Recording with Palmer PDI-03

  • Thread starter Thread starter reverymike
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reverymike

reverymike

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I'm thinking about picking up a PDI-03 to use in the studio (and live). I figure it might make getting tones faster in the studio, taking mic placement out of the equation (or at least giving another option to blend in with the mic'd signals).

Anyone here have any experience with them? It looks like they're in a lot of rigs (Def Lep, VH, Bonamassa)

I guess they come in handy live too? Mic the cab, and send the Palmer signal to FOH too, and let the soundguy blend the signals.

It'd also be useful with my old Marshalls that don't have FX loops, to send a signal to some effects and into a poweramp.

Thoughts??
 
They work decent but aren't a panacea by any means. It'll work fine for what you're trying to do there except for the last scenario. For that you want to get a line out box like the Suhr or make one (they're very simple). That way the signal isn't colored with the cab simulator before it gets to the fx and power amp.
For whatever my opinion is worth (I've done a shitload of direct recording with a ton of different interfaces and loads), I think the Radial JDX is a better sounding unit than the Palmer. But the Palmer is also very good. I also liked my Hughes And Kettner Red Box until it died.
http://www.radialeng.com/re-jdx.htm
 
From what I've read, the line outs on the PDI-03 aren't filtered (only the signal going to the FOH would have any filter/speaker simulation on it). It has 4 other line outs to send to effects, as well as a thru to a speaker cab.
 
reverymike":3kgecq22 said:
From what I've read, the line outs on the PDI-03 aren't filtered (only the signal going to the FOH would have any filter/speaker simulation on it). It has 4 other line outs to send to effects, as well as a thru to a speaker cab.
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My mistake, I was thinking of the PDI-09 which is the cab sim circuit of the PDI-03 without the load. Yeah that is a good unit to have in your rack to do what you're looking for but it's kind of expensive for what it is. I've seen the reissues pop up on eBay every once in a while for around $450 or so.
You can put together a load and a PDI-09 for about a 1/4th of what a PDI-03 goes for. But the output of these units does sound best when a proper load is applied to the amp. There is a night and day difference between playing through a real 4x12 and having a tap coming off your speaker out versus your amp plugged into a load box. One sound is open and full while the other is constipated and compressed.
 
chumbucket":1nr3h8tw said:
There is a night and day difference between playing through a real 4x12 and having a tap coming off your speaker out versus your amp plugged into a load box. One sound is open and full while the other is constipated and compressed.
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Truth.

I ran into this while developing a silent direct recording method. I found there was a definite difference in normal speaker load and attenuated load. So I built a box and housed a speaker in it for loading purposes. To my surprise, the signal was still not as good as a normal speaker load. A boxed speaker has a different reactance than an open to air speaker, and as such affects the tone. I found a website with the graphs that showed the different reactance of speakers in a normal cabinet and a iso box, so it's not imagined. It sounds better than a straight up attenuated signal, though.
 
I don't need silent recording. I just thought that the added speaker simulation might add something to the mic'd cab. And, fill in any gaps that might be lost by the mics. I just know that even the slightest mic movement will affect the way it sounds. Having a direct feed could help correct some of that.
 
The PDI-03 isn't a terrible speaker sim. But I don't think it's "good enough" by itself, for recording. A really nice feature is that it has both Filtered (speaker sim) and Non-Filtered (like a direct out from the amp) line outs. It also has a Thru (to speaker) Out. This gives you at least 3 sources/options for recording : 1) The Palmer speaker sim (Filtered) 2) Non-Filtered line out that you can run through any speaker/cab impulse you have in your DAW and 3) the Thru sends the Non-Filtered signal to your cab so you can mic your cab. It's one of the most useful pieces of gear I own.
 
reverymike":3ml5cpaa said:
I don't need silent recording. I just thought that the added speaker simulation might add something to the mic'd cab. And, fill in any gaps that might be lost by the mics. I just know that even the slightest mic movement will affect the way it sounds. Having a direct feed could help correct some of that.
Click to expand...

If you don't need the load then save yourself $500+ and buy a PDI-09 (or the Radial JDX :thumbsup: ). It also fits behind your amp on top of the 4x12 as opposed to having to drag a rack around with you. If you need a direct out for FX - Power amp, you can make an MXR sized line out box for about $15-20 in parts.
 
Any of you guys use the PDI-03 live, a la EVH, Def Lep, or Bonamassa?
 
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