Orange Micro Dark Amplifier Settings Demo and Review 1x12 and 1x8
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 11 окт 2024
- GAIN SETTINGS
(Orange PPC112 1x12 Cabinet)
1:51 Low Gain Clean
2:28 Light Gain
2:48 Moderate Gain
3:20 High Gain
3:55 Max Gain
SHAPE CONTROL
(Orange PPC112 1x12 Cabinet)
4:21 Max (Max Bass/Treble. Min Mid)
4:59 75%
5:27 50%
5:44 30%
6:30 5%
6:54 0% (Enhanced Mid)
FX LOOP, 8" CABINET, DROP TUNE/HIGH GAIN
7:46 Gain and Shape at 50%
8:47 FX Loop with Earthquaker Devices Ghost Echo Reverb
9:09 Max Gain with FX Loop Earthquaker Devices Ghost Echo Reverb
9:40 1x8" Orange PPC108 Cabinet Demo
10:34 Drop tuned with Max Gain and Max Shape setting (Deep V Equalizer with enhanced Bass/Treble and reduced Mids
Review and demo of the new Orange Micro Dark 20 watt valve amplifier. With a 12AX7 tube in the preamp and a solid state power amp, this little "lunch box" amp delivers in crunch and power. Guitar audio is raw and not enhanced, effected or equalized. Just the raw audio as captured through the Shure SM-57 into a Neve VR channel and then into the DAW.
Compare the sound of the Orange Micro Dark through the Orange 1x12 PPC112 cabinet and the 1x8 PPC108 cabinet. Listen to the different settings available with Orange's innovative Shape control and 4 stage gain.
Demo equipment in this video:
Orange Micro Dark MD20 Micro Amplifier
Orange PPC112 1 x 12" Speaker Cabinet
Orange PPC108 1 x 8" Speaker Cabinet
Earthquaker Devices Ghost Echo Reverb
Gibson Les Paul Traditional
Shure SM-57
Just grabbed a micro dark and ppc112 tonight. Cant wait to wake up tomorrow and rock out with it.
I am still using mine everyday in my lesson room. Add a compressor and an overdrive to the front end and you can really get some great and very usable tones.
@@LessonsWithCameron It's awesome, I have been having such a blast at home and jamming with friends
Dude, I'm late to the game, but this was a great review. Holds up against some of the unrealistic demos being put out today.
Thanks. I try to keep the playing, the tones, and the mix to what people might actually be doing with the amps. Hopefully I can give a good feel of how the amp will sound for you in your home. I love these things. I would get more, but I already have a handful of micros.
great demo - THANK YOU for the great description links for the settings - i didnt have to struggle scrolling to the parts i wanted to hear multiple times (extremes of the “tone” knob) - ur video pushed me over the edge - just bought one off ebay for $130 shipped.... i have a couple very $ tube amps, but, as your demo shows, it can move between diff voicings with minimal knob twiddling, plus its like 1/20 size of my mesa and likely 1/100 of how much the mesa weighs - ill be glad to have a decent sounding light weight solution.
tonedover Thank you! I’ve got a few big Mesas and Oranges, but I really do love my Micro Dark. It’s a great tool.
Favorite quote (at 7:26): "... Yea ... theres something there."
:P ... LOVE it MAN!!! Great demo!
Just got one of these, the tones are great, pretty loud too..great demo brother..you rock
Much appreciated! Thanks and congrats on your MD20!
This makes a great `All Valve` pre amp to go into a `proper` poweramp ( Marshall 120/120 for example ) How ? just don`t connect a cab ( power amp section is solid state so not having a load should be fine ) but use the out from the FX S/R and there you have it, just the valved Preamp section and not expensive for a standalone pre amp either !
This is correct, connect the FX send to the return of a tube amp :-)
Good demo👍
just need to demonstrate how dynamic and responsive this amp is to volume changes from the guitar and pick attack.
Also that 1x8 cab is really well made and a lot heavier then it looks, of course it won’t be able to complete with a 2x12 or 4x12 but it’s really good for bedroom use.
I have the 8" cab, and it definitely sounds better with a speaker change. I swapped mine out with a Hempopotamus G5 8" 50-Watt Speaker that behaves like a 110-Watt speaker due to the headroom it sounds like a 12"
Awesome demo/review. You have a subscriber!
+Tom Luckner Thank you and welcome!
