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Post by Tbone81 on Aug 2, 2017 22:02:52 GMT -6
I'm tempted to buy an isolation cab. I've seen a few going for relatively cheap. I'm currently recording in a spare bedroom and my other cabs (Marshall 4x12 and orange 2x12) are in storage. I won't have access to them for at least a year.
I've also been thinking of building a 1x12, closed back cab with a Celestion. I can do that for around $100-150. Or I could do the iso cab for about twice that.
Seeing as I'll be recording in one room the ISO cab seems the better way to go. But I don't want to sacrifice tone. Do ISO cabs suck?
Any thoughts, opinions or suggestions?
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Post by Ward on Aug 2, 2017 22:35:24 GMT -6
The only caveat is that they sound choked most times and often times like someone is talking directly into your ear. It's a bit creepy sounding. You can overcome this with reverb but that doesn't really constitute an exact replica of the lost room tone.
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Post by ragan on Aug 2, 2017 22:37:14 GMT -6
I use one all the time. I built it. It took a lot of tweaking to get it to work for me, mostly just stuffing every possible spot with more rockwool, but it works pretty well. It's not as good as tracking non-ISO, but the setup I've got going here still sounds good and is a joy to track with.
For my setup, I took my main two amps (68 Deluxe Reverb RI and AC15) and made a little cab for each. I bought duplicates of the speakers and I throw whatever amp I'm using's little clone cab in the ISO box and keep the amp out with me so I can sit there and tweak settings while just hearing the signal from the monitors. It's really a nice workflow for me. I can track cranked electric guitars while my little boy is sleeping directly above me.
I put 2 layers of those rubber decoupling feet that they sell for washers/dryers/etc underneath the ISO cab and I have a single layer of them under the cab inside the ISO.
Helps a lot with the low end rumble.
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Post by wiz on Aug 2, 2017 23:59:53 GMT -6
Beautiful
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Post by Tbone81 on Aug 3, 2017 10:34:52 GMT -6
I use one all the time. I built it. It took a lot of tweaking to get it to work for me, mostly just stuffing every possible spot with more rockwool, but it works pretty well. It's not as good as tracking non-ISO, but the setup I've got going here still sounds good and is a joy to track with. For my setup, I took my main two amps (68 Deluxe Reverb RI and AC15) and made a little cab for each. I bought duplicates of the speakers and I throw whatever amp I'm using's little clone cab in the ISO box and keep the amp out with me so I can sit there and tweak settings while just hearing the signal from the monitors. It's really a nice workflow for me. I can track cranked electric guitars while my little boy is sleeping directly above me. I put 2 layers of those rubber decoupling feet that they sell for washers/dryers/etc underneath the ISO cab and I have a single layer of them under the cab inside the ISO. Helps a lot with the low end rumble. Wow, nice cabs. Are you finding the ISO cab to be boxy sounding or muddy? |
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Post by ragan on Aug 3, 2017 11:09:48 GMT -6
I use one all the time. I built it. It took a lot of tweaking to get it to work for me, mostly just stuffing every possible spot with more rockwool, but it works pretty well. It's not as good as tracking non-ISO, but the setup I've got going here still sounds good and is a joy to track with. For my setup, I took my main two amps (68 Deluxe Reverb RI and AC15) and made a little cab for each. I bought duplicates of the speakers and I throw whatever amp I'm using's little clone cab in the ISO box and keep the amp out with me so I can sit there and tweak settings while just hearing the signal from the monitors. It's really a nice workflow for me. I can track cranked electric guitars while my little boy is sleeping directly above me. I put 2 layers of those rubber decoupling feet that they sell for washers/dryers/etc underneath the ISO cab and I have a single layer of them under the cab inside the ISO. Helps a lot with the low end rumble. Wow, nice cabs. Are you finding the ISO cab to be boxy sounding or muddy? Not really. At first I could make out the comb filtering and it sounded indistinct, a little. Smeary. Since I added the extra rockwool chunks (there's another slab that closes down into the cavity in front of the cab, attached to the lid) it sounds pretty normal. Can't hear the comb filtering/phase stuff anymore. Just sounds extremely dry (obviously). Besides the insert chunks, the cab is built with 2" of rockwool on all sides and top and bottom. Box is 3/4" MDF. Thing is heavy as hell. |
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Post by 79sg on Aug 3, 2017 14:11:59 GMT -6
I could never get them to work for me (too boxy sounding) so I ended up with a Two Notes Torpedo Reload which I have been extremely happy with when needing / wanting to record silently. Ragan, that ISO cab you built looks very nice.
