Great video Bobby! Agree with you 110%. I switched back to my HX stomp and Helix native. I did see a video by Nick Hill on Helix over USB vs XLR into his interface. With good headphones (DT-1990A) the XLRs added some nice color. I am doing that. I also saw a guy do a REVV Helix vs real and to me not a lot of difference. Actually has a chance to talk with a REVV engineer and they worked one-on-one with Line 6 on that one. I found a IR I like and just am running with it. While I should DI going cable out makes setting it up one extra step vs USB and frankly most of my tracks in the creative process end up being used so for me managing DIs is a bit of a headache. Nick Hill encouraged many of us to just pick a tone and get to making music. I do get from an engineer POV having a DI is a must! Thanks again for all your content you and a few others have totally helped me on my music journey and also made it fun!
Helix for the win brother :) I use the stomp for playing real time and recording, and take ch1 and ch5 for the processed and clean DI, you can either keep them as is, or "reamp" with native to change stuff like IRs or editing purposes if need be for the final tracks, great way to work. I've been using the same couple IRs from the OH heavy hitters pack for years :)
For the longest part of my life, I used a Marshall TSL 2000 with a 1960 cab, while playing live. The closest thing back in the day to an amp sim when I got that Marshall, was the very first iteration of the Line 6 Pod. I played the Pod at home, and the amp live. I remember that all my recordings with the Pod sounded quite good out of the box (though the first Pod was sounding bad mainly), whereas miking the Marshall was a pain in the ass. Chalk, a ruler, a flashlight, tape, a decent mic holder, and a SM57 plus an old Sennheiser where "all" I needed. Now I must admit that during the last ten, maybe fifteen years amp sims have gotten so good, I cannot reliably distinct between sim and the "real deal". In fact: I cannot, nor have I met someone who can. That's been the end of the magic for me. There are awesome sounding sims out there, and they get the job done. And with a reliable notebook you can also use them live - it just works! For tracking and mixing there is no question for me: I use the amp sims ten out of ten times! And my old Marshall amp? Well, it's a trusty friend, catching a lot of dust, but every now and then I play a tune or two with my ol' buddy. Just for the fun of it :)
I just sold my Peavey JSX because it was sitting and collecting dust since I use Helix Native predominantly, and honestly I don't miss it. I have a vintage 80s Laney with snakeskin tolex and some lunchbox heads, but besides that I don't think I'll throw down on another amp head since I genuinely think they're mostly obsolete.
Wow, I have captures made of my JSX, every ML sound lab almost every neural dsp plugin,and I still use the jsx for the final print every time. Nothing sounds as good, cranked up and micd.
I actually also sold my Laney and marshall jcm800 as I really don't need it. As I am a couple of generations of software in by now I sorta learned how to achieve what I want. I think not everything is self explanatory, especially choice on impulse
@@MrBikboi key word here is "mostly," and in the context of this being a rock and metal channel where the songs being mixed and recorded are rock and metal. Yes, a $2500 amp head will sound a bit better and more responsive than a $199 amp Sim, but not better enough to justify the substantial difference in price and physical space that the amp head consumes. And for most listeners and players depending on the amp and amp Sim in question, the differences are marginal at best.
I totally agree Bobby! I know how many people are using amp sims on major recordings and using Quads and Fractals for live shows. It’s just easier and always consistent.
In regards to slowing down the process - it's a whole skillset just to be ample to reamp a guitar DI take, and that requires MORE gear, as you need a reamp box or an impedance matching outboard preamp. The cheapest GOOD ones I know are the SignalArt units ($135), the ART Tube MP/C ($176 and getting harder to find) or their own RDB reamp specific unit ($96), or Joyo has one that is a combo with an active DI box ($109). Even the basic reampers from Radial or whatever are $100. The reason I like these is because either they're versatile, serving more than one purpose, stereo, or having built in compression, additional tube drive, or the ability to turn the output up and down from unity, or the SignalArt ones are just really good. Anything else really isn't worth it, IMO.
You can do the same with an amp. Most newer amps have power soaks, built in IRs etc or you can run it through a load box and still use your IR. I think this is the most common use of an amp now, but it's probably not any different then the amp SIM anyway.
It's a great time to be a guitarist! The amp sims are incredibly good nowadays. However, with so much to choose from, option paralysis can become a thing. I like your approach of keeping it simple. Pick what you like and start recording :) For me, my standard choice of amp sim in my Reaper project template, is the free amp 'Prestige' that comes with Amp Locker by Audio Assault.
What I have found is a good compromise, very simply just split the signal out. I run one end through the sims/modeler and leave the other for reamping. You can also go vice versa as long as you have one dry signal you can do a million things with it. I find with w, amps/cabs you might even want to go the opposite of the hi watts, to the tiny 1w and 15w practice combos.
I have a fender deluxe reverb that collect dust right now since the day I discovered the plug ins. You can play every hour of the day even without bother your family or neighbors, have hundreds of combinations (speakers) even without cost. What is the best for your tone, not that isn’t the air hitting your guts, the best for your tone is practice, hour and hour of them, and plug ins make the life and practice easier and healthy for your ears 👌
Few years ago I recorded an album where the band had several amps to choose from and I really liked the Marshall Silver Jubilee head, but after using it for a day it broke down. The guitarist said it's happened before but was assured it was fixed, but apparently not, so we had to go another route for the rest of the album. Later I got Amplitube free with an interface and it has infinite options and doesn't break down. I do enjoy recording live amps, but sims are really great nowadays.
YES I agree! I've been using amp sims along with whatever real amps I could afford to write demos and practice. I have a Joyo Zombie II tiny hybrid amp with a 1x12 Vintage 30 and I'd say that's the biggest I'm comfortable with carrying around or playing at my space (volume never more than 3/10), kept practicing my mic skills, I do like how real amps respond to picking and knob turning but that's about it. I feel no need getting anything bigger.
Nice info man. Let me tell ya what is actually amazing though also. The best of both worlds, tube amps plugged into a load box -> apply IRs in DAW. So quick and customisable. Eliminates the stuffing & limitation with cabs & mic placement.
