Does The Friedman IR-X Sound Like A Big Amp?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Special thanks to my daughters for the glitter under my eye! 🤪 What are your thoughts on the IR-X by Friedman? Does it sound like a big amp?

[@JonathanKillstring]

Nothing more metal than glitter :D Also, sounds good! Sounds like a Friedman, which is what one would hope :) Heavy Rock Demo showcases those AIC sounds nicely. Bit wooly for modern metal, but tbh, that's what Friedman amps sound like on their own. IMO, this is every bit as attractive as most Friedman amps to my ears. Though admittedly, they're not my favorite flavor of high gain, so I'm sure aficionados will find missing details that I didn't notice. Thumbs up!

[@rangerdoc1029]

I recently got one and must say it is exactly what I've been looking for for many years. No more fighting the volume Beast. Yet this thing is so incredibly touch sensitive. I love channel 2 set to edge of breakup. It goes from that beautiful clean to crunch with just pick attack.

[@thulioassis1023]

I tried to clean my screen a couple times. 😂

[@emiliano9321]

11:30 sounds like it has a high noise floor? Not the worst I've ever heard anyway, but seems common on preamp pedals. Thanks for the vid as always!

[@Ottophil]

@@emiliano9321compared to my 6505+ , using identical power section the irx has less hiss its got much better dynamics with the gain. Different guitars and different pickups sound different with the IrX, the 6505+ makes everything sound the same

[@randymccoy2527]

Every single time. Your compositions and arrangements are on another level. How you have ~60k subscribers is mind boggling. Your mixes crush. Content this good being available for free is incredible. I would like to support your channel. Your mixes inspire me more than anything else I watch. Excellent work. Cheers man.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Thanks so much!

[@RomanChugz]

Ditto. I wish you put out more of your own music, Jon. I just found out about Valhella and I'm loving it.

[@Troi1984]

Absolutely agree. You're tone and playing always crush!!

[@alexwood8555]

Man that track you made for the crunch tone.. Fantastic. Love this demo, I have the BE Deluxe and this is a natural evolution of that and more versatile piece of gear.

[@zigballiveguitar]

One of the best demos of IRX, how it sounds in the mix. Well done.

[@defmu3825]

The demosound at 11:32 is soooo good. And the dirty basstone aswell. Good job dude.

[@orwendhag876]

I didn't try any metal sound on my hx stomp since month. I gave yours a try, without the IR, using stock cab. Sounds gorgeous, better than the other preset I had yet think. Thanks a lot !

[@jewelcheese]

That heavy section was heavenly! Sounds a lot like COC loved it

[@Tepnomusic]

The demo at 9:14 was so emo it hurt my youth. God it sounded good.

[@swmorgan515]

Thanks for the demo on this. I think the concept behind this pedal is brilliant, and it suits my needs perfectly. I have good modelers, but always gravitate back to low-gain and high-gain marshall amp sims for all my tones. So the ability to get those in the form of two real tube preamp channels, with the digital power amp / cab sim stuff for the DI out is perfect. I wish Orange would follow suit on this and issue a dual-channel, analog version of their Super Crush preamp stages with a power stage / IR sim for DI out and effects loop. I'd buy that instantly since the Super Crush is my main real amp.

[@dhrandy]

Clean and classic crunch game me Hopesfall vibes. Heavy rock game me STP vibes. Great review!

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

That Alice In Chains-y piece was niiiice 🔥

[@redstrat5976]

Yeah the heavy rock tone was very Jerry Cantrell inspired

[@JarickL]

Jon does the absolute best AIC inspired songs and I'm here for all of them!

[@Naughtforeye]

Jerry Cantrell is my absolute favorite guitar player and tone monster. His tones are and have always been next level. I just wish I could afford his signature Friedman Double J, I do have his signature LP Custom Wino with some tasteful upgrades like a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge which he used forever.

[@chrisw5742]

Dude that thing sounds freaking AMAAAAZING. I want one now.

[@robertdonosobuchner3129]

It sounds great. I didn't expect it from this pedal amp. Your riffs and sounds are wonderful! 🤘 I would like to hear an album of your music.

[@vextract4662]

Great review thanks! Well to get any better tones you explained it best at the end of the video about needing a big tube amp. Great option for smaller gigs, though, and I was looking for an option. It seems this is it.

[@JarickL]

Love mine! It's so plug and play compared to my modelers and works really well with effects. Killer addition to a direct board!

