AIAB pedals with MIDI?

[Shredder777]

I'm really enjoying the IR-X. When you consider it has midi, a loop, and backend amp/IR, its a really good deal.

I'm looking for other preamp candidates to expand my board. The UA and TC pedals don't have midi. And when you consider that they are only digital (no tube preamp), they seem a bit pricey.

Anyone who has done the research, can you recommend preamp pedals that have midi control?

I know this may seem like an anachronism, given you can buy an HX stomp or Fractal with hundreds of models built in. Why would someone need midi control?

The answer: So you can have a global preamp that spans multiple patches. The problem with most MFX is that when you program a patch, if you need to change the preamp, that means you have to go into EVERY patch that uses it and change the preamp there.

I know *scenes* yadda yadda, but a dedicated preamp with exposed controls is easier and better.

I might pick up one of those TC V550 pedals just so I can have one channel of 5150, even though it doens't switch from midi. At least it is cheap.

 

[Frodebro]

About the only really useable MIDI functions in the Friedman pedals are toggling between the two channels and activating the boost. Not exactly the most versatile preamp out there, tubes or not.

 

[Shredder777]

About the only really useable MIDI functions in the Friedman pedals are toggling between the two channels and activating the boost. Not exactly the most versatile preamp out there, tubes or not.

You can set up different program memories that have different IRs loaded and different combinations of the amp toggles.

One thing I havent heard anyone discuss is using the IR-X as an amp sim/ IR loader. You can run another preamp into the return and switch all of it using midi.

 

[JiveTurkey]

To me; that juice not worth the squeeze AT ALL in the IR-wtever world. That's a big part of why those preamp pedals having an app just seemed dumb to me. Add the physical toggles, WYSIWYG

 

[laxu]

Just buy a BluGuitar Amp 1 Mercury Edition

 

[Frodebro]

You can set up different program memories that have different IRs loaded and different combinations of the amp toggles.

I know, I have an IR-X. But those are generally functions that nobody messes with once they get their sound dialed in.

 

[Shredder777]

I know, I have an IR-X. But those are generally functions that nobody messes with once they get their sound dialed in.

What I am planning to do is run the amp sims in my MFX through the IR-X back end to use the amp/IR.

Also, with a preamp pedal like a TC v550, can run it through the back end and get possibly better cab sim/IR.

The IR-X has a very credible/percussive bottom end direct, and I am suspecting that alot of that has to do with the cab sim and IR section.

 

[Shredder777]

To me; that juice not worth the squeeze AT ALL in the IR-wtever world. That's a big part of why those preamp pedals having an app just seemed dumb to me. Add the physical toggles, WYSIWYG

I agree that having the app is dumb (in a way). But the app mostly handles the amp/IR settings, so you can think if it as a midi controlled IR pedal with an app.

How many midi controlled IR pedals are there? idk

 

[dk_ace]

About the only really useable MIDI functions in the Friedman pedals are toggling between the two channels and activating the boost. Not exactly the most versatile preamp out there, tubes or not.

I thought they supported presets that were midi switchable beyond the channels?

D

 

[JiveTurkey]

I thought they supported presets that were midi switchable beyond the channels?

D

It does. It's a bit confusing if you let it be

 

[Shredder777]

Just buy a BluGuitar Amp 1 Mercury Edition

Interesting thing. I never considered it, but if people are spending 600 for an IR-J that thing may make sense.

 

[Frodebro]

I thought they supported presets that were midi switchable beyond the channels?

D

It does, but you cannot save tone or gain settings as recallable presets. You can toggle the channels, engage the boost, change IRs, and change the presence setting via MIDI.

 

[laxu]

Interesting thing. I never considered it, but if people are spending 600 for an IR-J that thing may make sense.

It doesn't have any IR capabilities though and the analog cab sim is more "fine for live use" type stuff. But it's very, very legit as a do-it-all Marshall style amp with a Fender clean channel.

MIDI is about the same as the Friedman IR-X, namely no knobs can be controlled, just switchable functions.

 

[dk_ace]

It does, but you cannot save tone or gain settings as recallable presets. You can toggle the channels, engage the boost, change IRs, and change the presence setting via MIDI.

Oh boy, that’s dumb….

D

 

[Shredder777]

It doesn't have any IR capabilities though and the analog cab sim is more "fine for live use" type stuff. But it's very, very legit as a do-it-all Marshall style amp with a Fender clean channel.

MIDI is about the same as the Friedman IR-X, namely no knobs can be controlled, just switchable functions.

I'm on the IR-X train now. I may exchange it for an IR-J, but I like the idea of this pedal.

It solves a few problems for me.

• It can replace the preamp in my Ironheart to give me a marshall inspired tone.
• It has midi integration with my mfx, which the Ironheart does not.
• It also gives me a 100% credible direct tone.
• It works as a global preamp with my mfx, so when I make changes to my tone, I don't have to go into every patch and make similar changes.
• I believe I can run preamp models into its back end and get better DI tones from them.

At this point I'm kinda enamored with the idea of having everything on the pedalboard with just one cable to my interface, or one cable to my amp's return.

 

[Shredder777]

Oh boy, that’s dumb….

D

You can also set up a good number of different patches with different res/pres/lopass and IR settings.

I dont think you are going to get digital control of an analog circuit, so there isnt any way to save the pot positions as settings.

 

[laxu]

I dont think you are going to get digital control of an analog circuit, so there isnt any way to save the pot positions as settings.

This is doable (see e.g Strymon Compadre - it's all analog with digital control), but whether the Friedman stuff can do that with an update, no idea.

 

[dk_ace]

You can also set up a good number of different patches with different res/pres/lopass and IR settings.

I dont think you are going to get digital control of an analog circuit, so there isnt any way to save the pot positions as settings.

There are plenty of pedals that allow digital control of analog circuits.

D

 

[Enchilada Jones]

I'm really enjoying the IR-X. When you consider it has midi, a loop, and backend amp/IR, its a really good deal.

I'm looking for other preamp candidates to expand my board. The UA and TC pedals don't have midi. And when you consider that they are only digital (no tube preamp), they seem a bit pricey.

Anyone who has done the research, can you recommend preamp pedals that have midi control?

I know this may seem like an anachronism, given you can buy an HX stomp or Fractal with hundreds of models built in. Why would someone need midi control?

The answer: So you can have a global preamp that spans multiple patches. The problem with most MFX is that when you program a patch, if you need to change the preamp, that means you have to go into EVERY patch that uses it and change the preamp there.

I know *scenes* yadda yadda, but a dedicated preamp with exposed controls is easier and better.

I might pick up one of those TC V550 pedals just so I can have one channel of 5150, even though it doens't switch from midi. At least it is cheap.

The Poly Effects Ample is worth a look.
Its controls are kind of scary at first use but once you understand it it’s like ‘Oh…OK, I get it!’
And since you want midi to call up the presets the weird controls thing becomes a non issue. Do the weird slider leds to create the amp ‘model’ then save it and just call the program change to access it.

I’m using the Fractal VP4 with it and just ordered a IR -X and am going to try and incorporate it into the flow.

 

[Mongillo19]

I always love the idea of an AIAB and building an awesome pedalboard. The I plug into an all in one digital device and it just doesn't make sense at times. Not that guitar playing/music needs to make sense! I still fully believe a pedalboard is more inspiring and "fun".

Not to sound like a fractal fanboi but outside of specific tube amps or very unique effects, the axe fx has rendered excess gear as well....excess

It's not going to stop me from buying things though