I remmber when I had a show, and I've brought my laptop and scarlet interface, all I had to do was disable the standalone plug-in cab section, and direct in into a real cab at the gig, sounded great and it was an easy 10 mins setup.
Its the response factor that will keep me recording real amps(for now). The few amp sims I did try did not feel right, dynamics were not there. Same reason I dislike in-ear monitors, I want to feel and hear other band members sound moving thru the airwaves. I would have to agree with more than a few of your points though.
If you record the DI you can reamp, and that has been really fun for me and I've learned a TON about how to mic an amp. And you can also use an amp sim if you get better results that way!
I basically stick to Ignite emissary, and I probably will keep doing so despite me having a cool tube amp, because yeah, sims sound great. Especially when you dial that input knob correctly, letting the amp sim react correctly with your DI.
It depends on the project I’m working on. I used amp simps for some projects and it sounds great but when you have a good loadbox/attenuator, you can record your tube amp with ease. I use the St-Rock React;IR and it’s really transparent on my end. In the end, it all comes down to what the client wants and the source tones. As a result, I’ll never get rid of my tube amps.
I have several tube amps and can't use them at home. I wish I could get better tone from my computer but I hate it. The sound of air makes everything sound better. You don't need a super loud tube amp though. I have a vintage Fender Champ that is only 5 watts and sounds great. I don't play metal though. I really wish I could get good sound out of a computer but I just can't.
7:44 Ignores expensive amp sims you need a restration key for or a program to let you use them on your PC/USB dongle vverus a Tube amp that you will always own for less money.
I totally agree. The ability to change the tones after recording is a big plus. I love my live rig, but it's purely that - a live rig, I've never even considered trying to record it at home. Great video, as always ❤
All I want is people that can actually play / perform a song...This whole tick tock attention span... Video killed the Radio Star, Digital Revolution killed the Artist, and Social Media killed Individuality... Beauty is in imperfection 🍻🤘
Even in the live context, I have always had sound guys tell me to turn down. I've gone home after playing in small rooms with ringing ears. Recording wise I've always gone DI with FX/Sims. Hmm, I am so confused. Great post man.
I used to have an iso box for my cab. I dismantled it when I moved, it just wasn't worth it. I recorded IR's of my cab in my closet at my new apartment, and now when I record, even if I use my actual amp heads, I record without the cab, and just load IR's. Hybrid or Solid state is easier - no load box or attenuator or variac mods, or whatever the fuck. I have my Orange Super Crush, I have my two Joyo Bantamps, and even then - I still have amp and pedal sims of every piece of gear I own, as much as possible. If I can't find it, I just run the pedalboard into the interface, with the insert for the given track going through the 4-cable on my noise gates, so the gate is AFTER the preamp on my interface.
I fully agree with this, I use a lot Sims to streamline my sessions, but I will say that I prefer my live amp for my guitar playing if time and space permits
I use both. Trying my Mesa Nomad 100 and Kraken V4 through IR loader and so far it’s been good. I have not 100% found what I’m happy with but it’s only been two afternoons worth of dialing in. Amp sims are definitely easier
I used to have a Bogner Uberschall and I tried and tried so hard to get it on a recording but it never worked. Glad I didn't let arrogance get in the way of a good production. But either side of that equation I certainly did chew up valuable studio time just forcing the engineer to try it in the first place.
If you're playing live, it still makes sense to use a tube amp. In studio, there's no reason anymore. Unless you're using an ultra rare 50s holy grail of an amp, amp sims are the way to go. If modeling is good for megabands like Metallica and Iron Maiden (Dave Murray has started using Axe Fx on the road) it's good enough for me.
I've been messing around with both. I think for the project I'm currently plotting I'm going to end up using amp sims on rhythm guitar and bass (I don't actually have a bass amp so I don't have much of a choice there) and a live mic'd amp for lead to lend a little chaos to the solos. I also think that when I record a solo in the room with a live amp, there's a little black magic and vibe that it'll capture on the recording.
but yeah, I built a whole extra box out of plywood and 2x4's with hinged doors and padlock gates on it and wheels and holes in strategic spots to route cables through - I even had it so the amp head was outside of the box. It was great when I actually used it - and the rest of the time it was just an ugly, bare plywood box on my FUCKING LIVING ROOM. Once my son was born, I was like "nah-uh, not digging splinters out of a toddler's fingers, fuck that, and fuck this box." The IR's I recorded in my walk-in closet of my new apartment turned out just fine, anyway. Talk about a waste if fucking money. Well, not really, I put my guitars in that box when I moved from FL to WA, and they survived in the back of a U-Haul, so... maybe that purpose, worth it?
I can't argue the workflow. However, I have a Dr. Z Rx Jr 1x12" combo. I find it nearly impossible to find a Sim that sounds much like my amp. However, the tube issues are real, and you aren't wrong at all. Still, depending on the situation, I prefer a well mic'd amp to a sim or preset. But only when it sounds great. So again, can't argue the workflow or the ease of use.
A real amp, especially an older marshall, is a unique sound, "one of a kind." A con of an amp is repeatability of the tone for re-recording bad tracks once the mics and other things are moved or changed. Everything has its place.
For me I love the Hybrid approach.....real amp with load box (Ox box) so silent recording but analog tone. Record with Amp sim use the DI to reamp with real and amp and OX box supper fun.
I do not own a tube amp but what I see most guitarists do in videos is using amp heads through cab IRs. While most of these TH-camrs own several high end amp modelers they prefer reamping their guitars this way. What is your view on this?
For full distortion, amps sims have their place, but for pure clean or maybe a bit of break up or crunch, there's no substitute for a real amp, in my opinion
I agree 100% Nothing beats a cranked tube amp in a room, but I can understand why people are using sims live out of convenience....but you need a great sound guy to pull it off, which most local bands don't have access to.
