Understanding the Suhr™ Reactive Load with Pete Thorn

World renowned Suhr Artist Pete Thorn gives a us detailed look at the Reactive Load.
The Suhr™ Reactive Load delivers a simple solution to capture all of the warmth, and dynamics of your sound, without the hassle of miking a speaker cabinet during a live or recorded performance.
The Suhr™ Reactive Load takes the place of your speaker cabinet in your signal chain. It provides an 8Ω load for your tube amplifier (maximum 100 watts), and produces a balanced and unbalanced signal that interfaces with recording devices, effects, and power amplifiers.
Traditional resistive load boxes will safely load your amplifier, but they also alter the tone, dynamics, and response of your amplifier. Real speakers do not have a fixed resistance across the entire frequency spectrum.
Real speakers are reactive & so is the Suhr™ Reactive Load.
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Chapters
0:28 -The Reactive Load, What is it?
1:20 -Basic Understanding of Impedance, Filtering & Speaker Simulations
2:33 -Using the Reactive Load with Your Amplifier
3:58 -Is it Normal for Reactive Load to Make Mechanical Noise?
4:35 -Connecting the Reactive Load
6:34 -Connecting to a Recording Interface
8:54 -Setting Level
9:28 -Getting a Tone
15:02 -Connecting to Your DAW Using the Reactive Load
17:20 -Using Impulse Responses with the Reactive Load
25:13 -Thank You
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To learn more about the Suhr™ Reactive Load
visit us at: www.suhr.com/electronics/tone...
To experience all of our other incredible Suhr™ products,
visit us at: www.suhr.com/
Music By: Pete Thorn
Song: À l’avenir
Album: 'PETE THORN II'
Get Pete's New Record NOW! smarturl.it/petethornII

[@RyanEvanCordova]

Received mine yesterday. Went to my buddies studio and plugged it in with my 6505. Played with some of the onboard IRs, used some 3rd party IRs as well, recorded some tracks to test and…Im a believer. This unit is fantastic and gives you a TON of flexibility. Don’t sleep on it. This thing is awesome.

[@satchrules101]

Hi , what is exactly IiRs mean ? And was wondering if you still tweak the knobs on ur head ?

[@silvioschurig749]

Wow - from the title I was expecting an infomercial and it obviously featured the product. But as a whole this still is probably the best comprehensive / introductory video on the topic that I have seen. Thank you for that!

[@e.g.systems6146]

Beautifully clear video, covering everything in logical order. Surely john needs to make Pete a new wine red sig guitar as a think you? :O)

[@punkpop101]

Pete is the man!!!! That last part about us not hearing at the cabinet height is spot on. That's why if you want to check if a cabinet is bright you should stand down and listen with your ears at cabinet level.

[@swingthestatue]

Excellent as always, Pete is the tone guru!

[@bobbygotsch]

Pete, Suhr, these videos are so helpful. Thank you.

[@theHAL9000]

Have come back to this video and a number of other Pete Thorn videos more than once to reference the wealth of information being shared. Terrific informative video.

[@brianblevins8871]

Pete thanks for such an excellent demo. It helped me immensely to get all I can out of my SRL. You rock!

[@innocentoctave]

Wonderful tutorial - thank you. So much more information here than just an explanation of the Suhr™ Reactive Load.

[@ax8guitarist]

Excellent video, Pete. It's first time I truly understand not only the reactive load, but how you can use it in a practical application.

[@Erdnase23]

Great stuff. Clear, concise and informative.

[@franciscohartung4406]

Spectacularily done video, covering everything, love it

[@mattdelange]

Pete, Your explanations are exceptionally well organized and demonstrated. Really a huge help. And nice to have a demo in which the presenter isn't dumming it all down. Reactive Load seems like what I always wished the Scholz Power Soak could have been. Perfect for us home studio folks who don't want to be killed by our lady or our neighbors. Thanks!

