cab sim development

[guitarzan]

Well, a lot of good info here, anyway. Here's my oversimplified thoughts on a different path to cab simulation (so far):

Power Amp Compression: It would be handy for any stand-alone cab sim to include at least a compressor to mimic power amp dynamics - so it could be used both for software amp sims without enough power amp dynamics (most of them) and for hardware preamps etc. Plus, the power amp simulation and speaker cab sim need to work in conjunction to get the kind of dynamic feel many are looking for.

Parallel High Quality IR's: multiple IRs in parallel can produce a very complex pleasing tone...nothing better for that as far as I know. I'd say use short IRs to save on system resources....consider the IRs to mostly be about speaker simulation, rather than cab simulation.

Dynamic Processing: Use multi-band compression after the IRs to simulate the cabs dynamics, maybe an extra "cabby" sounding IR could go to some kind of exciter before going to the separately modeled cab to produce a bit of buzz, inject some subtle randomness to at least pay homage to motional impedance....could be as simple as subtle amplitude modulation between the parallel IRs, etc.

Cab Simulation: use a small space reverb network (as Vandal does) to simulate the living breathing cab.

Room: as JohnnyMcFly says, the room's got to be there too. I can't help but think something along the lines of the RedWirez stereo distance room IRs combined with a good room-verb algo, but I'm sure there are several ways to get there.

For the mic, I don't know...it's already on the IR, seems like that and the multi-band compression would be enough?

Then, to susiwong's point about simplification...consolidate controls...one knob tweaks many related parameters in an intelligent way, it's the programmer's job. Design the characteristics that your cab sim possesses.

So, what's wrong with that?

[johnrrrrrr]

While I agree that there are little details that are missing from impulses(Im not talking about feedback..that a whole different animal) most people cannot tell the difference.

Let me qualify though. Im talking about an impulse shot from the very head being used as compared the real cab used. I defy most anyone to to tell the difference--and I've got golden ears by all accounts.

The problem with impulse packs and programs is they are NOT from the head the user is using. Impulse technology from the actual head is virtually indistinguishable---these tests I have heard, done by professionals, prove to me beyond any doubt that the actual speaker distortion is vastly over-rated in people's minds.

Its cabinet/head mismatching that is the problem. So any "pack" or program has to address the "generic" impulse problem that mismatches the cab with its source. Simply put..these packs of impulses are NOT a good representation of what a real cab actually sounds like. They are not exactly stabs in the dark either but they disregard the head the user is using and that, to me, is everything that makes it sound authentic.

[guitarzan]

While I agree that there are little details that are missing from impulses...

Yeah...one of those little details is dyanamics. A static IR has no compression at all - yet a power amp compresses, speakers compress, cabs compress. So using just a static IR to represent a cab leaves THE most dynamic part of an amp unrepresented. Static feel, no evolving tone. Static IRs do not have the ability to capture the non-linear behavior of a cab or power amp at all...no compression, no speaker distortion, no amp feel.

For re-amping - sure, a simple IR might fit the bill perfectly and no listeners will be the wiser, but for tracking, you just can't fool the player who is unwilling to "fake it". The number one complaint from those who haven't drank the amp sim Kool-Aid yet: no amp feel. That's what this thread is all about.

[Hink]

While I agree that there are little details that are missing from impulses...

Yeah...one of those little details is dyanamics. A static IR has no compression at all - yet a power amp compresses, speakers compress, cabs compress. So using just a static IR to represent a cab leaves THE most dynamic part of an amp unrepresented. Static feel, no evolving tone. Static IRs do not have the ability to capture the non-linear behavior of a cab or power amp at all...no compression, no speaker distortion, no amp feel.

For re-amping - sure, a simple IR might fit the bill perfectly and no listeners will be the wiser, but for tracking, you just can't fool the player who is unwilling to "fake it". The number one complaint from those who haven't drank the amp sim Kool-Aid yet: no amp feel. That's what this thread is all about.

for me I use an ir with my boogie>weber attenuater with very little complaints but of course I'm using the power amp and the weber uses a speaker motor instead of resistors so it's a much more natural load...but wait, we just had this conversation didn't we?:oops:

[guitarzan]

...but wait, we just had this conversation didn't we?:oops:

I think so! Yeah - gotta love the Weber MASS!