SM57/Mesa vs. Palmer PDI-03 vs. Redwirez cab IR (clips inside)

[RiF]

I did a comparison between three very different guitar recording techniques:

1. Micing my Mesa 4x12 cabinet (Black Shadow speakers) with a Shure SM57. Link.
2. Silently recording the speaker-outs of the amp with a Palmer PDI-03 loadbox/speaker emulator, using the speaker emulation of the Palmer PDI-03. Link.
3. Same approach as 2. but I recorded the line-outs of the Palmer PDI-03 (bypassing the speaker emulation, but still getting the power amp sound of my amp) and applied a Redwirez Mesa 4x12 V30 SM57 CapEdge 2in cabinet impulse using Mellowmuse IR1A. Link.

The amp has been a Bugera 6260 in all cases, the guitar has been a Gibson Les Paul Standard with stock pickups.

I did not want to make all the clips sound the same, just similar, so expect major differences. The Redwirez version is the only one without any post-EQ.

I posted this just in case someone is interested in these options and how they might sound, but I appreciate any comments you might have.

 

[id3alism]

I've been doing the 3rd approach for years now. It's very comfortable for recording demos and doesn't sound that bad at all if you use good impulses.

 

[zakky]

i also do the 3rd approach with my palmer pga 04 and add impulses......but i always liked a good miced amp better...i think your 1st clip sounded the best for me

 

[RiF]

i also do the 3rd approach with my palmer pga 04 and add impulses......but i always liked a good miced amp better...i think your 1st clip sounded the best for me

I looked up the PGA 04's specs but I did not see the line-outs of the PDI-03 at the back of the unit, just the balanced and unbalanced recording outputs (including the speaker emulation)...

 

[egan.]

#3 sounds the best to me but a cm in any direction with the mic on #1 could have changed that.

 

[zakky]

I looked up the PGA 04's specs but I did not see the line-outs of the PDI-03 at the back of the unit, just the balanced and unbalanced recording outputs (including the speaker emulation)...

yeah i use the unbalanced output with the volume filter off and use impulses

 

[laszlozsolt82]

I prefer the miced version, then the one with the impulse, and the last is the palmer.

 

[FF666]

real mic wins the round. MIC infinite - Impulse 0.
impulses sound always dead and scooped. Listen to the mids on the real mic and live your life.

 

[RiF]

impulses sound always dead and scooped.

I fully agree to "scooped". Maybe it's the impulses I use, but the mids are almost never right.