Real Cabinet vs. Cab Impulse Response - Can you hear the difference?
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 67 posts since 25 Jun, 2014 from Germany
Nowadays a lot of people use cabinet IRs for their guitar tone. But do they really sound like the original? I've recorded an example with 3 IRs and a real setup. Can you spot the real setup?
https://youtu.be/_tL5AtM_6CY
https://youtu.be/_tL5AtM_6CY
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
― Arthur C. Clarke
https://www.forward-audio.com
― Arthur C. Clarke
https://www.forward-audio.com
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- KVRAF
- 1858 posts since 26 Nov, 2018
I couldn't hear enough of a difference to give a rats.
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 67 posts since 25 Jun, 2014 from Germany
I chose it because I like the riff . What source material do you think would be the best?
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
― Arthur C. Clarke
https://www.forward-audio.com
― Arthur C. Clarke
https://www.forward-audio.com
- KVRAF
- 5911 posts since 16 Aug, 2017 from UK
I thought A was the real cab, never got any of these type of listening tests correct.
Does it matter? Just make music.
Does it matter? Just make music.
Currently trying to turn noise into music. Is boutique the new old?
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- KVRAF
- 2932 posts since 23 Dec, 2002
It is interesting... I think I can hear the differences in the low end and higher frequency responses. B and D sound "right" to me but I really don't know which one(s) is real or an i/r. "A" doesn't have the bass in the low end compared to B and C but maybe it isn't there at the source? C seems a bit bass heavy almost like you'd want to pull the mike back a bit from the cabinet. Each sound is usable. I may need to shape the tone a bit in the context of a song but with a touch of EQ applied I don't think it would matter at all. They are close enough.
Last edited by Scotty on Tue Aug 27, 2019 8:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.
- KVRAF
- 11001 posts since 15 Apr, 2019 from Nowhere
It’s kind of a pointless comparison - if you compare a high quality IR with a cheap, crappy amp and cabinet then the IR will sound better, and vice versa.
As above - just use whatever makes the right sound for you.
As above - just use whatever makes the right sound for you.
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- KVRist
- 64 posts since 18 Feb, 2019
B feels right to me. But I agree there should have been a couple more cases like a high solo, some clean or some picky. Each have their own way of interacting with the speaker and may reveal more detail of the "depth" of the example. I think on a distorted riff it just doesn't matter so much as many IRs can sound very similar very easy.
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Funkybot's Evil Twin Funkybot's Evil Twin https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=116627
- KVRAF
- 11483 posts since 16 Aug, 2006
A felt pretty good, had some nice dynamics. I felt like I could hear the speaker pushing air and moving. My guess is this the real cab, but I certainly could be wrong.
B was my least favorite. This one felt like it was lacking some of the push/pull that occurs with a moving speaker and felt flat/slightly dark.
C was slightly better than B. Tonally this one felt closer to A than B did, but didn't quite move as much.
D was my next favorite behind A.
Note: I'd be just as curious about the different IR capturing techniques as I would about which is a real amp.
B was my least favorite. This one felt like it was lacking some of the push/pull that occurs with a moving speaker and felt flat/slightly dark.
C was slightly better than B. Tonally this one felt closer to A than B did, but didn't quite move as much.
D was my next favorite behind A.
Note: I'd be just as curious about the different IR capturing techniques as I would about which is a real amp.
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 67 posts since 25 Jun, 2014 from Germany
Very interesting answers, so far. I think it would be good to make a more extensive 2nd test. With more examples (metal, rock, clean) & also with the guitars embedded in a mix.
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
― Arthur C. Clarke
https://www.forward-audio.com
― Arthur C. Clarke
https://www.forward-audio.com
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 67 posts since 25 Jun, 2014 from Germany
Thank you all for your many answers. Here are the shocking results: (including free download of the IRs used).
https://youtu.be/r03SWjPN_TI
https://youtu.be/r03SWjPN_TI
Funkybot's Evil Twin wrote: ↑Wed Aug 28, 2019 12:06 am B was my least favorite. This one felt like it was lacking some of the push/pull that occurs with a moving speaker and felt flat/slightly dark.
Tilly wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 8:50 pm B feels right to me. But I agree there should have been a couple more cases like a high solo, some clean or some picky. Each have their own way of interacting with the speaker and may reveal more detail of the "depth" of the example. I think on a distorted riff it just doesn't matter so much as many IRs can sound very similar very easy.
The Noodlist wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 8:20 pm I thought A was the real cab, never got any of these type of listening tests correct.
Does it matter? Just make music.
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
― Arthur C. Clarke
https://www.forward-audio.com
― Arthur C. Clarke
https://www.forward-audio.com
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- KVRAF
- 1858 posts since 26 Nov, 2018
To the OP. Fun to do. But I just can't hear a difference personally and in a mix, most people couldn't either.
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 67 posts since 25 Jun, 2014 from Germany
I agree. Still, fascinating that people could tell the difference. Maybe I make another test with the examples already in a mix.reggie1979 wrote: ↑Fri Sep 06, 2019 11:26 pm To the OP. Fun to do. But I just can't hear a difference personally and in a mix, most people couldn't either.
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
― Arthur C. Clarke
https://www.forward-audio.com
― Arthur C. Clarke
https://www.forward-audio.com
- KVRAF
- 5911 posts since 16 Aug, 2017 from UK
I can hear the difference now, seems obvious when not using headphones. It like it's dynamically responding, and there's a note that stands out more in B, in a nice way.
Currently trying to turn noise into music. Is boutique the new old?
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- KVRAF
- 2751 posts since 12 Mar, 2002 from Central NY
OH GAWD!! Yet another typical "apples" VS "oranges KVR thread. Who gives a rat's patoot!!
You kids are are Soooo spoiled. You have too many choices wah!! Actually, we would have given a left nut for such things back in the day. Choices for recording guitar were very limited. Mic an amp, direct console injection, a cab sim hardware box and re-amping and that was about it. Yet somehow we managed.
I'll tell what an IR can't do like a real speaker....make your pants flap in the breeze coming off of your full Orange stack turned to 11.....LOL!!
Cheers.....CL
You kids are are Soooo spoiled. You have too many choices wah!! Actually, we would have given a left nut for such things back in the day. Choices for recording guitar were very limited. Mic an amp, direct console injection, a cab sim hardware box and re-amping and that was about it. Yet somehow we managed.
I'll tell what an IR can't do like a real speaker....make your pants flap in the breeze coming off of your full Orange stack turned to 11.....LOL!!
Cheers.....CL
the secrets to old age: Faster horses, Richer Women, Bigger CPU's
https://soundcloud.com/cristofe-chabot/sets/main
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