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Post by Bat Lanyard on Dec 29, 2019 22:44:58 GMT -6
It's the dead simplicity of the Iridium that makes it very attractive and the opposite sort of nature of things like the Kemper that have kept me away from those kind of options. I'll be ordering an Iridium in the next few days. That's the thing I really like about it. Excellent, recordable tone and options, very little effort. If you have the time to tweak, tinker and play around with VR's, upload, download... fantastic. If not, it's a great solution in a pretty simple pedal. Love it.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 29, 2019 23:04:30 GMT -6
Man, I have the Iridium dialed in so much more 3D than the Kemper right now (on this particular m.britt '62 Deluxe profile. Iridium is brighter, no doubt. But there's something the way with the pick attack that gets a little lost with the Kemper. I think I might be having more fun with the Iridium. I dunno. I swear I’m not trying to pull for the Kemper...but have you tried the Clarity setting or the pick setting to dial in a little more attack? That being said, you shouldn’t have to work to get a $1600 box to sound like a $400 one. I know me, though, right when I say “oh man - I can totally replace this big more expensive doodad that does a bunch of things with this smaller cheaper one that does dramatically less...and then I miss the big doodad. But for me, it might be that the big doodad covers my bad playing more. That being said, I’m thrilled with the Axe.
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Post by Quint on Dec 29, 2019 23:21:07 GMT -6
Man, I have the Iridium dialed in so much more 3D than the Kemper right now (on this particular m.britt '62 Deluxe profile. Iridium is brighter, no doubt. But there's something the way with the pick attack that gets a little lost with the Kemper. I think I might be having more fun with the Iridium. I dunno. I swear I’m not trying to pull for the Kemper...but have you tried the Clarity setting or the pick setting to dial in a little more attack? That being said, you shouldn’t have to work to get a $1600 box to sound like a $400 one. I know me, though, right when I say “oh man - I can totally replace this big more expensive doodad that does a bunch of things with this smaller cheaper one that does dramatically less...and then I miss the big doodad. But for me, it might be that the big doodad covers my bad playing more. That being said, I’m thrilled with the Axe. John, the Iridium is calling your name. Sell the Kemper (for the third time?) and start having FUN with electric guitar again. Case in point, did Hendrix mess around with pick attack or clarity settings?
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 30, 2019 7:11:57 GMT -6
Man, I have the Iridium dialed in so much more 3D than the Kemper right now (on this particular m.britt '62 Deluxe profile. Iridium is brighter, no doubt. But there's something the way with the pick attack that gets a little lost with the Kemper. I think I might be having more fun with the Iridium. I dunno. I swear I’m not trying to pull for the Kemper...but have you tried the Clarity setting or the pick setting to dial in a little more attack? That being said, you shouldn’t have to work to get a $1600 box to sound like a $400 one. I know me, though, right when I say “oh man - I can totally replace this big more expensive doodad that does a bunch of things with this smaller cheaper one that does dramatically less...and then I miss the big doodad. But for me, it might be that the big doodad covers my bad playing more. That being said, I’m thrilled with the Axe. That’s exactly what’s in the back of my mind. Having regret if I ditch the Kemper. I keep going back and forth. It’s hard because they’re not using the same amp “profile” or cab IR’s, which changes the sound so much. Sometimes I get a better tone out of the Iridium, sometimes the Kemper. I’ve got a pedalboard with boutique drives and effects already, so I end up turning those off anyways on the Kemper.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 30, 2019 9:43:25 GMT -6
I swear I’m not trying to pull for the Kemper...but have you tried the Clarity setting or the pick setting to dial in a little more attack? That being said, you shouldn’t have to work to get a $1600 box to sound like a $400 one. I know me, though, right when I say “oh man - I can totally replace this big more expensive doodad that does a bunch of things with this smaller cheaper one that does dramatically less...and then I miss the big doodad. But for me, it might be that the big doodad covers my bad playing more. That being said, I’m thrilled with the Axe. John, the Iridium is calling your name. Sell the Kemper (for the third time?) and start having FUN with electric guitar again. Case in point, did Hendrix mess around with pick attack or clarity settings? The Kemper has been gone for a while. Apparently you don’t read the Guitar forum
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 30, 2019 9:47:15 GMT -6
I swear I’m not trying to pull for the Kemper...but have you tried the Clarity setting or the pick setting to dial in a little more attack? That being said, you shouldn’t have to work to get a $1600 box to sound like a $400 one. I know me, though, right when I say “oh man - I can totally replace this big more expensive doodad that does a bunch of things with this smaller cheaper one that does dramatically less...and then I miss the big doodad. But for me, it might be that the big doodad covers my bad playing more. That being said, I’m thrilled with the Axe. That’s exactly what’s in the back of my mind. Having regret if I ditch the Kemper. I keep going back and forth. It’s hard because they’re not using the same amp “profile” or cab IR’s, which changes the sound so much. Sometimes I get a better tone out of the Iridium, sometimes the Kemper. I’ve got a pedalboard with boutique drives and effects already, so I end up turning those off anyways on the Kemper. It honestly comes down to that...if you’re more of a plug one amp in kinda guy, an amp or an iridium are both cheaper options...if you want many more options with effects, then the Kemper or the Axe. IMO, though, the Axe is a big step above the Kemper.
