Bruce Sokolovic
Fractal Fanatic
Simple answer. Because thats where it sounded good.More important to me is the explanation of why those values were chosen.
Simple answer. Because thats where it sounded good.More important to me is the explanation of why those values were chosen.
It is like when you move the tune dial of a classic analog radio until you find the stations with the music that you like. Different cabs and mikes are like different towns with different radio stations. There is no magic formula to choose the values.More important to me is the explanation of why those values were chosen.
It is like when you move the radio tune dial of a classic analog radio until you find the stations with the music that you like. Different cabs and mikes are like different towns with different radio stations. There is no magic formula to choose the values.
Yes, third party or factory IRs are going to be easier, particularly if you’ve identified a small handful you really like. They already did the hard work for you by selecting good sounding mic placements, mixes, and preamp settings.
This becomes obvious when you compare a dynacab to your favorite IR. You start to realize what all is baked into that IR and it’s not just a mic position. Use the high and low cut generously. Use the preamp.
Here’s how I approach it. Start with the Dynamic1 mic halfway between cap and edge, right against the speaker. Dial in low cut if there’s too much bass. Yes, you can pull the mic back too but that adds other things and is something you can fine tune later. Dial in high cut to get rid of annoying top end. This will get you 95% of the way there. Now mute that mic and dial up the ribbon or condenser and do the same. Aim for what the other mic missed sonically. Blend. Dial in the preamp to get what’s missing. More mids? Less highs or lows? More lows?
I disagree with the assertion that every dynacab mic position is an expertly captured and dialed in IR. It’s an IR, but it’s raw and unpolished and will take work to sound good.
And unless you're using the exact same tone stack as whomever developed the DynaCab block/preset, I think it may be tough for 3rd Parties to provide anything more valuable than static IRs unless they are either simply adding more cab/speaker/mic choices or also going a step further to provide matching amp blocks. That said, there's nothing wrong with either approach. I've got tones I love using both methods.Another thing that makes Dynacabs a little more tweaky is that you aren't starting with a baked mic position. Nor are you starting with an amp that already was dialed in to sound good in the room. With a real amp, you'd dial in the amp to sound good un-mic'd. Then you'd put a mic in front, with preamp, and you'd go to the control room and attempt to replicate the good things you heard in the room from the amp.
Dynacabs are backwards. You have no idea what the amp sounds like in the room to start. You have to dial it up and kind of guess at the tone stack. And then you try to dial in mic placement(s), mixes, hi/low cuts, and preamp EQ.
And that's why static IRs are easier. You have a fixed target and you dial in the amp to sound good with it. Again, still backwards, but you've fixed the mic position and EQ and eliminated that variable.
10000% agreed.Options are good and FAS has that base covered in spades!
Oddly enough, I was just thinking about this and this could be part of my problem, they are definitely quieter.Well, I actually quite like the DynaCabs. Admittedly, I play mostly clean and low gain stuff so I don't need the thump higher gain players like. I find they generally more articulate with greater clarity than the IRs I have usually used in my presets. They make it really easy to sculpt the tone. I do find that they are about 2 dB or so quieter than my IRs but that's an easy fix.