Jarick
Rock Star
- Messages
- 5,145
This update really was a game changer and is IMO the most significant since the release of the Helix.
Tones are significantly improved just using the new cab block. I think it's on par with the top aftermarket impulses now, but you have the better experience of having everything loaded from the factory, being able to change the position and distance, and all that.
Mics and cabs now sound like I would expect. You can actually get low end from a 57 when it's right on the grille! Or you can put the 57 off axis and nicely roll off the high end sizzle. You can mix a 57 and 121 on the same cab and properly hear the highs and lows filling out rather than the weird midrange mush that happened previously. Before, I could get usable tones with stock cabs, now I can get excellent tones with them. Just much better high end without needing a lot of cuts and much more low end presence.
Next big improvement is the DSP savings. I only have a Stomp XL and previously if you used a high quality IR or dual cab block, plus one of the new stereo reverbs, you didn't have a lot of DSP left to play with. Now, you can run dual cabs, one of the dynamic stereo reverbs, stereo delay, and more. I was even able to run dual amps with legacy reverb and some of the lower DSP effects.
Other nice thing is the knob ballistics. It's so much easier to adjust when there's a lot of granularity (like adjusting ms on the noise gate). No more turning the knob 20 times.
As for the new models, haven't used them much outside of the Dynamic Ambience, which is really nice. It's like the room reverb on the Strymon Iridium, kind of. Great with headphones. I'll be curious to see Ben Vesco's DSP tables with the new models to see the cost.
There's still some stuff that can be improved for sure:
Tones are significantly improved just using the new cab block. I think it's on par with the top aftermarket impulses now, but you have the better experience of having everything loaded from the factory, being able to change the position and distance, and all that.
Mics and cabs now sound like I would expect. You can actually get low end from a 57 when it's right on the grille! Or you can put the 57 off axis and nicely roll off the high end sizzle. You can mix a 57 and 121 on the same cab and properly hear the highs and lows filling out rather than the weird midrange mush that happened previously. Before, I could get usable tones with stock cabs, now I can get excellent tones with them. Just much better high end without needing a lot of cuts and much more low end presence.
Next big improvement is the DSP savings. I only have a Stomp XL and previously if you used a high quality IR or dual cab block, plus one of the new stereo reverbs, you didn't have a lot of DSP left to play with. Now, you can run dual cabs, one of the dynamic stereo reverbs, stereo delay, and more. I was even able to run dual amps with legacy reverb and some of the lower DSP effects.
Other nice thing is the knob ballistics. It's so much easier to adjust when there's a lot of granularity (like adjusting ms on the noise gate). No more turning the knob 20 times.
As for the new models, haven't used them much outside of the Dynamic Ambience, which is really nice. It's like the room reverb on the Strymon Iridium, kind of. Great with headphones. I'll be curious to see Ben Vesco's DSP tables with the new models to see the cost.
There's still some stuff that can be improved for sure:
- The EVH style detune still sounds too chorusy to me and I'd love a separate detune effect that really nails the Eventide Micropitch.
- Amps still have a little bit of an upper mid push to them which makes them not QUITE as satisfying as other modelers.
- I'd really like a 65 Bassman model, something between the Deluxe and Twin.
- I'd also really like to be able to change the order of the parameters on the Stomp, so that way I can quickly access my top three parameters when using capacitive touch.
) and the value actually changes as if you're turning a real potentiometer on a real physical unit.
