New Friedman IR-X preamp

[Baba]

Dave just announced there’s going to be a firmware update on Monday for the IRX and IRD. He says there’s going to be MIDI CC, improved power amp modeling, filter, new editor and software.

 

[2dor]

AI captured poweramp emulation. Now that's Dave jumping on the NAM choo-choo train! Can't wait to hear how it sounds.

 

[aivoryuk]

looks like i picked the wrong time to trade my ir-x for the synergy be-dlx

 

[laxu]

View attachment 28561

AI captured poweramp emulation. Now that's Dave jumping on the NAM choo-choo train! Can't wait to hear how it sounds.

That's actually a good way to go about it. Hopefully the right results without having to figure out how to do poweramp modeling.

I was hoping the knobs would be also app and MIDI controllable but I guess that's not possible. It's just weird to see that editor software with the pedal graphic and not be able to turn its virtual knobs.

 

[Sascha Franck]

So this thing has enough DSP juice to run captures? What's next? Revealing the hidden audio interface?

 

[2dor]

That's actually a good way to go about it. Hopefully the right results without having to figure out how to do poweramp modeling.

I was hoping the knobs would be also app and MIDI controllable but I guess that's not possible. It's just weird to see that editor software with the pedal graphic and not be able to turn its virtual knobs.

Absolutely. I think Dave & Co. went about it right this time around.

Given this firmware drop, they'll probably add the ability to control the knobs in the editor as well; the AI-powered poweramp thing makes me feel hopeful we'll see more of this stuff going forward.

 

[2dor]

So this thing has enough DSP juice to run captures? What's next? Revealing the hidden audio interface?

Yeah - that came as a surprise. I wasn't expecting it but yeah - genuinely impressed.

 

[laxu]

Given this firmware drop, they'll probably add the ability to control the knobs in the editor as well; the AI-powered poweramp thing makes me feel hopeful we'll see more of this stuff going forward.

I think this might not be possible as I assume the pots are purely analog and directly in the preamp circuit.

Sort of the same deal as my BluGuitar Amp 1. I can use MIDI to control channel switching, fx loop, reverb, boost, 2nd master volume, powersoak, and channel gain range (max gain basically). But I can't control the main EQ, gain or level.

 

[Baba]

And to think, I had mine up for sale, not too long ago. I'm glad nobody wanted it

 

[JiveTurkey]

And to think, I had mine up for sale, not too long ago. I'm glad nobody wanted it

I was just going to say "didn't sell? time to update that firmware!"

 

[Whizzinby]

View attachment 28561

AI captured poweramp emulation. Now that's Dave jumping on the NAM choo-choo train! Can't wait to hear how it sounds.

That’s cool, because what was it originally using, an EQ filter?

I thought it sounded great, but lacked a touch of low end rumble. I bet this flatters the preamp so much more.

Good on them for pushing big updates.

 

[Baba]

I was just going to say "didn't sell? time to update that firmware!"

Well, and, as I do with Line 6 updates, I'm a gigger, so, I usually wait for a bit, to hear about any possible bugs, so that it doesn't affect the next weekend's gigs. Also, I JUST found the "right" IR, and have this thing dripping with the right tones, I'd kind of rather not mess with that.

I have some holes in the schedule coming up, so I'll do it soon and see what's up.

 

[Jarick]

I'm happy I haven't bothered to sell my IR-X yet! Having CC operation is a big improvement. Especially if you run with HX devices that can send CC messages easily.

I'll be curious how fast the switching is. That was a drawback for me as effects would switch before the device channel switch and that caused weird glitches.

On the fine print, not sure if it's something like NAM running a power amp capture or if it's more like a modeled power amp based on data collected from AI. Interested to try it out regardless.


Forgot to post, hybrid board I put together this weekend. If I do keep something like this, I will likely get rid of a couple drive pedals as this is mostly to assess what to keep.

 

[Jarick]

Connected the IR-X, opened the editor, and it automatically updated within 10 seconds. That's fast!

Interesting that the firmware updated but the editor did not. I had to manually download the editor off their website. Not a big deal, just a little odd.

New IR's sound good but I haven't done a real side by side comparison deep dive. Love that Dave is partnering with Kevin. OH is still one of my all time favorites. New power amp sounds good too but again no side by side.

You know what would be another cool addition if they could? A noise gate!

Anyways just tested MIDI with the HX Stomp. CC works great for channel switching! You can either switch with snapshots or by assigning a CC toggle switch. With the latter, I toggled between 0 and 1 for channel 1 and 2. Switching is damn near gapless, WAY faster than before.

Massive improvement and huge kudos to Friedman for their support!

 

[Spaced Out Ace]

This sounds like a really cool update, so I'm happy for users. For me, though, I don't use my IR-X. Not because I didn't like it, but rather because I moved away from IRs, "FRFR" speakers, and so forth. I got the IR-X and decided I needed some Synergy stuff. Lol

 

[aivoryuk]

This sounds like a really cool update, so I'm happy for users. For me, though, I don't use my IR-X. Not because I didn't like it, but rather because I moved away from IRs, ""FRFR"" speakers, and so forth. I got the IR-X and decided I needed some Synergy stuff. Lol

Me to - the IR-X is great but didn't fit into my workflow so got the be-dlx module to compensate

 

[ejecta]

looks like i picked the wrong time to trade my ir-x for the synergy be-dlx

Looks like I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.

 

[Jarick]

This sounds like a really cool update, so I'm happy for users. For me, though, I don't use my IR-X. Not because I didn't like it, but rather because I moved away from IRs, ""FRFR"" speakers, and so forth. I got the IR-X and decided I needed some Synergy stuff. Lol

Totally get it! I have been back and forth on selling mine. My "dream rig" was a Friedman JJ Junior with a Helix or FM9 for effects in 4CM. But I only ever play at low volumes, so when I think about that, I end up going back to the IR-X into a power amp and cab or into studio monitors.

 

[aivoryuk]

Looks like I picked the wrong day to stop sniffing glue.

That's the quote I had in mind when I wrote my last post

 

[ejecta]

That's the quote I had in mind when I wrote my last post

Great minds think a like.