My Axe FX II through a tube power amp through a cab is the absolute same feel and tone as plugging into a tube amp of your choice. Through a well designed solid state power amp into a cab you could hardly tell the difference of at all. My FM9 through in ears or a FRFR is just as good as the real thing. My Helix struggles, through tube power not bad, through SS or FRFR it suffers. Through in ears, if you turn it down in the mix to just barely hear it, it’s sounds good but then you lose the feel. Plugin wise I been digging STL
I've got 2 tube amps and 3 solid state, I barely use any of them any more. I use Amped Roots for recording everything and a Marshall MG 100w for live. Tube amps are a pain in the arse, my TSL and Satriani Peavey are constantly breaking down. MG's are great live and dependable, even so I'm looking at using sims with my live rig.
I use amp sims way more than my tube amps. I think if I hadn't bought them a looong time ago I probably never would have bought them. Sometimes though, cranking a tube amp is just FUN!
I've got a question. Not really about an amp, but a pedal... I've heard countless amazing tones produced digitally, but one I seem to have never heard is an HM-2 tone that sounds convincingly raw. Is there any VST or amp sim that has an HM-2 style option that sounds like an adequate replacement?
I remember in the 1990s when 5150s were actually the CHEAP alternative to Marshalls! You could get a brand new 5150 head for about 500 bucks in 1995. Funny how they are the most prized amp for metal these days!
In my experience with amateur recordings, real amps have always sounded worse. The drummer of my band knows nothing about guitar gear, but every single time we've recorded stuff together, he likes amp sims and dislikes real amps, no exceptions. And I agree.
In my experice the acustic sound on a solid body drowns out any amp when listens with open back headphones or on speakers while also sounding the same clean. But yeah last night I wanted to practice and spent a few hours trying to get my JS22 to work with my new wisbang laptop... It didn't but my $40 fender delux micro amp I bought of ebay worked fine.
Been using the Slo100 from NDSP for years now, along with the Bogren IR pack for low tuned guitars (i keep my 7 string in drop F#) and it is by far the best tone I've ever had, would I love the amp in real life, absolutely, but its not feesable financially or living in an apartment. Once you dial in a tone, you're good to go, if it sounds good, it is good, n it inspires you to play/record more
EQ is everything when it comes to guitar sound. A cab is nothing but EQ, to dumb it down. I have literally made my own IRs by running a cabless signal into a Trash2 and shaping EQ from there. With all the tone matching capabilities of today there is no reason to spend huge amounts of money on hardware when software is equally as good or better. This is also true for synths. I have a hardware synth that I never use because everything is easier with a softsynth.
A lot of people get hung up on the difference between in-the-room cab tone and mic'd cab tone. They're very different. If you've only played in-the-room tones your whole life then yeah, it's gonna be a bit jarring to make the transition. I remember thinking that when I got my Fractal over a decade ago. Didn't take long to understand why things sounded and felt different and was able to move forward rather quickly though. It's just about adapting. Many guitarists don't think of a mic pushed up against a cab when they hear their favourite tones on record, they think of the image of a head and cab making that tone. That's where the disparity lies. They're just unaware of the technical aspects of tone crafting for recording and that becomes a mental road block when they try to use modern digital alternatives. This problem simply boils down to education which fortunately there is plenty of on the internet. It's mostly older generations that don't get on with mic'd tone (understandably as they've lived decades without it being accessible to them) or younger players primed to fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy due to having more money than sense and a weird penchant for gatekeeping.
I prefer my hard synth because all of the tiny little changes I can make to controls are right in front of me. I can tweak multiple parameters quicker and easier with my hands than I can with a mouse
I have a 2010 version of amplitube. Have things gotten better since then? The clean sounds are great but when I want some overdrive and heaviness and I want the heavy "chug chug" sound it just never sounded right or natural. Could definitely tell it wasn't a real amp when trying to do that.
Oh my god dude, it's gotten exponentially better. I had that version of Amplitube as well. It was OK for the time but it's terrible compared to modern amp sims. Neural DSP (and many others) have free trials for all of their stuff. Go download one and experience it for yourself.
90% of what is said is true in my opinion, but there is a slight excessiveness in some statements that is characteristic of youtube. Most of these problems can be solved with the use of reaming box and dialing the tone in mixing phase not in the recording one. Sometimes just setting up the input of the amp sim can take more than an hour and if we turn on and the endless possibilities for IR ... The worst part is that we all use the same drum plugins the same amp sims and the same irs. So "amp sim for better result than real Soldano" a little too much.
The feel of air moving behind you and the way that tube amps react at high volumes is unmatched. Also, tubes cut through in live situations extremely well even with significantly less wattage.
Real amp will save you CPU and force you to commit, you can use a virtual cab and load box if you can’t go loud where you’re recording and/or don’t want to worry about mics and mic placement. And maybe it’s just me but when I hear an amp sim guitar in solo the attack always feels wrong, like something is off with the transients. And I still haven’t heard a clean tone from an amp sim that I like.
I wish IR loaders or something could do that raw feedback squeel like a real amp would do with a speaker....some of those feedback plugins aren't that great as the real thing... I like to be able to automate it in
Modern tube amps don't need to be cranked to sound good, that's not a thing anymore. Also, attenuators and loadboxes already solved the loudness problem.
i preffer ampsims WAY more than actual real amp, for me they are very inpractical and too hard to transport (especially if you use public transport) i make a live show only with my guitar conected into a laptop running FL studio a few MP3 tracks and TH-U and sounded great
biggest reason for amps is you can get your own unique sound. Amp sims are too similar. Everyone using the same sims and the same IRs. When recording a real amp, with a real cab. You can make it sound anyway you like and that cannot be replicated. Also NO ALIASING!
6:57 Please don't confuse "real"(I think you mean just as good) with the same... Name one amp sim that sounds 100% the same as a real amp because I can't... Because amp sims don't sound the same on every PC and digital amp so how can they sound the same as a real tube amp?
I love both real amps and amp sims its personal taste but this video is a bit one sided. In my experience the problem with amp sims are... 1. They dont feel the same and that matters to players 2. They have fizziness around 4-5k and can be harsh and brittle 3. If your mix has multiple amp sims, midi drums and a bass amp sim the mix can sound really digital. And let's face it... the rock and metal songs we grew up listening to don't sound digital.
but i live in the peak district national park in england, i have no neighbours, so i can be as loud as i like with my tube amps. I love NeuralDSP amp sims, but thats about it
I usually agree with ya but not this time.(nothing against amp sim) your opinion on this one is a little too hardcore on the anti side. No mention of solid state amps? btw tube amps sound different because of temp and humidity.
