I like the Neural better. Their plugins get me closer to the tone I've been struggling to pull out of amps for years. Less frayed top end. Tighter distortion. I'm strictly a home player. I own a bunch of Neural plugins and have ditched all of my outboard gear. The Neural Mark IIC+ sounds and feels incredible.
Both sound awesome. If I had to pick between the two, I’d definitely go with the amp because it just has “the sound.” But seeing as I don’t have $15,000 lying around, I think the plugin would make a great substitution.
Great comparison, thx! I also think that the plugin sounds a bit better and I can attribute this to the Two Notes load, which is known to be just an approximation of a real cab. You can definitely hear how the plugin responds better to the palm mutes. Try using something like a Suhr Reactive Load, I'm sure the amp will open up a lot and you will get a more accurate representation of the differences
They aren't the same but really really close. The real amp has certain frequency in the mid which the sim doesn't. It makes the real amp sounds fuller and thicker. It isn't a night and day different but it can be easily heard. I tried the amp sim and didn't like it because it is so hard to dial a tone that I like. I prefer simulation of Mark V and JP2C from ML sound lab because I can dial it more easily.
Differences are there but man, for the difference in availability and price that mark 2c+ suite is a very viable alternative that will get you ballpark and then some.
@@chriscalvert4625 provided that you have an interface with some extra 1/4 inch outputs you may turn off the cab section on your neural dsp plugin of choice and route the output out going straight into the Fx Return input at the back of your Amp or into a power amp like the Seymour Duncan power stage
Honestly there will always be some variations between different units of the same amp as well. It’s just the nature of parts tolerances. Anyways, I thought they both sounded great. The people who call the plugin “digitally”, there are plenty of somewhat bright real tube amps out there. The plugin definitely have more high end information, but the real amp seems slightly dark to me, but it’s honestly a matter of taste. But they’re still pretty similar. And in a mix there would be even less difference, after they’ve been high passed and so on. Wouldn’t say no to any of these either way.
Great test. Amp sounds better, plugin is good for the price since the real amp is out of reach for most players. Amp emulators get better every 5 years or so. Getting there for sure…
The real one has more bottom end and punchy. Neural dsp got the basic tone right but dsp seems to always have a digital fuzziness to them that's why I use overloud thu the amp sims don't have digital noise added. Great videos best comparison
It looked like the plugin was based on the x101 export transformer (base on Neural's pics), which is supposed to be relatively smoother (I had one of these years ago, a HX, but did not have another option to A/B and confirm myself). On the other hand, you are using a Two Notes Captor, which noticeably mushes the attack and palm mutes compared to some thing better like the Suhr Reactive load (I can confirm this as I own both) or an actual cab as a load, which puts the real amp at a meaningful disadvantage. I'm not listening right now with my studio setup, so can't make a fair judgement right now, but the plugin still seems like it is missing the attack and dynamics of the real amp, which is not performing at the top of its game because of the load used.
Most of the time the amp sounded better, richer, more solid. But a couple of times as you were adjusting the knobs, the plugin sounded better. You mentioned that, too.
Great comparison! The plug-in flubs out in the bass when you push the gain over a certain threshold, the real thing does not. It’s serviceable of course, but the amp will always win. I was a big fan of the Neural plug-ins for a long time and thought they were as good as the amps they’re based on, but recently have become a bit more skeptical. I tried the Bogren Digital amp knob BDH, which is based on a 5150 and it sounds absolutely phenomenal, when I tried to replicate the tone with the Nolly plug-in, which is also a 5150, and it was impossible to replicate the highs and low-mids no matter how hard I tried with different IR’s, it sounded really digital, it became especially obvious when I recorded two takes in stereo. They’re still good plug-ins, but there’re better stuff out there imo. You can’t argue with the price compared to real thing either. Anyway, thanks for the video!
It’s possible the difference you think you’re hearing is slight component value differences between your example and the one the plug in is based upon.
@@DaveMullinsPlaysBass@ Dave Mullins Yes actually this is the most critical thing before going any further. But no, the differences are not about component differences it is so more profound than that. Something very hard to mimic. Power tube sag
I think it sounds great, but it's lacking in the amount of distortion. I've never played through a real one, but I feel like it's lacking more something.
The plugin sounds more, 'exciting'? Like more in your face while the real one does have more mids... but just sounds kind of dull in comparison? I'd be interested to hear both in a mix. People saying clearly the real one is better... not really hearing that.
@@juleswinnfield9931 nah, no matter how many IR's you push a sim through it will never have that afterburn a real tube amplifier has. But go ahead and tell yourself that.
