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Post by sirthought on Dec 23, 2019 3:05:11 GMT -6
That's interesting. The last time you put up an A/B comparison I think it was TH-U vs. Kemper. I chose the Kemper on that one, and I think I'd choose the Iridium if I really had to choose.
But like I said before, these both sound good for going into a mix. The tones sounded like a real amp, just perhaps with different mic'ing or EQ. To me, the balance and EQ on the TH-U needed work. The Iridium track might have a little less separation, but it sounded more glued together in my opinion. You could always do some of that EQ carving to make sure each one of those isn't sitting on top of each other as much.
I almost pulled the trigger on TH-U recently. It seems like a good native option compared to other plugins I've demo'd. I want to find a good Vox sound without buying an amp. But thinking about the sound of the Iridium and that I could play it in the studio and live, I think that seems more appealing at the moment.
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Post by ragan on Dec 23, 2019 16:23:49 GMT -6
That's interesting. The last time you put up an A/B comparison I think it was TH-U vs. Kemper. I chose the Kemper on that one, and I think I'd choose the Iridium if I really had to choose. But like I said before, these both sound good for going into a mix. The tones sounded like a real amp, just perhaps with different mic'ing or EQ. To me, the balance and EQ on the TH-U needed work. The Iridium track might have a little less separation, but it sounded more glued together in my opinion. You could always do some of that EQ carving to make sure each one of those isn't sitting on top of each other as much. I almost pulled the trigger on TH-U recently. It seems like a good native option compared to other plugins I've demo'd. I want to find a good Vox sound without buying an amp. But thinking about the sound of the Iridium and that I could play it in the studio and live, I think that seems more appealing at the moment. Yeah I think the Iridium is a really good option. I think TH-U can be made to sound like it or a Kemper or any other thing really but for tracking/live, I think the Iridium is a sweet little piece. Extreme convenience and totally viable tones.
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Post by donr on Dec 23, 2019 16:32:14 GMT -6
I'm doing guitar overdubs on the 2020 BOC record now. So far, the Kemper has been my choice for clean tones, and real amps are my choice for high gain leads, but I give the Iridium a chance for every job and it's not like it's bad. I'm happy using it live. I'm using cab IR's from Two-notes for all chores except the Kemper tracks cut on the basics that I'm keeping. I'm happy with the tones.
Pete Thorn has an awesome demo video of the Two-Notes CAB-M IR player.
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 28, 2019 6:30:09 GMT -6
Got the Iridium. Between family Christmas gatherings, an ill mother-in-law and my 3 year olds birthday, I’ve only been able to catch a few minutes here and there. I like it. It’s fun. It’s easy. It sounds good. It’s small. I don’t need any more amp choices than that. Perfect pedal bed and great low-gain drive sounds.
Can it replace my Kemper? Jury is still out. If I had to make a decision right now, I’d say no. I was A/B’ing between the two last night. Pulled up a m.britt 67 Deluxe profile against the Iridium round. The Kemper seemed clearer. The Iridium seemed veiled in comparison, no matter what I did. The Kemper cut better in a mix. The Iridium got a little lost, seemed like it needed some additional processing.
Then there’s the psychological aspect of all those little buttons and lights on the Kemper. I mean, how could a little square grey pedal replace all that fancy?
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 28, 2019 8:27:20 GMT -6
Got the Iridium. Between family Christmas gatherings, an ill mother-in-law and my 3 year olds birthday, I’ve only been able to catch a few minutes here and there. I like it. It’s fun. It’s easy. It sounds good. It’s small. I don’t need any more amp choices than that. Perfect pedal bed and great low-gain drive sounds. Can it replace my Kemper? Jury is still out. If I had to make a decision right now, I’d say no. I was A/B’ing between the two last night. Pulled up a m.britt 67 Deluxe profile against the Iridium round. The Kemper seemed clearer. The Iridium seemed veiled in comparison, no matter what I did. The Kemper cut better in a mix. The Iridium got a little lost, seemed like it needed some additional processing. Then there’s the psychological aspect of all those little buttons and lights on the Kemper. I mean, how could a little square grey pedal replace all that fancy? Wait till you get your Axe...
