Bogren Digital 100 Years of Beyerdynamic [IR Pack]

• Product: 100 Years of Beyerdynamic – IR Pack
• Publisher: Bogren Digital
• Format: Impulse Responses (IRs)
• Source: bogrendigital.com/products/100-years-of-beyerdynamic-ir-pack

Bogren Digital’s 100 Years of Beyerdynamic IR Pack is a high-quality, specialized tool, not a foundational workhorse. It offers 235 IRs focused on character, specifically the vintage warmth of Beyerdynamic’s iconic ribbon mics (like the M160 and M130) captured on a Celestion V30. It’s a €39 “supplementary” pack that won’t replace your default Bogren Downtuned pack, but it’s invaluable for producers who want to explore how different microphones shape guitar tone. After three weeks of testing, I’ve found it’s a solution to a problem you probably haven’t identified yet, making the €1 demo pack the most logical starting point.

How I Tested This

• DAW Integration: Cubase Pro 15 (for building custom blends) and Logic Pro X (for quick testing).
• Amp Sims: Neural DSP (Archetype: Gojira) and Bogren’s own Ampknob V2.
• Guitars: An 8-string (for djent/prog contexts) and a 6-string in Drop C (for modern metalcore).
• Sessions: 4 extended sessions over 3 weeks:
  • Session 1 (Producer Blends): Tested the 32 “Producer IRs” (blends by Jens Bogren and Kristian Kohle) for “in-the-mix” speed and usability.
  • Session 2 (Technical Deep Dive): Used the 118 “Technical IRs” (9 Beyerdynamic mics in 13 positions) to build custom blends, focusing specifically on the M160/M130 ribbons versus dynamic mic emulations.
  • Session 3 (Historic Tones): Explored the 85 “Historic IRs” (from Beyerdynamic’s archive) to find unique, vintage character for a prog-metal track.
  • Session 4 (Comparative Analysis): A/B tested this pack against my default (the Bogren Digital Jens Bogren Signature Downtuned Pack) to see when and if I would actually use it in a real project.
• All Features Tested: All 235 IRs, all three sub-categories (Producer, Technical, Historic), and compatibility with the optional IRDX Core plugin.

You’re Asking the Wrong Question About This Pack

You’re standing in your DAW wondering: “Do I need this new €39 Beyerdynamic pack, or should I just stick with the Bogren pack I already own?”

This is the wrong question.

The real question is: “Does capturing vintage Beyerdynamic microphone tone solve a problem I actually have?”

For most metal guitarists, the honest answer is probably not. Your existing Bogren IRs (like the Downtuned pack) are your foundation. This pack is a supplement. It’s a library of character, and you’re buying it for one reason: exploration.

Character vs. Workflow: What You’re Actually Buying

The pack is split into three categories.

1. 32 Producer IRs: These are the “done-for-you” blends from Jens Bogren and Kristian Kohle. This is a huge pro for workflow. I dropped one in, and it sounded professional immediately. However, the con is that if you already own other Bogren packs, these blends don’t offer much new territory.
2. 118 Technical IRs: This is the real depth of the pack. It’s nine different Beyerdynamic mics captured in 13 discrete positions on a Celestion V30. This is for the obsessive engineer who wants to build their own custom combinations from the ground up.
3. 85 Historic IRs: This is the emotional hook. It includes vintage mics from Beyerdynamic’s archive. The undisputed stars here are the M160 and M130 ribbon mics from the 1960s. This is the pack’s biggest pro. I used them on a djent-style guitar, and they added a specific vintage warmth and presence that helped the guitar sit against the drums without needing aggressive EQ. Some of the 1930s-era mics are a con for modern metal—they’re “character-rich” (i.e., edgy, bright, and colored) and problematic if you’re chasing clarity.

Where It Sits in My Workflow

In a real production, my default is still the Bogren Signature Downtuned Pack. It’s a €29 workhorse, built for one job. This Beyerdynamic pack is what I pull out when my default tone isn’t quite right—when I need that specific ribbon mic warmth or a different kind of vintage presence.

This exposes the inherent con of all IRs: they are static snapshots. They don’t capture how a real speaker breaks up at high volume or how a ribbon mic’s response changes with SPL. This pack can’t escape that physical limitation. Bogren’s IRDX Core plugin (€19.50) tries to fix this by adding synthetic dynamics, and while it’s subtle, I found it does add a bit of life back into the static IR.

The other con is simply the reality of large packs: I guarantee you will buy 235 IRs and find 8-12 that you use regularly. The rest will just sit on your hard drive.

My Final Take: Is This Pack Worth It?

This pack is a competent, high-quality execution of a “microphone-history-as-tonal-tool” concept. It’s professionally engineered and genuinely useful… for the right person.

You should buy this if:

• You’re already a Bogren user and just want more tonal variety.
• You’re a prog or djent producer who specifically wants the sound of ribbon mics on heavy guitars.
• You’re an engineer who loves to A/B test and explore mic positions.

You should not buy this if:

• You’re new to IRs.
• You’re perfectly happy with the tone you already have.
• You’re on a budget and €39 is better spent elsewhere (like on room treatment).

The smartest move? Buy the €1 demo pack first. Use it for a few weeks. If you find yourself needing those specific ribbon mic tones, buy the full pack. If not, you’ve saved yourself €38.

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