[courtney2018]

Originally Posted by Brord

What about the SansAmp PSA-1?

Well, I don't want to get a piece of software to do this job, and the rack version of this doesn't come right out and say it's a cabinet emulator. It's more of just a tube preamp to warm the sound up. They've got another product that's a foot pedal, but it's also got an amp modeler in there too, and I don't know if you can turn that part of it off. I don't want the amp models...just the cab models.

I find it hard to believe that there isn't any hardware out there to do this. Does nobody care for this option? I know most here either record direct from a POD or they mic their existing cabinets, but I would've thought there would be more people that would like to use models of other cabinets.

I tried using my GNX4 to do this and it stripped away the distortion coming out of my MP-1. So getting a cheap GNX or RP unit to do this is out. I've tried using the BBE DI-1000 and I guess it does ok for distorted guitars. It's hard to tell a difference there. It does an amazing job for clean guitars. Maybe I'm just going to be stuck searching for an ADA Microcab.

The other option is of course to mic my own cabinet, but I was hoping it wouldn't come down to that. I'd rather be able to dial in my cabinet sound using some knobs.

Anybody got any other ideas?

[velocity]

didn't ada have a rack mount for cab emulation?

[TomAwesome]

Originally Posted by courtney2018

Well, I don't want to get a piece of software to do this job, and the rack version of this doesn't come right out and say it's a cabinet emulator. It's more of just a tube preamp to warm the sound up. They've got another product that's a foot pedal, but it's also got an amp modeler in there too, and I don't know if you can turn that part of it off. I don't want the amp models...just the cab models.

I find it hard to believe that there isn't any hardware out there to do this. Does nobody care for this option? I know most here either record direct from a POD or they mic their existing cabinets, but I would've thought there would be more people that would like to use models of other cabinets.

I tried using my GNX4 to do this and it stripped away the distortion coming out of my MP-1. So getting a cheap GNX or RP unit to do this is out. I've tried using the BBE DI-1000 and I guess it does ok for distorted guitars. It's hard to tell a difference there. It does an amazing job for clean guitars. Maybe I'm just going to be stuck searching for an ADA Microcab.

The other option is of course to mic my own cabinet, but I was hoping it wouldn't come down to that. I'd rather be able to dial in my cabinet sound using some knobs.

Anybody got any other ideas?

Why do you want to avoid software cab sims exactly? Any digital modeler is just software within a hardware interface anyway. Short of micing your cab, impulses are really the way to go, especially if you don't want to use the cab sims from your Digitech.

[courtney2018]

Originally Posted by TomAwesome

Why do you want to avoid software cab sims exactly? Any digital modeler is just software within a hardware interface anyway. Short of micing your cab, impulses are really the way to go, especially if you don't want to use the cab sims from your Digitech.

Because I want the recording to have the cabinet effect in there. I don't want to add it in after the fact in the computer. Plus my computer is very old and it has trouble doing the effects that I put in to begin with. For me, having a gadget with knobs to turn for a cab simulator is just easier.

[TomAwesome]

I think that Palmer attenuator has a cab sim on it for DI use, but I don't think it's a cheap unit.

[TMM]

I definitely have yet to find a good all-in-one rack unit that sounded better than 'just good,' but one of the nicest rack setups I have had was:
- Soldano SP77
- Rocktron Intellifex running stereo (blackface)
- Marshall EL84 20/20 --> 2x12 w/greenbacks
- VHT 2:90:2 --> 4x12 w/G12T75s

The SP77 is the best sounding rackmount pre I've owned, including, but not limited to, the Mesa TriAxis, Mesa Studio, Engl 530, Engl 520, Bogner Triple Giant, and Marshall JMP-1. It isn't quite as versatile as some of the others, but the tones that it can achieve within it's limited range are tremendous. It has a very rich, 3-D tone (so long as you don't kill it with a cheap poweramp), and is 100% worth the hassle of having a 2nd unit to handle the effects. And it's purple.


Soldano SP77 Series II preamp - eBay (item 300221064773 end time May-07-08 18:38:10 PDT)

The Intellifex is a very versatile, very user-friendly and good sounding stereo effects unit (which I assume matters to you, considering your speaker setup). Has everything you could really ever want in 1 rackspace, and seems to be nicely compatible with every midi controller I've ever owned. I can definitely make some recommendations if you end up getting one.

[courtney2018]

Originally Posted by TomAwesome

I think that Palmer attenuator has a cab sim on it for DI use, but I don't think it's a cheap unit.

Yea, that's definitely out. I can't believe they're charging that much. I'd rather get an EQ and try to do the cabinet sim that way.