Awesome video! Thanks for the demonstration. I've been looking into getting an Orange amp head due to the fact that the Bax Bangeetar pedal is almost $400 and I wasn't impressed at all with the Wampler Catapulp, which is supposed to give you everything ranging from vintage to modern. I want to pick one of these heads up for sure.
+Chris Deibel It does not disappoint. I have really enjoyed having this amp in my stable. It's great for recording quickly and gets a pretty good tone from the line out jack (thanks Cabinet Simulator!). I go to the Micro Dark when I'm "silently" recording over the Mesa/Boogie DC-5's recording out because the Micro Dark just does the job faster and easier. I can't say enough how much I like having this amp as an option.
+Lessons with Cameron Can I pick your brain? I usually buy combo amps and not heads. I ordered the Orange head today and refrained from buying a cabinet due to mixed emotions. I have seen this head driving 4 x 12 cabs and Orange offers this 8'' speaker and I think it would sound muddy and nastily with the Dark Terror. Hughes & Ketttner make a 10'' cabinet with a Celestion TEN 30 in it, or Egnater has birch speaker cabinet with a Celestion Elite 80 12'' speaker. EVH has a 12'' cab as well with a Celestion G12 Anniversary speaker. Which would you recommend for this? I'm very picky about sound and am kinda leaning toward EVH. I will be jamming at home, recording with it, and running a drum machine at most.
I haven't experimented with this amp on too many speakers, so I wouldn't be able to comment on which of those would be "best". The 8" cabinet is not sufficient if you are particular, but if you are not particular, it is wonderful. I'm pretty happy with the sound from the Orange PPC112 1x12 cabinet. I imagine the coloration you'll get through any cabinet will be similar for any amp head you run through it. Meaning, when I connect my Orange cab to my Mesa/Boogie, I still get some Orange color on my Mesa tone. That same color is found when the Tiny Terror or Micro Dark are running through. Each amp retains its color and characteristics, but a cabinet will add an imprint on the tone that is going to be pretty consistent with that cab sound. If I used a Marshall cab, I'd have a bit of a Marshall tone to any amp I run though it, though the original amp tone will be the dominant sound with mild coloration from the cabinet design. I hope that makes sense.
+Lessons with Cameron Yes it does, thanks. I can't wait to plug and play!!
I would love to hear you rock a Gretsch in some mean blues with this amp. 💙 Great Video
Thanks! I haven’t ever run a Gretsch through it, but I can say it sounds pretty great with an ES-335 and a PRS Horsemeat. I really love my Micro Dark. Everyone should have one!
I am currently using an Orange Micro Crush. It’s amazing for what it is. Battery powered little solid state combo. I upgraded it by installing a rechargeable NIMH battery and the battery last me forever before I need to recharge it. It has a speaker out and I’m looking to get a PPC112 for it when I have the money soon.
Julian Sedor The Micro Crush sounds amazingly good through a cab for a 3-watt amp. Highly recommend trying it. It gets very metal.
If you haven't already got the 1x12, I'd reccomend getting the 1x8 instead. I have that setup and it's perfect
I have a cheap ibanez solid state amp and i removed the legs from this amp head and mounted it directly to my pedalboard with the gain a bit past half eq at 12 o clock volume at 8 o clock and the tone on about 3 . It pairs well with my pedals so well that i decided to leave it right there with the same settings , works well for me for school , bedroom practice , studio , live shows , back yard shows i dont move the settings pretty good sound even better with active pickups
Avoid that 1x8 like the plague. Tone just doesn't suit the Micro Dark or Micro Terror IMO. I think they sound best with 12" speakers.
CorvetteCoonass IMO, the 8" is only useful for very small rooms for practice. They have very little bass and a muddy response, making either of the micro amps sound bland. The Micro Dark sounds pretty amazing through the 12".
Yeah, from all the reviews and comments, it's almost unanimous that one or more 12" speakers are a necessity for this amp.
Just take the back off the 8 sounds decent without it
DragonDestroyer88 you sure? Making the cab over back helps?
@@st8kout961 i think a 12" is def. the standard. anything else just doesn't sound right
👆 The best review I found on the item. Thanks for showing the mid range settings. Other guys didn't.
I have been thinking about buying this head for a while now paired with the ppc112, but having a hard time biting the bullet do to living situation. I live in an apartment and im afraid that combo would be too loud. Do you think the 108 would be a better option, or can the mdt and ppc112 be played at quiet enough levels?
