Cabinet Emulator Question

[courtney2018]

Hi all,
I've been considering getting a cabinet emulator for my MP-1. I know that ADA made two different ones - Microcab I and Microcab II.

I don't know really the difference between the two, so if any knows please speak up. I researched it all last night and came up with nothing.

I'd like something that I can tweak. My Digitech GNX4 does cabinet emulation and there are several parameters that you can tweak to dial in the emulation that you like. That's what I would like...something I can tweak on.

The Microcabs provide this, but I haven't seen another option that is currently being made that you can tweak on like that. So, another option I've been considering is buying a cheap Digitech RP effects pedal and using only the cabinet emulator in there. My next question is has anyone used a cheap modeler for this purpose only and not for any additional effects?

Thanks in advance!

[EL-CeeDee]

You might want to check out www.adadepot.com

a friend of mine had the actual MP-1 microcab setup, it sounded somewhat boxy, though very tight. He made very good recordings with it.

[microdmitry]

I had a Microcab II in the past. It was nothing like the real cab. That said, I have no point of reference, because it's the only cab sim I ever had.

[rastachild]

i have the microcab too (although i can't remember if it is I or II) and it definitely doesn't sound like a cab, although it does a somewhat passable job of filtering the signal so that it is palatable. the funny thing about it is that there is a 'secret' setting that most people use, which is with all of the cab settings (they are all buttons) unselected, or not pushed in. that was definitely the best sounding emulation from what i could remember. although i would have to believe that there is something that is better sounding for di recording than the old microcab at this point.

[courtney2018]

Yea, it was with all the buttons "off".

I've been doing quite a bit of reading and research and it seems that the Microcabs were nothing more than a circuit that EQ'd the signal based on the frequency response from certain cabinets. So, if you had a decent EQ you could adjust the sliders and get "different cabinets". It's just easier and more convenient if you could push and button and get a certain cabinet.

Does someone make an EQ that you can program and save as a preset? ADA has the frequency response graph from the cabinets they used in one of the manuals I saw on adadepot.com If I could save my EQ as a preset then I might be inclined to looking at an EQ instead.

[Guitarmiester]

Have you tried the MP1 with your GNX4's cab simulator? I used to have a Mod4 MkII MP1 that I used with my PodXT (for cab simulations) when recording and was pleased with the results.

[toneboy]

I never found any EQ that could replicate the effect of a good cab simulator.

The the only differences between the Microcab 1 and 2 is the 1 uses an AC adaptor for power and the 2 has an AC line (no adaptor) and balanced line outs. I've got (3) Microcab 1s in my stable and really like them. They're my backup cab sims.

The best "speaker" sim I've tried is the the ADA Ampulator. It not only simulates the speaker cab but it also simulates the power amp part of the sound. Heck, it even uses a real tube (preamp, 12AX7 standard). That things sounds amazing. I've got 2 of them, one for my PC recording rig and one for my practice rig and I wouldn't part with them for love or money.

[courtney2018]

Originally Posted by Guitarmiester

Have you tried the MP1 with your GNX4's cab simulator? I used to have a Mod4 MkII MP1 that I used with my PodXT (for cab simulations) when recording and was pleased with the results.

I did try using the GNX4, but it strips off tons of tone from the MP-1, so that's out. Maybe a different unit would be better, I don't know. If the PodXT truely did nothing to the sound but added it's cabinet sim then I'd probably get one for that purpose only. Can you tell me if you turned off the cabinet sim in the Pod would the sound be 100% unchanged?

Originally Posted by toneboy

I never found any EQ that could replicate the effect of a good cab simulator.

The the only differences between the Microcab 1 and 2 is the 1 uses an AC adaptor for power and the 2 has an AC line (no adaptor) and balanced line outs. I've got (3) Microcab 1s in my stable and really like them. They're my backup cab sims.

The best "speaker" sim I've tried is the the ADA Ampulator. It not only simulates the speaker cab but it also simulates the power amp part of the sound. Heck, it even uses a real tube (preamp, 12AX7 standard). That things sounds amazing. I've got 2 of them, one for my PC recording rig and one for my practice rig and I wouldn't part with them for love or money.

Tried to get a Microcab 2 tonight, but got outbidded on the bay. I overshot what it's worth, but someone obviously wanted it more than me and outbid me with 4 seconds left. I haven't seen an Ampulator on there yet, but I've heard lots of great things about it. That's probably the one to get, but I'd be happy with a Microcab 2.

[Guitarmiester]

Originally Posted by courtney2018

I did try using the GNX4, but it strips off tons of tone from the MP-1, so that's out. Maybe a different unit would be better, I don't know. If the PodXT truely did nothing to the sound but added it's cabinet sim then I'd probably get one for that purpose only. Can you tell me if you turned off the cabinet sim in the Pod would the sound be 100% unchanged?

Nothing is going to leave you with 100% unaltered tone. I can't really answer your question. I sold my Mod4 MkII months ago, so I can't really remember how much or how little the tone was changed when turning the cab simulation off.

[toneboy]

Originally Posted by courtney2018

Tried to get a Microcab 2 tonight, but got outbidded on the bay. I overshot what it's worth, but someone obviously wanted it more than me and outbid me with 4 seconds left. I haven't seen an Ampulator on there yet, but I've heard lots of great things about it. That's probably the one to get, but I'd be happy with a Microcab 2.

Eh, a Microcab 1 is as good as a Microcab 2. The lowest I paid for a Microcab 1 was $50 and the highest was $150. The Ampulators cost between $500 and $550.

[sacredgroove]

Originally Posted by toneboy

I never found any EQ that could replicate the effect of a good cab simulator.

The the only differences between the Microcab 1 and 2 is the 1 uses an AC adaptor for power and the 2 has an AC line (no adaptor) and balanced line outs. I've got (3) Microcab 1s in my stable and really like them. They're my backup cab sims.

The MicroCab ll can also accept speaker level, but there's no load box (dummy load), so you still need a speaker.

I know this is old, but what the hell, eh.