Amp sims. So much better than amps when we have live gigs. Only need a laptop or tablet,an interface,a few cables,and a zero latency amp sim! So much easier than dragging that xxxx xxx Katana head around. Lunchbox,my arse...weighs 2 tons. Amp sims,always!😂😂
What are your thoughts on running through the DI out on amp heads into a high quality IR? I like using my heads in that way to preserve tone and still have the convenience of running through a CPU - I also can use my cab as a guitar monitor then as well which is nice if ever needed, but its not required
I’ll give you one great reason why real amps are way better.. Feedback! Don’t get me wrong, I love amp sims! I own a Kemper and have other amp sims as well that I regularly use. Capturing that raw feedback from a sustaining note is crucial, for me, for punk/heavy music. It’s just never the same when tracking through an amp sim. Real amps are these wild, alive, untamable beasts that bring a certain unpredictable energy that I love and have never quite been able to get with sims.
For metal I can see amp sims being way better. I wouldn’t even know how to get guitars that heavy without sims. But for Indy pop or grunge rock your unique tone is everything. Using the same IR or amp pedals or presets that anyone else can use is just wrong. Let’s just let AI record the guitar I guess. Ha. But that’s if you have or want a unique guitar tone. If you just have a regular shitty amp then yes of course sim it up. I used to aim but then everything was sounding sterile and mixing sounded crappy also but I built a little iso box with a single 12” that I can swap in and out speakers if I want and then a ribbon and 57 permanently on it then eq and shape the tone with the head or amp outside in the room now it’s much more….my sound and less…whoever made the preset or IR or whatever. And I know you can change settings on all sims but less mouse more me is what I’m all about. BUT with that said…I only record myself, but if I went into a studio and I used an amp sim I’d be like….ummmm I’ll go home and record guitar.
I like real amps when I’m jamming by myself, but for literally all other use cases I go with some form of digital. You think I’m bringing a Soldano and an Aristides to some dive bar? Hell no. POD Go and a $300 Jackson.
Reasons amps are better than amp sims: 1) They require work to set up for tracking - this is a good thing because it forces you to actually engineer your record, use your ears and not rely on presets. 2) They always sound different depending on mic placement, cabinets, rooms etc. Everyone does this differently. 3) They don't cause latency issues and force you to troubleshoot the reason why. 4) You will always end up with a sound that is different than someone else. Ever wonder how bands in the 80s and 90s all used the same gear and yet every album was unique....thats why. No canned sounds on records. 5) Plugging straight into an amp and recording it doesnt suffer from impedence mismatches which can come from reamping or ad/da conversion. (Tracking an amp will actually sound better than reamping that same take). 6) Superior feel for the guitarist - sorry to break everyone's bubble but the response of an amp has a lot to do with how guitarists play. Tracking with a cranked amp is more fun than amp sims. When things are more fun, people play better. 7) Dealing with imperfect phase, and an analog signal chain actually adds life and character to a boring modern music production world. 8) you wont get perfect phase or perfect response from a speaker. The imperfection and nonlinear nature of a speaker is different from an impulse response. Making you much more chad for capturing something real. Ultimately, it doesn't matter how you get your sounds. There are benefits with amp sims too, so do what you want. I like real amps. I think the tones I get from real amps are infinitely better that what I get out of my ampsims. Plugins are for nerds.
We're almost at the point where using real musicians isn't worth it, AI band sims are (just about to be) way better - just as good, nobody can tell the difference anyway, quicker, easier, more convenient... We're almost there boys!
Why bothering recording guitars, they are obsolete, just as is metal. Soft synths are on right now at the end today metal is just pop with distortion 😂
►► {FREE TRAINING} 4 Dead-Simple Ways To Improve Your Recordings & Mixes: frightboxrecordingacademy.com/free-training/
I personally love the feel of a real amp with an IR loader over an amp sim, but in a recording I can't tell the difference😂
I think this is best if you're running a lot of virtual instrument tracks. I believe it helps with not over powering the CPU.
@@scamp7887you shouldn't do this in the first place. You should bounce the instruments so you don't use cpu unneeded
Amp sims are usually fizzier
@ 4:05 I'd swear I heard Glenn Fricker shouting "Finally! A guy who makes sense!"
need to connect those two, even though Glenn can be a bit much with his convictions.
@@Mrvegas6666that video would be killer. Glen and Bobby have taught me a lot with their videos. Very knowledgeable
Great video Bobby! Agree with you 110%. I switched back to my HX stomp and Helix native. I did see a video by Nick Hill on Helix over USB vs XLR into his interface. With good headphones (DT-1990A) the XLRs added some nice color. I am doing that. I also saw a guy do a REVV Helix vs real and to me not a lot of difference. Actually has a chance to talk with a REVV engineer and they worked one-on-one with Line 6 on that one. I found a IR I like and just am running with it. While I should DI going cable out makes setting it up one extra step vs USB and frankly most of my tracks in the creative process end up being used so for me managing DIs is a bit of a headache. Nick Hill encouraged many of us to just pick a tone and get to making music. I do get from an engineer POV having a DI is a must! Thanks again for all your content you and a few others have totally helped me on my music journey and also made it fun!
Helix for the win brother :) I use the stomp for playing real time and recording, and take ch1 and ch5 for the processed and clean DI, you can either keep them as is, or "reamp" with native to change stuff like IRs or editing purposes if need be for the final tracks, great way to work. I've been using the same couple IRs from the OH heavy hitters pack for years :)
For the longest part of my life, I used a Marshall TSL 2000 with a 1960 cab, while playing live. The closest thing back in the day to an amp sim when I got that Marshall, was the very first iteration of the Line 6 Pod. I played the Pod at home, and the amp live. I remember that all my recordings with the Pod sounded quite good out of the box (though the first Pod was sounding bad mainly), whereas miking the Marshall was a pain in the ass. Chalk, a ruler, a flashlight, tape, a decent mic holder, and a SM57 plus an old Sennheiser where "all" I needed. Now I must admit that during the last ten, maybe fifteen years amp sims have gotten so good, I cannot reliably distinct between sim and the "real deal". In fact: I cannot, nor have I met someone who can. That's been the end of the magic for me. There are awesome sounding sims out there, and they get the job done. And with a reliable notebook you can also use them live - it just works! For tracking and mixing there is no question for me: I use the amp sims ten out of ten times! And my old Marshall amp? Well, it's a trusty friend, catching a lot of dust, but every now and then I play a tune or two with my ol' buddy. Just for the fun of it :)
I just sold my Peavey JSX because it was sitting and collecting dust since I use Helix Native predominantly, and honestly I don't miss it. I have a vintage 80s Laney with snakeskin tolex and some lunchbox heads, but besides that I don't think I'll throw down on another amp head since I genuinely think they're mostly obsolete.
