Powercab With Helix And Reverb/Delay

[tbramer]

I've been a Helix user for several years and have been using an FRFR setup for most of that time.  I was thinking about getting a Powercab 112+, but one thing occurred to me...I have many presets where the reverb and/or delay blocks are post-cab.  This was never a problem going into a FRFR speaker because the cab model was inside the Helix.  However, if I'm using the Powercab, this would no longer be possible.  The reverb/delay blocks (and all other blocks) would have to be pre-cab.  This isn't necessarily a deal-breaker for me, but it will mean re-tooling several of my presets.  And the sound will be different, although maybe not worse.  Is this all true, or am I missing something?

[rd2rk]

The Powercab is essentially an FRFR in the form of a guitar cab with additional playback modes:

 

It can be used in normal FRFR Mode (coaxial HF Driver engaged), same as you're currently doing.

In LF RAW Mode (the Eminence speaker with coaxial HF Driver OFF). Some prefer to hear their Helix loaded IRs/Cabs this way as it's less "fizzy" than FRFR, but I prefer this mode with NO IR/Cab as IMO it sounds the most "AITR".

In LF Flat Mode (The Eminence speaker EQ'd to be FLAT and with the coaxial HF Driver OFF). Same reasoning as for LF RAW.

You can also use it in FRFR Mode with IRs loaded on the Powercab instead of in Helix (USER IR Mode), which would give the results you described.

There's also Speaker Emulation Mode, where the Eminence speaker is EQ'd to sound like specific classic speakers. This mode is intended to provide "AITR" with "authentic" speaker emulations. Some people love it, some hate it. Try it, YMMV.

Naturally, in Speaker Emulation Mode, as with USER IR Mode, your FX would be BEFORE the IR or Emulated Speaker.

 

You might want to consider it like this - if you're after "AITR", a normal guitar rig would have the FX BEFORE the cab, and no frelling tweeter, just a speaker in a box.

If you're after "the sound on the record", the FX and EQ's are often added in post by the recording engineer (what you're doing now) and you hear it played back through full-range speakers (your stereo or FRFR).

Using FX before IRs/Cabs then through FRFR gives you the sound closest to what the audience hears at a concert.

 

Powercab gives you all three options.

 

FWIW - I had a PC112+ but traded it in on a PC212+ for the added fullness of the 2x12 cab and the stereo functionality, which is surprisingly good for two speakers in a single cab. At the full spread setting it sounds like the speakers are around 6' apart! Of course, it's bigger and heavier than the PC112+, so if you plan on taking it out a lot there's that to consider.

 

Hope this helps.

[amsdenj]

As long as the blocks are linear (no distortion or compression), it doesn't matter whether they are before or after the cab block. See 

 for details

[tbramer]

OK, thanks for all the input.