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Post by Tbone81 on Aug 3, 2017 21:17:31 GMT -6
I could never get them to work for me (too boxy sounding) so I ended up with a Two Notes Torpedo Reload which I have been extremely happy with when needing / wanting to record silently. Ragan, that ISO cab you built looks very nice. Damn you, I just looked up the The TN Torpedo series and now I'm convince that's what I need instead. Only the Reload is much more $$$. I'm thinking now of getting the Two Notes Captor. Seems like that gives me most of what I want for just $229, about the same price I'd pay for the Iso Cab I'm looking at right now. I'm figuring they're both emulations of the real thing, in different ways. |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Aug 3, 2017 21:20:54 GMT -6
I could never get them to work for me (too boxy sounding) so I ended up with a Two Notes Torpedo Reload which I have been extremely happy with when needing / wanting to record silently. Ragan, that ISO cab you built looks very nice. Damn you, I just looked up the The TN Torpedo series and now I'm convince that's what I need instead. Only the Reload is much more $$$. I'm thinking now of getting the Two Notes Captor. Seems like that gives me most of what I want for just $229, about the same price I'd pay for the Iso Cab I'm looking at right now. I'm figuring they're both emulations of the real thing, in different ways. It seems like the JetCity only has room for 1 mic. I thought about grabbing it, but that pulled me away. FWIW. |
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Post by Ward on Aug 4, 2017 6:05:59 GMT -6
Another method you may consider is the Hughes and Kettner Redbox™ - then something to handle the speaker load to ø.
TBH, the Redbox™ produces better results than what I've heard on some recordings done with microphone captures . . . that have crossed my desk.
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Post by 79sg on Aug 4, 2017 7:12:21 GMT -6
That's the beauty of the Two Notes stuff, it is a reactive load and an all in one solution that sounds great. Haven't mic'd a cab in a long time. Tbone81, I don't believe The Captor has been released yet, originally it was June then they backed it up until August, haven't seen a recent update.
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Post by jimwilliams on Aug 4, 2017 9:53:34 GMT -6
An Iso room works much better. Let those speakers breath.
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Post by Tbone81 on Aug 4, 2017 11:41:50 GMT -6
An Iso room works much better. Let those speakers breath. Agreed but I don't have that convenience, and wont for probably the better part of a year. In the mean time I need something that will sound good, allow me to monitor at decent levels, and wont drive my gf crazy when shes in the next room. I've thought of using amp sims, either software or hardware (like the eleven rack or POD) but I never really liked the way they sounded, especially with high gain, heavy distortion (which is primarily what I do). Also, it seems like a sin to use amp sims when I have the real deal amps sitting right next to me, staring me down, making me feel ashamed of myself. |
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Post by Tbone81 on Aug 4, 2017 11:42:57 GMT -6
Tbone81, I don't believe The Captor has been released yet, originally it was June then they backed it up until August, haven't seen a recent update. Thanks for the heads up. I just sent an email to sweetwater to see if they can get a release date. In the mean time I'll just have to patient. |
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Post by terryrocks on Aug 7, 2017 19:30:07 GMT -6
I've been really impressed with Kemper for high gain stuff.
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Post by donr on Aug 8, 2017 8:22:19 GMT -6
I have a Rivera Silent Sister with one 12" Celestion. The back of the speaker goes into a labyrinth. It mic's really well, but it's not silent. Just a lot less loud than an amp. I'd sell it, PM me if you have any interest.
I mostly use either a Kemper or the Two-Notes Torpedo these days. Less strain on the neighbors and my marriage.
Nice ISO cab, Ragan.
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Post by Ned Ward on Aug 8, 2017 8:53:21 GMT -6
In my home studio, I don't have the space to build an iso cab; for now I'm using Eleven Rack to practice and record late, but would much rather use my Blackface Fenders or my Dr. Z Maz 17. I think I'll need to save up for the Two Notes Torpedo and just suck it up.
the other option would be the Suhr reactive load and then using IR's in Pro Tools (or even Two Notes program). Any one used the Suhr reactive load with success?