It has no problems at low volume with the 112. The 112 is so much better, it’s no contest. The 108 has less bass, but too much less to sound good. It’s great through the 112 though.
Thanks for the reply, I live in a smaller town so trying to find them to play before I buy is hard haha.
tlatch135 I can say it’s pretty great when it’s low and it’s pretty great when it’s loud.
Thanks! Great demo. Super appreciated.
Excellent vid! I run mine through a htv212 and its killer! :D
Jared Hind The more 12s the better!
Thanks for the excellent demo! Just to be clear, you didn't change any amp settings when you switched cabs, right? I can't believe how different the cabs sound!
I believe I just moved the cable and the mic between cab swaps. It’s a big difference. It also sounds even bigger with a 212 or a 412.
3:57 Cannibal Corpse!!
Excellent ear! My favorite CC song by far.
@@guitarfreak342 Cannibal Corpse makes hammer smashed faces mostly, but they also enjoy a solid crochet circle.
Very useful demo, thx a lot!
That's it. I'm getting this thing.
Boofer T. Washington You won’t be disappointed. Micro Darks are an incredible value.
Question...Is the little bit of grit (in the clean section) a mic/preamp overload or is that from the amp?
Erik Roe I believe the Mic was hit a little too hard in parts. It’s difficult to keep the volume level the same when you’re adding and subtracting gain quickly. In an effort to keep the flow going, I overlooked the recording levels each knob turn. At a very low (roughly 1~25%) gain, it is completely clean.
(+Lessons with Cameron) An SM57 (what it looked like you had) clips at over 170 db. It can (this was actually tested by Shure) record a jet engine taking off before it clips. I bet it was the preamp.
Alexis Harper By “mic,” I meant “not the Orange.”
I currently have the micro dark with the 1x8 cabinet.
I always play through the speakers and I use it for bedroom practice.
I was looking to get more versatility from it and thinking to get something like a boss gt pedalboard. Would it sound good in the effects loop through that speakers ?
Would I be able to play distorted sounds with better quality while using lower volumes?
I just would love to be able to get decent sound at low volumes and several effects
I use a pedalboard with mine usually, some pedals in front and others in the loop. It works well in that respect for sure.
😊
I like it best turned all the way to the right.
Richard Johnson Same.
Is it possible running this with the 1x12 at bedroom/apt levels? P.S., what's the cab you have in the shot on top, behind the 1x8? Bigger than the 1x8 but smaller than the 1x12. Thanks!
Yes, it does low volume well with a solid state power amp. The medium sized fella is a Tiny Terror Combo.
@@LessonsWithCameron Thanks!
Great demo .
Honestly, in your your opinion, is the 1x8 cab worth it? I'd love to run a 1x12 or 2x2, but, my space is limited. Is the 1x8 decent?
+Steven H It really comes down to what you want it to do. The 1x8 sounds pretty good until you hear the 1x12 or 2x12, then it's just frustrating. The 1x12 just sounds better than the 1x8. It's richer, warmer, broader and in every measurable way it is better. The 1x8 doesn't sound awful, but it lacks that broad and full sound the 1x12 does. I like the sound of the 1x8 for things where the sound quality does not matter, like practice or songwriting. I have only recorded with the 1x8 cabinet a couple times and was not entirely satisfied with the final result, wishing I had used my Tiny Terror 1x12 instead. After comparing directly (in this video), I was really surprised in the difference. Basically, if you HAVE to, the 1x8 will do. If you can afford the space and the price, I would recommend the 1x12. Another bonus is that on a tour in Russia, I was able to pack my pedals, cables and amp in my suitcase with all my clothes. I just had one bag on wheels and a gig bag. This was helpful knowing I had an amp I could trust if the backline wasn't sufficient or wasn't present, though it would have to be mic'd.
+Lessons with Cameron
Thanks for the feedback. I thought your review was fantastic, one of the best on youtube. I'm really looking forward to purchasing this amp. I'd love to get the PPC112, but, that's a little beyond my budget. I might just nab a more budget oriented 12inch cab.
Thanks again, sir!
@@LessonsWithCameron so i want the cab basically for practice and songwriting. Do you beleive the 1x8 is good?