@@AntilifeHorde LOL w/e you. You 🐒s that think you have unicorn hearing have been proven wrong SO many times. Go check how many times at Spectre Sound Studios channel. Not ONE of you geniuses have EVER gotten his blindfold tests correct. You know why? Cuz you're too foolish to realise you listen with your eyes. You probably also believe tone-wood has an affect on an over-driven electric guitar. How about aliens or flat Earth?
Real amp sounds better, less harsh… i would describe the sound as more … warm and round, and as far as I can hear, the attack is completely different… but… the digital one is around 100€ … so… there is no comparison… it’s a really great plug in…
Still not even close… the real amp has that low end and natural compression and most importantly is not harsh is highs like NDSP plugins are. They still have a lot of aliasing
@@DaveMullinsPlaysBassI have both and the pluggin sounds better to me especially recording selling my amp , like you said for the price it’s not even a close decision
I like the Neural better. Their plugins get me closer to the tone I've been struggling to pull out of amps for years. Less frayed top end. Tighter distortion.
I'm strictly a home player. I own a bunch of Neural plugins and have ditched all of my outboard gear. The Neural Mark IIC+ sounds and feels incredible.
Both sound awesome. If I had to pick between the two, I’d definitely go with the amp because it just has “the sound.” But seeing as I don’t have $15,000 lying around, I think the plugin would make a great substitution.
15.000 dollars? Fuuuck thats expensive
@@alessandro_inno They're not made since like 20 years, and the IIC+ is one Of the family of the Mark II
And yes, mesa boogie amps are expensive af
Great comparison, thx! I also think that the plugin sounds a bit better and I can attribute this to the Two Notes load, which is known to be just an approximation of a real cab. You can definitely hear how the plugin responds better to the palm mutes. Try using something like a Suhr Reactive Load, I'm sure the amp will open up a lot and you will get a more accurate representation of the differences
They aren't the same but really really close. The real amp has certain frequency in the mid which the sim doesn't. It makes the real amp sounds fuller and thicker. It isn't a night and day different but it can be easily heard.
I tried the amp sim and didn't like it because it is so hard to dial a tone that I like. I prefer simulation of Mark V and JP2C from ML sound lab because I can dial it more easily.
Comparison starts at 5:44
Differences are there but man, for the difference in availability and price that mark 2c+ suite is a very viable alternative that will get you ballpark and then some.
Dude. You have got the Neural sounding better than the real deal!
I don't think so but thanks anyway.
Awesome man! Close enough to me . Lately I’ve been running Neural’s plugins through a real cab n it’s been quite an experience
How do you run through a real cab?
@@chriscalvert4625 provided that you have an interface with some extra 1/4 inch outputs you may turn off the cab section on your neural dsp plugin of choice and route the output out going straight into the Fx Return input at the back of your Amp or into a power amp like the Seymour Duncan power stage
nawwwww you gotta like the real boogie more! Loved this btw, you just earned a new sub
Honestly there will always be some variations between different units of the same amp as well. It’s just the nature of parts tolerances.
Anyways, I thought they both sounded great. The people who call the plugin “digitally”, there are plenty of somewhat bright real tube amps out there.
The plugin definitely have more high end information, but the real amp seems slightly dark to me, but it’s honestly a matter of taste. But they’re still pretty similar.
And in a mix there would be even less difference, after they’ve been high passed and so on.
Wouldn’t say no to any of these either way.
Great test. Amp sounds better, plugin is good for the price since the real amp is out of reach for most players. Amp emulators get better every 5 years or so. Getting there for sure…
Wish I got to play one during my lifetime.
i did. Every C+ is different. You may be lucky enough to get one that is crushing or may get one that is... close but still not there.
What if we thrown the Fet compressor like Rev A Bluey plugin after the neural DSP in a chain? Would give a mid bite and warmth.
Good job realy close what kind is irs?
is electric eye audio IRS: www.electriceyeaudio.com/
Very, very close! I will say that it sounds like the Neural is clipping a little bit though, and not in the chuggy way.
The real one has more bottom end and punchy. Neural dsp got the basic tone right but dsp seems to always have a digital fuzziness to them that's why I use overloud thu the amp sims don't have digital noise added. Great videos best comparison
They bought sound very good, but the "real" thing sound a bit thinner, but warmer imo.
@@ThornWithin ironically I actually prefer that over the real amp tone. Makes for better chugs
It looked like the plugin was based on the x101 export transformer (base on Neural's pics), which is supposed to be relatively smoother (I had one of these years ago, a HX, but did not have another option to A/B and confirm myself). On the other hand, you are using a Two Notes Captor, which noticeably mushes the attack and palm mutes compared to some thing better like the Suhr Reactive load (I can confirm this as I own both) or an actual cab as a load, which puts the real amp at a meaningful disadvantage.