Wow, I have captures made of my JSX, every ML sound lab almost every neural dsp plugin,and I still use the jsx for the final print every time. Nothing sounds as good, cranked up and micd.
I actually also sold my Laney and marshall jcm800 as I really don't need it. As I am a couple of generations of software in by now I sorta learned how to achieve what I want. I think not everything is self explanatory, especially choice on impulse
Saying amp heads are obsolete in the whole realm of all guitar players with vastly different music and gear preferences is pretty silly.
@@MrBikboi key word here is "mostly," and in the context of this being a rock and metal channel where the songs being mixed and recorded are rock and metal. Yes, a $2500 amp head will sound a bit better and more responsive than a $199 amp Sim, but not better enough to justify the substantial difference in price and physical space that the amp head consumes. And for most listeners and players depending on the amp and amp Sim in question, the differences are marginal at best.
I totally agree Bobby! I know how many people are using amp sims on major recordings and using Quads and Fractals for live shows. It’s just easier and always consistent.
highly suggest watching the free training, it instantly showed me what I've been doing wrong for years.
In regards to slowing down the process - it's a whole skillset just to be ample to reamp a guitar DI take, and that requires MORE gear, as you need a reamp box or an impedance matching outboard preamp. The cheapest GOOD ones I know are the SignalArt units ($135), the ART Tube MP/C ($176 and getting harder to find) or their own RDB reamp specific unit ($96), or Joyo has one that is a combo with an active DI box ($109). Even the basic reampers from Radial or whatever are $100. The reason I like these is because either they're versatile, serving more than one purpose, stereo, or having built in compression, additional tube drive, or the ability to turn the output up and down from unity, or the SignalArt ones are just really good. Anything else really isn't worth it, IMO.
Jcm800 boosted by an sd1 into suhr reactive load ir with bogren impulse responses is the goat
The best thing about amp sims is the ability to load any cab IR. That's the magic of getting a great amp sim tone.
You can do the same with an amp. Most newer amps have power soaks, built in IRs etc or you can run it through a load box and still use your IR. I think this is the most common use of an amp now, but it's probably not any different then the amp SIM anyway.
It's a great time to be a guitarist! The amp sims are incredibly good nowadays. However, with so much to choose from, option paralysis can become a thing. I like your approach of keeping it simple. Pick what you like and start recording :) For me, my standard choice of amp sim in my Reaper project template, is the free amp 'Prestige' that comes with Amp Locker by Audio Assault.
What I have found is a good compromise, very simply just split the signal out. I run one end through the sims/modeler and leave the other for reamping. You can also go vice versa as long as you have one dry signal you can do a million things with it.
I find with w, amps/cabs you might even want to go the opposite of the hi watts, to the tiny 1w and 15w practice combos.
I have a fender deluxe reverb that collect dust right now since the day I discovered the plug ins. You can play every hour of the day even without bother your family or neighbors, have hundreds of combinations (speakers) even without cost. What is the best for your tone, not that isn’t the air hitting your guts, the best for your tone is practice, hour and hour of them, and plug ins make the life and practice easier and healthy for your ears 👌
Few years ago I recorded an album where the band had several amps to choose from and I really liked the Marshall Silver Jubilee head, but after using it for a day it broke down. The guitarist said it's happened before but was assured it was fixed, but apparently not, so we had to go another route for the rest of the album.
Later I got Amplitube free with an interface and it has infinite options and doesn't break down. I do enjoy recording live amps, but sims are really great nowadays.
YES I agree! I've been using amp sims along with whatever real amps I could afford to write demos and practice. I have a Joyo Zombie II tiny hybrid amp with a 1x12 Vintage 30 and I'd say that's the biggest I'm comfortable with carrying around or playing at my space (volume never more than 3/10), kept practicing my mic skills, I do like how real amps respond to picking and knob turning but that's about it. I feel no need getting anything bigger.
Nice info man. Let me tell ya what is actually amazing though also. The best of both worlds, tube amps plugged into a load box -> apply IRs in DAW. So quick and customisable. Eliminates the stuffing & limitation with cabs & mic placement.
I remmber when I had a show, and I've brought my laptop and scarlet interface, all I had to do was disable the standalone plug-in cab section, and direct in into a real cab at the gig, sounded great and it was an easy 10 mins setup.
I dont understand this setup
@@lukasb2790just like at home except instead of headphones or pc speakers it goes into the pa
Bass players have gone direct since ages, so why not right
I last recorded my tube amp in 2016. Did another record with a solid state head in 2017. Ever since then, it's either a plugin or my Kemper.
Its the response factor that will keep me recording real amps(for now). The few amp sims I did try did not feel right, dynamics were not there. Same reason I dislike in-ear monitors, I want to feel and hear other band members sound moving thru the airwaves. I would have to agree with more than a few of your points though.
If you record the DI you can reamp, and that has been really fun for me and I've learned a TON about how to mic an amp. And you can also use an amp sim if you get better results that way!
I basically stick to Ignite emissary, and I probably will keep doing so despite me having a cool tube amp, because yeah, sims sound great. Especially when you dial that input knob correctly, letting the amp sim react correctly with your DI.
It depends on the project I’m working on.
I used amp simps for some projects and it sounds great but when you have a good loadbox/attenuator, you can record your tube amp with ease. I use the St-Rock React;IR and it’s really transparent on my end.
