooth. Is that a bogner?