[@andyracksthecams]

Magician. You get me back into fiddling and testing. I bought so much stuff I got turned off but seeing you recently on the Classic Rock Show and your KZbin channel has enlightened me again to pick up the guitar and try.

[@latinsatch]

Thank you for making this video...it’s very informative, detailed and simple enough to understand!!!

[@MetallicAssault]

I love the steelhouse lane-like background track. Thanks for the video! Really useful!

[@steveg219]

Thanks Pete, The sonic examples really make clear what’s going on here!

[@TexasJackdaw]

Yet another great video. I swear, Pete, I’m goin got go broke watching your channel! This is another piece of gear I need to get. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge. Enjoy your trip to Germany.

[@TavaresProject]

Great informative video. So well done. Thank you Pete

[@MarshallSetUps]

This is a wonderful video. Thank you Pete! Greetings from beautiful N.E. Oregon.

[@edward4670]

keep these videos up, great content!!

[@WardGuitarCabinets]

Got mine yesterday and haven’t gotten a chance to plug it in, but wanted to see exactly what I was going to do before I started with it. Thanks for this!

[@timburle4980]

Nicely done Pete!

[@bradly373]

Thank you. Awesome video

[@JavyonVISION]

Excellent demo and explanation!

[@chrisb3751]

Thank you for the excellent tutorial. It took away all my nervousness about hooking up the Reactive Load. I was afraid of connecting it incorrectly and either blowing up my amp or just getting an unusable sound out of the thing. Thank you!

[@jnivanyi]

Awesome video, Pete!

[@jordanwilliamson2683]

Great video. Thank you!

[@kevrochlin4544]

Superb Mr Thorn !

[@JasonHobbsGuitarist]

I’ve been wanting one for some time now, as well as the ACE.. I’m sold on it! Cool video.

[@zlippery1]

Remember Ace is analog. IR are much better digital. You will be disappointed. A bit lower in latency though. You could "play" the analog and record direct with separate d. I for digital IR.

[@BrianMorris-zc4md]

Thanks Pete!

[@pastilance1]

Super informative, thank you!

[@armandodiaz3485]

Excellent video, happy to see an overview of the Suhr RL finally available. The only thing missed was the process of using it with an overdriven amp. Kind of surprised this was missed as I would think 95% of people interested in purchasing the RL would be for working with overdriven tones. Overdriven tone unlike the clean tones from the video will require a bit more “boost” to the signal as it is a more compressed signal. This can be accomplished via the level pot on the RL, the level adjustment on your interface/DAW or even a combo of the two. 👍🏻

[@CARLOSGALVEZMUSIC]

Very cool info! Thanks!

[@jasoncummings4994]

Cool stuff! I haven't been able to afford a lot of Suhr products, well any, but been saving up to buy a Suhr guitar that I have been eye balling! Anyway, always enjoy learning about new gear. Great video!!!

[@mookytc]

Thank you for this video. The XLR - TRS balanced line tip transformed the whole device for me. Took other non Suhr things away from the video that made me evaluate my simple home set up. Adjusted some levels and was a bit more careful in regards to gain. Getting some very nice sounds with my amp and various IR's.

[@tandybare]

Same. The XLR tip changed my life!.

[@AndrewCCM]

This is an excellent video.

[@ParisGiraud]

Thank you for being amazing.

[@PedroTalarico]

Pete is just the very best!

[@GoncaloMalhohut]

You’re the best Pete. Thank you for this very clarifying video. Now I want to buy and there’s no stock availabe 😔 😎🤟🎸

[@jacobsmith1877]

Pete you are obviously an incredibly intelligent dude and you know your gear like nobody I've ever seen. Awesome presentation. I'm looking into whether a reactive load box will be right for me in the future if I go down the route of buying an amp head (wife willing)

[@AdamGotheridge]

Thanks, great video. Don't forget that you can use the IR's in the UA Brainworks plugins in the console by bypassing the preamp and power amp sections, and of course record that or just monitor that. Benefit maybe being maybe less latency or firing up the daw to just play.

