Cab Sim Shootout (No IR) - JDX, Iconoclast, JDX Drive, Mimiq

[@howardanderson3061]

Like the overall stereo sound you’ve going on, sounds great. I watched this vid because I have the iconoclast and I’m checking what other people are doing with it. This was super helpful, I will be using the iconoclast for direct recording. Great presentation, thanks for sharing it

[@brunoillipronti8641]

This is the most complete video about direct / line out options for guitars... If I had seen this video first than other 30 videos, it would have saved me hours

[@deanwolfechannel]

Great tones. I tend to be big on stereo for the sake of effects. I see you are more about stereo for the dry signal. I'm still trying to grasp what that's all about. The mimiq and iconoclast do seem more ideal for that setup though, even sounds great in an iPad speaker

[@jmkmusicpedals]

For me, it's really about choosing what I believe works best live. Spreading the dry guitar out in stereo (a trick I learned from Ty Tabor of King's X) gives me a consistent width to my sound, which in a single guitar band allows for better space for the vocals, drums and bass in the "center" channel. If I did just the effects in stereo and the dry in mono, most of the time I use a pretty dry tone, so I would end up in the center a lot. Then once in a while I would turn on a stereo effect and the sound would go wide (in different ways depending on the effect). There is definitely no right or wrong to it, it's just my preference. Works really well for quick studio recordings as well, as I think the sound in the video demonstrates.

[@deanwolfechannel]

you've given me some good food for thought, thanks

[@Radical_Libre]

Hello Joe, well this video answers midely to my question about stereo sound I deeply enjoy in your videos :) New why can't we use JDX48 directly out of a preamp ? like a MESA VTWin or whatever ? You say one can't in your video but I wonder why ? It works only with the power load of an amp ? Thanks for input.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Correct, the original JDX only works with the high output of a power amp. Radial actually put a sticker on the outside that they don't show in product photos that warns you of this. However, the JDX Drive is specifically made to use after a preamp.

[@mattgilbert7347]

I use the MImiq with my Di no-amp rig as well. It's good.

[@andresvelazquez2360]

JDX Direct Drive + (Iconoclast+Mimiq) sounded the clearest to me! Have you tried using the different voicings in the Direct Drive (combo setting) to get even more perceived width? Great demonstration, thank you very much :)

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Thanks. Yes, I've tried all the different voicings of the JDX Direct Drive. I use it in my live rig as my wet amp with the JDX setting. Sounds good. (The Iconoclast is used as my dry amp live)

[@mordokch]

The Iconoclast just makes the others sound like toys - it has such class and detail, and it seems to sit 'in the mix', rather than over it like the others do. They're not cheap though, but I suppose none of them are.

[@1alexanderkup1]

sounds boxy, like something been heavily eq'd

[@personalfreedom2700]

It sounds like the JDX amplifier is really not getting anything from the speaker cab at all… maybe the impulse response claims are kind of bs…Have you tried using the JDX amplifier box just as a direct box like the Jdx direct drive?, and not bothering with linking it to a cab with a speaker cable? Just going direct into to the JDX amp input, and xlr out

[@jmkmusicpedals]

I know that you can't do it that way if you are using a power amp because without the speaker placing a load on the amp's output, you will eventually damage the amp. Radial places a warning directly on the JDX front about this. If your question is more, have I tried using the JDX in a situation where the JDX Drive should be used, the answer is also no because the input of the JDX is designed to handle a 300 watt speaker output and not the output of a pedal. As far as the JDX not getting anything fro the speaker ... I don't believe it does anything more than sense the magnetic pushback from the speaker, it's not like it's relaying the sound of the speaker or claiming to ... I don't find much to discuss about that feature though myself ... I don't have any trouble using devices that don't claim to do that. It's probably technically accurate, but does it provide any noticeable difference? Not that I can really tell.

[@ForViewingOnly]

Great to see you back, Joe. Interesting video. Hard to judge on my little monitor speakers. I do like the JDX sound that you were originally using with the cabs, but I wonder if it's just a case of EQ'ing the JDX Drive and Iconoclast to get really close to what you had? The JDX Drive Stack Mode has maybe too much bass, and the Iconoclast loses a lot of the cool high frequencies and sounds a bit dull, but maybe EQ on the PA would sort both out. Have you see the Mooer Radar? Cheap as chips, and has power-amp emulation and impulse response capability, and a built-in EQ. Maybe this would be one to try, and a cheaper alternative to the Torpedo CAB, although I'm not sure if I'd completely trust Mooer's Chinese-written software for controlling the Radar without sandboxing it on your PC :-)

