Using acoustic guitar IRs with Variax

[rwinking]

I've really been enjoying using my Powercab with my real acoustic guitars and using acoustic guitar IRs downloaded to the powercab to give them more depth. Since I quit my major loud band a couple of years ago, I have not used either of my Variax's. I pulled one out and thought how I had never tried an acoustic guitar IR with the Variax. So, a couple of questions.....

 

1) Should I put the IR first in the line on my Helix before any FX, preamps, etc?

 

2) When I was in my loud band I was using loud tube amps and the Helix was only for FX, 4CM. I used the Variax for sitar, slide tunings and other kind of exotic things but never really liked the acoustic guitar sounds. Then it dawned on me that playing through a 2 X 12 guitar cab and real tube amps sounds great for electric guitars and Variax electric models but of course acoustics would sound a little weird. So, has anyone tried using acoustic models with say an acoustic Martin IR and then through the Powercab FRFR? IT seems like that would give a nice new dimension to the Variax acoustic models.

Thanks

Rick

[silverhead]

1. There’s no ‘right’ placement of the IR in the signal chain. Do whatever sounds best to you. But you’re right that theoretically the IR placed immediately after the Input block would most accurately simulate the real world where the guitar body resonance can’t be separated from the string vibrations.

 

2. I generally avoid using an electric guitar amp/cab model when using my Variax acoustic models, for the exact reason you mention. I use the studio preamp model along with compression, reverb, and EQ as desired, and Chorus, Delay to taste if desired. I use studio monitors (FRFR). I find the most important thing about using the Variax acoustic models is about adapting my playing style; a lighter strumming technique with a very soft pick, and a more accurate solo touch.

[rwinking]

I use the IR on acoustics live but have them on my Powercab since I use a Grace preamp and there is no way to put the IR in front of that. It just dawned on me though that since I use my Stomp XL for EQ and FX on my mandolin, I could put my mando IR in front instead of on the PC and that might make it sound even better.

 

I did run into an issue this morning in trying to load IRs from worship tutorials onto my Helix Rack. I have three kinds....a D-35, a Taylor and one called the Holy Grail. The D-35 loaded into the Helix without any problem but I could not load the others as I would drag them over and get the circle with the slash through it and the file would just go back to it's loacation. 

Ever had that happen? All were 48k files so since the Martin file worked I am not sure what might be going on with the others....

rick

[amsdenj]

An IR is a linear block, it does not produce and distortion or dynamics that vary with time. So it doesn't matter that much where it is in the signal chain. Put it where it's convenient. Generally after gain and amp blocks is the typical pattern, and that would work with acoustic instruments too.

 

[Renemtel]

Using a Martin IR with the Variax acoustic models through the Powercab FRFR should work great

[psarkissian]

Don't know if there is enough memory in the Variax of Workbench HD to accommodate that. 

Impulse Response (IR) is what characterizes reflections and delay of a room or space in four

dimensions (xyz space and time). 

 

That is a lot to condense into Variax memory. Mainly why that would be an external effects block in your floor effects. 

Not an effect to be used like delay, reverb or amplitude dynamics.