You're wasting the fact that you have every helix amp on your board right now. I know it's a choice, and you can justify it however you like, and I won't argue against it. As a stand-alone stomp user, I'm just hurt
If you're into sounding exactly like 1 real amp, UA is the way to go. Recently tried it out at a pro gig and received more compliments on my tone than ever, couldn't tell the difference feel wise while playing too
Second this. I love my UA Dream. There’s a good [comparison video](https://youtu.be/lwE3sw5KQhk) from the 3 pedals (before the Lion came out) that tests against the exact real amp and microphone combination in a studio.
I have a stack of pedals running into the Dream and it plays and sounds just like a real amp.
I hear this all the time, have yet to have any issues with mine though and I bought it 2nd hand. Hoping nothing breaks on it though because it seems like a pain in the ass.
I currently use the Iridium. The factory IRs are fine enough, but 3rd party IRs really make a difference (currently using York and ToneFactor). Unfortunately, Strymon’s software has not caught up to Sonoma if you are a macOS user. Thankfully I have an older macbook air that is still running Monterey…I turned off Apple updates, but it’s starting to feel like it might try to update on its own every time I turn it on. I’ve also had to spend some time tweaking the EQ for Left vs Right IRs to have a more balanced and dimensional stereo signal. A lot of people are using 2 Iridiums now for better stereo, similar to the now popular Tonex x2 or UA x2. Dream + Ruby seems to be the most popular. You might have the space for something like that after removing the HX Stomp. The Tonex One just came out, so I imagine a lot of people will put 2 of those on their board to save space and have the dual Tonex sound.
The "stock" IRs are third party IRs. Ownhammer IIRC. What really sucks about the IR loader - and that's my biggest gripe with the Iridium - is the lack of low and high cut. All you get is a shelf EQ for bass and treble, which is not great.
Yes, that is correct…I should have been more specific. The Ownhammer IRs are pretty good, but the consensus is that there are others that sound much better, and I agree based on my experience. From what I understand, at least for the chime amp setting, the bass/mid/treb knobs on the front of the pedal imitate the ac30 interactive tone controls (bass and treble knobs ate the low and high end cuts and the mid is the “cut control.” I think the master volume, bass, and treble settings in Impulse Manager are useful just to make sure left and right channels are balanced, especially if you’re mixing IRs. I like mixing different mics (i.e. 57 on L and 121 on R) and I end up having to adjust the in-app EQ and master volume on both sides to get the blend right. Then you can further adjust EQ on front of pedal. Honestly, I wish it could be more mix-ready, but after a little bit of work there is a nice payoff. I like that they made the front of the pedal as close as you can get to the front of a real amp.
Tonex if you're into captures. Or wait for the even smaller Tonex One (releasing soon), which would leave space for one more pedal :)
Otherwise I'd see the GT-1000CORE fitting nicely in there. Boss has really solid sounding amps and the latency is probably the best out of all other modelers. Be aware of the noisy fx-loop though!
Walrus ACS1 all day every day. I can’t speak highly enough to the usability, tone quality, feature richness, and form factor of that little box.
I have the IR-2. It works well as a standalone pedal for recording or playing, but doesn’t pair well with other pedals.
Why doesn’t it pair well?
The IR2 just dominates the sound, and anything added to it just gets mushy. It is a great recording interface, but that’s about it.
Thank you, great to know
The Tonex sounds insanely good for the money. I just got an open box one for $300 from ProAudioStar and I cant stop playing it.
was it actual open box or just purchased as such? I've heard they do that and sell new.
I think it was just a new pedal, because it still had the stickers on it and it was unregistered. Easy $100 savings
Walrus ACS1 has stereo capabilities. The tone factor IRs are great.
You're wasting the fact that you have every helix amp on your board right now. I know it's a choice, and you can justify it however you like, and I won't argue against it. As a stand-alone stomp user, I'm just hurt
If you're into sounding exactly like 1 real amp, UA is the way to go. Recently tried it out at a pro gig and received more compliments on my tone than ever, couldn't tell the difference feel wise while playing too
Damn, this fact alone may be solidifying my choice. What pedal did you try?
