Amp Modeler or New Amp?

  • Thread starter Thread starter valacirca
  • Start date Start date

Amp Modeler or New Amp?

  • Amp Modeler

    Votes: 11 50.0%

  • New Amp

    Votes: 11 50.0%
  • Total voters
    22
Oh, and don't use the "emulated line out" from your marshall amp for going into amp simulation software. The line out already adds speaker simulation and of course has the marshall sound. It may be good on its own, I don't know but it's useless for amp simulation software. You'd essentially do the simulation twice: marshall amp -> speaker simulation -> mixer -> interface -> software amp simulation -> software speaker simulation. That might be an interesting effect but will not give you a realistic sounding sim (if there is something like a realistic sounding amp simulation ;)).

Cheers
Tim
 
TH-1 is the best Ive heard, GR really lacks tone imo...


i like Pod Farm for mics....havent tried Fender from Amplitube, heard good things about it...Ive got amplitibe 3 but im on holiday with no guitars so cant say much on it :)
 
Great, I think I'm doing it properly then :) The only thing to do right now is test the demo versions. So the Line 6 POD would just give me around the same results as Amplitube and Guitar Rig, yeah?

A thought out of the blue though: If I'm going to spend a lot of money choosing b/w software and hardware for music/audio/recording, a tiny factor would be that I'd feel more satisfied and at ease having something tangible (hardware) as opposed to something that is virtual (software).
 
Ok, add Overloud TH1 to your amp sim test. I haven't used it but I'll test it the next time I'm going virtual. You can demo it for 14 days.
 
valacirca said:
A thought out of the blue though: If I'm going to spend a lot of money choosing b/w software and hardware for music/audio/recording, a tiny factor would be that I'd feel more satisfied and at ease having something tangible (hardware) as opposed to something that is virtual (software).
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I can definitely relate to that. Just add that to your evaluation matrix ;)
 
valacirca said:
Great, I think I'm doing it properly then :) The only thing to do right now is test the demo versions. So the Line 6 POD would just give me around the same results as Amplitube and Guitar Rig, yeah?

A thought out of the blue though: If I'm going to spend a lot of money choosing b/w software and hardware for music/audio/recording, a tiny factor would be that I'd feel more satisfied and at ease having something tangible (hardware) as opposed to something that is virtual (software).
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i have the Pod and a V-amp as well as the korg toneworks..to be honest theyre fun to jam or play about with but the software sounds better, and has more options imo..

I will say though the JCM on the V-amp is excellent :)
 
valacirca said:
I'll try GR and Amplitube tonight and then get back to this thread :)

I hope they're much more useable than Acme Bar Gig...
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Just to make sure.... you are using a speaker simulator after most of the AcmeBarGig stuff, correct? The majority of their amp sims are head-only, and you need to use a speaker sim in line after the heads. I believe they recommend LePou's LeCab for use (which I really like), IIRC only DIG comes with a speaker sim built in.

While we're on the topic of LePou, his stuff is incredible as well http://lepouplugins.blogspot.com/ - along with Solo C (which you can get in the Canadian Metal Pack on LePou's site) and his HyBrit series I have the majority of my rock/metal tones covered when it comes to sims.
 
^ Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.

I deserve one big /facepalm right now.

It just so happens that I came here to post that I was doing the AcmeBarGig thing all wrong. And that's one of the reasons why.

Just before I closed Reaper, I had Brain2.0 going into their Cab Shaper and it was muuuuch better than I remember. Now I must use LeCab.

No words to express how dumb I feel right now. :p
 
I tried the AcmeBarGig and LePou plugins and they actually sound nice when used correctly. BUT... my laptop apparently can't handle them. I'm using Reaper and when the plugins are being used for multiple tracks, the CPU usage of my old laptop just rockets up and the machine crashes.

So I think I'm back to considering either getting an amp modeler pedal or buying a new amp.

Another option - although one I'm not considering so much - is getting a new laptop :p

Are there any amp modeler pedals that are are just that: Amp modelers, and not stompbox modelers as well?

The Line6 POD is apparently an amp and stompbox modeler and I just need an amp modeler, so if there's a good one out there that's also cheaper, then that would be great.
 
valacirca said:
I tried the AcmeBarGig and LePou plugins and they actually sound nice when used correctly. BUT... my laptop apparently can't handle them. I'm using Reaper and when the plugins are being used for multiple tracks, the CPU usage of my old laptop just rockets up and the machine crashes.

So I think I'm back to considering either getting an amp modeler pedal or buying a new amp.

Another option - although one I'm not considering so much - is getting a new laptop :p

Are there any amp modeler pedals that are are just that: Amp modelers, and not stompbox modelers as well?

The Line6 POD is apparently an amp and stompbox modeler and I just need an amp modeler, so if there's a good one out there that's also cheaper, then that would be great.
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most of them have stompbox or rack effects, the problem is proably your laptop soundcard...it is not built to deal with intricate/powerful software..unless youve said youve got an interface an I havent read correc tly ;)

the line6 would give you an interface and the software you require
 
valacirca said:
...but I already have an interface...

It's just a Behringer UCA202, but still an interface :)
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oh no its rubbish for guitars...

I have one that i use to monitor on my laptop while travelling...Ive experimented with guitars and it just pops and crackles no matter the set up and Im using a pretty decent duel core sony viao when out and about...i have two line6 and an m audio interface and there is zero noise/problems with them...

its not meant to DI guitars or basses but more to say link up decks or other audio...where its great for its price
 
Although it's more an issue of quality with the UCA202 in that case. It's probably not what's causing my laptop to crash when I use the amp sims for multiple tracks, right?
 
valacirca said:
Although it's more an issue of quality with the UCA202 in that case. It's probably not what's causing my laptop to crash when I use the amp sims for multiple tracks, right?
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Amp sims tend to be very processor heavy, so when I use them I record the track with the amp sim, adjust it a little then freeze the track before I move on to the next track.

