Mesa Cabclone IR User Manual
Owner’s Manual
Hello from the Tone Farm
ank You for choosing the CabClone™ IR and Welcome to the MESA/Boogie Family! is
product benets from the same strict code of ne instrument building employed that all
MESA/Boogie Products share and we hope you nd years of inspiration and enjoyment
through its features and sounds. Like our ampliers and cabinetry, this device was built by
hand in our one and only Shop in Petaluma California by the same talented craftspeople
that build our hand-made vacuum tube ampliers … most with us for decades.
is operating guide will help you attain the most from your new product and hopefully
answer most interfacing and operating questions you might have. However, should you
nd you need additional help or advice for your specic applications and/or needs, don’t
hesitate to call us directly and one of our Product Specialists will be happy to assist you.
Table of Contents
PRECAUTIONS
OVERVIEW ____________________________________________________________________________________ 1-2
HELPFUL HINTS ________________________________________________________________________________ 3
REAR PANEL (Interface Connections)
INPUT: LINE ____________________________________________________________________________________ 3
INPUT: FROM AMP SPKR OUT _____________________________________________________________________ 3
OUTPUT: TO SPKR______________________________________________________________________________ 3-6
MIDI THRU _____________________________________________________________________________________ 7
MIDI IN ________________________________________________________________________________________ 7
POWER: 18VDC/1 AMP ___________________________________________________________________________ 7
USB ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 7
LIFT/GROUND __________________________________________________________________________________ 8
180/PHASE _____________________________________________________________________________________ 8
D.I. OUTPUT ____________________________________________________________________________________ 8
LINE OUT (DRY) _________________________________________________________________________________ 8
HEADPHONES __________________________________________________________________________________ 8
TOP PANEL CONTROLS
CLIP LEDs _____________________________________________________________________________________ 9
INPUT LEVEL ___________________________________________________________________________________ 9
PRESENCE _____________________________________________________________________________________ 9
OUTPUT LEVEL _________________________________________________________________________________ 9
CAB SELECT ROTARY & BANK SELECT SWITCH _____________________________________________________ 9
ORGANIZING AND LOADING IR’s _________________________________________________________________ 10
EXAMPLE LIVE AND STUDIO CONNECTION DIAGRAMS ____________________________________________11-15
SPECIFICATIONS _______________________________________________________________________________ 16
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Read these instructions.
Keep these instructions.
Heed all warnings.
Follow all instructions.
Do not use this apparatus near water.
Clean only with dry cloth.
Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus that produce heat.
Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug
has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet,
consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug
is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally,
or has been dropped.
CAUTION: When using the Internal Load with high output amplifiers (100+ watts), do not set the amplifier’s Output (Master) all the way up. This can stress the
amp and prematurely wear the output tubes, the same as if it were connected to a speaker. If the CCIR chassis gets hot to the touch, back down the Master
Volume. Your amp will thank you.
No naked flame sources, such as lighted candles, should be placed on the apparatus.
The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing and no objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on the apparatus.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.
The plug is the mains disconnect. The plug should remain accessible after installation.
WARNING: EU: permission from the Supply Authority is needed before connection.
WARNING: Always make sure proper load is connected before operating the unit. Failure to do so could pose a shock hazard and may result in damage to
the amplifier.
Do not expose to direct sunlight or extremely high temperatures.
To avoid damaging your speakers and other playback equipment, turn off the power of all related equipment before making the connections.
Do not use excessive force when handling buttons, switches and controls. Do not use solvents such as benzene or paint thinner to clean the unit.
Always connect to a power supply that meets the power supply specifications listed on the rear of the unit. Make certain grounding conforms with local
standards.
READ AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS OF PROPER USAGE.
Operating Instructions
OVERVIEW
The CabClone IR is a digital Cabinet Simulator/Impulse Response Reader that holds 16 instantly accessible popular MESA speaker
cabinet and iconic microphone combinations in Presets of IR Captures within its two Banks of 8 User Preset locations. These can
be accessed from the Top Panel BANK Switch and CAB SELECT rotary control manually or via MIDI program change commands.
