I Answer Ten Questions About the Torpedo Captor X From Two Notes

[@jonlane8503]

Thank you for "dumbing this down" for me! You are a natural teacher, and have accomplished what nobody else has seemed to be able to do, at least for my 60+ year old brain! Great job!

[@islanderwinder]

Wow.......The Grandfather of the Fender BJ & ANY BLUES TONE ....THE KING OF THE SRV tone & lessons .

[@kevinmusso2397]

I have Captor X. I’m loving it. Great job at explaining the differences in the Two Notes products.

[@imlostinthewoods]

Kevin Musso in a gigging situation can it also be used as an attenuator between the head and cab, or is this strictly used without a speaker cabinet and run into the board? I only ask because it appears the OXBox which this often gets compared to can be run between the head and cab and used to attenuate the volume. Thanks!

[@everennui1]

@@imlostinthewoods You can, but there's only two attenuating settings. The attenuation feature will really depend on the amp that you have. If it's a 1 to 25 watt amp then it's probably not good for gigging. If it's more than that up to 100 watts then it will be alright at the "stage" attenuation level. I've found that if I attenuate my AC15 to "stage" levels then the amp volume isn't really loud enough to hear over the monitor speakers. I'd like to experiment with hooking up one of the XLR outputs straight into the house mixer and get all the sound through the captor and completely skip the miking step. From there it can be monkey'd with through the app.

[@jjsguitar]

This is the best job of actually explaining it's use at a high level I have seen, nice work!

[@Ratso_DeLynch]

Hey man ! your reviews absolutely NAILS this captor thanks for going indepth - * The questions I'm about to ask and detail with my scenario come from a specific place that I haven't seen many others mention and I'm looking for the simplest, of simplest ways to use this setup, I want to : * keep all my amp heads; the 20,50,100w ones and use this Captor X to be able to play at home volumes * Right now even my 20w Friedman runt head (great master volume tbh ) through my 1x12 with greenback is too damn loud for townhouse practice volumes if i want to play after work at night past 5pm which is only free time 90% of the time with the master vol past 1.5 * let alone even touching my bigger 50 or 100 w in this equation, really even 20 can be loud maybe it's my space walls room wood idk but that's where I'm at right now lol ; SO * Is all I need to do to make this work ; * my guitar - amp - CaptorX ( choose a cab preset like 4x12 with blackbacks or V30s ) - then interface - out to 2 speaker monitors = then start playing? No massive shelf and desk filled with other studio gear mixers pre amps and see of wires etc etc ? ^ * I've never bought tech like this or fiddled with drag and drop plug ins on a computer and dialing things up for hours; as you can tell- and that's exactly what I don't want to spend doing, sitting and dialing these virtual computer speakers simulations for hours - So I need to know if you think * the Captor X can actually emulated the sound of classic speakers I love like my 20 w greenback in my 1x12 and 2x12 marshall cab with V30s ? * It's really good enough of a tone that is close to the real thing ? * Surely if Pete thorn , George lynch and Phil X , Shawn tubbs aka tone junkies used to high end coveted vintage cabs and speakers love it and put their stamp of approval then it must sound pretty damn good for home uses then ? * And most of all ; * Are the speaker emulations EASY to use dial in presets ? * Or will i have to sit for hours the first night with my captor X and drag drop and move things all over a computer screen just to get some tone ? * as cool as the sound could be I don't want to buy a ton of other gear with this captor to get the sound of speakers in a quieter way or spend hours clicking through presets- are the simple 4x12 greenback or 4x12 V30 emulations good enough to NOT sit all day tweaking ? * OR is it like being your own studio man and every different preset has a learning curve that can take a long time to just nail for say the 20w Friedman or 50w ceriatone ? ^ * I wouldnt call myself a purest ; just that at home I'm used to plugging the chord into my Friedman runt or 50w Morris, into my 1x12or 2x12 and play with maybe slight reverb in the fx loop - boom thats it and i can play. * So I always told myself if i go this digital route it has to be simple to setup and sound good, because right now I live my 1x12 and 2x12 but those cabs costed money that isn't really getting used to its full potential by playing amps in a townhouse with volume set to 1/ 1.5 just seems like shame to keep a big 2x12 especially without really getting its full use .. * Yes, Attenuators exist, but not a solid one until you get into 1k - 2k range it seems, after talking to a few friends I found the 2 notes captor X and of course watching your video and many others I have been hooked on what it could potentially offer for some time now since I live in a setting with " noise limitations " this Captor X reallyy looks like the ticket for me. * Please lmk any thoughts answers and tips you might have whenever you can get to it. Thanks in advance cheers from Canada man, all the best 🤟🏻🙏

[@texanfournow]

That Princeton cab sim was so good...

