Two Notes Captor X + 8 is a reactive load box, attenuator, DynIR™ cab simulator, IR loader and stereo expander — a piece of studio equipment built for guitarists who refuse to compromise their tube amp's tone regardless of the playing environment. The successor to the critically acclaimed Captor X, the Captor X + 8 introduces a new Virtual Load Shaper and a True Stereo DynIR™ engine, giving you full command over your amp's power section output — no cab, no mic, no caveats.
Virtual Load Shaper and True Stereo DynIR™ — Advanced Routing and Tone Control
One of the persistent headaches with direct guitar recording is the loss of the impedance interaction between amp and speaker — a key driver of feel and tone. The Captor X + 8 addresses this head-on with the Virtual Load Shaper, which lets you select from preset post-load impedance curves that alter the processed direct tone: add warmth, tighten the low end, or sharpen the attack. Results are immediately audible through the XLR outputs or headphones.
The True Stereo DynIR™ engine goes further, providing independent control over two microphones or static IRs within the stereo field — each with its own panning, position and level. The output is a wide, three-dimensional soundstage that simply cannot be replicated with a single mic in front of a cabinet.
A Complete Direct Rig — Silent Practice to Stage-Ready Stereo
The three-step attenuator (Home: -38 dB, Club: -20 dB, Stadium: 0 dB) lets you run your tube amp at full tilt with no speaker cabinet in the chain. The immersive headphone mode handles late-night practice or backstage prep without any signal reaching FOH. The dual XLR outputs offer three routing modes — Stereo, Dual Mono, and Dry/Wet — the last of which sends both your processed and raw amp signal simultaneously to your audio interface, keeping the dry track ready for re-amping in the DAW.
The onboard Post FX Suite covers all the essentials: a DSP reverb with 12 room modes plus a Custom algorithm, a dual-channel semi-parametric EQ, an Enhancer with Thickness and Brilliance controls, Twin Tracker (a real-time automatic double tracker that creates a virtual guitarist on the right XLR channel), a noise gate, and front-panel SPACE and VOICING encoders for fast tone adjustment mid-session. 128 preset slots, with 6 instantly accessible from the hardware panel.
KEY FEATURES
- Reactive load box — 8 Ω, 100 W RMS, cabless operation
- Virtual Load Shaper — post-load impedance curve selection for custom tonal response
- True Stereo DynIR™ engine with independent dual-mic positioning across the stereo field
- 32 DynIR™ virtual cabinets included; access to 900+ cabinets via Torpedo Remote (Mesa Engineering®, Celestion®, Victory®, Bad Cat® and more)
- 8 microphones per cabinet, 12 studio room simulations
- 3-step attenuator: Home (-38 dB) / Club (-20 dB) / Stadium (0 dB)
- Stereo IR Loader — 512 memory slots for custom IR files
- 128 preset locations, 6 quick-access slots directly from the front panel
- Dual XLR DI outputs — Stereo / Dual Mono / Dry+Wet routing
- Post FX Suite: Reverb, Semi-Parametric EQ, Twin Tracker, Enhancer, Noise Gate
- Front-panel SPACE and VOICING encoders for real-time tone adjustment
- Immersive headphone output for silent playing
- Connectivity: USB-C, MIDI, Wireless Torpedo Remote (PC / Mac / iOS / Android)
- Lifetime GENOME license included — DynIR cab sim plugin ecosystem with amps, pedals and studio FX
- Rugged metal chassis, road-ready build
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Impedance: 8 Ω
- Maximum power: 100 W RMS
- Speaker input: 1/4″ jack TS (unbalanced)
- Speaker output (Thru): 1/4″ jack TS (unbalanced)
- Headphone output: 1/4″ jack TRS (balanced)
- L/R outputs: XLR balanced, max output level +15 dBu, impedance 600 Ω
- MIDI: 3.5 mm TRS mini-jack (jack-to-MIDI adapter included)
- USB: USB-C
- Dimensions: 12.8 × 17.5 × 6.4 cm
- Package contents: Two Notes Captor X + 8, USB-C cable, MIDI adapter, GENOME license