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Post by sirthought on Dec 28, 2019 9:12:32 GMT -6
That's interesting. I watched a YouTube video yesterday of a guy A/Bing the Iridium vs the Atomic Amplifire. The Atomic product has way more amp simulations, and by most accounts is considered a good amp in a box pedal, but it sounded thin compared to the Iridium. I thought the Strymon sounded like it had more heft and body overall, plus as he increased the gain the overdrive seemed very realistic.
I know the Kemper is supposed to be very real, but I thought Strymon really nailed this one.
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Post by ragan on Dec 28, 2019 9:19:43 GMT -6
Got the Iridium. Between family Christmas gatherings, an ill mother-in-law and my 3 year olds birthday, I’ve only been able to catch a few minutes here and there. I like it. It’s fun. It’s easy. It sounds good. It’s small. I don’t need any more amp choices than that. Perfect pedal bed and great low-gain drive sounds. Can it replace my Kemper? Jury is still out. If I had to make a decision right now, I’d say no. I was A/B’ing between the two last night. Pulled up a m.britt 67 Deluxe profile against the Iridium round. The Kemper seemed clearer. The Iridium seemed veiled in comparison, no matter what I did. The Kemper cut better in a mix. The Iridium got a little lost, seemed like it needed some additional processing. Then there’s the psychological aspect of all those little buttons and lights on the Kemper. I mean, how could a little square grey pedal replace all that fancy? Yours is grey???
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 28, 2019 9:29:00 GMT -6
Got the Iridium. Between family Christmas gatherings, an ill mother-in-law and my 3 year olds birthday, I’ve only been able to catch a few minutes here and there. I like it. It’s fun. It’s easy. It sounds good. It’s small. I don’t need any more amp choices than that. Perfect pedal bed and great low-gain drive sounds. Can it replace my Kemper? Jury is still out. If I had to make a decision right now, I’d say no. I was A/B’ing between the two last night. Pulled up a m.britt 67 Deluxe profile against the Iridium round. The Kemper seemed clearer. The Iridium seemed veiled in comparison, no matter what I did. The Kemper cut better in a mix. The Iridium got a little lost, seemed like it needed some additional processing. Then there’s the psychological aspect of all those little buttons and lights on the Kemper. I mean, how could a little square grey pedal replace all that fancy? Wait till you get your Axe... Ha! I haven’t managed to pull the trigger on that yet. I keep talking myself out of it.
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 28, 2019 9:54:13 GMT -6
Got the Iridium. Between family Christmas gatherings, an ill mother-in-law and my 3 year olds birthday, I’ve only been able to catch a few minutes here and there. I like it. It’s fun. It’s easy. It sounds good. It’s small. I don’t need any more amp choices than that. Perfect pedal bed and great low-gain drive sounds. Can it replace my Kemper? Jury is still out. If I had to make a decision right now, I’d say no. I was A/B’ing between the two last night. Pulled up a m.britt 67 Deluxe profile against the Iridium round. The Kemper seemed clearer. The Iridium seemed veiled in comparison, no matter what I did. The Kemper cut better in a mix. The Iridium got a little lost, seemed like it needed some additional processing. Then there’s the psychological aspect of all those little buttons and lights on the Kemper. I mean, how could a little square grey pedal replace all that fancy? Yours is grey??? Or black. Shows just how much time I’ve spent with it. My El Cal is grey and so is my Belle Epoch Deluxe, both of which I really dig. And I don’t mean to say that I think the Kemper is hands down better. I think they are very close and I’d be happy with either. I will spend more time and my opinion will probably evolve. I’d love to sell the Kemper and put some money in my pocket.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 28, 2019 10:13:31 GMT -6
I thought Ragan’s example sounded great...and the Iridium seems perfectly suited for that dry Petty style stuff. In fact, I spent about an hour trying to get the AC30 in the Axe to break up the same - and i couldn’t get it to...Then I realized he might have been doing it with the deluxe lol. I could get there with the Tweed Deluxe or the Princeton. But the Irodium does get that amp sound for sure.