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Post by Tbone81 on Aug 8, 2017 21:47:50 GMT -6
I've been really impressed with Kemper for high gain stuff. I've heard the same from many people. I usually have an aversion to modelers but I was doing FOH once and this guitar player brought one, and I have to admit, it sounded really good. However, he didn't have a high gain tone. You're in Portland, right? If you're not too busy I'd love to hear it some time. I'd gladly donate some beer to the cause. |
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Post by Tbone81 on Aug 8, 2017 21:49:31 GMT -6
I have a Rivera Silent Sister with one 12" Celestion. The back of the speaker goes into a labyrinth. It mic's really well, but it's not silent. Just a lot less loud than an amp. I'd sell it, PM me if you have any interest. I mostly use either a Kemper or the Two-Notes Torpedo these days. Less strain on the neighbors and my marriage. Nice ISO cab, Ragan. Thanks for the offer, but I think I'm leaning towards the Two Notes Captor at this point. I'll let you know if things change. |
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Post by terryrocks on Aug 8, 2017 23:45:48 GMT -6
I've been really impressed with Kemper for high gain stuff. I've heard the same from many people. I usually have an aversion to modelers but I was doing FOH once and this guitar player brought one, and I have to admit, it sounded really good. However, he didn't have a high gain tone. You're in Portland, right? If you're not too busy I'd love to hear it some time. I'd gladly donate some beer to the cause. Sure thing. Beer is definitely the way to my heart! i'm pretty open the next few days |
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Post by Tbone81 on Aug 9, 2017 13:14:13 GMT -6
I've heard the same from many people. I usually have an aversion to modelers but I was doing FOH once and this guitar player brought one, and I have to admit, it sounded really good. However, he didn't have a high gain tone. You're in Portland, right? If you're not too busy I'd love to hear it some time. I'd gladly donate some beer to the cause. Sure thing. Beer is definitely the way to my heart! i'm pretty open the next few days PM'd you. |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Aug 9, 2017 13:45:59 GMT -6
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Post by Ned Ward on Aug 9, 2017 18:43:22 GMT -6
The Fryette Power Station is doing 2 things - acting as a reactive load with limited tonal shaping, but also a 6L6 amp. Most of us don't need a 6L6 amp in the product we want for silent recording, and if I'm using one of my lower wattage amps (Princeton Reverb, Dr. Z Mini Z) a e906 on the cab to the PA works fine. If I need more stage volume or if the bar has crappy monitors then I'll bring a bigger amp. Feels like a sofa bed. Not a good sofa, not a good bed. Pick one thing and be really good at it. |
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Post by longscale on Aug 26, 2017 21:37:47 GMT -6
I've never been able to make one work. I always figured I just sucked at recording whenever I used one. Boxy, funny comb filtering, a pita to get the mic positioned. The one I played with was not really that quiet either. So in reality it saved me nothing, and gave me a sound I did not like. Lucky for me that cab was not mine - so when the friend asked for it back I was not sad to see it go. I can't remember what it was - this was probably 10+ years ago when I used it.
I did the power attenuator thing for a bit - but was also never really happy with that either and a few of my amps would eat expensive NOS tubes for lunch with mine (a Marshall SE100). I'm dipping my toes into the Kemper world at the moment. So far so good - but it is way too early to make a final call on that. But honestly given the variety of amps that the Kemper can profile, and the fact that I can still easily take a direct signal and re-amp later; I'm not sure I see any other quiet path forward at this point in time.
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Post by nobtwiddler on Sept 16, 2017 15:51:49 GMT -6
I've had every brand since about 20 years ago... The only one that really works is this: www.theboxofdoom.com/isolation-cabinets/box-of-doom-iso-cab-pro-series-allxs/I have 3 in my place....very expensive especially to ship them over to the USA, but totally worth it. Since I received mine a few years ago, I've got, Vol Beat, & Golden Earring to buy quite a few for studio use & Live tours! Sylvester is a great guy, tel him you heard about them from Paul @ Millbrook Sound. |
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