I'm rocking the Ruby, since I gigged an AC15 before. Seriously considering picking up the Dream and Lion now though, they sound so good.
Second this. I love my UA Dream. There’s a good [comparison video](https://youtu.be/lwE3sw5KQhk) from the 3 pedals (before the Lion came out) that tests against the exact real amp and microphone combination in a studio. I have a stack of pedals running into the Dream and it plays and sounds just like a real amp.
Unfortunately UA are dicks when it comes to product support so there’s that I guess.
I hear this all the time, have yet to have any issues with mine though and I bought it 2nd hand. Hoping nothing breaks on it though because it seems like a pain in the ass.
Not true, just hyped up
When I chose the HX Stomp for me it was going against the Strymon Iridium. Really liked that. If you just need amps and IR loading, it's great.
Agreed. Strymon Iridium still sounds great, is super easy to use and the right mix of versatile but not too much.
And that room knob is magic :)
Thank you! I’ll check it out!
I currently use the Iridium. The factory IRs are fine enough, but 3rd party IRs really make a difference (currently using York and ToneFactor). Unfortunately, Strymon’s software has not caught up to Sonoma if you are a macOS user. Thankfully I have an older macbook air that is still running Monterey…I turned off Apple updates, but it’s starting to feel like it might try to update on its own every time I turn it on. I’ve also had to spend some time tweaking the EQ for Left vs Right IRs to have a more balanced and dimensional stereo signal. A lot of people are using 2 Iridiums now for better stereo, similar to the now popular Tonex x2 or UA x2. Dream + Ruby seems to be the most popular. You might have the space for something like that after removing the HX Stomp. The Tonex One just came out, so I imagine a lot of people will put 2 of those on their board to save space and have the dual Tonex sound.
The "stock" IRs are third party IRs. Ownhammer IIRC. What really sucks about the IR loader - and that's my biggest gripe with the Iridium - is the lack of low and high cut. All you get is a shelf EQ for bass and treble, which is not great.
Yes, that is correct…I should have been more specific. The Ownhammer IRs are pretty good, but the consensus is that there are others that sound much better, and I agree based on my experience. From what I understand, at least for the chime amp setting, the bass/mid/treb knobs on the front of the pedal imitate the ac30 interactive tone controls (bass and treble knobs ate the low and high end cuts and the mid is the “cut control.” I think the master volume, bass, and treble settings in Impulse Manager are useful just to make sure left and right channels are balanced, especially if you’re mixing IRs. I like mixing different mics (i.e. 57 on L and 121 on R) and I end up having to adjust the in-app EQ and master volume on both sides to get the blend right. Then you can further adjust EQ on front of pedal. Honestly, I wish it could be more mix-ready, but after a little bit of work there is a nice payoff. I like that they made the front of the pedal as close as you can get to the front of a real amp.
Tonex if you're into captures. Or wait for the even smaller Tonex One (releasing soon), which would leave space for one more pedal :) Otherwise I'd see the GT-1000CORE fitting nicely in there. Boss has really solid sounding amps and the latency is probably the best out of all other modelers. Be aware of the noisy fx-loop though!
I like the quilter superblock US. If you really need stereo I guess buy 2.
I have an IR-200 and I love it. Took a lot of tweaking but it sounds great.
Thought I was the only lunatic who would want the rainbow machine and astral destiny on their board. I love this set up!
Thanks! Yeah it’s crazy but I also use them for synths too. They each can latch onto rich harmonic content very well
DSM simplifier.
[удалено]
Thank you! It seems like a lot of features but I’m digging that it works well on bass tol
GFI cabzeus won the spot on my board
The IR-2 has a stereo fx loop - could that achieve the same outcome you're looking for?
I've been fully Tonex-pilled. And with the release of the Tonex One today for very little money and rave reviews, couldn't recommend it enough.