Anyone Simplifier-ing?

[velorush]

Thanks to the recommendations of the HFC I purchased the Tech21 Screaming Blonde amp simulator pedal for a new project I was invited to join. It has proven to be a fantastic solution to the project's amp-free configuration requirement. I get workable tones, great response to dynamics, a quiet stage and my entire "rig" is a pedalboard.

There I was, minding my own business (okay, who am I kidding? I was searching for new gear as always), and happened upon the DSM/Humboldt Simplifier X. We have a guy who regularly substitutes for us on Sundays that uses a Strymon Iridium as his amp "solution," and it sounds great. The Simplifier seems at least as good as the Iridium but with an order of magnitude greater routing and connectivity options (including, importantly, XLR-outs). 

 

Is anyone using any of the DSM/Humboldt Simplifier versions? I've watched several videos and just don't see a drawback. At $500 (with Sales Tax) I don't think it would necessarily be five times better than the Screaming Blonde but negating the absolute steal at which I was able to get the SB (thanks to the PSA on the HFC), I do see the possibility it would be twice as good(-ish). 

[django49]

They make a few variations. That  one has 3 classic amp types, each in a sort or regular and hotter version. Very useful in getting a setup with the models tuned to your liking. For some reason, I end up using it less than I thought, deferring to my old tailored setup. I probably should pass it along.

You might also consider this, which I think is their latest product roll out.....

Kinda in the same vein, but more focused on THAT amp style. I have not personally tried it.

[velorush]

I recall watching the Dumblifier video here (last month?) - amazing bit of kit, but (ignorantly) I see that as $100 more for one flavor where the X has three flavors that I am much more familiar with. 

Again, completely ignorant - maybe Dumble(ish) is the bee's knees, and I'd want for nothing else. The only Dumblesque amps I've ever played were the two Fuchs amps I owned, each of them briefly.

[Hbom]

I always get confused looking at these things. What's simple about a little box with 20 knobs & 6 switches?

[django49]

No one thing scratches every itch. FWIW, I found I could get all the sounds (four, footswitchable) I needed from one D-type pedal in front of the "right" amp (in my case, Mesa Blue Angel which has both US and Brit type power tubes). I used the Ethos OD, but there are others in that realm. IIRC, it has around 19 knobs and switches.....But once I had it dialed in, I marked the settings and they are still good to this day. At least for my ears. YMMV....That was more or less my graduation from the Mesa Mark era amps. Using the "right" guitar also helps......

Still there is always something to be said for a simpler set up, just plug straight in and crank it.....Kinda been doing that with the Swart SST here lately😉

[veatch]

19 minutes ago, Hbom said:

I always get confused looking at these things. What's simple about a little box with 20 knobs & 6 switches?

Yeah, there's a lot packed in.

But,  I'd rather have the independent knobs than some goofy interface with push buttons and screens to cycle through. Each knob and switch does exactly 1 thing. 

That, and "Convolutedifier" doesn't roll off the tongue as well.  : )

[Jimbilly]

3 hours ago, velorush said:

Thanks to the recommendations of the HFC I purchased the Tech21 Screaming Blonde amp simulator pedal for a new project I was invited to join. It has proven to be a fantastic solution to the project's amp-free configuration requirement. I get workable tones, great response to dynamics, a quiet stage and my entire "rig" is a pedalboard.

There I was, minding my own business (okay, who am I kidding? I was searching for new gear as always), and happened upon the DSM/Humboldt Simplifier X. We have a guy who regularly substitutes for us on Sundays that uses a Strymon Iridium as his amp "solution," and it sounds great. The Simplifier seems at least as good as the Iridium but with an order of magnitude greater routing and connectivity options (including, importantly, XLR-outs). 

 

Is anyone using any of the DSM/Humboldt Simplifier versions? I've watched several videos and just don't see a drawback. At $500 (with Sales Tax) I don't think it would necessarily be five times better than the Screaming Blonde but negating the absolute steal at which I was able to get the SB (thanks to the PSA on the HFC), I do see the possibility it would be twice as good(-ish). 

I don't know why the Iridium doesn't have an xlr out, I've wondered if the 1/4" out is balanced?, it's a pretty well kept secret if it is.  I had a Nu-x Amp Academy for a few months, even that was a bit more complicated than I wanted, - but it was pretty neat, relatively cheap too.  

