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They are three different things.
1) Analog cab simulators like the one on the GCS-2 or the Tech 21 pedals or the Ethos are usually just a hi cut filter and maybe sometimes a little more but not much more. This effect reduces frequencies between 5khz and 20khz which are present in PAs but not in gutiar speakers. It helps the sound but does not sound brilliant.
2) EQ pedals shape the tone. Some are graphic, others are parametric, others emulate amp "tone stacks", others are baxandall type eqs. They can of course be used to "emulate" the effect mentioned on 1) - I did some gigs using a Zoom MS70CDR direct trough a PA and could achieve a decent archtop tone using the graphic eq.
3) Impulse Responses are digital "snapshots" of a real guitar cab with a real guitar speaker with a real mic and real preamps / mixers / power amps. They sound EXACTLY like the guitar cab they captured and are a much superior technology than the ones mentioned above. It's like recording on a very expensive studio.
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03-16-2016 06:40 AM
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It depends... having an XLR out can be very useful for two reasons - 1) some places only have XLR inputs 2) using jack inputs means you need line level and not all pedals can achieve those DBs levels and most who do tend to do it with noise.
Of course you can always go with a cheap passive DI but that is a little complicated for some people... if you also want an EQ and a reverb that's already four pedals! That's why Tech 21 pedals can be so handy.
As for number 2) I would go for a Zoom MS100BT. This is a very personal opinion but these pedals have an excellent parametric eq and lots of excellent fx and tuner for half the price of the Empress. If I was really decided to go analog, the BYOC is the best option - a local builder did one to me with just two bands, OPA2134 op amps and custom frequencies for half the Empress. And less noisy!
Number 3) is an excellent choice and it's what I use... I have a 5 pedal board - custom overdrive booster, custom preamp, epsi, zoom fx and stereo passive di. I am getting a second EPSi as a backup!
Don't forget that in order to have really good Impulse Responses you need to buy them from say Ownhammer and Redwirez - that adds to the EPSI price.
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I own a Zoom MS100BT too and I am very happy with it. I was just wondering whether the Empress ParaEq would give me more tone-shaping possibilities.
My pedal board looks like a ripoff of yours (minus the EPSI): Barber Barb EQ - Ibanez DCF-10 Chorus/Flanger (occasionally) - Zoom MS100BT. I bought a powered speaker last year just because the DI approach looked more tempting when combined with an IR box.
I think I'll get an EPSI soon.
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Oh no need, the Zoom is a better parametric eq in my experience.
I had a Barb EQ before and it's a great pedal. Now I have an 80s Polytone clone and will have a Fender preamp made by Mambo soon. One nice thing with the EPSI and MS100BT is you can design a fully stereo rig, I have two Mambo PA cabs and it's great... but you have to select the fx on the Zoom carefully, most are mono.
The EPSI will be a perfect addition to your rig.. talk to me by PM if you want some tips on good IRs.
Another option is this pedal, never tried it though and it's not stereo.
AMT Pangaea CP-100 - Thomann Portugal
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Thx Jorge, I will talk to you about IRs.
At first glance it looks as if the AMT Pangaea CP-100 has an easier learning curve. Just a mass storage device to dump your IR's.
Funny, I was reading about your Polytone clone a few days ago in another thread from some time ago. Sounds great. I suppose you won't mind if I contact your tech guy. Your tone on the soundcloud file is really beautiful. And the playing too, of course.
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It maybe... AMT has a good reputation, but never tried that pedal. The two upsides of the EPSI would be - stereo and it can double as a reverb pedal.
Oh please contact him, it's a great pedal, really. And thanks for the compliments
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Originally Posted by lawson-stone
when ever I've done this with my 175, I just used a simple, passive direct box. Now my sound is basically just amplify what the guitar sounds like. So that worked for me when we used to play at festivals.
edit: the other thing I've done a lot of is take a small amp with a line out to go into the PA. My polytone doesn't have a line out, though, so that's when I've used a direct box
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How about the effect send of the Polytone ? Wouldn't that work ? Originally Posted by Nate Miller
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Medblues, I am guessing that the effect send on the Polytone is analog. It wouldn't work as a Digital interface. Originally Posted by medblues
If any body cares...
I've said it before, for my DI I use the Zoom G3. It has all the effects you could ever want, including multiple amp sims but when recording I go in, No Amp simulation, I use the graphic Eq for volume boost only and leave the band selectors at 0. I add one of the many nice reverbs and I get a pretty decent digital signal.
While a lot of computers will take an analog signal through the microphone input and convert it to digital, I found that going with a DI into the computer via a USB cable gives a much cleaner, sharper sound. And it doesn't clip as badly as the analog signal does.
Joe D
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Joe, I thought DI in the OP stood for Direct Input or Direct Injection as in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DI_unit the idea being impedance-matching, voltage matching and noise reduction. Originally Posted by Joe DeNisco
Digital interfaces are usually called Audio Interface, MIDI or by the protocol (USB or Firewire).
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