[@charlesycoker]

Killer unit. I love mine, I use it direct for recording, live when I want to go direct (replaced my Fractal FM3) as well as into the FX return of several amps including my Friedman Dirty Shirley 40 and JJ Junior. I now have one small pedalboard that I use for everything, I had a delay/verb in the loop, wah, tuner, mid boost, Phase 95 for modulation. At home I run it in the FM3 which serves as my audio interface and disable the onboard IR and use the FM3 for stereo IRs, delay and verb, etc.. I have done tests going into my FRFR with the IR-X vs the FM3 and the IR-X defintely has a more immediate and punchy feel. Really, the main thing is it just instantly sounds great with hardly any effort vs the MONTHS of exhaustive amp deep diving and IR testing. I am using 3rd party IRs with the Ownhammer Classic Rock. I use the Greenback 57 IR for live use and stereo 57/121 for direct into DAW. Dave knows tone. LOVE the IR-X.

[@toddcollins6746]

Could you explain a little more about how you use it in combination with the FM3 and why? I have the FM3, use it at home for direct recording into Logic, and like it but just trying to get a little closer to the sound of a real amp in a room. Thx, Todd

[@ibanezman1025]

For amp in the room tone with the Fractal you should consider disabling the cab block and instead use an EQ block with a hi cut as low as 5-6K to mimic how an actual speaker sounds in the room, not what a microphone capturing a speaker and all it’s resonances and overtones sounds. Cooper Carter has a video on this.

[@charlesycoker]

What monitors are you running through? Better monitors will definitely sound and feel better. I moved from KBL 305s to Kali 3 way In5s, much more detailed midragnge sounds and they sound fantastic turned up. Using the cab block and putting in some room sound, like 30% helps.. Different IRS, I went through a ton of them and settled on the Ownhammer Classic which are Greenbacks and I use the 57 on onside and 121 on the other. of coure some reverb and a tad of delay. I don't use any compression whatsoever. Sometimes I will run the IR-X into the FM3 with it's internal IR off and no amp model in the FM3. I do think a big thing is just to turn it up so that it feels punchy, thre drums and bass are punchy in the DAW. @@toddcollins6746

[@truthfactreality6814]

Yes it does. I have many amps and this stands up big time

[@terpholm]

Dude you have the cleanest guitars in the business. Not a single dust particle to be seen 😮

[@MatthewBlackMetal]

Youre room os getting so full of gear ... lol a dream land so dope

[@Nikolashiin]

Loved the glitter 🤩! Can’t escape ‘em with daughters 💕

[@hannesganahl6384]

Great review, thank you!

[@TheBhannah]

Nice demo … I wonder how it sounds in the effects loop of an amp ?

[@3J_Music]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/enaqiHVtnryEiqMsi=-29th9Ex-2ZOkne_ Sounds like this @TheBhannah

[@attrition0]

I've had it plugged into the fx return of my marshall dsl40cr and it sounded great.

[@MRxr400]

lovely tones.

[@ozzlayer]

Very versatile pedal. Impressive 💪

[@sorashima]

How would you compare it vs the BE-OD Deluxe into the clean channel of a tube amp?

[@cw.austin6633]

That metal tone 😮

[@mrhyde2250]

Solid tones for sure but tell us about the grungy bass tone in the AIC inspired track!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Helix Native and an OwnHammer bass IR

[@mvyper]

Which IR, if I might ask?

[@LucasLeCompteMusic]

I think its awesome if you just want to take a pedal board to a gig and use the house amp/or PA as the power amp.

[@skrabio]

The products that feature a power amp always add to my IR confusion… I always figured that part was sonically captured in the IR process. Does that mean the included IRs are different, or do IRs always need a simulated power section 😵‍💫

[@gral9440]

i run mine with a KSR PA50 plugged on a Zilla 2x12 Fatboy Vertical Angled Cabs loaded with V30+G12H75 speakers and it’s awesome and if I compare with my Runt 50 plugged on a Zilla Big Block loaded with the same speakers, I would say that the IR-X is naturally tighter and has more gain that my Runt 50 if this one wasn’t modded, but mine is modded with Legendary tones’ Mr Scary module so it has a way more gain than the pedal but the pedal is far more tighter

[@Elektrifekt]

The last tone sounded great to my ears and I don’t really play metal. 🤷‍♂️ great demo and a pedal I will look at investing in at some point.

[@brianbowersox8392]

It will be interesting to see if BAD uses this same tech for Bogner, Soldano, etc like they did with the mini heads.

[@garettoverstreet]

Soldano new preamp with its own IRs already on display at NAMM…

[@brianbowersox8392]

Yep, I know. I was referring to something in the same format, not a rack unit.

[@adamstein9333]

If only Mesa Boogie did this with the Dual Rectifier! I would be done! For about a year lol G.A.S.

[@gral9440]

Mesa is dead since Gibson bought it.

[@adamstein9333]

You’re absolutely right! I forgot about that. Do You know anything about the new falcon amp?