@@metalehead95 Good is very subjective. It really depends on what you want out of the speaker. It’s not going to have a lot of bass and will be a little boxy compared to a PPC112, but if that’s a non-issue for you, it will do just fine.
@@LessonsWithCameron yes thats correct, what i mean by good is a clear sound for fuzz with not too much bass and all that at low volumes because i will be using it at my apartment.
Suppose I'm only using pedals with the clean settings, does it give you enough headroom for small gigs?
I haven't used it at a gig yet, but if the amp is mic'd through the PA then it would be plenty loud. Without running some gain, I think it would struggle to keep up with drums unassisted.
You do need to cab for this? Or does this work as an actual mini amp? I really wanna get one to practice
You can use it without a cab as a headphone amp or use the line out into your interface. If you want to hear it out loud, you will need a speaker. The PPC108 works, but it really should have a 1x12 if you want it to sound good.
Great review!!! Thanks for do this!
Hi, Lessons with Cameron. I have been going back and forth between the Micro Dark and the Micro Terror trying to make up my mind. I play a lot of AC/DC as well as Black Sabbath. I would love your opinion as to which of these amps is best suited for me ?
Robbie Height I own both and the Micro Dark is better in every measurable way. I would recommend the MD20.
Thanks so much !! I will give it a try..
Robbie Height you won’t regret it. The Micro Dark is very cool with a million uses.
I tested both at guitar center and didn’t see that much of a difference. Ended up getting the micro terror because of the price and I wasn’t going to use the fx loop anyways.
I love it it’s perfect for acdc that’s mainly what I play, don’t get the 8” speaker though it has no balls. With gain up all the way it’s pretty heavy sounding.
Is this a tube amp?Do I really need a cab for this or just the amp itself?Thanks!
Lil Wayne It’s a hybrid tube/solid state amp head. It has a 12AX7 preamp tube and a solid state power section. You will need a speaker cabinet to hear it on anything but headphones. You don’t need a cabinet if you only want to use headphones.
Hi i have a roland cube 20x can i use it for speaker for my ornage micro terror?
hola !!! tengo el micro dark y caja 1x8 pero no tengo bajos suficientes utilizo un pedal de distorsion digitech tl2 harwire ... poder solucionar la falta de bajos con una caja de 1x12 ? los bajos directamente no lo da el cabezal ?
Sí. El 1x12 es mucho mejor. El bajo es más grande que el 1x8. El altavoz 1x8 tiene menos graves que el 1x12. Suena mucho mejor.
Muchisimas gracias amigo ! voy a comprar la caja bugera t 112 1x12 80 watts muchas gracias !
Tatengue Union Bugera es muy agradable. Me gusta el PPC112 naranja y PPC212, pero Bugera es agradable.
I like to play music like sum 41 oasis etc would u recommend open or closed back. I also have a 1x8 at the minute but after this review I am definitely gonna upgrade would it be best going for a 1x12 or 2x12 open or closed back thanks for reading mainly bedroom playing but currently trying to find a band
I personally prefer the sound of closed back cabinets. For tight and punchy sound, you'd probably want to go with closed back. I really like the 1x12, but orange did recommend the 2x12 for me. My budget recommended the 1x12
+Lessons with Cameron thank you for taking your time to reply helpful advice thanks iv just subscribed cheers
Thank you! Have a great day!
Cameron i saw all the comments
Is there a reason why nobody uses 1x10" cab with the M Dark?
Personal preference. Most people looking for lots of gain prefer 12s.
@@LessonsWithCameron ok thank you 😊
I'm planning to use it as practice amp
Mostly for blues rock
@@dimitris70 It does that really well. It’s a great backup amp and can be a great main with some effort. I always take mine in the kit just in case something goes terribly wrong on the road.
Hey! I know this is an old video, but I was looking to get the 1x12. I have the MD and thr 1x8, and it sounds like absolute dog shit to me. Is it just the speaker? Does the 1x12 make it sound better?
Thanks for commenting. Yes, it absolutely does. The 108 is a cool desk toy, bedroom amp speaker, lesson room speaker, or novelty item. The PPC112 is a legitimate 1x12” speaker cabinet and the difference between the two is night and day. Orange makes awesome cabs, the PPC108 is not one of them. The rest of the PPC cabs are all truly great in their own right with many amps.
can you use headphones and speaker at the same time? (speaker in the isolation box for recording and headphones for monitoring your play)
Yes, if hooked to a cab, the headphones and the cab will both give out sound.