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Thanks. This was my initial comparison that I recorded a couple days ago. Since then I've stuck with the Iconoclast on my dry signal (with the Mimiq) and the JDX Drive for the wet signal and I've been EQing more carefully. I think what's in the video will give you the sense of what these sound like out of the box with quick adjustments. The JDX Drive's tone options don't really do much for me to be honest, I think the original 4x12 emulation is fine, or perhaps I've just been listening to that for so long. You are right, the Stack option is too boomy. And the 4x12 in the Drive does lose something that the original JDX has, that might have something to do with how the JDX uses the speaker out though. I'm going to have to check the Mooer Radar out when I get interested in IRs. Also the AMT device and maybe the BlueBox. Torpedo is a bit pricey for me, I look at that and think how I got my Vox AC-30 for less! Maybe if I start playing 200 gigs a year. Plus, I'm not quite ready to take on IRs, seems like there is a never ended supply of them and so many options that I'll get lost trying them all from now until 2022. :-)

[@ForViewingOnly]

Joe King - Cool Joe. Always interesting to see what you’re up to. I’ve got no idea about IRs either, and I don’t want to be distracted by all the options, but I think I’m gonna try the Mooer Radar for practicing with the pedalboard at home at low volume. It’s a bit mad me using a Mesa 50/50 valve power amp and speaker cab at bedroom volume at home. I finally ordered a better MIDI controller last month... I got the Fractal MFC-101, which I remember you had before upgrading to the liquid foots/feet. Very happy with the MFC but I had a bit of a freak out shortly afterward when I saw that the Line 6 Helix was only a couple of hundred pounds more expensive than the MFC, and could potentially replace my midi controller, and a lot of my pedals. But I think I’m doing the right thing in sticking with my pedalboard. The Helix still has a slight break in signal when changing patches unless it is in a limited ‘snapshot’ mode, and I don’t think the delays and verbs are quite up to the standard of the Strymon units. But the Helix has made me sweat nervously when I think that I’ve spent three times more on my pedals, patch cables and PSUs :-/. Sorry for the ramble, keep us updated Joe, cheers.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

I hear you man, I've get tempted to just chuck it all and pick up the latest all-in-one for 1/3rd the price of my pedalboard .. and then of course I'd need a backup, so 2/3rds the price. I always think if I do that (and I did it before when the tech wasn't as good) that I'll use it for a couple months and then plug into an amp or a nice set of pedals and remember what I've been missing (which also happened to me before). The MFC-101 is an excellent road worthy controller, I still have mine. I'm a bit of a hoarder when it comes to MIDI pedals, I always seem to find a use for them.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

Not sure if you already saw, but just so happens that my new video about the McMillen 12 Step uses the Iconoclast and JDX Drive in the Dry/Wet config. I've been playing with it for a couple of days and dialing it in ... get there.

[@ForViewingOnly]

Yes, just watched it again, sounds good Joe. When I said the Iconoclast sounded dull earlier, that was a bad choice of words... it was just that in the video it didn't seem to have the high frequencies out of the box that the Radial units had. After you mentioned a backup above when talking about all-in-one units like the Helix, I wondered if you had a plan if something went wrong when playing live with your rig? You've got a lot more specialised gear than me, like your 12 Step, Infinity looper, etc., which must be impossible to duplicate with a backup rig. Would the gig end if, say, the Infinity looper died?

[@fsdjgygsdsdhuw]

thanks

[@dewdude2112]

You "are deciding a direction to go using a live rig without any amps"...but show an TWO amps in your first rig. And if the illustration is correct...very fine tube amps. I don;t get it.

[@jmkmusicpedals]

3 years ago I was still using amps on stage, but also looking to go direct for the consistency factor from gig to gig. Then I transitioned to a rig where I could either have amps or not. And then I just eliminated the amps all together (unless it was a large open venue with a good size stage.). Amps and Cabsims aren't mutually exclusive choices, so the video is still about cabsims even though I also had amps with me. One choice, the JDX, can't be used without an amp. If you watched through the video, there are segments with no amps as well.

[@dewdude2112]

@@jmkmusicpedals I understand. I do the same thing. I'm using the Mooger Radar, sometimes out of my MFX/preamp pedals...sometimes out of the back of the amp...which is not simmed....just FX loop out. Being flexible is the key. I was just a bit confused by the above description and rig diagram. Thank you for he clarification.

[@tlb2732]

Throw any pedal with a usb port straight into the garbage because it will be useless at a live gig... unless you dig making the audience wait while you nerd out in search of your tone that disappeared.