In the end, it all comes down to what the client wants and the source tones. As a result, I’ll never get rid of my tube amps.
I have several tube amps and can't use them at home. I wish I could get better tone from my computer but I hate it. The sound of air makes everything sound better. You don't need a super loud tube amp though. I have a vintage Fender Champ that is only 5 watts and sounds great. I don't play metal though. I really wish I could get good sound out of a computer but I just can't.
7:44 Ignores expensive amp sims you need a restration key for or a program to let you use them on your PC/USB dongle vverus a Tube amp that you will always own for less money.
I totally agree. The ability to change the tones after recording is a big plus. I love my live rig, but it's purely that - a live rig, I've never even considered trying to record it at home. Great video, as always ❤
with tube amps you can also use a ''loadbox'' of some kind, then you can record ''silently'' and direct. i use a koch loadbox and its magnificent!
All I want is people that can actually play / perform a song...This whole tick tock attention span... Video killed the Radio Star, Digital Revolution killed the Artist, and Social Media killed Individuality... Beauty is in imperfection 🍻🤘
Even in the live context, I have always had sound guys tell me to turn down. I've gone home after playing in small rooms with ringing ears. Recording wise I've always gone DI with FX/Sims. Hmm, I am so confused. Great post man.
I used to have an iso box for my cab. I dismantled it when I moved, it just wasn't worth it. I recorded IR's of my cab in my closet at my new apartment, and now when I record, even if I use my actual amp heads, I record without the cab, and just load IR's. Hybrid or Solid state is easier - no load box or attenuator or variac mods, or whatever the fuck. I have my Orange Super Crush, I have my two Joyo Bantamps, and even then - I still have amp and pedal sims of every piece of gear I own, as much as possible. If I can't find it, I just run the pedalboard into the interface, with the insert for the given track going through the 4-cable on my noise gates, so the gate is AFTER the preamp on my interface.
I fully agree with this, I use a lot Sims to streamline my sessions, but I will say that I prefer my live amp for my guitar playing if time and space permits
I use both. Trying my Mesa Nomad 100 and Kraken V4 through IR loader and so far it’s been good. I have not 100% found what I’m happy with but it’s only been two afternoons worth of dialing in. Amp sims are definitely easier
I used to have a Bogner Uberschall and I tried and tried so hard to get it on a recording but it never worked. Glad I didn't let arrogance get in the way of a good production. But either side of that equation I certainly did chew up valuable studio time just forcing the engineer to try it in the first place.
I used Tonex for guitars and bass on our latest album. It sounds great.🤘🏻
If you're playing live, it still makes sense to use a tube amp. In studio, there's no reason anymore. Unless you're using an ultra rare 50s holy grail of an amp, amp sims are the way to go. If modeling is good for megabands like Metallica and Iron Maiden (Dave Murray has started using Axe Fx on the road) it's good enough for me.
I've been messing around with both. I think for the project I'm currently plotting I'm going to end up using amp sims on rhythm guitar and bass (I don't actually have a bass amp so I don't have much of a choice there) and a live mic'd amp for lead to lend a little chaos to the solos. I also think that when I record a solo in the room with a live amp, there's a little black magic and vibe that it'll capture on the recording.
Your not missing much with the bass amp
but yeah, I built a whole extra box out of plywood and 2x4's with hinged doors and padlock gates on it and wheels and holes in strategic spots to route cables through - I even had it so the amp head was outside of the box. It was great when I actually used it - and the rest of the time it was just an ugly, bare plywood box on my FUCKING LIVING ROOM. Once my son was born, I was like "nah-uh, not digging splinters out of a toddler's fingers, fuck that, and fuck this box." The IR's I recorded in my walk-in closet of my new apartment turned out just fine, anyway. Talk about a waste if fucking money. Well, not really, I put my guitars in that box when I moved from FL to WA, and they survived in the back of a U-Haul, so... maybe that purpose, worth it?
I can't argue the workflow. However, I have a Dr. Z Rx Jr 1x12" combo. I find it nearly impossible to find a Sim that sounds much like my amp.
However, the tube issues are real, and you aren't wrong at all.
Still, depending on the situation, I prefer a well mic'd amp to a sim or preset. But only when it sounds great.
So again, can't argue the workflow or the ease of use.
I use both and imho it all depends on the material. But, ampsims sure are faster and easier, no doubt there!
A real amp, especially an older marshall, is a unique sound, "one of a kind."
A con of an amp is repeatability of the tone for re-recording bad tracks once the mics and other things are moved or changed.
Everything has its place.
Hey buddy, I have put my real amps away and using an amp sim for recording and live shows. Sound fantastic. No more carrying heavy gear.
For me I love the Hybrid approach.....real amp with load box (Ox box) so silent recording but analog tone.
Record with Amp sim use the DI to reamp with real and amp and OX box supper fun.
I do not own a tube amp but what I see most guitarists do in videos is using amp heads through cab IRs. While most of these TH-camrs own several high end amp modelers they prefer reamping their guitars this way. What is your view on this?
For full distortion, amps sims have their place, but for pure clean or maybe a bit of break up or crunch, there's no substitute for a real amp, in my opinion
For recording, I totally agree. For live performances/rehearsals? Amp sims will always come up short.
I agree 100% Nothing beats a cranked tube amp in a room, but I can understand why people are using sims live out of convenience....but you need a great sound guy to pull it off, which most local bands don't have access to.
My Axe FX II through a tube power amp through a cab is the absolute same feel and tone as plugging into a tube amp of your choice. Through a well designed solid state power amp into a cab you could hardly tell the difference of at all.
My FM9 through in ears or a FRFR is just as good as the real thing.
My Helix struggles, through tube power not bad, through SS or FRFR it suffers. Through in ears, if you turn it down in the mix to just barely hear it, it’s sounds good but then you lose the feel.
Plugin wise I been digging STL
All great points but I still love moving some air!
I've got 2 tube amps and 3 solid state, I barely use any of them any more. I use Amped Roots for recording everything and a Marshall MG 100w for live. Tube amps are a pain in the arse, my TSL and Satriani Peavey are constantly breaking down. MG's are great live and dependable, even so I'm looking at using sims with my live rig.