[@Salantsoundstudios]

Pete thorn, the best!!!

[@petesorensenguitar]

Good Lord those riffs are badass.

[@blackie75]

I'm late to the part here, but this was super helpful. Thanks, Pete 😉😎

[@willdenham]

This tech has come a long way since then.

[@caspermaster-com]

Holy F*** the guitarist dont have to be jealous of the synth guy anymore that can completely change the vibe in a few clicks :) That combination of irs, ampload and amp, and you, sounds very very good.

[@centraliafuckcorruption]

Good video

[@sliberty]

Outstanding video Pete! Every explanation was at the perfect level of detail. I learned a ton. I see you use IR via plug-in as opposed to an external hardware device. What are the differences?

[@AC-hz4xq]

What pick up did you use on the intro? Sounds awesome. Please demo the line 6 POD or Line 6 hx stomp. Only your demo I trusted the most. 😎

[@darrenmcsorley3726]

Im glad I watched this video, You sorta answered this same question on Last Sundays Live stream, I know it's a bit of an older video, but its a great video and answered a lot of my other questions, so thank you. Anyway I just purchased the PT-15, so I can't wait to dive into it, but my question is, how to create that stereo field in my DAW as the Pt -15 will only give me a mono output from the line out. . Should I run my stereo modulation effects like Delay and Reverb between the line out and my Daw, or from the reactive load output, and my Daw. Im just confused on how to create the stereo tone in my Daw, through my monitors or headphones. Thanks Darren

[@oldguysguitarvlog183]

Brilliant vid! Learned a bunch about recording. Pete Thorn is DA MAN! Quick question. Do amps that have various Wattages that you can change with the flip of a switch or push of a button have resistive load circuits in them? Or are they reactive load circuits? How does that work? Thanks for an awesome vid!

[@kenerb8249]

Was doing some research on my load box and although it's not the Suhr this video applies. Thanks for clearing things up. I noticed you have all your faders in the UAD interface all the way up. I usually keep them at 0 unless I need more level on my monitor mix. Am I missing something?

[@soundknight]

It's always good to get a reaction after releasing your load.

[@jfranciskay]

Great video Pete! are you using the Redwirez IR's in the video or are they something else like Ownhammer, etc...?

[@TheGuitarNerdShow]

Hey Pete - Once again, GREAT informative video. Based on your loadbox shootout I also chose the Suhr RL. Shortly afterwards I picked up a second Suhr RL unit to use when I want to record with a 2 amp setup - works really really well & i love the Suhr! I have a question - in your walkthrough of MixIR you're showing some settings where you blend the close mics with room mic pairs. Are you running a stereo or mono instance of MixIR? I would think that, to get the full flavor of the room you'd have to be in stereo but looking at the pics showing Logic you appear to running a mono channel? So which would it be? Thanks in advance!

[@jfranciskay]

+1

[@gavinjackguitar3482]

Hey man. Thanks for the cool vid! Could you run this through the d.i. on a BAE DMP for example? I wonder how that would affect the sound?

[@PauloGruaGuitarra]

JKust bought one of those. Kinda late for the party, but thanks for this video, helped a lot!

[@mookytc]

Thinking about purchasing one Paulo. Do you like yours?

[@PauloGruaGuitarra]

@@mookytc I'm still trying different IRs with it but am very pleased with the results so far. Got great clean and semi-clean tones, very, very close to the real mic'd speaker sound.

[@mookytc]

@@PauloGruaGuitarra Very nice thanks for the information. Try York Audio IR's...top notch.

[@PauloGruaGuitarra]

@@mookytc oh, thanks, I'll check'em out. I'm completely new to this haha

[@mookytc]

@@PauloGruaGuitarra Cool...Lots of options with IR's. Many offer sample packs to check out before buying. Good luck on your tone quest Paulo!

