Red Wirez Custom IR's - Axe-FX heaven

[Scott Peterson]

I am blown away, BLOWN away, by these IR's.

Caught wind of them a few days ago on the Fractal Forum.

Casually checked them out, decided to take the plunge (had enough sitting in the Paypal to cover the cost of their "BigBox" collection).

I've now logged some hours checking out all sorts of different IR's and pairs/quads of these Red Wirez IR's. Quite by accident, I've lucked into a strange mix that, logically, doesn't work. But damn, it does.

Here's my Bogner sound... really sounding like the best Bogner I've owned and heard recorded in my hands (just a quick mp3): http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?0mwynjyj0y0

The mix of IR's? Marshall 1960A V30s Royer 121 6" cone and (gasp!) Marshall 1960A V30s Stereo Room.

Now, I know that you are NOT supposed to use the Stereo room as an IR in the Axe. And I KNOW it should not work.

But IMHO, it's a charm.

100% direct, no post processing, and recorded in mono. One pass. More of these quickie clips to come.

I am blown away with these IR's. Very happy. www.redwirez.com

[mtmartin71]

I was wondering if these would be worth the purchase. Thanks for the review Scott.

[Eric Thomas]

I haven't started checking out IR's other than the ones delivered with the Axe. I have downloaded a bunch from links on the Fractal forum. I guess I'll get to that some day, but there's a lot of them out there to sort through....

Thanks for the clip Scott. If you get time a comparison clip between one of the Fractal delivered IR's and a Red Wirez cab might be helpful to people who are considering making the plunge.

[Scott Peterson]

Fender Deluxe: http://www.mediafire.com/?mlknpt5jxjx

Vox AC30: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?k3mc1n7tti0

Marshall JCM 800: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zmw2djzzfuh

I used different IR's appropriate for each setup.

Combined the room and the Royer 121 at 6" at the cone.

I am DIGGING these IR's.

[Scott Peterson]

Originally Posted by Eric Thomas

I haven't started checking out IR's other than the ones delivered with the Axe. I have downloaded a bunch from links on the Fractal forum. I guess I'll get to that some day, but there's a lot of them out there to sort through....

Thanks for the clip Scott. If you get time a comparison clip between one of the Fractal delivered IR's and a Red Wirez cab might be helpful to people who are considering making the plunge.

These are on a new level from the custom ones I was using before.

One of the MOST important aspects of your tone with the Axe-FX (assuming you are running it direct FRFR) are the cab IR's. There is NO way to downplay their importance.

These are STELLAR.

[mtmartin71]

Scott...any download issues for you? SLOW download rates and mine crapped out halfway through.

[traynor_garnet]

This looks really cool for DI'ing my amp in my condo. So how do you use these IR's? Do they load into something like Sonar or Cubase or is there a separate host program? The website mentioned some free programs . . .

Very interested.

TG

[Scott Peterson]

Originally Posted by mtmartin71

Scott...any download issues for you? SLOW download rates and mine crapped out halfway through.

Nope, never.

Originally Posted by traynor_garnet

This looks really cool for DI'ing my amp in my condo. So how do you use these IR's? Do they load into something like Sonar or Cubase or is there a separate host program? The website mentioned some free programs . . .

Very interested.

TG

You convert the wav files into sysex and use them inside the Axe-FX. As of now, they come with the wav files.

You can use IR files in various programs and plug-ins with different gear too. Not needed with the Axe-FX though.

[Matt Jones]

Scott-

Those sound unbelievable. So do these come from redwirez as .syx files or did you need to purchase them and do the conversions yourself?

Thanks and those clips really sound good. Just when I didn't think it could get any better!

matt

[Scott Peterson]

Originally Posted by megalowmatt

Scott-

Those sound unbelievable. So do these come from redwirez as .syx files or did you need to purchase them and do the conversions yourself?

Thanks and those clips really sound good. Just when I didn't think it could get any better!

matt

Thanks. I really work hard on making my tones sound good both live and in the studio and it's cool when others say nice things.

When I bought it, there were no sysex files. I used AlbertA's (free) conversion tool to covert the wav files to sysex. Cliff has since (in the last day or so) converted all the Red Wirez wave's to sysex and the Red Wirez guys now include them with the wav files when you buy it.

[traynor_garnet]

Originally Posted by Scott Peterson

You can use IR files in various programs and plug-ins with different gear too. Not needed with the Axe-FX though.

So for those who don't have an Axe-Fx, I can actually use these IR's in real time being feed from a DI?

TG

[Scott Peterson]

Originally Posted by traynor_garnet

So for those who don't have an Axe-Fx, I can actually use these IR's in real time being feed from a DI?

TG

Depends on the latency of your DAW setup.

[Eric Thomas]

Originally Posted by Scott Peterson

These are on a new level from the custom ones I was using before.

One of the MOST important aspects of your tone with the Axe-FX (assuming you are running it direct FRFR) are the cab IR's. There is NO way to downplay their importance.

These are STELLAR.

Scott, thanks for the clean AC30 clip. That sounds great. JCM 800 clip sounds great too! I couldn't get the Deluxe clip to download.

I am running FRFR with a FBT Verve 8ma. I'm going to have to check these out.

Am I correct that the Axe-FX will only allow 10 custom IRs to be loaded? Considering all IR's that are out there, and the fact that so many advanced users claim that custom IRs are the key to getting the best tones, this seems like a real limitation. Has there been talk from Fractal about increasing the number of custom IRs that can be loaded at once?

[Eric Thomas]

OK, I just took a look at the Red Wirez website and the number of IR's included in the full bundle.

In light of the other thread that is going on right now about tweaking and time management problems this looks like a black hole for tweak junkies.....

[Scott Peterson]

Originally Posted by Eric Thomas

Scott, thanks for the clean AC30 clip. That sounds great. JCM 800 clip sounds great too! I couldn't get the Deluxe clip to download.

I am running FRFR with a FBT Verve 8ma. I'm going to have to check these out.

Am I correct that the Axe-FX will only allow 10 custom IRs to be loaded? Considering all IR's that are out there, and the fact that so many advanced users claim that custom IRs are the key to getting the best tones, this seems like a real limitation. Has there been talk from Fractal about increasing the number of custom IRs that can be loaded at once?

There is a wishlist item on it in the Fractal Forum. Time will tell.

Originally Posted by Eric Thomas

OK, I just took a look at the Red Wirez website and the number of IR's included in the full bundle.

In light of the other thread that is going on right now about tweaking and time management problems this looks like a black hole for tweak junkies.....

You are missing the point. Listen again to the clips I've posted (I've put up 4). Realize that I've nailed MY tone from Fender, Vox, Marshall and Bogner. Perfectly. With a palette of effects optimized for each and controlled to the nth degree by me on stage (or in the studio) with my foot controller and expression pedals. Now remember I can play my acoustic direct, with the same sort of effect board (almost impossible in 'real life'). All in a small, portable and powerful rig that delivers the goods 100% every night. And what you hear recorded is EXACTLY what gets delivered to the FOH PA system, every gig, every session. No variables to worry about.

And note that I did indeed tweak this to get there; but I am 'there'. No further tweaking necessary and no 'time management problems'. Which IMHO, is a red herring.

Use your ears, not your brain. The tones are there. Nothing else matters.

And also note that I have nearly 40 presets to choose from for every gig, every session. Matchless, Soldano, Budda, Dumble, Trainwreck, CAE, and onward. All done. All ready to go. The tones fit the gig, every gig. Well over 100+ gigs now in this box with me; and it was a helluva lot cheaper and more efficient than buying a new amp and pedals as my gig needs changed.