Does anyone use a Palmer PDI-03 for direct recording?

[cyndicate]

Thoughts? I know Zorran does and gets killer clips. They also have a newer version PGA-04 and a Reissue of the PDI-03 for sale, anyone own one?

 

[Jakem]

I think Olaf uses those. He'll surely chime in when he sees this thread.

-Jaakko

 

[Audioholic]

I tried out both the Palmer 04 side by side to the Palmer 03.

I generally preferred the 03 better. The 04 has the ability for different sounds and I really like the fact that you can blend in some of the unprocessed signal, a super kewl factor. But, sound in general, the 03 had a better overall sound to me (and others), at least with the amp I was using. So I stuck with the 03. I use it live now all the time and it is fantastic, easy and the sound guy really likes it. Clean send to the board. Alot of the amps noise doesn't really get sent either, its pretty clean.

What i have been doing here lately when recording is using both the palmer and a mic and panning out in stereo. Gives a slightly different sound and I like the combination. The palmer is great for late night jamming to through your monitors. However, the palmer, lacks the realism of pushing real air, and I wouldn't always relay on it for everything but great live


there is another unit that I eventuall want to get, the SPL transducer, a bit more expensive, but I think (and have heard clips) and its a little step up from the palmer as far as emulating actuall air moving I think...

 

[cyndicate]

I tried out both the Palmer 04 side by side to the Palmer 03.

I generally preferred the 03 better. The 04 has the ability for different sounds and I really like the fact that you can blend in some of the unprocessed signal, a super kewl factor. But, sound in general, the 03 had a better overall sound to me (and others), at least with the amp I was using. So I stuck with the 03. I use it live now all the time and it is fantastic, easy and the sound guy really likes it. Clean send to the board. Alot of the amps noise doesn't really get sent either, its pretty clean.

What i have been doing here lately when recording is using both the palmer and a mic and panning out in stereo. Gives a slightly different sound and I like the combination. The palmer is great for late night jamming to through your monitors. However, the palmer, lacks the realism of pushing real air, and I wouldn't always relay on it for everything but great live


there is another unit that I eventuall want to get, the SPL transducer, a bit more expensive, but I think (and have heard clips) and its a little step up from the palmer as far as emulating actuall air moving I think...

Wow never heard of the SPL before, looks like a pretty cool unit, too bad its like double the price of the palmer

 

[Audioholic]

Yes

it is about a grand. I have heard a clip of it being used, and sounded pretty darn good, a bit closer to a miced cab, plus you can choos between settings of a dynamic/cardoid mic, and also distance, all analog. the SPL people are very well known for thier trasient designer. I wanted that one, but it was brand new on the market and could'nt find info to for anything on it, so went with the palmer. The palmer people at jams audio are amazing to deal with though. They let me try both units side by side, and keep the one I liked best, which was the 003. The 004 sounded just a bit mushy on chords, but every now and then I could get something I really liked. The 003 is much much simpler, so you need to relay on the amp for the sound, and it sounded more natural to me. It is great live. I can send you some clips of comparing the 2 if you like....

pm me with your email..

 

[duodecim]

[...]
there is another unit that I eventuall want to get, the SPL transducer, a bit more expensive, but I think (and have heard clips) and its a little step up from the palmer as far as emulating actuall air moving I think...

There's also a loading device like the Palmer called the Motherload. Also twice the price. I haven't tried any of them, but it's on my list, after buying a new amp... The Palmers show up sometimes on Ebay (Germany mostly). I'm more interested in the late night side of things rather than live use.

Reading reports on the 'net, it appears those devices work (i.e. sound) better with some amps than with others.

 

[Audioholic]

I also looked at the motherload, but there is a waiting list, and i had a hard time getting correspondance with the company as well. Though most people love teh motherload, I have heard good clips, and also clips comparing the palmer and the motherload and sometimes I actually prefered the palmer over the motherload

i think the SPL unit is now the one to beat.

And yes, I think different amps will work better then others. I found that if I added more presence then normal with just the palmer, it added a bit more air to it. It sounds pretty ok with my Carvin V3, but I hooked it up to a Fender hot rod, and it really replicated the sound very very well. Better then the carvin, sounded great with the fender.

And the Palmer works well combined with a mic, something I heard the Motherload has a harder time with.

 

[cyndicate]

I also looked at the motherload, but there is a waiting list, and i had a hard time getting correspondance with the company as well. Though most people love teh motherload, I have heard good clips, and also clips comparing the palmer and the motherload and sometimes I actually prefered the palmer over the motherload

i think the SPL unit is now the one to beat.

And yes, I think different amps will work better then others. I found that if I added more presence then normal with just the palmer, it added a bit more air to it. It sounds pretty ok with my Carvin V3, but I hooked it up to a Fender hot rod, and it really replicated the sound very very well. Better then the carvin, sounded great with the fender.

I hope it works really well with the amps I have coming in, I am not expecting it to be as crazy as micing a cab, but as long as it gets a decent tone for late night practicing im fine.

 

[Audioholic]

I hope it works really well with the amps I have coming in, I am not expecting it to be as crazy as micing a cab, but as long as it gets a decent tone for late night practicing im fine.

oh yeah man, its great for late night practice!!!! more then great. you can crank up your amp, soak it a bit, and control the volume if you like. I have mine running through some decent studio monitors and it is awesome for practice, and like i said, I use it for final tracks combined with a mic as well. I like the blend.

 

[IHateRap]

I have the reissue PDI-03. It's working great for me. If I don't have to touch a mic, I'm happy.

 

[cyndicate]

I have the reissue PDI-03. It's working great for me. If I don't have to touch a mic, I'm happy.

I just ordered the Reissue last night Hopefully its good enough for some late night clips then I can finally post clips of the amps I have coming in. It's just not possible for mic anything during busy season