Hey man i have the 108. Will i be able to use the 112 for bedroom practice? A afraid it might get too loud
It won’t really be louder as much as fuller. I use it with a PPC112 in my lesson room every day at pretty low volume. I also run a Micro Terror into a PPC108 for my students. I’m able to balance the volume easily, but my amp sounds better due to the larger speaker.
@@LessonsWithCameron So by adjusting the volume knob of the amp i will get fuller tone at the same volume as the 108
@@metalehead95 Pretty much. It can be pretty quiet if you turn it down. The solid state power amp does a good job at low volumes. You’ll have more bass, so you may find it carries better. Overall, it’s definitely suitable for bedroom playing and sounds so infinitely better.
@@LessonsWithCameron thanks a lot man you helped me a lot
Big question: Is there any difference between the black color PPC 1223 and the orange color PPC 112?
The black ones are faster.
i, I just got a Micro Dark head wich works beautifully with my guitar, the thing is I couldn´t find any info online if there´s a risk of damaging the unit by hooking a bass guitar and playing through it.
jhonatan1979 At very low volume, it would probably be fine, but it is not advisable.
@@LessonsWithCameron thanks!
hey i want to ask if i can recording perfect with ...pedals + micro dark + di box ...to the interface
i that working good ???
It works pretty well. A speaker is better, but the Line Out is decent. You can hear a track I recorded using the Micro Dark directly into the interface with some pedals in the FX Loop here: soundcloud.com/cameron-carbrey/big-bad-boogie
Hey bud, do you think this Micro Dark and a ppc 112 is loud enough to practice with a full band? I know everybody ask it, but they wanna know about giging and I only practice with friends. Thanks
Marcus Vinicius Nascimento I would say it would likely struggle to keep up. I think the amp is largely intended for practice and studio work. Rehearsal would depend on how loud your other instruments are playing. If your other guitarist has a large amp or your drummer is heavy hitting, you will get buried.
Biker Stories that's the answer I was looking for, thx bud, maybe i should keep with my Dual Terror
Marcus Vinicius Nascimento A dual terror should be a little louder than the micro dark. My Tiny Terror struggles to keep up and sometimes loses the battle. I don't think I would rely on the micro dark in a live situation unless I have a light hitting drummer or it's also running through the PA.
Hey Marcus, in short yes it will be fine, I gigged with my micro dark last weekend with a full band, gain at 12 and volume never went past 10 - there is no mystery here, it is definitely a practice/gigging amp. Don't be fooled though, these sound terrible at low volume.
Matt Horner thx bud, Im going to States in 2 weeks and I was seriously thinking to buy it, but I need an amp that works good at low volumes and after selling my Dual Terror Im really happy with my new Laney IRT30c, it has everything I was looking for. Cheers from Brazil!
Hey Cam, what would you say is better, the micro terror or the micro dark? (I only want to buy one)
I much prefer the Micro Dark. It's a more features amp with higher gain and a FX loop. I love them both, the the Dark is better to me.
+Lessons with Cameron thanks man! You've really helped, also, is the dark more versatile than the terror? Can it do more genres and types of music?
+George Tolmie the Terror has a wider selection of clean. The dark breaks up with distortion pretty early on the gain. So, the terror has better clean, but the dark has fx loop and better gain. It's a tough call as to which is more versatile.
+Lessons with Cameron that helps loads, I think I might go with the dark as the cleans are still very good and the variety in gain sounds awesome! Also the effects loop and cab sim would be great for recording. Thanks for the replies! :)
Is it the mic that can't handle the volume or the amp (or my speaker) that's causing this nasty buzz?
There's a slight bit of clipping here and there from the mic, but intermittently. The only buzz I hear is from the high gain setting, which is customary on any high gain amp.
There is a buzz when I'm speaking, but I am not sure where from off the top of my head.
can you gig with a micro dark and a ppc112 cab?
Evan Bulber If you're playing bars without a PA, maybe. It's only 20 watts, so it has limits. If you're playing a club with a PA, absolutely.
I do. I run a micro dark and micro terror in stereo through a Marshall 4×12 1960 slant. These things are incredibly loud for 20 watts. I have the volume at about 3 for medium sized club mic'd through a p.a.. Without a p.a., i think would still be loud enough for a medium club gig. They are SUPER LOUD!
