Stuff

[Shredder777]

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[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.

 

[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.

 

[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

 

[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

 

[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

 

[Mongillo19]

Please Synergy group, make some more of these preamps

Could you just bring something like the SYN1 with you and run a board into it?

 

[Enchilada Jones]

Why did you pick the Poly Ample over the ToneX? They are about the same price.

I had ToneX big pedal when it first shipped, then got fed up with the software, sold it and bought the little pedal because the sounds from ToneX are really great. But gave up on that when I got the Kemper Player. The Player is the best small all in one for me. Laptop, headphones, guitar, Player and a cable and I’m covered for practicing, creating, etc. anywhere I go.

Poly Ample because I hoped it would be ToneX quality sounds with no software to deal with…and no rabbit holes to get lost in as I always feel compelled to explore every possibility.
It was not only that but the selection of amps and sound quality is even better than I hoped. As a standalone It has a nice reverb so it can be something you use with headphones a cable and a guitar and not need anything else. Add a multi effect or a couple pedals pre and post and it is a great rig. It has a very versatile feature set and midi control of lots of it.

 

[Hapless]

I'm really enjoying the IR-X.

Your journey with this pedal rivals the epics of yore.

 

[Enchilada Jones]

I could skip the ToneX pedal and just go with that. I'm trying to round out my new pedalboard setup, and that would do it.

The only problem with the Poly ample is that I want something that is both a preamp and a direct. With the IR-X I can route the send to my tube amp and get a real sound.

Make sure the list of amps includes the primary sounds you are trying to add. There is currently no way to add different amps and I don’t think it was designed with that feature in mind. It may be just a firmware update away from having that capability but as it was introduced it was said it doesn’t and won’t.
I love most of them. I’ve never had so many distinct variations of clean and edge of distortion sounds that I want to use. I know that statement can’t be factual, I had an Axe Fx III twice! But my perception is I’ve never had so many that impressed me when I called one up.

There are some heavy amps in there, I love the 5150 for example and the Mesa MKIV but I think I’m not the one to say if the Engl Powerball or Fryette Pitbull, etc etc etc are ‘good’ because I don’t swim in those water enough. To me they are good but I’m not really a good reference for them.

 

[Jarick]

I think the low end response is due to the power amp modeling, I’ve run the IRX preamp only vs power amp and no cab and I hear a difference in the fullness of the lows with the latter.

What’s the high impedance input you’re talking about?