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Post by Quint on Dec 30, 2019 10:54:56 GMT -6
John, the Iridium is calling your name. Sell the Kemper (for the third time?) and start having FUN with electric guitar again. Case in point, did Hendrix mess around with pick attack or clarity settings? The Kemper has been gone for a while. Apparently you don’t read the Guitar forum Apparently not enough. Haha
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Post by donr on Dec 30, 2019 11:03:48 GMT -6
I've got at least one of everything except the AxeFX. There's uses for all of 'em.
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Post by iamasound on Dec 31, 2019 13:17:04 GMT -6
I'm no longer gigging out and always feel self conscious playing thru an amp in my current setting. What I have now is going out the door, flipped, namely a pair of Vox amps, an AC-15C1 and a baby AC4TV. As soon as any store in my area of Switzerland has one in, an Iridium will be the thing.
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Post by indiehouse on Jan 1, 2020 13:58:17 GMT -6
I think I just made my decision between the Kemper and the Iridium. I'm going to keep the Iridium and sell the Kemper. I suppose if I were running a commercial studio, I would utilize more of the Kempers features. But I'm old school and just love twisting knobs and running a pedal board. The Iridium is just simple to dial in, and really has enough sounds for me. I don't do high gain stuff, so this low gain, edge of breakup is perfect. Takes pedals super well. Oh, and it's cheaper. I may try out the Tone King Iron Man II loadbox to use with my amps, running into the Iridium for the cabs.
Oh, and I just ran the Iridium into my Zod DI into my Coil Audio CA70S tube pre. Sounds huge.
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Post by Tbone81 on Jan 1, 2020 14:09:41 GMT -6
I hope they make a bass version. SVT Classic and B15 amps with various cabs would be awesome. I'd buy one.
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Post by ragan on Jan 1, 2020 14:31:11 GMT -6
Got back into town after holiday travel and had some time with the Iridium. It's so fun. Sit in front of the monitors with my pedals and have great, mic'd amp sounds with no worries about latency and no need to even have the DAW open. I really dig it.
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Post by indiehouse on Jan 1, 2020 15:59:29 GMT -6
Got back into town after holiday travel and had some time with the Iridium. It's so fun. Sit in front of the monitors with my pedals and have great, mic'd amp sounds with no worries about latency and no need to even have the DAW open. I really dig it. It’s totally fun. I’m sure it’s all in my head, but I’ve been having more fun playing into the Iridium than the Kemper. It’s most likely user error, but I can live with that.
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Post by wiz on Jan 1, 2020 17:15:07 GMT -6
you guys aren't helping my GAS
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Post by drbill on Jan 1, 2020 19:26:38 GMT -6
you guys aren't helping my GAS Haha!! I'm having fun with it too, and I can't even play guitar. Well....no one who heard the noises I make playing guitar would call it playing...
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Post by iamasound on Jan 3, 2020 6:57:02 GMT -6
They seem to have Iridium stocked in the States but I can't find anyone that has one to sell in my vicinity in Europe. I itch.
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Post by ragan on Jan 4, 2020 19:07:45 GMT -6
One thing I have really noticed having the Iridium...I just play more. It's so easy to get a really gratifying tone coming out of the monitors that I'm just playing a lot more electric guitar. I consider that a huge plus.
Becoming a big fan of this thing.
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Post by drbill on Jan 4, 2020 19:13:58 GMT -6
I consider that a huge plus. AWESOME ragan!!! Anything that generates or nurtures creativity is a HUGE plus for me. Those are what I call the "money" guitars, boxes, gear, etc.. If it makes you play, that's a win - tubes or no tubes. Congrats.
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Post by indiehouse on Jan 5, 2020 19:59:50 GMT -6
I had been A/B’ing Kemper v. Iridium, and the thing I noticed the most was a) the iridium is brighter, maybe something in the upper mids? I can’t quite place it. Rolling off the treble in the Iridium darkens the top, but doesn’t match the Kemper. The Kemper has more definition when I rolled of the treble on the Strymon. There is something about the mids that are fundamentally different. It could be a cab thing. The Kemper sounded a little more phasey compared to the Iridium. Also, the emphasis on the mids is different, with the Iridium being a little fuller in the lower range.
and b) I think the Kemper is more compressed, even with all the amp compression at 0. I can see it on the meter. The Iridium seemed and felt like it has more dynamic range.
This is not to slag on the Kemper though. I think it’s more mix ready, and I actually preferred the smoother top end. I had a hard time deciding because they sounded so different. I think the Kemper sat better in the mix because of these things. The Strymon will take a little more, I think.
