CabZone LE
IR-Based Cabinet Simulator
Every guitar or bass player has their own favorite amps and cabinets. Yet however much you love a stack's sound, you will probably have trouble hurling it on and off the stage, let alone playing it at home (unless you don't mind your family and neighbors going deaf). And you never know the quality of the backline the venue is going to provide you with.
The solution for gigging players came in the form of cabinet simulation units (cabsims), which let you approximate your favourite cabinet's sound. Analog cabsims were pretty good for plugging into the PA but used to lack detail in their sound — and they only modeled a limited number of cabinets. Next came digital cabsims, and their incredibly detailed sound pushed cabinet simulation to a whole new level. They were, however, quite expensive and not pedalboard-friendly enough.
This eventually led us to creating the A+ Cab Zone LE — a digital IR-based cabinet simulation device. The Impulse Response Convolution technology provides a realistic sound and preserves the unique character of the cabinet and microphone used to record the impulse.
The solution for gigging players came in the form of cabinet simulation units (cabsims), which let you approximate your favourite cabinet's sound. Analog cabsims were pretty good for plugging into the PA but used to lack detail in their sound — and they only modeled a limited number of cabinets. Next came digital cabsims, and their incredibly detailed sound pushed cabinet simulation to a whole new level. They were, however, quite expensive and not pedalboard-friendly enough.
This eventually led us to creating the A+ Cab Zone LE — a digital IR-based cabinet simulation device. The Impulse Response Convolution technology provides a realistic sound and preserves the unique character of the cabinet and microphone used to record the impulse.
Key Features:
- Simple and intuitive controls
- 10 stock impulses (8 for guitar and 2 for bass)
- A microSD card slot that allows to upload up to 10 custom impulses
- The THRU output for the unprocessed signal allows for extra monitoring or recording
- Compact and pedalboard-friendly: enclosure size is 65x94x43mm (2.6x3.7x1.7")
- An AUX input and a headphones output
- Works with power supply units in the 9–18V DC range
- Affordable price
Connectivity
- IN — instrument-level input with switchable attenuation (0dB or -6dB)
- THRU — unprocessed parallel output that duplicates the signal from the IN jack
- OUT — main unbalanced output to go into the mixer or powered speakers
- AUX — input for external audio (the signal from the AUX input only goes to the headphones output)
- PHONES — headphones output
- POWER IN — power supply input (9–18V DC 80mA)
- microSD — microSD card slot
Controls
- The CABINET knob selects the impulse
- The VOLUME knob controls the volume of the OUT and PHONES outputs
- The PAD switch selects between 0dB and -6dB input attenuation (the latter makes the signal twice quieter)
Video Gallery
CABINET Knob and Stock Impulses
The CAB knob has 11 positions and allows to select the impulse or to switch off the IR section. The device comes with 10 stock impulses (8 for guitar and 2 for bass) which can be easily used in most styles of music.
By default, the 11 positions of the CAB knob are as follows:
On our website, you can find exclusive impulse packs ready to be used with our cabsims.
By default, the 11 positions of the CAB knob are as follows:
- OFF: the IR section is off
- 01: impulse of a 1973 Fender Twin Reverb combo amp cabinet with two JBL D120F speakers, recorded with a Lomo 19A19 mic using the combo's built-in power amp
- 02: impulse of a Marshall 1960 cabinet with Celestion G12T-75 speakers, recorded with a Shure SM57 mic using the power amp in Marshall JCM800 MkII
- 03: impulse of a VOX AC30 Custom combo amp cabinet with Celestion Alnico Blue speakers, recorded with a Royer R-121 mic using the combo's built-in power amp
- 04: impulse of a Supro Thunderbolt combo amp cabinet with one 15-inch speaker, recorded with a Shure SM57 mic using a neutral power amp
- 05: impulse of an Orange PPC412 cabinet with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers, recorded with a Royer R-121 mic using a neutral power amp
- 06: impulse of a Peavey 5150 cabinet with Peavey Sheffield Model 1200 speakers, recorded with a AKG C414 mic using the power amp in Peavey 5150 MkII
- 07: impulse of an Engl E412SGB cabinet with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers, recorded with a Shure SM57 mic using a neutral power amp
- 08: impulse of a Mesa 4x12 Recto Standard cabinet with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers, recorded with a AKG C414 mic using the power amp in Mesa Dual Rectifier
- 09: impulse of a SUNN 200s bass cabinet with two 15-inch speakers, recorded with 3 different mics with some EQ to make it sound great. A neutral power amp was used while recording the impulse
- 10: impulse of an AMPEG SVT-810E bass cabinet, recorded with 3 different mics with some EQ to make it sound great. A neutral power amp was used while recording the impulse
On our website, you can find exclusive impulse packs ready to be used with our cabsims.