[@elvis_chen]

9:37 the smile :DDD

[@JulesFox]

Great video Pete . I thought I knew most things I needed to know about loadboxes.. and this video showed me things I wasn't aware of.. top job and the Suhr looks like a great loadbox. I had no idea that you could use the Suhr load box without a speaker connected... which is great for silent recording. The issue for me is that if the speaker is connected, I want to be able to attenuate that speaker.. so I can mike it up and record great guitar sounds without raising the roof. The way this appears to work, is that the reactive load is disconnected when the speak output is plugged in. So.. is the speaker not being attenuated. You spent a lot of time on the 'in-the-box' aspect here. Sort of gives the impression that this is not the box which will attenuate the speaker in a cabinet... and made specifically for DAW users. I'll contact Suhr via the contact us page and chase that one down... Great video as always Pete

[@adamr8878]

the speaker thru jack is only likely to be used to give a signal to the sound man so he doesn't have to mike your cab.

[@johnsuhr6559]

No you would still need filtering. Plug in to that to disconnect the internal load and still have the line out working.

[@adamr8878]

John Suhr yeh but if you run the line out to a speaker sim box like your Ace, you could send that to the sound man and just use your speaker cab as your monitor. No mikes to get bleed in etc

[@johnsuhr6559]

Right, just wanted it to be known you still need a speaker sim of some sort

[@MrTyphoontyphoon]

Hello Sir , i have a question ; is the Suhr car work as a simple attenuator ? like just playing the amp high ( i have boogie Mark V 90 combo ) , and just playing at a bedroom volume ? nothing like recording as you did on the video ? thank you very much !!

[@jrtme]

It would be interesting to know the type of XFormer used in the box for the line out. Does it run through the same XFormer or similar out the unbalanced?

[@MouldyGuitars]

Great video Pete. Very clear and concise. Re the xlr to xlr level thing. Is that always the case for all devices? I ask because I use xlr to xlr from Helix to my Scarlet interface. I’ll maybe try xlr to trs (if scarlet input is trs and not mono )

[@oldguysguitarvlog183]

I have a similar question as I run an sm57 micing my amp into a 2i2 with XLR to XLR. Would it be better to run XLR to TRS into the 2i2?

[@zeymenyamin6144]

Hello Mr Thorn, Can you do a video in which you explain how to record a guitar sound from A to Z, i mean sofware, interface etc. Thank you vert much

[@AndiPicker]

Is the issue of running XLR to XLR mic-in just level? Is there any advantage to running XLR to TRS line in with the SRL output higher over XLR to XLR with the output lower? Also - does the unbalanced output have the same sound, and is there an advantage to using it into a hi Z input vs a line in that will accept an unbalanced jack?

[@mellowmonsoon278]

Rivera rockrec, Two notes captor, and Suhr. Which one mate? I'm planning to get a Victory V30 record at home. I need to decided between these three. Appreciate if you can share what you think. Cheers

[@_TheModernCreative]

Can this be used with a Kemper Profiler? Thank you for clarifying.

[@saccomarcelo]

Does using an attenuator on a daily basis (like in a bedroom apartment) could cause a faster deterioration of capacitors, valves or maybe something else? If so, would you recommend a lower wattage amp?

[@michael_caz_nyc]

I am torn between: this unit, captor x or fryette ps-2? - just to tame a Fender Princeton Reverb. It's too loud for a NYC apartment. Great explanation here.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

Very useful would it work with my Peavey 6505 that is 120W tube amp?