JCM-1H review pls! :)
its good to live performances with mics?
Tato if you mic the amp, you can use it anywhere.
haha yes sorry , i mean to practice with a band, with a bigger cab, has enough power'?
I haven't personally used it live with a band in rehearsal or on stage, but others claim it can do the job. I am skeptical, since I need a clean tone. To get a clean tone, you have to keep the gain knob fairly low, which in turn restricts volume. I have used it on stage to run a Heil Talkbox, but not as a main guitar amp yet. My Orange rep told me a Micro Terror or Micro Dark can run up to a 4x12 cabinet, but would need to have a mic on the cabinet. It makes an excellent practice amp or studio amp. I would try to perform with it in a pinch, however I prefer to have more wattage than I need when playing with a drummer. Headroom is an important factor for my style and desired sound.
Your interface sounds like it's clipping really hard.
I have this amp to me it's more like all the way to the left on the shape British and all the way to the right american rock
That’s a pretty good way to look at it.
so the shape more to the left brings out more of the mids??
and what would be the best metal settings on this amp, I've tried tons of tones but can't quite get a good tone, im trying to get more of a megadeth sound
+freddie garcia Mustaine uses a Marshall JVM410H, so it would be tough to get a Megadeth tone from the MD. The tone knob either boosts the mid while cutting the bass/treble or boosts the bass/treble while cutting mids. The positions between allow you to sweep the EQ between the two.
Can you gig with the 1 x 8 AMP and the Head??
The Interesting Carrot If you mic the cabinet, you can gig with it.
Can definitely gig smaller places depending on room acoustics, crowd, etc. Also, consider the style of playing...won't get much low end from the 1x8 cab but the thing will def make ears bleed in a bedroom setting.
The Interesting Carrot s
i can't decide between a Boss Katana 50 and this for bedroom playing sludge tones
Taylan Özberk I haven’t played the Boss Katana, but I will say the Micro Dark is an amp I use almost every day and I have little to no complaints. It’s smartly designed and sounds great with a decent speaker cab.
Lessons with Cameron thanks!!
Its pretty Loud thru a 1x12 for gedroomd volume. Im getting a 1x8 peavey for bedroom volumes.
Just like everyone says. Just get. A 1x12 for this because it gets loud quick. I currently have a 2x12 and it's too much for my bedroom.
Can this be hooked up to a 16 ohm cab
Yes, you can run one or two 16 ohm cabs safely.
Does 16 ohm ppc12 cab gives lower volume than 8 ohm ppc108?
I'm looking to buy this with a PPC108, and I'm just wondering if it would work with a Metal Zone. If I were to combine both what setting on the amp would work best with it? Thanks. :)
Samosauros Music I would suggest keeping the gain low on the amp. Otherwise, adjust the volume and middle knob to taste.
Lessons with Cameron Thanks for the quick reply, will do. Cheers.
What kind of cab did u use for the 12 inch
Orange PPC112 closed back.
Thank u for geting back to me so fast
+chris graz no problem. Glad to help.
can I gig with the micro dark and a 1x12 (small gigs)
Joaquín Pinochet maybe. If you use the gain distortion, it does get quite loud. If you are using pedals for clean/dirty, the clean sounds doesn't get loud enough. If you mic the amp, it will absolutely work.
Small gigs, indoors...most likely YES. If you're doing metal, consider mic'ing up the cab to get more low end. The 20 watts is plenty loud with the 1x8 alone. If you have the means, try pushing a 4x12 cab with this one...it's badass!
would i be able to hook this up to a PA?
Absolutely. You could either mic it off a cab or run a direct line out from the headphone jack. All amps sound better through a guitar speaker, but it will work to go direct into the PA.
+Lessons with Cameron thanks
Damn! My micro dark sounds NOTHING like this? Perhaps its the Legend speaker I'm using??? Does a v30 make THAT much difference? soundcloud.com/rob-loyst/untitled-1
Rob loyst If you're using the 8" speaker, then yes. I have the 8 and the 12 in my lesson room and the 12 is immeasurably better. When I ordered the Micro Dark, my rep suggested I go with a 1 or 2x12 if I wanted to use the amp for more than just practicing, or if the tone was important to me. The 8" cab is recommended if you're on a tight budget, if space is an issue, or if tone quality is not important in that setting.
Is this amp too loud for apartment use?
wulcan novır No, it’s definitely not.
