What is the best Vst Dxi guitar amp modelling plug in?

Um, it's nice that you want to join KvR, optimo (welcome!) but you can do a search and find numerous threads that answer these questions.

Amplitube, Trash, Guitar Suite and the forthcoming Slayer II.

All of them (except Slayer II) are reviewed or at least highlighted in the Quick Effect Links up at the top right.

I don't know which one is the best, but I love my iZotope Trash.

Its not a plugin but u cant beat Line 6 Guitar Port for guitar use with the computer. The software it come with (the effects and amp models) are just plain excellent. A very good way to go if ur gonna do live guitar recording.

SimulAnalog Gutar Suite !

http://www.simulanalog.org/

"the simulation of some famous guitar amplifiers and stompboxes."

SimulAnalog Are really great on drums and other instruments too. These plugs are really the most faithful from what I've read. Oh and they're free.

Simulanalog jcm900 - sounds like a marshall, need I say more? If you want fancy pants amps, go elsewhere. If you don't want a Marshall sound...............


ermmmm

Don´t forget Green Machine - among the best IMO, and then it´s free! It´s got a sound of its own, so you can say that there´s nothing like it. So if you like it, then it´s what you need

Here's a quick round up with my very strong oppinions on each:

1. Amplitube - Great clean sounds, but awful, harsh distortions (even at mid gain values). Can do really amazing things on non guitar instruments though. Way too overpriced as well. Worth checking out though (there is a demo) just for the cleans, and to get a reference point (in the software only realm I'd say AT is the best when disregarding it's price).

2. Simulanalog Guitar Suite - The JCM900 is a great emulation of a crap Marshall and extremely useful (too bad the 900 was Marshall's first crap amp but people still use them all the time). The Fender Twin doesn't even come close though. Also the stomp boxes can be useful as hell in other applications. It's free, so download it even if you don't decide to use it as your main amp.

3. GreenMachine - Sorry don't like it. Doesn't even sound like a guitar amp at all to me. I suspect a lot of it's fans aren't regular guitar players, but hey it distorts things and it's free so I keep it around.

4. Trash - Sounds ok. Doesn't do any one thing particularly well, nor is it particularly bad. At times it reminds me a bit of my Pod 2.3, but not quite as good and definately a lot wierder. This one also uses up a lot of CPU. I'd say trash is great if you're not a guitar tone freak and will just occasionally use it on guitar, but want to keep something around to fuck up other instruments.

5. GuitarPort (only cause someone else brought it up) - NOT A PLUG-IN! But fucking amazing. Great cleans, great distortions, great effects all based on classic stomp boxes (the Proco Rat emulation is almost perfect when compared to my real one, except the tone switch being backwards) as far as the sound goes this is a huge winner. The only problems are that it's not a plug-in (though you can use it with your sequencer), it's quite a CPU hog, especially when open next to your sequencer (i.e. when you want to record), and it doesn't allow for reamping [processsing already recorded tracks] as of yet (Line 6 says it's being considered). If you really want software, have a fast PC, and only want something to record your guitar, this is it.

6. Pod XT [HARDWARE]- Same great amps/effects as Guitar Port only with loads more of each. Also allows for re-amping via USB so you can use it to distort other pre-recorded tracks in an entirely digital domain and uses no CPU whatsoever. It's $400 US, but seems to me the best way to go (I have Guitar Port and only bought it cause I can't afford the XT at the moment)

Did someone mention Revalver?

http://www.alienconnections.com/products.htm

Some free other options:

mda Combo is free, old but not bad at all.

SIR - not for live playing, of course, but great for processing a dry recorded guitar, on noisevault.com and other places are impulse files for POD Emultaion, Marshall and fender Stuff and some others i forgot.
Use a good distortion unit (Simulanalog´s Stuff or Cyanide 2) and add SIR with one of the Marshall/Pod impulses, anf there you go.....

Cheers, Rich

VanLichten wrote:

Some free other options: mda Combo is free, old but not bad at all. Cheers, Rich

Aye, MDA combo is top, and much overlooked. Not great for out and out distortion stuff, but lovely for a slightly fuzzy clean sound.

if you have reaktor 4, the banaan electrique ensemble is pretty good.

I would say there is no "best" guitar plug in, but each one has its strengths/weaknesses.

These observations are merely my opinions using my ears and fingers so please no-one be offended. In no particular order.

H&K WARP - limited models, but each one is done very well and has an excellent tube feel - i.e. dynamics to touch, etc. Uses the DSM models similar to H&K's Zenterra hardware units. Has the best mid-gain breakup for a digital modeler. Expensive at the usual price, but can be found for incredibly cheap ($50 USD) as closeouts. Relatively high CPU usage and very stable - VST only.

