Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
OK. So he's using modelling to control/change the profile. That makes sense - similar to parameter changes on a convolution reverb. Limited, but far better than nothing. It follows that small changes in tone can still be quite natural, but the bigger the change, the more unrealistic the result.
However, ascribing a certain part of the sound as being wholly due to the speaker is a major leap, so I would be surprised if any speaker IRs sounded as good with it as the full profile including speaker does.
Actually, well recorded cab IR's can improve the original dramatically. I profiled my Mesa Roadster with a 57 straight in via a Motu card (as it would be treated on stage 9 times out of ten). A few months later, a guy called Till Schleicher in Germany released about 200 separate head and cab profiles. I worked through them and found a Mesa std slant 4x12 profile made with a 421, 57 and 609 through a Neve pre. This was one of about 60 different mic positions he had done with that combination.
I applied this Cab IR to my boogie head and my jaw dropped through the floor. 6-0 to Till.
It's common knowledge on the Kemper forums now that if you want to up your game in tone world, you pop one of Till's cabs into your rig. Others are bringing out commercial rigs for Kemper now too. It's all on the up and up.
Onstage I disable the cab in monitor out and send that via the fx return of my boogie for stage sound. The engineer gets the direct sound with the cab IR. I honestly can't believe the tones in front of house. Obviously the tone is only as good as the house system. If you have a perfectly flattened PA with enough grunt for the room, your guitar sounds will kill. Period. Obviously some profiles cut better than others in a live environment, but that's over to your preference and trial and error.
Sincerely
Kemper fanboi