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Post by ragan on Jan 5, 2020 20:42:32 GMT -6
I had been A/B’ing Kemper v. Iridium, and the thing I noticed the most was a) the iridium is brighter, maybe something in the upper mids? I can’t quite place it. Rolling off the treble in the Iridium darkens the top, but doesn’t match the Kemper. The Kemper has more definition when I rolled of the treble on the Strymon. There is something about the mids that are fundamentally different. It could be a cab thing. The Kemper sounded a little more phasey compared to the Iridium. Also, the emphasis on the mids is different, with the Iridium being a little fuller in the lower range. and b) I think the Kemper is more compressed, even with all the amp compression at 0. I can see it on the meter. The Iridium seemed and felt like it has more dynamic range. This is not to slag on the Kemper though. I think it’s more mix ready, and I actually preferred the smoother top end. I had a hard time deciding because they sounded so different. I think the Kemper sat better in the mix because of these things. The Strymon will take a little more, I think. FWIW, some of what you describe is akin to the complaint that had me returning the Kempers I tried. A phasey flatness that I was always battling.
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Post by ragan on Jan 8, 2020 19:47:21 GMT -6
Since the Iridium is here to stay and it's kinda rekindled my love for pedals I decided to build a little pedal cart that I can wheel over to mix position when it's rock and roll time. Attachments:
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Post by geoff738 on Jan 8, 2020 20:43:39 GMT -6
Finally played with mine for a bit today using a Tele style with a somewhat overwound bridge, so more mid forward than a typical Tele bridge and humbucker in the neck. Through earbuds. Ugh but all my decent headphones have one ailment or another. Studio in a bit of disarray at the moment, but realize this isn’t really a fair test without getting the monitors involved.
Nonetheless, I was having a lot of fun. I liked the Vox with this guitar best. Fender was ok, but not super inspiring. Spent less time with the Plexi but thought it a bit bright maybe? The only somewhat comparable amp in here is an AC15, and I did not try to a/b them.
Do they sound like the amps they’re supposedly imitating? I’m still not sure, but not having a Deluxe or Plexi, I’m sure they’re closer than what I could get micing up what I have here. And the different IRs do sound different, so it really is closer to nine amps than three.
More exploration required, but finally having something that I can play/record with silently that sounds decent is a godsend.
Cheers, Geoff
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Post by howie on Jan 12, 2020 11:18:57 GMT -6
you guys aren't helping my GAS Haha!! I'm having fun with it too, and I can't even play guitar. Well....no one who heard the noises I make playing guitar would call it playing... Strymon Iridium interests me - I have a basic technical signal chain question - Dr Bill (or someone): My recording setup is fairly simple: I have a LTL Silver Bullet connected to an Audient ID 44 interface (which has it's own preamps, line in/outs and D.I.s). Where would the Iridium fit in the recording chain?- Plugged into the Audient ID 44? Or, fed into the Silver Bullet first directly somehow? I currently miking my guitar into a tube amp that feeds into the preamps of the Silver Bullet - which feeds in the interface.
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Post by drbill on Jan 12, 2020 12:05:43 GMT -6
Haha!! I'm having fun with it too, and I can't even play guitar. Well....no one who heard the noises I make playing guitar would call it playing... Strymon Iridium interests me - I have a basic technical signal chain question - Dr Bill (or someone): My recording setup is fairly simple: I have a LTL Silver Bullet connected to an Audient ID 44 interface (which has it's own preamps, line in/outs and D.I.s). Where would the Iridium fit in the recording chain?- Plugged into the Audient ID 44? Or, fed into the Silver Bullet first directly somehow? I currently miking my guitar into a tube amp that feeds into the preamps of the Silver Bullet - which feeds in the interface. Hi Howie! The Iridium has line level outputs. I'd start with the Iridium plugged into the tracking inputs of the Silver Bullet in N>A mode. (That's where I'd start at least). Adjust Iridium output and SB input gain / outs to taste. Good luck! bp
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Post by howie on Jan 12, 2020 13:39:21 GMT -6
Strymon Iridium interests me - I have a basic technical signal chain question - Dr Bill (or someone): My recording setup is fairly simple: I have a LTL Silver Bullet connected to an Audient ID 44 interface (which has it's own preamps, line in/outs and D.I.s). Where would the Iridium fit in the recording chain?- Plugged into the Audient ID 44? Or, fed into the Silver Bullet first directly somehow? I currently miking my guitar into a tube amp that feeds into the preamps of the Silver Bullet - which feeds in the interface. Hi Howie! The Iridium has line level outputs. I'd start with the Iridium plugged into the tracking inputs of the Silver Bullet in N>A mode. (That's where I'd start at least). Adjust Iridium output and SB input gain / outs to taste. Good luck! bp Thanks Dr Bill. One thing - I think when I got the Silver Bullet we moved that little jumper 'J14' into what is called fulcrum mode, I believe.. So can I still plug into the tracking inputs of the Silver Bullet? I'd love to plug into the S. Bullet like that. (Sorry Real Gear members if this is going to much into the Silver Bullet weeds)
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