[@djhinormas959]

mate i think this is one of the best reviews ive ever seen!!!! u covered everything! even when u said something and that made me have another question u then answered that later,,, really good mate so much info in 25mins much appreciated, subbed :)

[@KelsterVonShredster]

TBA kills it with another stellar review....thanks

[@renleblanc2993]

Great job - though I would encourage you to do a video where you set up some cleaner tones so we can really hear it. Nearly every demo is overdriven or heavy tones, which frankly makes it difficult to gauge.

[@HarmKern]

I fully agree: I would love to see an in-depth video on blues tones with the CaptorX

[@stephenfell4338]

A great explanation but to add you buy any two notes product you get free the WOS software+16 cabinets and add 3rd party IRs to so add a captor load box (unless you know of an alternative thats better)​use a reverd pedal or free reverb plugin and you have it all for recording, playing in your house, at a far lower price than a captor x which was primarily designed for stereo​ on the road/flight giggers, (and for some one as you say just loves to tweek)​ But is the captors only minus 20db good enough to record into an interface/, DAW when adjusting levels from the screaming overdriven Amps sweet spot? Which i would guess Most who are looking to buy one are home studio, bedroom, players

[@97guitarzan]

Good video...only just saw this now. I have the original Two Notes Captor and with a good computer WOS III works great in DAW. Having the ability to do all this outside computer is great, especially regarding latency. The only drawback is you have baked in sound that you can't change later, however can always use DI box and split signal so that can re-amp later, if needed. I can't figure out if I should get Captor X, CAB M, or nothing. With latest CAB M firmware there's now preamp and power amp emulation...really handy...can go ampless, if necessary. For tracking mono is fine and can add reverb with my audio interface, before it hits DAW.... Left undecided.

[@jonathanustin6295]

This is a fantastic explanation! I have been a bit confused, not only about this piece of gear, but about this family of devices (IR loaders, cab sims, preamp pedals). This clears up so much of it. My remaining questions have to do with direct recording. You demonstrated the signal sound without a cabinet or cab sim. Is there a way to record guitar direct to the board? And is there a bass version of this?

[@duncancartledge1667]

You can connect the Captor x directly to the board. No need for a Bass version as the Captor X can be used for guitar, and Bass. Bass cabs available, some are loaded in the stock cabs that ship with the unit.

[@Holtenstein]

I'm using this for live with a sort of a wet/dry/wet set up with the PA. The amp works kinda like a personal monitor in that setup. I also will use my 100-watt heads and plug in headphones as well as record the cab with a mic, and both a DI with the Cab sim out. So far I like it quite a bit.

[@ianedmonds9191]

Sounds like multiple IR models so you can mix and match your mic combinations. Everyday's a school day. Luv and Peace.

[@TwoNotestv]

We love you :)

[@juanwaissman1]

also...is there a way to use it without and amp??? like connecting a iridium to the captor and going out stereo??

[@srinip]

Very, very useful video! You have done a stellar job addressing the concerns people might have. That said, I have a couple of questions that may have fallen through the cracks, but that's not your fault at all - you couldn't possibly know everything in peoples' minds. So without further ado, here are my questions, if I may: 1. Is the reactive load component in the Captor X identical to the one in the original Captor? Have they upgraded it in any way? I'm wondering how the reactive load compares with the Suhr RL. Then again, it doesn't really matter - if you like it, you like it, and in the context of a recording, nobody can tell the difference. Still, I'd be curious to know what your opinion is. 2. Have you found the -20db attenuation to be too drastic with your BJ 21 for casual "living room/playing along with the TV" use? Thanks - those are my two significant issues. I already use the Iridium, which lets you turn off the modeling component and just use IRs, so my recording use case would include a tube amp into a reactive load, and into the Iridium's IR loader (which has stereo outs, as you know, so you can load a null IR into one of them to get an unfiltered track in addition to the IR track for WoS use later). My other use case, as I mentioned, is trivial and involves noodling in my condo in front of the TV without being evicted by the HOA! Thanks for your patience in reading all this.

