Schatten HFN Passive with Cuki's IR

[PANDAPANDELO]

Recorded using HX Stomp, comparing the Schatten HFN dry with the Cuki's IR.

All the parts were recorded without any eq, compression or reverb, with exception of the last, when I used a little reverb and compression to play ZZ Top's song Brown Sugar.

The song is pretty close of my mic'd acoustic. You can check it in my other YouTube videos (most of the acoustics were recorded with a AT2035). I just loved it! I live in a noisy apartment... so the direct recording is a great option. My HFN never sounded good... I don't know if it was the installation (probably is), but with the Cuki's IR it is really sounding great at my ears! Maybe I need to tweat a little more with the EQ, but I'm really liking the sound of it!

Sorry for the hiss (it's my apartment bad electrics).

I hope you like it!

Guitar: 2005 Martin HD28
Pickup: Schatten HFN Passive (putty install)
Pedal: Line 6 HX Stomp

[hiddenmickey]

Wow!!! That is outstanding! Very nice playing, too!

[PANDAPANDELO]

Thank you very much, Mickey!

I'm working in the Eq to make it sound less muddy and boxy, to fit better a Singer Songwriter tone (my music approach). But without any equalisation, it already sounded a lot more mic like. I liked it!

After a little EQ Tweaking, I think I made it less muddy and boxy... maybe it need a little less bass, with a High Pass Filter (it was set at 95hz... maybe I should have set it at 110hz):

[hiddenmickey]

The second recording sounds awesome, too! That sounds like a straight up mic to me.

I also use a Schatten HFN and just added a TC Electronic Bodyrez pedal and it fattened up the sound of the HFN. I’m super picky and didn’t have high expectations for a little pedal with one knob, but there is some magic in that little pedal.

[Petty1818]

Sounds really nice! I do feel as though IR's are the future and that many companies will start embracing the concept. Even Lloyd Baggs admitted to only going so far with pickups and now switching to the Soundscape.

Here's my issue though, as amazing as that sounds, in a live context it would most likely be a nightmare. I don't mean a live setting where you are playing alone, to an intimate crowd but more so a larger venue or noisy pub with additional musicians. I have tried it and the IR's often get buried to the point where the blend turns more towards the pickup.

With that said, I am starting to treat this approach like I would an internal mic. Blend in some custom IR's with the pickup to get some air/realism but still keep the bass and immediacy of the pickup intact. I know this approach works great with the K&K. It removes the muddiness, gives some nice clarity but I still get the nice low end and thickness of the pickup.

[PANDAPANDELO]

Yeah, Petty!

I couldn't agree more. IRs are great, but it may take some time to understand it and dial the right amount of it in a blend with the pickup, according to the situation.

[GuitarLuva]

It does sound really good and sounds like you're quite happy with it. I'm using Jonfields45 version of the IR and it really does some magic with the HFN. It makes a good pickup sound great. Kudos again to Jon and cuki for putting in the effort and sharing it with everyone for free. Can't wait to get back out there!

[PANDAPANDELO]

Here's the sound I'm achieving, with a few more tweaks. I'm trying hard to get closer to my acoustic mic'd sound. It's hard!

Cuki and Jon are great guys... thank you!

[jonfields45]

I think for a one pass IR generator Cuki's latest is hard to beat. I don't think any commercial product has anything on it and I like it for my guitar too. I think if you are likely not to be a tweaker, sending your recording to Cuki is the best way to go (you can always EQ with your pedals).

One way to use my generator is to listen to your mic recording and tweak it's EQ in your DAW. Post processing of the IR with traditional EQ, or preprocessing the MIC recording with EQ is completely missing from my script (either approach can get you to the same place). It can then be useful to make low stage volume and high stage volume versions by generating different IRs with that EQ'd mic recording. When I last performed in public (hopefully that will happen again) I used my EQ'd IR tweaked for loud.

By running IR generation on the same computer as your DAW this is an easily repeated experiment and kind of fun.

You could do something similar using a DAW to drive ToneDexter, but having IR generation on your DAW's PC is way less hassle.

[hiddenmickey]

Originally Posted by jonfields45

I think for a one pass IR generator Cuki's latest is hard to beat. I don't think any commercial product has anything on it and I like it for my guitar too. I think if you are likely not to be a tweaker, sending your recording to Cuki is the best way to go (you can always EQ with your pedals).

One way to use my generator is to listen to your mic recording and tweak it's EQ in your DAW. Post processing of the IR with traditional EQ, or preprocessing the MIC recording with EQ is completely missing from my script (either approach can get you to the same place). It can then be useful to make low stage volume and high stage volume versions by generating different IRs with that EQ'd mic recording. When I last performed in public (hopefully that will happen again) I used my EQ'd IR tweaked for loud.

By running IR generation on the same computer as your DAW this is an easily repeated experiment and kind of fun.

You could do something similar using a DAW to drive ToneDexter, but having IR generation on your DAW's PC is way less hassle.

Jon - I just created some IR's using your step-by-step process in Octave. I'll have to wait until Friday to load them. I have a Mooer Radar on the way. I also submitted a request from your website for Cuki's IR using the same .wav file. I used an old Peavey PVi mic and Garageband. I didn't have high expectations using that mic, but if your IR's sound anything like what I heard in my headphones while recording, I am going to be very happy with my sound. Thanks!

[Cuki79]

Originally Posted by hiddenmickey

Jon - I just created some IR's using your step-by-step process in Octave. I'll have to wait until Friday to load them. I have a Mooer Radar on the way. I also submitted a request from your website for Cuki's IR using the same .wav file. I used an old Peavey PVi mic and Garageband. I didn't have high expectations using that mic, but if your IR's sound anything like what I heard in my headphones while recording, I am going to be very happy with my sound. Thanks!

Hi Hiddenmickey,

It is late now in France. I will check that tomorrow.

Cheers,
Cuki

[hiddenmickey]

Originally Posted by Cuki79

Hi Hiddenmickey,

It is late now in France. I will check that tomorrow.

Cheers,
Cuki

Please take your time. There is no rush at all. I really appreciate the work that you and Jon have put into this.

[varmonter]

I especially like the sound you get
when playing littlewing.
Maybe not the most acoustic sounding
but a sweet tone none the less.

[PANDAPANDELO]

Thank you, Varmonter!

I'm working on getting the tone more natural. Cuki is helping me in the process with some ideas. I'm getting there! And, yes! Thank YOU for orienting me to get the HX Stomp. What a pedal! Looking forward to pair it with the MC6.

[PANDAPANDELO]

Now, with the correction of a few things in the HX Stomp, I could record the sound properly. THAT'S the sound I was hearing in my headphone!