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Old 12-03-2019, 08:10 PM   #1
gm22
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Default Best plug-ins for electric guitar amp and cab simulation?

I've always struggled to capture a good overdriven electric guitar sound using amps and mics. The problem is the only room I have to record in is small and dry, and I'm also limited as to how loud I can go, but I understand there are plug-ins being used to record direct. I have a Focusrite Saffire USB 6 and Reaper of course. I want to plug the guitar into the Saffire and get a decent recorded sound without using mics.

Any recommendations for plug-ins that will emulate both amps and cabinets? Free plug-ins are fine, but I also don't mind paying if there are very good plug ins to buy.
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Old 12-04-2019, 02:15 PM   #2
Tinus
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https://tonelib.net/gfx-overview/

This one is free (at least it was, not sure if it still is). Very nice sounding one.



https://www.positivegrid.com/bias-amp/

This one is a paid plug-in. Very realistic models. Comes in Standard, Professional and Elite. You can download a demo to try it out, and between the 3rd and 9th of December you'll get a 50% discount.

Last edited by Tinus; 12-04-2019 at 02:34 PM.
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Old 12-04-2019, 02:32 PM   #3
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I wouldn't recommend positive grid. I have it and it's incredibly awkward to use. Maybe the newer versions are better, but for me, it's largely unusable.

If I had it to do over again, I'd have gone Amplitube.

It depends on the sounds you're trying to record. What genre would you say you're working in?
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Old 12-04-2019, 02:42 PM   #4
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I wouldn't recommend positive grid. I have it and it's incredibly awkward to use. Maybe the newer versions are better, but for me, it's largely unusable.
The only thing I had to deal with was the sluggish and buggy GUI of Bias Amp 2. But that went away when I built my new PC with a better graphics card. It may also have gotten fixed by an update, not sure.

Bottom line: Demo everything before you buy. Try as many different things as you can.
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Old 12-07-2019, 09:02 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Tinus View Post
The only thing I had to deal with was the sluggish and buggy GUI of Bias Amp 2. But that went away when I built my new PC with a better graphics card. It may also have gotten fixed by an update, not sure.

Bottom line: Demo everything before you buy. Try as many different things as you can.
I also find the GUI sluggish. The sound is very 3D and convincing, though. This is an object lesson in the importance of GUI design. I've become far more selective since I bought BiasAmp.
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Old 12-04-2019, 02:53 PM   #6
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I wouldn't recommend positive grid. I have it and it's incredibly awkward to use. Maybe the newer versions are better, but for me, it's largely unusable.

If I had it to do over again, I'd have gone Amplitube.

It depends on the sounds you're trying to record. What genre would you say you're working in?
Thanks for the replies. Genre is typical blues based hard rock & roll, fair amount of gain mostly via Les Paul but sometimes Telecaster.
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Old 12-04-2019, 04:52 PM   #7
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I use BIAS FX for Fender Twin, Marshall 800, Ampeg SVT and acoustic sim and TSE X50 for Peavey 5150.
I tried Waves GTR, Mercurial, TH2, Guitar Rig, Ignite amps and BIAS FX sounds more realistic for me.
I have the same sound card btw))
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Old 12-04-2019, 05:26 PM   #8
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The PRS Archon, Dallas, or V9.... great preamp sound and pretty detailed.
Dialing in the correct amount of input level get a good tube like satuation is key... But for sure they are just about real sounding and feeling as I've heard a plugin get. Great for re-amping too.

Watch the Vids and see what you think... On sale too


I record a clean track at same time I print a track with something on the inputFX that I've got sounding pretty good.. Clean track is awesome to then play around with Amplitube or PRS and pick and choose my way to any other sound I might want with out having to record over again (assuming good take)

Depending what you want, I've also found Amplitubes guitar bundles to do fairly well... personally a huge fan of the Dimebag pack and the Mesa Boogie, both of those go from easy saturation to incredible crunch and punch pretty well. they'll need a bit of eq when mixing in to other tracks like any other guitar... etc...etc....
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Old 12-05-2019, 09:02 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gm22 View Post
Thanks for the replies. Genre is typical blues based hard rock & roll, fair amount of gain mostly via Les Paul but sometimes Telecaster.
The Fender Champ is a staple of classic rock recording. A 5w amp is surprisingly effective. "Rocky Mountain Way" is the perfect example of this.

There is a learning curve with miking and tracking these amps, but isn't that why we're all here?

I've been impressed with Shattered Glass Audio's Ace amp, which is a 57 Champ emulation. It's quite good. It doesn't quite compress like the real thing, but it's as near as dammit for freeware. (I'd actually like to see an update to solve this, even if it becomes a paid thing.)

http://www.shatteredglassaudio.com/product/103

Also, if you're into The Beatles, they have the only freeware emulation of the EMI REDD 47. It's every bit as good as the Waves Abbey Road version.
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Old 12-05-2019, 09:28 AM   #10
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You can try these, all for free!!

Nembrini Crunck
https://www.nembriniaudio.com/produc...itar-amplifier

Blue Cat amps
https://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_FreeAmp/

This is a JS plugin and sounds really good
https://forum.cockos.com/showthread....ghlight=ampera
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Old 12-04-2019, 02:36 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinus View Post
https://tonelib.net/gfx-overview/

This one is free (at least it was, not sure if it still is). Very nice sounding one.
I don't think this is free, but it is cheap.
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Old 12-04-2019, 02:43 PM   #12
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I don't think this is free, but it is cheap.
http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php...ib-GFX&id=3003

This version may still be free.
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Old 12-09-2019, 10:02 AM   #13
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I stand corrected. I've returned to try and get the Ignite Emissary to sound as good as my loadboxed peavey 6505 amp, and the combination of these two fxchain presets of Ignite Emissary and NadIR loader, combined with the impulse response I've included yield results that gives me the same feeling as playing through the real amp. I hope it can give someone else as much joy as it gives me. The clean channel is also dialed according to what I like

This is dialed for guitars with a EMG 81 in the bridge, for agressive metal (I've tuned to C standard). Dial the input gain so that your hardest strumming peaks at just above -6 dBFS. Preferably with a noise gate first in chain just dialed above noise floor. The impulse response file should be loaded to the right side of the loader, if there is any problem with the loader the settings should be:

80% resonance, 9.4k lo pass, 152 hz hi pass. Offc these can be tuned to taste but thats my preference.

Go download the two vsts from ignite and try it out

URL with ZIP file for the 2x FXchain files and the IR, place the FXchain presets where the rest of FX chains are located: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1YH...Gut8rPWYU1GMss

Does anyone know if it's possible to use a Midi footswitch to change the channel? Are there any very basic (one button) midi footswitches that works with USB?
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