ReValver - flexibility, but not all models are good. Presets are aweful or useless. You definitely want to make your own patches. Once you get the feel for the different modules (preamps, power amps, speakers, etc.) it becomes quite useful and good sounding. Decent modeling of amp dynamics (some better than others). Nice (and actually useful) added feature of mic angle and placement. Better at vintage sounds rather than modern sounds. Low CPU usage and very stable. My second favorite modeler. Price is reasonable at $99, but support is dubious.

Amplitube - (review based on demo version) flexible but generally harsh. Noisy at high gain. Cleans sound OK but too SS for me. Known buggy issues with SampleTank & SX. Stomp boxes didn't thrill me. High CPU usage. Pricey.

Trash - (review based on demo version). Lots of tweakability. Didn't like the "feel" of the models. Better for clean and lower gain models, high gain felt strange.

Simulanalog Guitar Suite - limited but free - no reason not to get it! Stomp boxes are better than Amplitube. Low CPU usage and stable.

mDA - limited but free.

Cakewalk FX2 - terrible! Didn't like it at all.

I try only amplitube and its sounds good

I´m not intending to start a discussion here, but I know that I and many others, according to what´s been said here, really like the sound of Green Machine, which so far has been dizzed by one user and forgotten by another. I just wanted to mention it again in case that it´s got what you really want. So, you should at least try it out

Roman Empire wrote:

I´m not intending to start a discussion here, but I know that I and many others, according to what´s been said here, really like the sound of Green Machine, which so far has been dizzed by one user and forgotten by another. I just wanted to mention it again in case that it´s got what you really want. So, you should at least try it out

gads yes, I forgot that! (been going through an acoustic phase here, and haven't been digging out the old trusty blue strat.)
green machine is pretty tasty

Hey ... I like GM.

I don't give a fuck about live electric, or any hardware.

GM makes my thin Halion Strat sound sweet, or nasty ... and is miles faster to use than Revalver.

Who wants an electric guitar to sound like a real electric guitar anyhow

Trash is the best $99 I've spent - I seem to like the guitar tones more than some here, but it's just such a nasty dense plug-in.

You can get some real weird stuff happening too easily, and what it does for bass and drums is just sick. Even if you're more traditional and can't even stand the idea of an amp simulator you've got to check out the demo.

I liked the Amplitube demo and intended to buy it, but now my $399 is going elsewhere.

Quote:

6. Pod XT [HARDWARE]- Same great amps/effects as Guitar Port only with loads more of each. Also allows for re-amping via USB so you can use it to distort other pre-recorded tracks in an entirely digital domain and uses no CPU whatsoever. It's $400 US, but seems to me the best way to go (I have Guitar Port and only bought it cause I can't afford the XT at the moment)

That would be my advice also. I have tried many VST-ampsimulations but none could beat the sound of a hardware device so far IMO. I've got a PODII. I had the change to compare the PODII (400 euro) and the Guitar Port (200 euro) when I was shopping for a guitar-interface; the PODII just has more body. Also tried the Warp (which was 250 euro at that time) but didn't like that one AT ALL! It only has 3 amp-models and is far to expensive.
I'm still in doubt about trading in the PODII for an XT (more effects and better parameter-acces) or just adding an effectprocessor (because that 's basically what I want to add). The latest Lexicon and TC's are very affordable these days....

About the amp VSTi's; I guess it's just a matter of time. The first hardware amp-modellers sounded really fake but they got so much better in time.

One day the POD's be vintage and there will be a virtual version of an ampmodeller!!!

Green Freakin' Machine!! I've got a truckload of tube amps from a
'56 Vibrolux to '65 Bandmaster to my trusty Sovtek Mig 50H and I
LOVE Green Machine....I've also got Amplitube, Trash, and ReValver
(which I helped develop, and I agree the presets are a tad weak,
but it's quite flexible for the experienced tweaker!), all that not
withstanding, Green Machine has that elusive Vibe/Feel/Mojo/Tone
thang....just my HO......also worth mentioning here, I think, is
EFM's V-Amp:

http://www.ele4music.com/synthedit/vamp.html

Cheers......CL

Nice to know that I´m not the only one here finding Green Machine unique and useful

GreenMachine sounds pretty reasonable - I can get a fairly nasty tone out of it, although it doesn't hold up well in comparison to my RP300 or Alesis GuitarFX it *does* do fine for a little messing-up of a too-clean signal. If I'm feeling particularly sick, I take the RP300 signal and run IT through GreenMachine for that "your speakers are exploding" sound.

RWA wrote:

One day the POD's be vintage and there will be a virtual version of an ampmodeller!!!

CapnLockheed wrote:

ReValver (which I helped develop, and I agree the presets are a tad weak, but it's quite flexible for the experienced tweaker!)

Sorry CapnLockheed, didn't mean to rubbish your work with ReValver. I actually really like it and it is indeed a tweakers delight.