As part of my premixing I finialise the guitar and bass tones on amp sim software and apply the effects permanently.

As long as your laptop can handle 1 or 2 tracks using the amp sims then you are good to go.

Remember, if you upgrade your amp you are going to need to upgrade your mic too.
 
valacirca said:
Although it's more an issue of quality with the UCA202 in that case. It's probably not what's causing my laptop to crash when I use the amp sims for multiple tracks, right?
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mmm i shouldnt imagine so Im no PC expert....and some of these softamps are very cpu intensive...amplitude, and GTR are very powerful programmes...

that would also cancel Revalver and maybe guitar rig as well. they are pretty cpu intensive...pod farm is a bit gentler and so is TH1....


you could go with the outside unit but it really limits your sound manipulation...a cheap idea is the X vamp which is a floor version of the x-amp..they can go for little more than your UCA 202 on flea-bay


I notice you had acmebargig going...this has a low cpu hit...try this one

http://www.greenmachine.pwuq.net/Wurr_Audio_Engineering/Download.html

its very good..and also CPU friendly...if its works pretty well then your laptop is probably the problem
 
kcearl said:
http://www.greenmachine.pwuq.net/Wurr_Audio_Engineering/Download.html

its very good..and also CPU friendly...if its works pretty well then your laptop is probably the problem
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Awesome. I love getting suggestions. Will try this out ASAP. Thanks!

G-Jay said:
Amp sims tend to be very processor heavy, so when I use them I record the track with the amp sim, adjust it a little then freeze the track before I move on to the next track.
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Yup this is what I try to do as much as possible too. Although sometimes, the processor really can't take it. It's a 4-year old laptop :p Also, wouldn't I have CPU problems when it comes to rendering the whole project into an audio file once everything's done even if I do get through the recording phase?
 
In my opinion sometimes less is more so I'd stick with your laptop for a while. You saved a lot of money now by not having to buy expensive software or an amp and I would explore the limitations of your setup again with all the new information you have now before I'd buy new gear. Maybe you want a better interface, maybe a better mic, maybe another guitar or other software. Maybe you even want to buy an amp and upgrade the mic but you gained so many new possibilities now that you're using the software so that it is usable at all that I'd just stick with your setup for a while and see what you can do. I can only speak for myself and my experience is limited, but I tend to put in more stuff (read: fx, tracks, whatnot) the more powerful the computer is. Sometimes it's good to try and make the best out of the situation with all the limitations you are faced with.

If you'd outsource the amp simulation processing to some standalone product you'd have have an instantly frozen track since you're only going to get the wet signal. With software amp sims you get the dry signal and can tweak your simulated rig afterwards. That's a nice thing and once you freeze the track, it's just as if you had recorded it wet say from a pod for example. As long as you can record one or two guitar tracks and then freeze them, there should be no problem. Always check where you CPU power ends up. Rendering into an audio file is no problem at all because it doesn't need to be in real time. It will just take more time the more bogged down your CPU is.

The good thing with recording dry signals, even when you freezed the wet track, is you can still keep the dry signal and redo the tweaking. Mute the dry track, turn off the FX, it shouldn't use any (or very little) CPU time.

Regarding workstation setup, you might want to google something like Windows XP DAW tweaking or DAW setup or something like that. There may be some interesting articles about how to tune your system (no fancy graphics, simple user interface, no background image...)

Cheers
Tim
 
Ditto to the above - if you're using Reaper, just do a quick render of the ampsim track and mute the original DI to help free up a lot of CPU; I do that as well.

Another decent, low-CPU ampsim is the older Simulanalog Suite - http://www.simulanalog.org/guitarsuite.htm The JCM 900 with presets usually eats up around 4% of my CPU while a LePou sim takes up around 18%. The Simulanalog stuff has built in speaker emulation so that frees up CPU. For higher gain stuff, Dirthead is decent, and another one that's lower CPU since it has built in cabinet emulation (which you can turn off if you want) - http://www.ndzeit.org/guitar/dirthead.html
 
Bristol Posse said:
I'm becoming increasingly fascinated by the trust people are prepared to put into the advice of uncredentialed, annonymous strangers on the internet as to how they should spend their hard earned cash. And how they will spend hours debating and fighting the issue on forums rather than spending ten minutes actually trying something on their own setup to see how it works for them. There is some kind of weird need for validation because people think their own instincts couldn't possibly be right or something going on.
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The asking of a question implies a certain dissatisfaction with one's current state or at least curiosity or plain old not knowing !
I think people do sometimes have a need for validation which is a human thing, even when we appear to be super confident. And when you're new to something, you'll naturally look for guidance and directions and until you become more adept and confident in what you're doing, at which point, you may start getting shirty and turn against your former benefactors and argue with them at every turn to show you're no longer dependent !! :D
Seriously though, given that there are a number of ways to ride this pony, it figures that one will look at different/other ways of doing a particular thing and if other people are doing it, it makes sense to find out how they do things. Therefore, you canvas opinion. Credentials and personal relationship don't come into it. I don't care if you're a second rate drummer who can't keep time, if you have a way of recording drums in a tiny apartment, I'd like to hear about it. I don't care if you play death metal with country and western inflections, if your bass sound is tough and punchy, I'd be interested in how you did that, etc, etc. Also, there's no guarantee that a question asker will take advice given. Generally speaking, home recorders have to take the baton........and run !
 
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