[@willdenham]

I play basic rock. I am away from my gear on weekends and want something I can plug a guitar into and play through ir's with headphones, with maybe a captor/phone or my laptop. I normally play through a Marshall JTM50 through ir's or attenuated to bedroom volume. Is this a little more organic sounding than say a headrush prime?

[@thulioassis1023]

Big boy tones. I didn't expect that.

[@portainfericz]

Hi, is it possible to take out from the preamp signal without cabsim and power amp sim (to power amp and guitar cab) simultaneously with signal with cabsim (direct to FOH) ? Thx

[@vextract4662]

Yes. You can run from the send to the return of your power amp and just turn off the cabinet simulation and power amp simulation. Run direct line out to FOH with cab simulation engaged and power amp on as well. I'm going to do this with my line 6 vetta II because I need an option for tight gigs where my Marshall is too bulky and loud plus the Vetta has all the FX I need without careying my pedal board. (It's lighter than the marshall tube amp by far)Plus, the Friedman IR sounds way better than the direct out from most any Marshall amp. Hope this made sense!

[@vextract4662]

I also would add that the direct out sounds better than the vetta II cabinet simulators from 20 years ago which is why I would use the IR-x. It's sound very smooth.

[@Manley156]

They sound great and the ir's were made by Michael Nielsen and sound fantastic

[@brrblack497]

Maybe an ENGL or Soldano unit? That would be cool.

[@rogerYT69]

very cool device ...simple, sounds awesome and it's a perfect pedal platform. also like the uafx lion but the friedman is more set and forget😊 ...the bright switch in channel 1only works if the gain is maximum at ca. level 8 after 8 the switch does nothing 😉

[@robertkoascorpio]

Crunch sounds slightly fuzzy . You need a second IR possibly in SERIES to make it smooth like a Pro Recording ...or one which has stronger filtering...IMO.

[@toddcollins6746]

Can you explain how/why you were using this in combination with the FM3? Couldn’t you record it direct via USB? Does this do better Friedman sounds than the FM3?

[@void_snw]

Sounds pretty sick. Would love a shootout against the Friedman models in the Helix and alikes :D

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Maybe one day I'll get a real big boy Friedman on the channel too! Not that I don't like my JJ JR

[@HEAVENSFIREOfficial]

Hey man!! Love the channel and I just bought an IR-X after watching this but..........what are you using for a noise gate? Also, what IR would you recommend for an "Pull Me Under" / "Under a Glass Moon" chug? Thanks in advance dude!!

[@oldmetaldude3480]

Hey man, the bright switch doesn’t work on channel 2 only on channel one the switch that’s on channel 2 cut the low end to the left

[@MetalZoned]

It's a very good amp but personally I just did not care for it and I returned mine. Great demo

[@lexlexlex007]

How about comparing Friedman IR-X with Engl e530?

[@ssmetalrulz]

So I've always had this question - when using IRs do you also need to use a power amp simulator or do IRs already incorporate the sound of a power amp section in addition to the mic and cabinet when they were captured?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

It's good to have flat IRs because modelers etc have poweramp simulation

[@progpogs]

What made you initially underwhelmed? Just better once you loaded your own IRs or had to work it more? I'm wondering if this half-analog gear "feels" any better than modelers.

[@BetonBenni]

This thing or the victory kraken? :)

[@wtpmikee]

hey Jon! if i understand correctly one cant go to a PA with an IR and also has an output to go into power amp and a real cab? or can it be done through send?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I would assume it could be done with the send but I haven't tried

[@chemavivar]

So, would you take this Friedman ir x or an Ik Tonex?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Very different pieces of gear

[@jonathantremblay79]

Hello Jon. I am a big fan of your tone. I see you like to use Fractal instead of an audio interface to record your guitar tones. Any particular reason for this? I usually run my guitar thru my apollo interface i was wondering about the difference. Thank you for all the great content!

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I just find it very convenient for direct monitoring, DI tracking and reamping

[@jonathantremblay79]

@@SonicDriveStudio Cheers Jon! Thank you for the quick answer. Im going to try this with my FM3 ! Also got a redseven loadbox inc my way, been my dream loadbox since i saw your review. Hard to come by in Canada! Rock on! :)

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Wonderful! Enjoy!

[@playthefightriffjohn843]

Got some Misery Signals vibes from that second song

[@peterrovaniemi138]

Hey, would you use this one or a synergy module if you where going into the power amp of a tube amp? Asking about your preference

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Good question, I've never tried the Synergy stuff so I wouldn't know tbh

[@stevenbanquer8552]

How are you getting your bass tone?

[@felipegomabrockmann2740]

Does the FM3 sound like this pedal? I have a Axe-Fx III. Is it worth to buy the IR-X?