[@guitarbymichael]

Great video, Pete! Believe it or not, I just bought one of these -- in 2021 -- because I prefer to use the Celestion SpeakerPro dynamic IR's rather than something that comes with a load box (including the OX). I have a question, however, if it's not too late, about the XLR balanced output going into a mixing console rather than directly into an interface. I understand the issue with mic levels being set at -30 on some interfaces, but I don't have that problem with my console. I didn't quite understand, however, the issue you mentioned about how the XLR output might somehow alter the tone of the reactive load. Can you elaborate more on that? Are you saying that even if I don't have an issue with the level, I still need to be concerned about using the XLR output? Thanks very much!

[@wootks]

I can't speak for Pete, but I believe he was just cautioning us about the difference of using a XLR mic input and the amount of signal you need to give your mic preamp. Pretty much avoid using a signal that is too hot. In general you don't want to just keep turning up the DI knob until you get below where you clip. There is a sweet spot well below that in terms of signal level. You want to leave yourself plenty of headroom so you never introduce clipping into your mixer or audio interface. With that said, you don't want the signal so low that you have to apply tuns of gain on your preamp/mixer/interface so it becomes audible/strong enough signal for your mix.

[@guitarbymichael]

@@wootks Thanks so much. That makes a lot of sense! My signal coming into my mixer has, in fact, been a bit low, so I might try turning up the DI a little bit.

[@sowhatdude1]

I'd be very happy if anyone would tell what the exact model and color name of the guitar he is using here is. Besides having a matching color headstock the body also seems to be green all over - front and back... very nice indeed.

[@frettinround]

Hey Pete what speaker cable do you use? The one Henderson told me he uses isn’t made anymore.

[@AC-pu2eh]

Can you put the IR in console as well to monitor the IR? Or does it only work in logic?

[@1minutejazzguitarhacks39]

Hey Pete, just a quick question, I'm wanting to use cab sim in a live situation as a DI to the desk instead of miking up my amp. would this box be a good solution toward this? (Maybe coupled with the mooer or something similar) I'm plugging into a Mesa Express. Cheers.

[@yoyoninjaboy6431]

If you mean the mooer radar ir thingy then ya it would work pretty good I think. If you're running a cabinet as well for monitoring behind you or something it'll sound different than the pa though

[@johnschoppmusic]

Dude! This was helpful. I have always used xlr to xlr with my Rivera rockcrusher recording. I run a Behringer x32 producer directly into traction. My x32 doesn’t offer a TRS input. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you Pete.

[@johnmsuhr]

You should have a line level input someplace. Do not use a Mic input

[@johnschoppmusic]

John Suhr hey John. Thank you but the Behringer x32 producer does not have a 1/4” input. I will probably have to try the auxiliary input somehow. By the way I love this Pete Thorn Signature Guitar. I just wish it did not cost so much to send it back to you for a different size neck :(. Everything else is killer!!! Cheers

[@MarleySmokey]

Does the Redwire IR software come with any impulse responses? If I need to purchase IR's, what are the best ones to get? Which ones were used in this particular video?

[@SuhrCustom]

It comes loaded with some of the best IRs you will find. You can try more from Celestion

[@CristianCamiloTorres]

Great video. I have a question: Can I use the Suhr reactive load with my fender hot rod deluxe? Or is just for amp head. Thanks !

[@512banana1]

i think you just have to unplug the amp's and speaker's cable and then take that line from the amp out to the Suhr reactive load

[@CristianCamiloTorres]

Banana thanks ! I appreciate your help.

[@tsarbamba642]

can a speaker output from a solid state amp be connected to an interface without a load? of course it has to be converted to line level, but is running a solid state amp without a load okay? more specifically, this is a question about amps that do not have a direct out. since many/most solid state amps today have them.

[@SickMetalAddict]

Can this be used with the ISO box to slave an amplifier?

[@jjm9741]

Ok how much importance is the guitar and the Interface for the most picky tone chasing pros using a Suhr load box?

[@arissp4950]

i wanna use it as an attenuator as well but my cabinet is a marshall 2x12 1936 lead that i s 16ohm. can i use this device with my cabinet? (of course my amp has both 8ohm and 16ohm)

[@hdrkn5247]

If the speaker through jack disconnects the internal load, then what's the point of using the reactive load? Can I still use it as an attenuator when connecting the reactive load to my guitar speaker?

