How to import mics for Impulse Responses

[Tehzim]

I just got some of the Celestion IRs and it included mics.  Do I need to install these mics separately and how do I use them with the IRs or are they considered an IR themselves (like a 4x12 with a SM57)?

[NerdOfTheYear]

Yup, each IR is a picture/capture/snapshot/recording/clone of a certain cab with a certain microphone in a certain position.

 

For example: a Mesa 4x12 with a sm57 at 3 inches from the cone on axis.

[jbuhajla]

An IR is a cab and mic combination (with variations of mic placement). 

[DunedinDragon]

What may be confusing you is Celestion IRs are organized into different folders.  There are a set of folders specific to a mic, and within that folder are IRs. that use that mic in different mix configurations, but they are fully formed IRs that you simply import and place into your signal chain.  At the top level of the directory you'll see a set of mix IRs that use mixes of mic's such as a 121+57 so you can get a combination of the two mics without having to mix two mic specific IRs.

[HonestOpinion]

What also may be confusing is that the Helix offers a "Mic" parameter that allows you to select from a collection of mics for each Helix cab. However in an IR the mic(s) are static and baked into the mix so to speak and cannot be changed. The ability to quickly change mics is an advantage of Helix cabs over IRs although you can achieve a similar result by choosing an IR with the "fixed" mic-distance combination you prefer.