It also provides an on-board reactive Speaker load that is automatically activated to protect your amplifier and make it safe to record
silently Direct or feed a Live console and run your amp with no cabinet for an in-ear monitor stage setup where cabinet bleed is not
desirable or very low stage volumes are required.
Along with the 16 Factory supplied IR PRESETS, there is ample room to download and save hundreds of third party IRs within the
CabClone IR’s processor memory. Once accessed and viewed on your computer via the standard USB connection, IRs can easily
be dragged and dropped as separate files — one for each of the CabClone’s 16 User Locations within the two Banks. This flexibility
allows you to instantly access the IR PRESETS within the two Banks for your own playing, recording, or live performance sets.
Interfacing options appear in the form of Inputs and Outputs for speaker cabinet signals and line level signals to and from the unit.
MIDI Program Change commands are supported and can be used to access the 16 IR PRESETS via the MIDI IN DIN jack. A MIDI
THRU jack is also provided to pass those program change messages on to other devices that recognize MIDI commands.
The Internal Reactive load provides an impedance-matched (per your choice at purchase) safe way to forego the Speaker Cabinet or
internal Combo speaker and record Direct or send a DI signal silently to a Live (FOH/Monitor) console. A speaker cabinet may also be
used simultaneously for stage sound and monitoring your amplifier through guitar cabinets, this having no effect on the IR Preset you
have chosen other than what characteristics individual speakers may impart on the output transformer. The Internal load is defeated
automatically when a cable is connected to the ¼” TO SPKR Output. Make sure you choose the proper impedance CabClone IR, as
they are built specifically for 4, 8 (most common) or 16 Ohm applications. The load portion of the CabClone IR is a reactive circuit
that functions regardless of whether or not power is supplied to the unit. You may use the Internal Reactive load without powering up
the unit with the power supply.
An internal signal-triggered Cooling Fan is included to ensure proper operating temperature. The small fan spins only when there is
sufficient power being generated by the amplifier in use.
The CabClone IR Inputs include: LINE ¼” phono, FROM AMP SPEAKER OUT Input ¼” phono, MIDI IN 5-Pin Standard DIN, POWER/18
Volt DC Power Supply (Included) Connection - standard, USB Port (For connecting to your Computer).
The CabClone IR Outputs include: OUTPUT (To Speaker) ¼” phono, MIDI THRU standard 5-Pin DIN, 3-Pin Male XLR balanced DI
OUTPUT, LINE OUT (DRY/Non-Simulated) ¼” phono and a HEADPHONES Stereo ¼” phono.
Moving to the Top Panel of the Unit, the upper three Controls Right to Left are:
CLIP LEDs (INPUT):
if a preamp is your Source, the Output of your preamp. Optimal level illuminates the Yellow LED. The Red LED INDICATES YOU ARE
OVERLOADING THE INPUT STAGE OF THE CCIR. Reduce the Input Level Control or Output level strength at either your amplifier’s
MASTER output stage if you are using the Power section, or the Preamp Output level control until the Red LED no longer illuminates.
Provide indication of the Input Signal strength from either your amplifier’s Speaker Output (preferred) or,
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INPUT:
also sets the Output Signal Level at the LINE OUT (DRY) 1/4” output jack.
Controls the Input Signal to the unit from the two ¼” INPUTS, LINE and FROM AMP SPKR OUT ¼” jacks. This control
PRESENCE:
offers enhanced brightness and cut in the upper frequencies when rotated clockwise or high frequency roll-off when dialed in the
counterclockwise direction.
OUTPUT:
PHONES jack (not the ¼” LINE OUT (DRY) output.
Below those controls, on a lower horizontal line, ride the 8-Position CAB SELECT Rotary and the BANK SELECT mini toggle switch,
which allow selection of the IR Presets contained in either BANK A or B, depending on which is selected.
