Struggling to replicate cab block room sound with the reverb block

plexi life

plexi life

New Member
Hi all,

I am a huge fan of the room effect in the cab block and it is a critical part of my sound when using headphones, I won't even touch any preset without enabling the cab block room first.
For several reasons I am now considering using the reverb block instead of the cab block for this purpose.
It's been mentioned before by Fractal that the cab block room has the same algorithm as the reverb block, and the same room sound can be replicated on the Advanced page of the reverb block.
For the life of me I am not able replicate the cab block room sound in the reverb block, I've tried configuring the same room/hall type, room size, reflections settings using some Fractal documentation, but it just doesn't sound the same.
I use a couple knobs for my sound in the cab block Room page, but to make things simple here's just the room setting that I use, and I can't even replicate this sound alone.
I will also include the second picture for my full cab block room settings, just in case.
Does someone know enough in this domain to help out?
 
For some reason it doesn't let me post screenshots or image links.

So here's the simpler cab block room settings that I can't reproduce in the reverb block:
"Room Level": 70%
"Floor Reflections": 0%
Everything else default e.g. "Room Size": 10m, "Room Shape": Hall etc.


And here's the full cab block room settings that I use:
"Room Level": 70%
"Floor Reflections": 50%
"Room Diffusion": 20%
"Mic Spacing": 20%
 
plexi life said:
For some reason it doesn't let me post screenshots or image links.

So here's the simpler cab block room settings that I can't reproduce in the reverb block:
"Room Level": 70%
"Floor Reflections": 0%
Everything else default e.g. "Room Size": 10m, "Room Shape": Hall etc.


And here's the full cab block room settings that I use:
"Room Level": 70%
"Floor Reflections": 50%
"Room Diffusion": 20%
"Mic Spacing": 20%
Click to expand...

Room level at 70%? Thats crazy I never go above 9% or so or it has a hollow sounding cave effect. But if that’s what sounds good to you then it isn’t wrong. I’d try the room reverbs or plates, like the Gold Plate has a similar tone to the room parameter when mixed high.
 
skolacki said:
Room level at 70%? Thats crazy I never go above 9% or so or it has a hollow sounding cave effect. But if that’s what sounds good to you then it isn’t wrong. I’d try the room reverbs or plates, like the Gold Plate has a similar tone to the room parameter when mixed high.
Click to expand...
I am using the firmware of the previous major version where you needed this setting a lot higher than what requires in the current firmware for the same sound.

That's a great point actually, that made me realize I should have included this information.
But the issue still stands even with the newest firmware - how to replicate the sound of just the Room Level setting alone in the reverb block..
 
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skolacki said:
Room level at 70%? Thats crazy I never go above 9% or so or it has a hollow sounding cave effect. But if that’s what sounds good to you then it isn’t wrong. I’d try the room reverbs or plates, like the Gold Plate has a similar tone to the room parameter when mixed high.
Click to expand...
Several months ago when I updated to the new firmware where they changed the cab block room stuff, I had to lower the Room Level about as low as yours to match the high room levels when using the previous major firmware. But I had to roll back to the previous firmware because I didn't like the changes they made to the cab block room sound, it wasn't just the room level had to be dropped significantly in the new firmware, which was totally fine, but it just sounded differently too, I didn't like it.
But that's a whole other conversation.
 
Budda said:
Did you give yourself time to adjust?

If i want a bit of “room” i throw on the studio plate type at stock settings.
Click to expand...
Unfortunetely none of the existing reverb types/presets in the reverb block has this kind of room sound that the cab block has, it's doing something else in there.. So I wonder if it can be achieved in the reverb block with some meaningful tweaking.
I actually do use the reverb block as well for some stylistic reverbs, but my foundational room sound comes from the cab block first.
 
plexi life said:
Unfortunetely none of the existing reverb types/presets in the reverb block has this kind of room sound that the cab block has, it's doing something else in there.. So I wonder if it can be achieved in the reverb block with some meaningful tweaking.
I actually do use the reverb block as well for some stylistic reverbs, but my foundational room sound comes from the cab block first.
Click to expand...
Did you actually try the studio plate?
 
- Don’t sweat Room Level. That’s equivalent to Mix in the Reverb Block. It won’t be a 1-to-1 correspondence, but the effect on the sound will be the same. Just tweak one to match the sound of the other.

- As I understand it, the Cab block’s Room feature concentrates on the early reflections of a Reverb and not so much the Reverb tail. So turn down Late Mix in the Reverb block (or set it all the way to zero).
 
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Budda said:
Did you actually try the studio plate?
Click to expand...
I've tried all the studios and plates but don't think there's "studio plate".
They're good for what they do, I just can't replicate the cab block room sound that I really enjoy and can't give up.
 
Rex said:
- Don’t sweat Room Level. That’s equivalent to Mix in the Reverb Block. It won’t be a 1-to-1 correspondence, but the effect on the sound will be the same. Just tweak one to match the sound of the other.

- As I understand it, the Cab block’s Room feature concentrates on the early reflections of a Reverb and not so much the Reverb tail. So turn down Late Mix in the Reverb block (or set it all the way to zero).
Click to expand...
Thanks, I've already tried everything in the reverb block, lowering late mix, increasing early reflections level etc. - it doesn't sound as nice as the cab block room.

It's ok if I'll just have to keep using the cab block for the room simulation, I just thought maybe someone knows how to translate the settigns over for the exact tone.
 
I've also realized it's a bit tricky to discuss this now, since I am still on the previous major firmware and most people are on the latest. I don't like what was done to the sound of the room sim and how differently the settings behave now, but that's another issue and I'll have to make another post for that becuase it's kind of a bottleneck for me now.
 
there is a way and it’s quite technical to get into the details how but basically you…

Send a single sample impulse through the cab block with the TOTALLY FLAT IR while using the room settings.

Use either tone match feature in the ax3 …

or look up on youtube how to capture an IR of an IR using a DAW to capture that response from the cab block.

You effectively capture just the reverberation part and you can use that specific sound on newer firmwares.
 
Here’s a thread I started with a similar topic, plus another thread linked at the bottom, that may get you headed in the direction you’re wanting.

Here.
 
plexi life said:
I've tried all the studios and plates but don't think there's "studio plate".
They're good for what they do, I just can't replicate the cab block room sound that I really enjoy and can't give up.
Click to expand...

I agree the new room doesn’t sound as good as the previous room even when mixed down. It was never a big part of my tone though. I have always obtained my ambience from reverbs, delays, and the Plex.
 
What is the goal in not simply using the cab block room settings for this if you have a sound you are happy with? Are you running a loaded amp into the fractal and don't have the option to use the cab block?
 
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