[@Texasbluesalley]

1. I assumed so, but I have no idea. 2. It is quite a drop. Suitable for low key playing, maybe not so for rocking out. With a higher power amp, it's louder, but with the BJ21 it's pretty low.

[@srinip]

@@Texasbluesalley Thanks very much! It may work out in a condo situation. Not to hijack the thread per se, but someone might find my first question vexing too. I found this video comparing the Captor with the Suhr, and the segment from 3:43 to 5:15 is a direct comparison of the two reactive loads. Quite frankly, even with headphones on, I can't tell the difference. So that should put to rest any questions about the two of them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJ23dqdum8apq5I

[@gibson2623]

The Captor comes with WoS also

[@devdnsyd8875]

If all I want to do is record demos, release music, play at low volumes or through headphones, do I need this product? Or should I get the Torpedo Captor 8ohm for half the price?

[@romanshredz]

Cool video ! But question I’m using GarageBand for recording… is the wall of sound plugin compatible with IOS / GarageBand ?

[@juanwaissman1]

Hi i have a mesa boogie dc5 and a capto X. a loooot of hum. is there a way to clean this???? ground button do nothing

[@padraigf76]

I learnt so much, thanks!

[@jamalabdul2009]

Thanks for the information and advice! My needs for an amplifier is mainly attenuation. I have a Marshall Vintage Modern 50 watt combo and of course it is way too loud to get the tones I’d like. This Captor X might not be exactly what I need, however it is a great tool to have for other uses. Appreciate the video Anthony!!!✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾

[@shredx81]

Hi Jamal! Did you grab this unit in the end? I’ve got a SmallBox 50 and I’m looking at one of these for attenuation. Is this a decent feature? Thanks!

[@jamalabdul2009]

shredx81 I’ve been using the JHS Little Black Box and it’s been great!!! I crank up my Marshall and it rocks!!! Never thought something so simple could have such a great result!!!! I might look to the Captor X when I get some form of recording setup but for now what I have works great!!🎸👍🏾👍🏾

[@shredx81]

Jamal Kareem thanks for the reply! I looked at those gizmos and figured it was probably too good to be true, for the price. What’s the taper like on the control? And what sort of frequency loss are you finding?

[@hosoiarchives4858]

I liked this video a lot

[@VasilisKoskinas]

Is it possible to use third party IRs with another IR loader inside the DAW,and have the given loader bypassed,without using a cab or have it totaly silenced? Sorry if I missed it ...

[@Texasbluesalley]

Yes. The cabinet simulation can be bypassed, essentially just turning it into a glorified load box.

[@cvs1539]

Thank you very much for an informative video. I am new to the digital world & while I learned a lot today, I want to make sure I understand how this set up works. If I have let's say a Fender Princeton Reverb combo amp. Do I just connect to @Notes to the Fender Princeton Reverb speaker? How does whatever physical speaker that I run the Captor X through effect the tone? I am not all that interested in recording myself, just want great tone. What intrigues me the most about this product is that you can choose from a number of speaker cabinets and mic placements. I know that I am showing my general lack of knowledge but I do not want to spend $$$ until I understand the basics.

[@Texasbluesalley]

This device is probably not worth it if you're not interested in recording. To actually hear your amp through the virtual cabinets, you need some kind of speakers. People who are recording will be listening through their studio monitors, but someone who's playing this live would need to connect this to either the PA system at the gig, and/or to a Full Range PA or monitor speaker for themselves on stage. Because the Captor X simulates the sound of a guitar speaker, you need to run it through a full-range speaker to hear it accurately, if that makes sense.

[@cvs1539]

@@Texasbluesalley This makes perfect sense & I really appreciate the candid response. Also liked your discussion of the Captor X's attenuation capabilities

[@GGR123]

Thanks for the demo! Is it possible to blend two IR’s at the same time like they did with the software WOS wall of sound?

[@mattgilbert7347]

Could I use a Captor 8 with my GFI CabZeus Stereo? I really love the CabZeus but need attenuation/silent playing with my valve amps. I can't really afford $1K which is the RRP for the CaptorX here in Australia. The Captor 8 is around $450

[@justmehere6094]

You missed another BIG difference in #5. Simple IR loader pedals do not provide a speaker load (let alone a reactive one).

[@bysykler4959]

Only three settings for cab volume? How well does this work in the real world when many need a specific volume for indoors??

