DSM Humboldt: SIMPLIFIER MKII Zero Watt Reverb Stereo ANALOG Amp
https://www.simplifieramp.com
Fully analog (except for the Reverb) and featuring full stereo, three amp model types including power and preamp modelling, dual cab sims with a linear ‘black-blue-green’ control, three types of cab-type emulation, stereo fx send & return… The Simplifier MKII has was it takes to be your best friend in the recording environment or the central brain of your pedalboard. It’s small enough to fit in your hand yet very tough and superbly appointed. I can’t fault it and I had a great time playing with it while making this demo. Nice one, chaps!
Today’s tools:
Guitar: MJT/Musikcraft Partscaster with JJ’s Fat Toney’s Pickups (https://www.jjsguitarpickups.com).
Amp: DSM Humboldt Simplifier MKII
Cables: BOSS
Strings: Ernie Ball 10-46
Pick: Honey Pick https://www.honey-picks.com/collections/all/brett-kingman
Mic: Audix USA PDX720 – https://audixusa.com/products/pdx720-signature-edition/
Camera: GoPro HERO10 + Sony ZV-1M2 x 2
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum 26×32 (No longer available)
Monitors: PreSonus R80 R-Series Active AMT Studio Monitors – https://www.presonus.com
Monitor Control: SPL 2Control – https://spl.audio/en/spl-produkt/2control/
Headphones: Audix A152 – https://audixusa.com/products/a150/
All Stands: Gravity Stands – https://www.gravitystands.com/en/
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB
All of my Fractal Audio Presets (free): https://axechange.fractalaudio.com/search-results.php?search=Burgs&fields=username&products=0&setups=0
Backing track courtesy jamtrackcentral.com “Hindsight”
#DSM #Humboldt #SIMPLIFIER #MKII #Watt #Reverb #Stereo #ANALOG #Amp
Originally posted by UCBHoPcJMiFe6CuVY2X7I0YQ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdP6WrsSsmY
Great Demo Brett! Can I ask as I dont have much experience with sims. Can I just plug a device like this into the front of my Guitar amp or is it only intended as a device to send into a pa or front of house?
I just bought one of these. This is by far the best demo I've seen of this pedal. Great job! Not only does it do the "authentic" V, F and M tones really well, but there are new sounds to be discovered by mix-and-matching. You demonstrated this with the cabs really well, but didn't show that you can do it in the amp section also! A Vox pre with a Marshall power amp, etc. Finally, there is the playing feel. SO immediate and responsive compared to the digital options.
Fantastic review as always Brett.
This is definitely the most attractive amp sim device on the market for my taste. I have listened to a dozen different videos and I haven't heard anything I don't like and everything I do like. Such a great product and so usable and easy to use.
Do you think this would work well with a high gain pedal like the Revv G3? I want to use something like this and record direct to my PC.
Just confirming that this is an excellent amp pedal. Not 30 minutes after I installed it, I saw on Reddit that Sweetwater has their new X (essentially an MKII DLX). I took the plunge and preordered. Looking forward to your demo of that, Brett! Thanks for everything you do.
Hi Brett, Peter from the Gold Coast here.
Great review and playing as always 🙂
Just checking… it is possible to run stereo in and out, without using the fx send and return?
I would often want to easily bypass the pedal and use my Neural plugins as an alternative and I have lots of stereo delays and reverb pedals.
Cheers
I’ve wanted one since the first version came out. There’s no digital modeller that comes close to it unless it’s a lot more expensive. And even then I think these Simplifiers sound better to me. And indeed, what more do you need? With a nice pedalboard before it you can have all the sounds you want. At least for a home studio. ❤
Needs a spring not a plate reverb
Major improvements.
Like the smile on your face when testing the settings…
as always, a sick review!! thanks for sharing
Forgive my question….I'm confused…why is it called "zero watt"? How can it be a "power amp" with zero watts? To use this live, would you need a power amp?
Love the Simplifier, or at least the idea of it… might have to get one
Nifty bit of kit!!
Convincing sims and an fx loop…
Sounds great thru the headphones, clever buggas!
Cheers Burgs????
Analog cab sims have come a long way. I used to use them recording direct in the 80s and 90s. It was tough to find good ones. I used an ADA cab sim rack unit that was the best I could find at the time. Not that many companies invested that much effort into really developing them. And the cab sims that have been available in stand alone multi effects units have been serviceable but kind of lackluster. Once we had digital models and IRs everyone caught on and it was off to the races. This sounds very good though. I wish I had this in the 80's!! Haha Nice job Burgs!
Sounds really good. I’m not sure if it’s just your demo, but it does sound a lot better than the original.
I don't know why they named it "The Simplifier", it seems very complex! Sounds pretty good though.