[@joshuadillon4396]

Where do you find this MY IT mixer

[@DannyJamesGuitar]

Excellent video! They should probably send a link to this video out along with any Reactive Loads that get shipped. It helped me out a bunch!

[@steffenstrau9186]

So the lineout is connected to the Hi-Z on the Interface? I always had it on the normal line in. Ok, I'll double check if that does something good...

[@johnmsuhr]

On the Reactive Load IR you go TRS in to the line level input 10K about

[@4residentleon]

Im new to this. So, if i have a line output on my amp, I would not need a Load Box to plug in my interface, right?

[@SuhrCustom]

Sure you would unless you are using the speaker as a load

[@corv1981]

Pete, can the Suhr RL be used as an attenuator also? Thinking the DI know could control the volume output without losing the sound-just hoping...

[@AmundBlixAaeng]

Nope, it's a load only.

[@SuhrCustom]

You can send the output to another effects loop return or power amp and cab and lower the volume that way very nicely.

[@BakisProductions]

by accident I connected my 16 Ohms output from the amplifier to the Reactive Load. Just for a few minutes. Can that be harmful by any means? Either for the SRL or for the amp.

[@SuhrCustom]

No you are just fine - JS

[@tzhong889]

Hey guys and audio pros I have a problem with my suhr reactive load ir. I got it today and set it up as stated in the manual. But now I notice in my DAW that there is a hiss sound recorded around -40 to -30 db which is noticeable. I checked the amp and the cables but even if I put the amp to stand the hiss is still there. Help or advice is much appreciated. Thanks!

[@cowpokez7304]

noise gate

[@peichmen]

THANKS !!! I have one and I had many problems using the balance output. After this video, as soon as I changed the sound is better. I understand this video because the UA-OX is the new toy in the town and Suhr needs to protect his business but PLEASE... more... do more videos like this one... FUCK OX !!!

[@Ramo_Baramia]

I got dumb question, my amp and cab has 16ohms How do i connect this between amp and cab if this device only has 8ohm? Thanks

[@DragonboltBlastter]

I am wondering the same thing

[@andrewsonfire]

So an original block letter 5150 is too loud for this?

[@saxonsteve]

Stupid Question Here. Will this work with my Fender Super Sonic 60 watt tube amp?

[@dinmentor]

Yes.

[@AngryTothGaming]

Can anyone tell me if this needs powering at all? I’m confused because the two notes uses phantom power but this one doesn’t?

[@AngryTothGaming]

Yeah I found out not long after posting. Thankyou though 😊

[@gibson2623]

you dont use HI Z with line levels and especially mic levels (XLR)....It s basically for when connecting the guitar straight to it......;)....what did i miss? i suppose u know this (i realise now you were using the trs jack...still, not for HI-z..... i don t use HI z when i connect the gt1000 to interface with jack )

[@tapilaha]

can you use it as an attenuator?

[@johnsuhr6559]

If you run it in parallel with another speaker if same impedance you will drop SPL by 6dB. You can also use it to reamplify in to another power amp.

[@Willjrockstar]

Pete i like when you say D.A.W. way more than dawwww :)

[@paulh5926]

Don't also forget most of these loads are 100w RMS max. That's about 2 on the master of an old 100w Marshall. Run em on full blast and things will go wrong :o( (I have been there)

[@johnsuhr6559]

There is absolutely no issue with using ours with a 100W plexi

[@paulh5926]

Good to know, I've smoked a Two Notes with a '76 100w JMP :o( might try the Suhr one next then!

[@johnsuhr6559]

Paul H no problem, we blasted our SL68 for days.

[@99cobra01]

I'm a technological caveman. Can I plug this into my AXE I/O interface and use to practice through studio monitors?