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Post by ragan on Dec 28, 2019 10:23:48 GMT -6
I thought Ragan’s example sounded great...and the Iridium seems perfectly suited for that dry Petty style stuff. In fact, I spent about an hour trying to get the AC30 in the Axe to break up the same - and i couldn’t get it to...Then I realized he might have been doing it with the deluxe lol. I could get there with the Tweed Deluxe or the Princeton. But the Irodium does get that amp sound for sure. In my clips it’s an AC30 on the left side (with a 335) and Fender on the right (with a Tele).
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Post by Quint on Dec 28, 2019 12:07:00 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.
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 28, 2019 13:29:08 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 what I live about it too. Turn some knobs and dial in a tone. Not much tweaking under the hood. It’s what’s giving me pause about the Axe. Analysis paralysis. I admittedly haven’t learned the Kemper enough to know how to get the most out of it.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 28, 2019 13:43:36 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 what I live about it too. Turn some knobs and dial in a tone. Not much tweaking under the hood. It’s what’s giving me pause about the Axe. Analysis paralysis. I admittedly haven’t learned the Kemper enough to know how to get the most out of it. Just as a side note, I find I do much, much less tweaking on the Axe compared to the Kemper. Just sounds right when you land on the preset. Sure, you could change cabs, but to me that’s akin to changing speakers in a real amp...it’s just different.
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 28, 2019 15:01:20 GMT -6
The Kemper sounds compressed next to the Iridium. I can even see it in the waveforms. Got my signal split and recording both. The Kemper, or at least this m.britt profile, sounds like a finished, polished version of the Iridium, which sounds more raw in comparison.
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 28, 2019 15:09:53 GMT -6
Wow. Way less compressed sounding. My opinion is evolving.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 28, 2019 15:25:33 GMT -6
Wow. Way less compressed sounding. My opinion is evolving. I noticed in the Amp section/button some of the profiles often had compression on. Might want to check.
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Post by Quint on Dec 28, 2019 15:40:28 GMT -6
Wow. Way less compressed sounding. My opinion is evolving. Do you consider that to be a good or bad thing? I think I would prefer the uncompressed sound from the Iridium to the (apparently) more compressed output of the Kemper. You can always compress it to taste after the fact.
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 28, 2019 15:53:04 GMT -6
Wow. Way less compressed sounding. My opinion is evolving. I noticed in the Amp section/button some of the profiles often had compression on. Might want to check. Dag. Found it. Sounds better. Now I'm leaning Kemper.
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 28, 2019 15:53:56 GMT -6
Wow. Way less compressed sounding. My opinion is evolving. Do you consider that to be a good or bad thing? I think I would prefer the uncompressed sound from the Iridium to the (apparently) more compressed output of the Kemper. You can always compress it to taste after the fact. I don't like the compression. Uncompressed feels better to play.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 28, 2019 18:03:31 GMT -6
Do you consider that to be a good or bad thing? I think I would prefer the uncompressed sound from the Iridium to the (apparently) more compressed output of the Kemper. You can always compress it to taste after the fact. I don't like the compression. Uncompressed feels better to play. I agree. Sometimes I wonder if that parameter - which is somewhat hidden - is one of the many things that - well - make the Kemper sound a little lifeless at times. Also - if you've never tried the definition and clarity knobs, try those too. Those completely changed some profiles. The definition is kind of the overall de-harsher and the clarity can be turned up when something like a chord sounds muddy. It makes each string a little more definitive.
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 29, 2019 13:04:25 GMT -6
Feels like the bottom end on the Kemper is more defined. More articulate. Strymon bottom feels more mushy.
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 29, 2019 21:05:59 GMT -6
The Iridium cleans up with the gtr volume knob better than the Kemper. I like that. The kemper kinda stays dirty all the way down, but I can get sparkly cleans on the Iridium.
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 29, 2019 21:53:51 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.
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Post by sirthought on Dec 29, 2019 22:30:58 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. You definitely have analysis paralysis. I'd be happy with either one. I was looking at the Kemper Stage model, but the Iridium is so much cheaper and from everything I've heard will be more than enough for me. Easy to fit on a board too! Just need to get some funds.
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