We have to get this man a spindrift endorsement.
Never tried a sim i like as much as my amp, not even close
Sorry to say.. but the Pro Tools stock EQs sound harsh and digitally. Not recommend.
I use amp sims way more than my tube amps. I think if I hadn't bought them a looong time ago I probably never would have bought them. Sometimes though, cranking a tube amp is just FUN!
I've got a question. Not really about an amp, but a pedal... I've heard countless amazing tones produced digitally, but one I seem to have never heard is an HM-2 tone that sounds convincingly raw. Is there any VST or amp sim that has an HM-2 style option that sounds like an adequate replacement?
I remember in the 1990s when 5150s were actually the CHEAP alternative to Marshalls! You could get a brand new 5150 head for about 500 bucks in 1995. Funny how they are the most prized amp for metal these days!
In my experience with amateur recordings, real amps have always sounded worse. The drummer of my band knows nothing about guitar gear, but every single time we've recorded stuff together, he likes amp sims and dislikes real amps, no exceptions. And I agree.
In my experice the acustic sound on a solid body drowns out any amp when listens with open back headphones or on speakers while also sounding the same clean. But yeah last night I wanted to practice and spent a few hours trying to get my JS22 to work with my new wisbang laptop... It didn't but my $40 fender delux micro amp I bought of ebay worked fine.
Ive got both kol, yeah digital is just more convenient, really wanting you to do a mix Bobby! Youre king dude.
For recording I use a Helix. Live, solid state amps all the way.
Been using the Slo100 from NDSP for years now, along with the Bogren IR pack for low tuned guitars (i keep my 7 string in drop F#) and it is by far the best tone I've ever had, would I love the amp in real life, absolutely, but its not feesable financially or living in an apartment. Once you dial in a tone, you're good to go, if it sounds good, it is good, n it inspires you to play/record more
EQ is everything when it comes to guitar sound. A cab is nothing but EQ, to dumb it down. I have literally made my own IRs by running a cabless signal into a Trash2 and shaping EQ from there. With all the tone matching capabilities of today there is no reason to spend huge amounts of money on hardware when software is equally as good or better.
This is also true for synths. I have a hardware synth that I never use because everything is easier with a softsynth.
A lot of people get hung up on the difference between in-the-room cab tone and mic'd cab tone. They're very different. If you've only played in-the-room tones your whole life then yeah, it's gonna be a bit jarring to make the transition. I remember thinking that when I got my Fractal over a decade ago. Didn't take long to understand why things sounded and felt different and was able to move forward rather quickly though. It's just about adapting.
Many guitarists don't think of a mic pushed up against a cab when they hear their favourite tones on record, they think of the image of a head and cab making that tone. That's where the disparity lies. They're just unaware of the technical aspects of tone crafting for recording and that becomes a mental road block when they try to use modern digital alternatives. This problem simply boils down to education which fortunately there is plenty of on the internet. It's mostly older generations that don't get on with mic'd tone (understandably as they've lived decades without it being accessible to them) or younger players primed to fall victim to the sunk cost fallacy due to having more money than sense and a weird penchant for gatekeeping.
I prefer my hard synth because all of the tiny little changes I can make to controls are right in front of me. I can tweak multiple parameters quicker and easier with my hands than I can with a mouse
I still like tube amps for playing live. For recording, I like using sims or profiles of my tube amps.
I have a 2010 version of amplitube. Have things gotten better since then? The clean sounds are great but when I want some overdrive and heaviness and I want the heavy "chug chug" sound it just never sounded right or natural. Could definitely tell it wasn't a real amp when trying to do that.
Things have gotten WAY better.
Oh my god dude, it's gotten exponentially better. I had that version of Amplitube as well. It was OK for the time but it's terrible compared to modern amp sims. Neural DSP (and many others) have free trials for all of their stuff. Go download one and experience it for yourself.
Yes
Did you really just ask if technology has improved in 14 years? Seems like the answer to that should be pretty obvious.
90% of what is said is true in my opinion, but there is a slight excessiveness in some statements that is characteristic of youtube. Most of these problems can be solved with the use of reaming box and dialing the tone in mixing phase not in the recording one. Sometimes just setting up the input of the amp sim can take more than an hour and if we turn on and the endless possibilities for IR ... The worst part is that we all use the same drum plugins the same amp sims and the same irs. So "amp sim for better result than real Soldano" a little too much.
it’s funny. what makes it so in the recording it’s just as good, yet live it’s not there?
The feel of air moving behind you and the way that tube amps react at high volumes is unmatched. Also, tubes cut through in live situations extremely well even with significantly less wattage.
Real amp will save you CPU and force you to commit, you can use a virtual cab and load box if you can’t go loud where you’re recording and/or don’t want to worry about mics and mic placement. And maybe it’s just me but when I hear an amp sim guitar in solo the attack always feels wrong, like something is off with the transients. And I still haven’t heard a clean tone from an amp sim that I like.
If your gona use a clean tone just run direct
I wish IR loaders or something could do that raw feedback squeel like a real amp would do with a speaker....some of those feedback plugins aren't that great as the real thing... I like to be able to automate it in
Modern tube amps don't need to be cranked to sound good, that's not a thing anymore.
Also, attenuators and loadboxes already solved the loudness problem.
JOKES ON YOU - ALL MY AMPS ARE HYBRID OR SOLID STATE
Also if you have to edit the track it's better to work on clean track then edit the recorded distorted version
i preffer ampsims WAY more than actual real amp, for me they are very inpractical and too hard to transport (especially if you use public transport) i make a live show only with my guitar conected into a laptop running FL studio a few MP3 tracks and TH-U and sounded great
Why not have both? Plenty of reasons to have both for particular applications 👍
biggest reason for amps is you can get your own unique sound. Amp sims are too similar. Everyone using the same sims and the same IRs. When recording a real amp, with a real cab. You can make it sound anyway you like and that cannot be replicated. Also NO ALIASING!
6:57 Please don't confuse "real"(I think you mean just as good) with the same... Name one amp sim that sounds 100% the same as a real amp because I can't... Because amp sims don't sound the same on every PC and digital amp so how can they sound the same as a real tube amp?