I'm not listening right now with my studio setup, so can't make a fair judgement right now, but the plugin still seems like it is missing the attack and dynamics of the real amp, which is not performing at the top of its game because of the load used.
Most of the time the amp sounded better, richer, more solid. But a couple of times as you were adjusting the knobs, the plugin sounded better. You mentioned that, too.
Great comparison
Excellent video, very good these comparisons, are very imperceptible !!!
#BestTH-camChannelROF
#DamnMiserableGuitarPlayersROF
Great comparison! The plug-in flubs out in the bass when you push the gain over a certain threshold, the real thing does not. It’s serviceable of course, but the amp will always win.
I was a big fan of the Neural plug-ins for a long time and thought they were as good as the amps they’re based on, but recently have become a bit more skeptical.
I tried the Bogren Digital amp knob BDH, which is based on a 5150 and it sounds absolutely phenomenal, when I tried to replicate the tone with the Nolly plug-in, which is also a 5150, and it was impossible to replicate the highs and low-mids no matter how hard I tried with different IR’s, it sounded really digital, it became especially obvious when I recorded two takes in stereo.
They’re still good plug-ins, but there’re better stuff out there imo. You can’t argue with the price compared to real thing either. Anyway, thanks for the video!
It’s possible the difference you think you’re hearing is slight component value differences between your example and the one the plug in is based upon.
Another question is “are you hitting the input of the amp with the same gain as the sim”?
@@DaveMullinsPlaysBass@ Dave Mullins Yes actually this is the most critical thing before going any further. But no, the differences are not about component differences it is so more profound than that. Something very hard to mimic. Power tube sag
In less than two years, all this will be indistinguishable. Ai inevitability. Also. I own a mint Mark iii Red Stripe
I think it sounds great, but it's lacking in the amount of distortion. I've never played through a real one, but I feel like it's lacking more something.
That's why there was the 2C++ which came after
@@SujeetGT I just don't know how to dial it in I think. Since then I've gotten a much better tone.
What is your amp chain?
Their almost identical
Very good . Thank You. 🎸🎶 🇺🇸. 👍👍
que bizarro, da pra ouvir tua voz em português no fundo. tu dublou o vídeo em inglês?
Some of these copyright friendly Metallica riffs are great 😂
The plugin sounds more, 'exciting'?
Like more in your face while the real one does have more mids... but just sounds kind of dull in comparison?
I'd be interested to hear both in a mix.
People saying clearly the real one is better... not really hearing that.
The sim sounds good, but the real deal just has that extra growl that sims just can't replicate.
🤣🤡
In a mix you would NEVER guess which is which. You're hearing with your eyes.
@@juleswinnfield9931 nah, no matter how many IR's you push a sim through it will never have that afterburn a real tube amplifier has. But go ahead and tell yourself that.
@@AntilifeHorde LOL w/e you. You 🐒s that think you have unicorn hearing have been proven wrong SO many times.
Go check how many times at Spectre Sound Studios channel. Not ONE of you geniuses have EVER gotten his blindfold tests correct. You know why? Cuz you're too foolish to realise you listen with your eyes.
You probably also believe tone-wood has an affect on an over-driven electric guitar. How about aliens or flat Earth?
@@juleswinnfield9931 So true. No one can tell the difference in a mix
Man, the real amp wins!!!
ultra fucking foda
Real amp sounds better, less harsh… i would describe the sound as more … warm and round, and as far as I can hear, the attack is completely different… but… the digital one is around 100€ … so… there is no comparison… it’s a really great plug in…
Exactly my thoughts! The digital version is "freeware" compared to the price of the physical one XD!
I hear a low mid bite on a real Boogie, a very pronounced Beh Beh type sound. Otherwise they're really similar.
Isso ai num PA dá diferença quase Zero na hora do show kkkkkk E não precisa roubar um banco para isso!
kkkkk parece que vc redublou a si mesmo .. realmente buga a cabeça ..... só achei muito caro 99 euros !!! quase 550 reais
very close
Differences sound like might be cab choice.
the cab was the same.
The amp has better high end...only Tonex can get the nigh end right
Still not even close… the real amp has that low end and natural compression and most importantly is not harsh is highs like NDSP plugins are. They still have a lot of aliasing
“Not even close”? Hehe. It’s definitely NOT $13000 different that’s for damn sure.
The speaker makes the difference
Dude your in denial 🤣
@@Durkhead 😞
@@DaveMullinsPlaysBassI have both and the pluggin sounds better to me especially recording selling my amp , like you said for the price it’s not even a close decision
If you close your eyes , they sound the same.
Sorry but I need to disagree
If you listen on a good pair of monitors or a headphones…
Its going to be very different
Digital will never sound as goos as real tube amps.. everyone knows that..