[@Texasbluesalley]

The attenuation features are not very useful on this device.

[@bysykler4959]

Thanks for the advice!! Do you have another device you recommend?

[@Texasbluesalley]

For just attenuation (not cabinet modeling), the Fryette Power Station is the best there is. Not cheap, but life-changing if you've got multiple high-power amps that you can't use to their full potential. I've got a video about that on my channel.

[@mo-qj6gm]

Everytime I play with it it lights up red. Is this normal or what do I wrong?

[@JustinBryantdotcom]

Excellent!

[@benallmark9671]

So basically this is for recording , if I’m not recording I have no use for it correct ?

[@Texasbluesalley]

It is for anyone who wants or needs to use tube amps without a real cabinet.

[@benallmark9671]

@@Texasbluesalley thanks for getting back. You learn something everyday , I had no idea that’s what it was for. Thanks again.

[@Jstall7543]

Can you plug a digital amp into this? Please Help!

[@hawg427]

I was wondering about the plexiglass shields in front of your amp thing, why does it mess up the mic signal? Joe Bonamassa uses them all the time because of his head exploding volume at his live shows but the recordings seem to sound fantastic ( to me anyway ) I know there are only Three attenuation settings so if you have your amp at a good volume to start cooking the power tubes how loud is the lowest attenuation setting? Wife friendly? My Wife usually puts on our Sony wireless noise cancelling headphones on when I'm playing during the day. LOL Great video Anthony.

[@Texasbluesalley]

It depends a lot on the volume of the amp. If the amp isn't terribly loud, the reflections from the shield can affect what the mic is picking up. But if the amp is super loud, the reflected sound is probably negligible.

[@CargoShorts7]

Great video man! I'm completely new to the world of IR load boxes and attenuators and have recently started researching them to get the most out of my tube amps at home, particularly my vintage ones. How would you say this compares to the Boss Tube Amp Expander? Does the TAE justify double the price? Ultimately, I am looking to record at home, but I know there are still plenty of times where I just want to sit in front of my amp and play through its own speakers, but have the amp running at its sweet spot. Is the Captor X good for that or should I maybe consider spending the extra money on the Boss for its attenuator? While the Captor X looks great for recording, I don't know if I want to fiddle with the app and run the sound output through monitors or headphones every time. Ideally, I'd like to be able to record my amp at its sweet spot, play silently when I need to be quiet, but also still crank my amps and play through them as they are too. Thanks for the help, cheers!

[@keithremedy]

The boss blows it out of the water. But the waza was intended to be a competitor to the OX. The captor is an amazing product though and affordable it just doesn’t have as many options as the wazacraft. Depends on what you want to do with it. I use the boss to run a vibroverb along with a 100 watt two rock and gig and record with it. If you want something that has a lot of options go with the wazacraft by boss. The effects loop is a plus too

[@shatteredsquare]

Can the captor X run the power amp sims from the Cab+??? I would be upset if they left it out, make you have to buy the Cab+ just for power amp sim that's already in WOS

[@Texasbluesalley]

No, there's no amp sim section of the Captor X, it is designed to be used with an amp, not as a potential amp replacement like the CAB M+.

[@joaquincuervo6943]

Anyone have any experience using an older 4 ohm tube amp with the captor X?

[@cvs1539]

If you are just interested in just attenuation features, can you suggest a good unit? I find that if I set the volume on my Princeton Reverb to breakup volume, it is just too loud for home use. Thanks for any help you can provide.

[@cvs1539]

@Grace&Danger - Thanks for the tip. I will check it out

[@imlostinthewoods]

Can the Captor X be used as an attenuator?

[@Texasbluesalley]

Yes, but it's not very adjustable. There are only two levels of attenuation, and full volume.

[@imlostinthewoods]

Texas Blues Alley thanks, I appreciate it!

[@nathanallen6972]

Hi, Thanks for the video. I have one other question you may be able to answer. If the first level of attenuation is too loud for my setting, but sounds good, and the second level of attenuation is too low and for the lack of a better word (Lifeless). Could I use the first level of attenuation and turn down the studio monitors and or interface to get the desired sound I want, without getting crazy loud? Maybe no more then 80 to 85db.. Or does it not work this way. Thanks, new to this technology.

[@stefanhaeger4470]

Trank you!

[@lou7572]

Is -20db enough to tame a 50W amp into bedroom levels?