The CabClone IR ships with 16 MESA Proprietary Cabinet Impulse Responses, loaded into the two Banks of 8 Presets. BANK A
contains the “LIVE” IRs, which were recorded with Dynamic and Ribbon Microphones and BANK B contains IRs recorded with Condenser and Ribbon microphones, for the “STUDIO” versions of the same eight cabinets appearing in the same order. This allows you
to compare the microphone choices by simply flipping the BANK switch between A and B Banks.
The Factory loaded Cabinet Models captured two ways, LIVE/BANK A and STUDIO/BANK B, are as follows and loaded in the 8
Preset CAB SELECT Locations:
1. 4x12 RECTO STANDARD – Celestion V30s – MESA Proprietary – 8 Ohm
2. 4x12 RECTO TRADITIONAL - Celestion V30s – MESA Proprietary – 8 Ohm
3. 2x12 RECTO HORIZONTAL - Celestion V30s – MESA Proprietary – 16 Ohm
Provides a global EQ control that affects the XLR balanced Output and the ¼” Stereo HEADPHONES Output and
Controls the signal level to the Recording Interface/console or other destination via the DI OUTPUT and ¼” HEAD-
4. 1x12 RECTO - Celestion V30 – MESA Proprietary – 8 Ohm
5. 1x12 THIELE - Celestion C90 – MESA Proprietary – 8 Ohm
6. 2x12 LONE STAR - Celestion C90 – MESA Proprietary – 16 Ohm
7. 1x12 LONE STAR 23 - Celestion C90 – MESA Proprietary – 8 Ohm
8. 1x12 CALIFORNIA TWEED 23 – Jensen 100w Alnico “Blackbird” – 8 Ohm
The BANK A/LIVE versions were captured with a Shure SM57 Dynamic microphone and a Beyer M160 Ribbon microphone on each
cabinet.
BANK B/STUDIO versions were captured using a Tube Neumann U67 Condenser mic and a Royer 122 Ribbon mic on each cab.
The two versions can be compared on any of the 8 Cabinet Types by simply toggling between BANK A and BANK B on the BANK
SELECT mini toggle switch.
These 16 Factory loaded IR Presets can be moved to any of the 2 Bank’s 8 Preset locations or removed altogether to make room for
IRs you might already have elsewhere or prefer to purchase and download into the CabClone IR. The Cab Library folder can be used
as a storage location while transferring the Factory IRs, and for keeping any purchased MESA or 3rd party IRs for easy access later
on. Depending on the size of the files, the Cab Library can hold as many as several hundred IRs.
The IR lengths are 100ms, which offers incredible resolution for high quality IRs. Longer IRs you may download into the CabClone
will play just fine, but will be truncated to 100ms.
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Helpful Hints
We have provided within the CabClone IR’s 16 IR Presets, the very best, most accurate captures of our most popular MESA Cabinetry
recorded in a world class studio environment using the most iconic combinations of microphones.
Sound, like color, is subjective. No two artists hear or see things alike. With the vast number of listening environments, including
headphones, monitors — be they recording or Live PA — we feel we’ve provided something for almost any need and every style in the
Factory loaded Presets. From cabinetry that excels at open sounding, transparent cleans, to vintage-voiced open-back cabs that sing
and howl for semi-saturated Blues overdrive, to closed-back 2x12s and Quad Boxes that chunk and grind for gained-up, Heavy Rock,
there’s a cabinet and a voice for everyone here in the CabClone IRs 16 Presets. Spend the time matching up your different sounds to
the included Presets and you will quickly realize what a powerful tool you’ve chosen for trouble free DI recording and Live applications.
Use caution when setting the Master Volume on your amp. While the CCIR can handle up to 150 Watts, setting the amp extremely
loud is usually not the best approach to obtaining great Tone. Setting the Master Volume all the way up will generally sound less
desirable and mean that you sacrifice most of the control over the character and response you’ve dialed in with the preamp. It will
also wear out your power tubes faster, the same as if the amp were connected to a speaker. In most cases, you’ll find the sweet spot
is somewhere between 11:00-2:00 on the amp’s Master Volume. In that region you’ll be introducing plenty of power section color and
fullness, but you will still retain much of the preamp’s control over the sound and the response. When the power section is driven to
full clip, the sound you’ve dialed up on the preamp’s controls will be overshadowed by the power section’s behavior, good or bad.