Additional IR Packs
Impulse Upload from MicroSD Card
A FAT32-formatted microSD card is required for impulse upload.
When the microSD card is used for the first time, an AFX folder with stock impulse files is automatically created on it. The files are stored in subfolders corresponding to the CABINET knob positions. To use custom impulses, replace the stock files with your own.
Impulse format: .wav mono 24bit 48kHz WAVE PCM1, uncompressed. Impulse length: 940 samples (19.58ms). You can upload longer impulses but only the first 940 samples will be used.
To re-record the stock impulse files to a microSD card, insert a blank card into the device. This will automatically create an AFX folder and all its contents. If there is no card in the microSD slot, the stock impulses (stored in the device's memory) are used.
To learn more about using the microSD card, visit the Support Page.
When the microSD card is used for the first time, an AFX folder with stock impulse files is automatically created on it. The files are stored in subfolders corresponding to the CABINET knob positions. To use custom impulses, replace the stock files with your own.
Impulse format: .wav mono 24bit 48kHz WAVE PCM1, uncompressed. Impulse length: 940 samples (19.58ms). You can upload longer impulses but only the first 940 samples will be used.
To re-record the stock impulse files to a microSD card, insert a blank card into the device. This will automatically create an AFX folder and all its contents. If there is no card in the microSD slot, the stock impulses (stored in the device's memory) are used.
To learn more about using the microSD card, visit the Support Page.
Additional Info
- The Cab Zone LE can be used as an IR-based cabsim with the Shift Line Twin/Olympic tube preamps (MkI and MkII), as well as with the Shift Line Beta preamp
- All inputs and outputs of the device are unbalanced
- The lag between instrument signal input and processed output is under 1.2ms
- The unit's own noise level is very low
- If the CabZone LE fails to read the impulse file, there will be no sound output. Try ejecting and inserting the microSD card again
- Enclosure tips:
- The board poses no threat of burns or electric shock to the user, so the device can be used without an enclosure
- Enclosure blueprint for 3D printing (by Nikolay Musatov): ZIP archive. The following is needed for assembly: 2x m2.5 nuts, 2x m2.5x12 screws, 2x m4 nuts
- If you wish, you can make your own enclosure using any materials available. No shielding is required
- The board poses no threat of burns or electric shock to the user, so the device can be used without an enclosure
- The Cab Zone LE is based on the ADAU1701 digital signal processor chip and allows to update its firmware via microSD card (currently in beta testing). With this auxiliary function, users can upload up to 10 custom effects (such as chorus or flanger with fixed parameters) via microSD card. To learn more about this feature, visit the Support Page
- The device can be connected to a display for potential future applications
- We constantly perfect our products and reserve the right to alter their appearance and specifications with no prior notification
On the Support Page, you can find more info on impulses, firmware updates and the device's advanced mode of operation.
Specifications:
- Power supply: 9-18V DC 80mA, negative tip, 2.1/5.5mm jack. The device cannot be powered by battery. Use a regulated PSU only.
- Dimensions (LхWхH): 69х95х36mm (2.7x3.7x1.4")
- Weight: 140g (0.3lb)
Photo Gallery