Thru a 1x12 it is yes. With the gain at 3 i cant get the volume past 0.8 befor the neighboirs complain.
Can't hear the sweet spot of the tone of you don't run the master volume higher than 1/4
Is it loud for playing with drummer?
Drive Me Away If you ran high gain, you can get really loud. If you run the gain low for a clean sound, it might not be enough. I think this amp makes an excellent recording amp, outboard amp for a talk-box, practice amp, or backup amp for live performing. You can play with a drummer at any setting if you mic the amp. So, it would be fine onstage as a main amp, as well. It might come up short in rehearsal.
Nice review, but lets be honest...
Who is going to put the micro dark through anything less than a 2x12? Maybe a beginner.
I use a 1x8 during lessons. I do not perform with the MD, so I use 1x12 for recording. I use larger amps love. So, myself or anyone in similar situations would plug it into less than a 2x12. I contend that if you laid out the money for a 2x12 or a 4x12, then you are likely to be spending more than $189 on a head. Horses for courses.
Live*. Not "love". Autocorrect got me.
You've got a point with the price. The Dark Terror might be a better choice than the micro for a 2x12 I suppose. I just prefer the sound of a dual speaker set up than a single, but for practice smaller is better. The Micro does sound glorious through a 2x12 though
I own this and the Joyo Meteor... Gotta say the Meteor beats it hands down
Not what everybody else says.
Do 6505 Piranha
EVERYBODY likes a little head.....duhh! No need to TEST nothin...!!!!!!
My amp doesn't make these tones
When you have the volume at 1 and gain at 10 every setting sounds like shit.
That’s fairly accurate. This amp really shines with the volume at 10 and the gain at 1.
Sorry but this is the worst amp i have ever had the missfortune of owning, and things get even more pitiful when rigged up to the 1x8, then there is the issue with the effects loop popping when using true bypass pedals.... this amp has actually put me off Orange gear all together... i sent mine back in exchange for a Blackstar HT1 head and it was best thing i've done for a long time.... far superior, Sorry Orange but you dropped the ball big time with this amp.. its just a shame that RUclips videos dont actually put across how dreadful it is.
Very sorry to hear you had a bad experience. So far it has served me very well with no issues, however I did have issues with the first one I got. It was replaced and the new one is flawless. Sounds like you got a bad apple, which can happen with any company.
+Paul Shaw must have been a broken one, the one i tried was pretty good. definitely better than my old HT1
You've definitely had a bad one, mine is the best amp I've owned. I even prefer it to the Marshall DSL 100 I've been using before I got this....
Have you guys checked your effects loops with a true bypass pedal ?
+Paul Shaw yep! No "popping" what so ever
I've always needed to put an EQ pedal before my micro dark to boost the trebles, otherwise, it sounds really dark and muddy. Is there something you're doing here?
I believe I was just running it straight in with maybe a little reverb on. It may be your cab, unless you’re running a PPC112. Then I’d wonder which guitar and pickups you’re feeding it.
@@LessonsWithCameron I'm running it into a peavy 112, and I've got a les paul and a strat. Both sound pretty dark and muddy.
@@theceoofgibson2563 Ah, that could be your speaker. Strats are usually pretty bright. I haven’t used a Peavey speaker in a long time, but in my past experience they were kind of dark and muddy back then. Great speakers for the price, but I would definitely recommend the Orange PPC112 or PPC212.
Hi Cameron. What was wrong with the first MD you received and how did it sound like? Just wanted to know if it is the same thing with my new MD.
Aung Kyaw Htet it was mostly static. Try replacing your tube first. Most problems with these are from a bad tube. If that doesn't fix it, you'll want to get it looked at.
Thank you. My MD gives a bit of static when I use high gain. I bought it online, so I couldn't go back to the shop to have it checked. I've included a recording using Cab Sim here. Does this sound a bit like your broken MD? soundcloud.com/weizador/amp-test-battle-against-creator
Aung Kyaw Htet No, the problem I had rendered it useless. There was no kind of tone that could be had. It was all noise and static. At rest, it hissed violently at every volume/gain level, with or without an instrument plugged in. With the gain rolled on only as much as needed to make sound, an almost usable tone could be had. Once fixed, it became the amp I still love and use on a daily basis for lessons and practice. I also use it for a Talk Box amp occasionally, since it's so small and easy to pack.