The firmware inside the device includes many error detection mechanisms. When an error is detected, the red clip LED will blink an
error code. To reset the error, unplug and reconnect the power supply, or push the Boot switch located through a small hole on the
bottom of the unit.
Since so many of the interfacing connections are located on the Rear Panel, unlike other MESA Operating Guides/Manuals, we will
start on the Rear Panel to help you get your CabClone IR connected properly for your chosen application. The Top Panel where the
Controls are located is very simple to look at and even simpler to operate, so we’ll jump up there in just a moment, but first, let’s get
the CCIR connected so you can begin to enjoy its inspirational and convenient MESA cabinet captures.
Rear Panel (Interface Connections)
Let’s run through the connections and Inputs Outputs starting Left To Right:
INPUT: LINE
appropriate application would be to use an amplifier’s Slave Output. Slave Outputs generally, at least on MESA products, have the
entire tube signal chain incorporated including the power amp. HOWEVER, in this scenario you MUST have a load on the Host Amplifier (a speaker cabinet connected) since the Internal load will NOT be accessed unless your SPEAKER OUTPUT on the amplifier is
connected to the FROM AMP SPKR OUT jack. (The LINE Input and FROM AMP SPKR OUT Input cannot be used simultaneously).
INPUT: FROM AMP SPKR OUT
your amplifier’s SPEAKER OUTPUT and provides the signal by which the IRs are triggered. When your amplifier is connected to this
jack an internal reactive load is automatically connected (in the impedance version of the CabClone IR you selected) to protect your
amplifier’s output transformer. The load will remain connected until such time a ¼” phono cable is connected to the adjacent OUTPUT
labeled TO SPKR, at which time the load is disabled and the cabinet you have purposefully connected becomes the amplifier’s load.
(The LINE Input and FROM AMP SPKR OUT Input cannot be used simultaneously).
This ¼” phono Input accommodates a Line Level signal. This signal could be derived from a preamp, but a more
This Input accepts a 1/4” phono cable (use a quality unshielded cable, shorter is better) from
OUTPUT: TO SPKR.
fier. Once you have fed the CabClone IR the Speaker Output from your amplifier, the output signal is forwarded on, unaffected, to
your enclosure of choice. Once a cable is inserted into the TO SPKR Output jack, the Internal load is disabled. Therefore, the Imped-
This ¼” phono jack provides the feed to your speaker cabinet of choice for live monitoring of your ampli-
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ance you’ve chosen for the internal safety load when purchasing your CCIR does not affect the impedance load at this jack. Once
the internal load is disabled in this manner, the load impedance is determined by the Speaker Cabinet(s) you are connecting here.
NOTE: It is possible to feed more than one speaker cabinet from the TO SPKR Output. On MESA Cabinetry, use the PARALLEL
Jack on the rear jack plate to “daisy-chain” cabinets. Please note the overall combined impedance and make sure you are connecting
the correct load to your amplifier. The combined impedance of two cabinets connected in parallel will be ½ of an individual cabinet’s
impedance (i.e. 2 x 8 Ohm cabinets in parallel creates a 4 Ohm load). In this scenario, connect the 4 Ohm output of the amplifier to the
FROM AMP SPKR OUT on the CCIR. Next, connect the TO SPKR output of the CCIR to the 8 Ohm input of the first cabinet. Lastly,
connect the Parallel out of the first cabinet to the 8 Ohm input of the second cabinet. This would be a safe and proper impedance match.
On non-MESA cabinetry (or older MESA cabinetry that does not have a PARALLEL jack), a parallel box can be used to create the
same result (See diagrams on the following pages for proper connection).
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