I can't even remember how to turn on my tube... It goes missing a lot too, but I always find it after I dust 💥
8:40 Your forgetting about hardwear changes and the same factors that mess with tube amps can and will mess with ampsims too.
In my view, for the purposes of recording music, amp sims outclass tube amps completely.
I love both real amps and amp sims its personal taste but this video is a bit one sided.
In my experience the problem with amp sims are...
1. They dont feel the same and that matters to players
2. They have fizziness around 4-5k and can be harsh and brittle
3. If your mix has multiple amp sims, midi drums and a bass amp sim the mix can sound really digital. And let's face it... the rock and metal songs we grew up listening to don't sound digital.
Sims win in the studio, but real amps win in a live performance unless it's a stadium, then you might as well use a plug in imo.
but i live in the peak district national park in england, i have no neighbours, so i can be as loud as i like with my tube amps. I love NeuralDSP amp sims, but thats about it
I usually agree with ya but not this time.(nothing against amp sim) your opinion on this one is a little too hardcore on the anti side. No mention of solid state amps? btw tube amps sound different because of temp and humidity.
Amp sims. So much better than amps when we have live gigs. Only need a laptop or tablet,an interface,a few cables,and a zero latency amp sim! So much easier than dragging that xxxx xxx Katana head around. Lunchbox,my arse...weighs 2 tons. Amp sims,always!😂😂
11. Editing. Almost impossible to edit to the kicks with amps. DI's a must
I've gotten great results running analog pedals into a clean amp sim with a good IR. Have you tried that?
Lol the metalzone pedal sounds great straight into an ir loader
I don't even own an amp anymore. Love the amp sims. What free amp sims do you like?
Anyone got guitar rig 7, I like the look of the ambient presets
What are your thoughts on running through the DI out on amp heads into a high quality IR? I like using my heads in that way to preserve tone and still have the convenience of running through a CPU - I also can use my cab as a guitar monitor then as well which is nice if ever needed, but its not required
Most of the tone comes from an the IR or real cab/speaker anyway, so I'd rather just use a plugin at that point.
I’ll give you one great reason why real amps are way better.. Feedback! Don’t get me wrong, I love amp sims! I own a Kemper and have other amp sims as well that I regularly use. Capturing that raw feedback from a sustaining note is crucial, for me, for punk/heavy music. It’s just never the same when tracking through an amp sim. Real amps are these wild, alive, untamable beasts that bring a certain unpredictable energy that I love and have never quite been able to get with sims.
For metal I can see amp sims being way better. I wouldn’t even know how to get guitars that heavy without sims. But for Indy pop or grunge rock your unique tone is everything. Using the same IR or amp pedals or presets that anyone else can use is just wrong. Let’s just let AI record the guitar I guess. Ha. But that’s if you have or want a unique guitar tone. If you just have a regular shitty amp then yes of course sim it up. I used to aim but then everything was sounding sterile and mixing sounded crappy also but I built a little iso box with a single 12” that I can swap in and out speakers if I want and then a ribbon and 57 permanently on it then eq and shape the tone with the head or amp outside in the room now it’s much more….my sound and less…whoever made the preset or IR or whatever. And I know you can change settings on all sims but less mouse more me is what I’m all about. BUT with that said…I only record myself, but if I went into a studio and I used an amp sim I’d be like….ummmm I’ll go home and record guitar.
What do you think of amps with IR recording in them such as the Revv Generator series of amps?
The only thing matter is THE SOUND. Amp simps are not even close to real amps but In case IF YOU RLY KNOW how to record a tube amp professionally.
Josh middleton disagrees
#11 Record Di. Re-amp later if needed.
I like real amps when I’m jamming by myself, but for literally all other use cases I go with some form of digital. You think I’m bringing a Soldano and an Aristides to some dive bar? Hell no. POD Go and a $300 Jackson.
LoL. I LOVE this video. I bet some guitarists are calling you nuts though.
Reasons amps are better than amp sims:
1) They require work to set up for tracking - this is a good thing because it forces you to actually engineer your record, use your ears and not rely on presets.
2) They always sound different depending on mic placement, cabinets, rooms etc. Everyone does this differently.
3) They don't cause latency issues and force you to troubleshoot the reason why.
4) You will always end up with a sound that is different than someone else. Ever wonder how bands in the 80s and 90s all used the same gear and yet every album was unique....thats why. No canned sounds on records.
5) Plugging straight into an amp and recording it doesnt suffer from impedence mismatches which can come from reamping or ad/da conversion. (Tracking an amp will actually sound better than reamping that same take).
6) Superior feel for the guitarist - sorry to break everyone's bubble but the response of an amp has a lot to do with how guitarists play. Tracking with a cranked amp is more fun than amp sims. When things are more fun, people play better.
7) Dealing with imperfect phase, and an analog signal chain actually adds life and character to a boring modern music production world.
8) you wont get perfect phase or perfect response from a speaker. The imperfection and nonlinear nature of a speaker is different from an impulse response. Making you much more chad for capturing something real.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter how you get your sounds. There are benefits with amp sims too, so do what you want.
I like real amps. I think the tones I get from real amps are infinitely better that what I get out of my ampsims. Plugins are for nerds.
Did you try a Tukan plugins for Reaper?
i tell my producer use whatever sounds good lol
Hey, Bobby. The link in the Free Training email goes to a 404 page 😢
I just tried on two computers and it's working. Try again.
@@FrightboxRecording Hi, Thanks for replying. Just tried it again and it's working :D
Record guitar amps with di to have an amp feel. Then ditch the micd amp and mix the DI signal instead. 😅
We're almost at the point where using real musicians isn't worth it, AI band sims are (just about to be) way better - just as good, nobody can tell the difference anyway, quicker, easier, more convenient... We're almost there boys!
Tube boys are going to stroke out.
Men bud.... Tube Men!
@@JC-nu5io 🤣
Nah, just laughing.
Why bothering recording guitars, they are obsolete, just as is metal. Soft synths are on right now at the end today metal is just pop with distortion 😂
The next trend is death metal