[@TheOtherJohnBrowne]

You are just a human sick riff machine

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Haha thanks buddy!

[@colinparks619]

I love it, but I still go back to my tone x .....

[@ThyWorshipMetal]

So will the sound be different or similar if I connected this directly to my Interface as I do not own an FM3?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

The same, the FM3 is just acting as my interface

[@ThyWorshipMetal]

@@SonicDriveStudio thank you so much! 😁

[@jasonhudson5357]

Just to clarify, you said they didn't pay you for the review . Did they ask you to return the unit or did they let you keep it?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I can keep it

[@zipporaid]

I reaaaally hope that BAD starts making this a whole line from their partners. Hopefully this is a proof of concept! Gimme a diezel version with tubes (⁠⊃⁠ ⁠•⁠ ⁠ʖ̫⁠ ⁠•⁠ ⁠)⁠⊃

[@nobodyimportant76467]

I put my IRX through an FRFR and it sounded as good as any head I’ve played through Hard to see how you can go wrong with this

[@steverherb]

Cool, did you use balanced out or the effects send into FRFR?

[@nobodyimportant76467]

@@steverherb Balanced out

[@steverherb]

​@nobodyimportant76467 Thanks, I have an old Tech 21 Power Engine that might work for the IR-X

[@nobodyimportant76467]

@@steverherb Cool. I hope it works out. You’ll probably want a little bit of delay/reverb in the effects loop of the IRX just to give it some character

[@KreativeDevices]

🔥

[@azzazelo]

Imo for the price it's def not worth it. You can still pickup a dsl for around that price if you take your time looking.

[@SonicDriveStudio]

Fair enough but this is for people who need a compact solution that works well in multiple situations (also cab-less etc)

[@lattjeful]

I disagree. I think they fill two different spots in the market. DSLs are lovely amps, but they aren't as portable and you can't use it for quiet recording/practice like you can the IR-X. Different folks for different strokes.

[@attrition0]

​@lattjeful yeah the headphone jack on the ir-x is actually useful, my dsl40 sounds pretty bad with the emulated out. However you can take the fx send from an amp and plug into the fx return in the ir-x and use headphones through the friedman, and it's back to being great :)

[@lattjeful]

@@attrition0 Yeah the IR-X's versatility is incredible. You can do soooo much with it. Genuinely one of my favorite gear purchases in a long time. Versatile, sounds great, and no menu diving. As somebody who works with computer shit all day, the last thing I want to do is more menu diving. Great product for lazy mfs like me.

[@wojtekn6411]

Taurus sh8 zjada to coś na śniadanie

[@pearmainstudios3942]

New Alice and chains song?

[@patdevelours1]

Il y a des preamp à lampe derriére, pur commerce...

[@chadhudson2046]

Almost sounds as good as the Wangs 1987.

[@mrchrisbeaver]

Have you tried it through a tube power amp yet? Would love to hear an A/B to see how its digital power amp compares to the real deal

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I have not

[@spottswoode8122]

I've put it through a Fryette PS2. Let's just say that it lacks balls, period. Don't bother with it for this application. Just use a good tube amp.

[@riffmondo9733]

Are there any reviews of gear that just sucks?

[@SonicDriveStudio]

I'm sure there are but I'm not interested in making content about crap gear. However, I have been critical of some items on the channel in the past. Sometimes it can't be avoided

[@TomatePasFraiche]

I wish my daughter would glitter me up too instead of downtuning all my guitars… everyday…

[@SonicDriveStudio]

She wants you to Meshuggah, don't take it the wrong way

[@TomatePasFraiche]

@@SonicDriveStudio You are right, I should have waited instead of blasting their songs to my wife’s belly 😂

[@jamesthompson6726]

Yeah and it's half the cost of a BE 100

[@Manley156]

Well... actually the be is 4 grand now so this cost 1/8th lol

[@steverherb]

The IR-X is the best way to get the Friedman sound at a reasonable cost. Just plug it into the effects return of a decent amp and you're good to go!

[@vextract4662]

Yeah into a l8ne 6 vetta II head with all the fx I'll need for smaller gigs. No pedal board, no giant heavy tube amp. I can feed the FOH with the IR-x and have my own real powered stage sound. It's huge

[@asnark7115]

Wrong question entirely. Makes no diff how it "sounds'. What matters is that your body and brain respond to it the way they do to all digital sound, as opposed to analog sound. It's not good, and it isn't sustainable.

[@kevinerickson84]

Worth the hype? Nope

[@pontiacpower421]

I bought this Friday 12- 13-24 returned it 12-16-24. It sounds great into a computer. I however put it through a carvin Ts 100 a mesa dual rec(into fx loop) and a solid state class a/b power amp. it sounds like TRASH through a cab. no matter what I did.