New Friedman IR-X preamp

Badonkey Kong said:
I was planning (eventually) on getting the Synergy BE deluxe module (and another SYN 2, and the updated Soldano module if and when it ever comes out). Still will get the Soldano eventually, but thinking of this instead of the SYN 2 and BE deluxe module. I'll miss the HB switch, but gain a clean/plexi channel out of the deal, and save a lot of money at $499. Plus a lighter easier setup at the cost of one extra module slot.

In the Tone Talk, Dave mentioned hooking the IR-X up with a SYN2 with the IR-X as the external "amp" as far as connections go (without power amp obviously) . I can see how this would work really well.
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I'd say depends on what you want. If you only planned on getting the one module then yeah probably a good idea. However, the syn line has a bunch of great modules as you know
 
Badonkey Kong said:
I was planning (eventually) on getting the Synergy BE deluxe module (and another SYN 2, and the updated Soldano module if and when it ever comes out). Still will get the Soldano eventually, but thinking of this instead of the SYN 2 and BE deluxe module. I'll miss the HB switch, but gain a clean/plexi channel out of the deal, and save a lot of money at $499. Plus a lighter easier setup at the cost of one extra module slot.

In the Tone Talk, Dave mentioned hooking the IR-X up with a SYN2 with the IR-X as the external "amp" as far as connections go (without power amp obviously) . I can see how this would work really well.
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What are they updating on the SLO module?
 
Mongillo19 said:
I don't think anything is official? I can't remember what the rumors were/are. Almost want to say a clean channel? Maybe a bright switch.

Honestly not sure entirely lol
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Even if channel 1 was just the Crunch mode it would be badass, but if it was the full clean/crunch like the amp that would be epic. It’s such a good module.
 
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Whizzinby said:
Even if channel 1 was just the Crunch mode it would be badass, but it it was the full clean/crunch like the amp that would be epic. It’s such a good module.
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Yeah it's killer. I asked my SW ENGINEER if he could shed any light on a new module coming when I got mine a few months back. Understandably they could not
 
Speculation never dies, man. There's always an able-bodied person to resuscitate it!

Kate Mckinnon Snl GIF by Saturday Night Live
 
JiveTurkey said:
Where'd it go @Mongillo19 ? I want to atone for my crimes!
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Never Let Anyone Rob You Of Your Joy

Just a friendly reminder. Maybe to myself as much as anyone. :LOL: We can experience joy without that new piece of gear. We don't need to have the latest and greatest. We don't need to go toe-to-toe with others and keep up with the Joneses. This is not a race. What if we can experience joy...
thegearforum.com thegearforum.com

I put the wrong link initially 😂
 
Jarick said:
Come on guys one is practically dripping with authentic tube tone and the other is harsh brittle and sterile!
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You should have intentionally dialed the tube unit sh*tty so that everyone will guess the Fractal as the 'tube' one because it sounds better, which is what everyone does in those digital vs tube blind tests, since no one can actually tell them apart.
 
Another fun exercise if one had the resources would be to reamp the same clip with like 10 to 20 different amps/preamps just tell folks some are digital some are tube and have them try to just guess modeler or tube. It'd be a complete crap shoot, I am sure.
 
Mongillo19 said:
I'd say depends on what you want. If you only planned on getting the one module then yeah probably a good idea. However, the syn line has a bunch of great modules as you know
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Honestly it's all overkill at this point, lol. I have a Syn 2, and the BE, IICP, and Deliverance modules. and a SYN 1 that I should sell (maybe along with a freebie BE module...) And it all sounds great out of my Amped 1 poweramp/pedal. Eventually would like to replace that with a Power Station, but in no hurry. It sounded killer as is in my last jam with my drummer.
 
Elric said:
Another fun exercise if one had the resources would be to reamp the same clip with like 10 to 20 different amps/preamps just tell folks some are digital some are tube and have them try to just guess modeler or tube. It'd be a complete crap shoot, I am sure.
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Along similar lines: Guy in a german musician forum won a set of pretty decent pickups in a reamping contest (turned out to be extremely unknown, so very few people took part, which certainly helped, but still...). One of the rules has been that no digital forms of reamping were allowed. Err, well - how tf do you check that?!? The answer is, you don't. Which was as clear as it gets. So guy sent the guitar tracks through some plugins and posted a pic of a mic'ed up amp as a proof. There's apparently been some comments about how much you would hear the benefits of an analog signal chain, real tubes and what not. Bwahahah. I just had a look, too bad, the site (even the YT page where it started) seems to be gone.

Along the same lines: Proper ABX double blind tests are the enemy of the entire MI.
 
Whizzinby said:
I’ve decided I’m leaving it in The Gods hands. If my local shop gets one in the next week I’m gonna buy it, if not I’ll pass. (Just sorta waffling about, deciding if I “need” it)

This is the most sensible way to make a gear decision, based on a random UPS delivery over an arbitrarily short period of time. :ROFLMAO:
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Ok. I’m full of shit.

This was never going to survive the first six-pack this weekend. :whistle
 
Suggestion for @JiveTurkey - do you want to rename the thread title to something more specific to the product? I noticed Google showed me this thread second in the results when looking for info, might be helpful in directing some traffic to the forum!
 
Tried running the IR-X through a few different signal chains.

Dusted off the GT-1000 and tried the IR-X in the loop...a much harsher, brittle tone. Something in the converters of the Boss maybe? It sounds like ass.

Then back to the HX Stomp, and I had to tinker with the output levels (line vs instrument) but that sounded a lot better than the Boss to me. A little more of a warmer natural tone?

Then tried running into the Katana power amp and that sounded meh. Something in there is not good. I think I'm about ready to jettison that amp. It's either the speaker or cabinet or power amp or all three.

Back to the Axe FX 3 and it sounds great. Something in the converters or signal chain is just better sounding to my ears. Smoother, cleaner, more natural again. Effects are better in the Axe as well, and I dig that you can basically set up an 80's rack or a 90's pedalboard or whatever you like.

Also in the Axe 3 I set up a mixer block to do an A/B between the IR-X and the amp/cab in the Fractal, then really worked to get them close. With the IR-X there's just a little something extra, a little more push in the mids, a little bit of rolled off highs, that I tended to prefer it. Both for cleans and dirt.

Tried running a couple pedals in front of the IR-X and it takes them well, but I'm not hearing a lot of character of those pedals. Honestly I kinda hate pedals. I have a bunch of them and they just sound meh all the time. But I'll try hooking all my analog drive pedals in front of the clean channel and see what happens.

In the virtual world, the Klon and 808 of the Axe 3 sound great into the IR-X. They do the boost thing just like you want and expect. Again I prefer the IR-X to the closest tone I can get from the Fractal with the virtual pedals. At least this morning.
 
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