[velorush]

42 minutes ago, Jimbilly said:

I don't know why the Iridium doesn't have an xlr out, I've wondered if the 1/4" out is balanced?, it's a pretty well kept secret if it is.  I had a Nu-x Amp Academy for a few months, even that was a bit more complicated than I wanted, - but it was pretty neat, relatively cheap too.  

The 1/4" outs on the Iridium are not TRS (balanced). Maybe I've been running sound too long, but not having XLR outs for me is a deal killer. The guy I mentioned has another box to provide the XLR to run into our board. Just seems an unforced error on the part of Strymon. 

[velorush]

2 hours ago, Hbom said:

I always get confused looking at these things. What's simple about a little box with 20 knobs & 6 switches?

To me it took about a minute to comprehend what was going on. It's logically laid out and each knob has A function: no menus, no secret sub functions, no bother.

I've got one of the original Spark amps, for example, that sounds okay, but I absolutely hate (HATE!) because to do anything with it of any significance, I've got to get out my phone (which I also hate) and connect by Bluetooth. 

The Screaming Blonde is fantastic in that regard - one function per button (like an AMP) and no menus, no glitches, just dial in what you want. 

[Saul Goodman]

Nah. It's missing the tremolo. 

[veatch]

Great. 24 knobs...

[stobro]

9 minutes ago, veatch said:

Great. 24 knobs...

How about something like this to cleanse the palate?

[velorush]

An extremely balanced, realistic review:

This gives me pause to really consider how I would use it.

Quote

Honestly, it's a finicky little box that requires you to dial in where you want to go. It is easy to get pretty horrible sounds... 

His point is each of the controls have so much range experimentation is required to understand how it is run. I would expect nothing else.

Edited February 7 by velorush

[seeker]

On 2/6/2026 at 1:05 PM, Hbom said:

I always get confused looking at these things. What's simple about a little box with 20 knobs & 6 switches?

Valid point, but if you've done Tonex or others menu diving, this is simple. WYSIWYG - What you see is what you get. 

[Jimbilly]

On 2/6/2026 at 12:37 PM, velorush said:

The 1/4" outs on the Iridium are not TRS (balanced). Maybe I've been running sound too long, but not having XLR outs for me is a deal killer. The guy I mentioned has another box to provide the XLR to run into our board. Just seems an unforced error on the part of Strymon. 

Maybe you can solve this long running mystery for me (sorry for the thread hijack) : 

Why don't keyboards have dual/stereo xlr outs?  

[velorush]

3 hours ago, Jimbilly said:

Maybe you can solve this long running mystery for me (sorry for the thread hijack) : 

Why don't keyboards have dual/stereo xlr outs?  

Depends on how much you're spending. The midline workstations (e.g., Roland Fantom 0 series, Yamaha MODX series) do not. Pony up to the top-tier workstations (e.g., Roland Fantom EX, Yamaha ) and they do in one way or another. 

Roland Fantom EX:

Yamaha Montage - no XLR but TRS balanced outs that a simple adapter gets you to XLR:

The Korg Kronos does balanced TRS outs, as well. 

To answer directly, I have no idea, but I'm guessing it's a matter of cost. The synth I bought back when Sweetwater had everything marked down at Christmas, the Roland Juno-D, has stereo TS 1/4 outs. I run it into a JHS Colourbox and into the board, but it would be great to be able to go direct. It would save a 1/4' guitar cable, the Colourbox and a 9V power adapter for the Colourbox and a mic cable. 

 

[RobB]

The X looks like something l may investigate. No IRs is a big selling point. No software/firmware updates, either, and pedal-friendly. 

[velorush]

7 hours ago, RobB said:

The X looks like something l may investigate. No IRs is a big selling point. No software/firmware updates, either, and pedal-friendly. 

All included in the reasons for me posting the question - I deal with technology every day all day at work (and by "deal" I mean I suffer through filling the chasm between promise and reality all the while fixing problems that in theory should never occur [/rant]).

The last thing I want to encounter playing guitar is a menu, firmware update, system crash, etc. 

I have almost bought both Helix and Quad Cortex (I mean, have you watched @burningyen's videos?!) but paralysis by analysis has held me back. This has a certain appeal those do not (granted, with far less capability).