Pretty good DI/I don’t use the attenuation

This is a great get it done DI to daw. It takes the speaker load, you can power it via phantom power. It’s priced decently for studio use, and is an apartment saver to record! I have a Tone King amp that goes to TV volume with an Iron Man built in…but that’s not gonna cut it for a 5hr recording session in a shared home or apartment!

I unplug my cab speaker, straight into box, XLR to my Preamp and turn the speaker simulation off, then use the Wall of Sound. I didn’t particularly care for the IR cabs they made. But I found some terrific third party ones for my amp! They sound 90% there, and in a mix you can’t tell the difference! I use this to write and then usually do real mic up record tracks later. Sometimes these do make it in as doubles!

Only downside is with this you need a good computer. Because if using Wall of Sound Cab emulation monitoring will be through the DAW! So keeping a 128-256 buffer is something you want. The Captor X has 30ish you can save at $600 for the box. Witt that no need for software and no latency issues…it has its own pc and Ad/DA chip in it..you use your phone to set up cabs. This is why I’m not doing a low review on this. Because they sell a box more expensive for live and 0 latency that’s a bit pricey.

If you just need to use headphones with your expensive tube amp, your computer is good enough to keep a 128-256 buffer when recording guitar. You should have no issue! You can also try all the companies cabs for free, when hooked up online before buying. I found the matching ones to your amp work best. It just is hit or miss, and 3rd party can sometimes be better.

Like anything mic up don’t expect with headphones, to hear a big round bass sound and 3D sound. We are getting there with practice stuff…see Boss Waza headphones. And hope one day we get there with this! But low end on any cab sim I’ve used has a clipping like sound with bass up high. But in a mix, playing with drums most of that bottom is cut and of no worry. For me it captures everything fine once I find the correct cab. You may have to buy 3rd party or take some days to find the right cabs.

However, this is a life saver for apartment studios and players! I do my demos on the weekdays after work. Then on weekends head to the practice space to play live and loud. This gives me options, so I’m not letting an expensive amp go to waste and recording demos with a guitar sim or a cheap pedal amp box. Also get to keep my pedal board set as of o were live, and crank my amp.

I’ve tested Tech 21 and the rest…always prefer my real tube amp with this box, and a cab sim! If latency is a issue, you can easily buy a cab sim pedal to load responses and use it before your daw between the captor! They sell some cheap ones that do the job if you need external. And the official Cab M box separate, then the X as an all in one.

So go with the Captor X if you need a live everything, have the money and latency/computer is a concern. On the cheap go with this if you have the computer power, and plan to use at home mostly. You can always buy the Cab +M box to go along later if you want to upgrade. Or a cheap TC electronic and several others out there.

Attenuator is a simple -20db, that enough for a loud Marshall to tame and some. But it’s by no means a bedroom Db reducer in a small shared apartment. It’s enough to crank your amp to break up, without going over the drummer. This is more a DI box first, than an attenuator fir bedroom practice. It’s headphone and recording mostly..but you could use monitors at low level. I use an Iron Man 2 attenuation and that one is great!

All in one live DI solution

I use the 16ohm version as a Loadbox/ DI in the studio and as an attenuator live