If anyone wants to hear me with Warp and ReValver in action, please take a moment to check out my website (see signature). All the audio samples (and one full length song) use either WARP or ReValver.

Cheers!

God, just really depends on what kind of tone you're looking for. If it was so straight up, then there'd be only one brand on the market for 'distortion', but each person has their own interest in what they want their guitar to sound like. Myself, it was a mix of EMG pickups, 2 amps on my POD II recorded on seperate takes, and Ozone 2 to add the finishing touches. I like the ol' heavy metal sound of the early 90's though. You probably like something different. It's going to take experimentation really. I pretty much got my sound quickly with having the POD II though.

Devon

"Sorry CapnLockheed, didn't mean to rubbish your work with ReValver. I actually really like it and it is indeed a tweakers delight."

No offense taken Bennet! ReValver can be made to sound incredible.
Structurally, it offers a lot of possiblities but......it's tube emulation
algorithms could be improved...it's getting a bit long in the tooth.
Past due time for an update and a port to VST would be nice too!!
Are you listening Michael???


"God, just really depends on what kind of tone you're looking for."

So very true.....great tone is in the ear of the be-hearer.....if you
you think the greatest distortion tone ever was produced by Tom
Scholz' Rockman and digital delay sounds better than analog and
a Roland JC-120 sounds better than a Blackface Fender Twin...then
your utterly f*cking hopeless and have no taste whatsoever. Of
course there's no accounting for taste or a lack thereof!!

Gawd I miss my 'ol Pignose...hee..hee...

Cheers.....CL

Nigel for the UAD-1 is tops awesome sound quality and tone selection.

CapnLockheed wrote:

Gawd I miss my 'ol Pignose...hee..hee...

I used to use a Pignose as the front end for an old Sound City 100 watt head ...I wish I still had both of them sometimes.
ew

Did you know that all of Frank Zappa's guitar on the 'Apostrophe' album was done with a 'Pignose' amp? I think he even rigged it so he could open and close it with his foot, kind of like using a wah-wah pedal. You can really hear this effect on the long lead break he did on the "Stink-foot" track.

He..he..yeah, I'm hip to Frank's Pig-Wah!! Apostrophe is perhaps
my fav Zappa album,(LOVE 'em all!!), the guitar tones on that album
just slay me....how 'bout them leads on "Zombie Woof"??

Cheers......CL

I have amplitube and like it pretty well. It has several interesting presets. Not everything sounds good, the distortion sounds don't blow me away (which they should for the price), but overall the best plug I've heard.

Another vote for Amplitube. I and a couple of my friends who play guitar love this amp/effects VST (although it is costly, so I personally don't own it; although I own SampleTank and SampleTank 2 will feature some of the same effects for their samples). I've heard the rest and I just find this product incredible.

But if you are looking, I would recommend demoing Amplitube and other products mentioned here and judge for yourself. A lot of this stuff is really good, it's highly subjective. The only product mentioned that I don't think really fits in the same league based on quality/versatility/price ratio is Slayer.

- eDrummist

I had this thread book-marked and now that I have had an opportunity to play with most of these I thought I would respond.

As far as cabinet modelling goes - Warp VST blows them all out of the water. I use my own distortion and don't rely on overdriving the amplifier. That said, Warp VST seems to be the only one that sounds like I am playing out of a real cabinet. The rest seem to be a type of impulse convolution (or EQ setting) and do not dynamically respond to the signal.

I know you asked for a PLUG-IN, but musiciansfriend.com was clearing out Johnson J-Stations for $99 (compared to $200+ for Warp VST or Amplitube). I have one and I don't think you can beat it for the money. Its sounds are on par with the POD (many people like its effects better than the POD's), and its hardware so it works in real-time without latency.

Without a shadow of a doubt it has to be amplitube

but the trouble is its the most expensive
also nigel the plug in that comes with one of them effect cards is supposed to be pretty cool but i can't think of its name


tell everybody about it at the sonofanun meesageboard want to get your tunes reviewed, then post them on the Review Board, and while your there plug yourself on the plugyourself board, put up a link to your site, put up an artist pic and so on



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Hey .. this thread has come alive again

Amplitude, Trash, Warp, Revalver ... talking seriously major horsepower to use these units. If other VSTIs are racked up as well, you only have to change one button and watch your PC fall over a cliff.

But for anyone who's reading who's not about to spend hundreds of dollars, then Green Machine Amp II is out in beta and is very cool, and Kjaerhuis Gold has a great new effects unit (chorus, phaser and stuff) that easily competes with expensive units.

Try the demo if in doubt as to this claim.

Cakewalk Amp sim, pretty cool

Guitar suite`s Fender twin is the best one.
Amplitube might be best when talking doing several things at one time.Much of what it does ´can be done better and less cpu consuming with other plugs.

Guitarsuite just does the amp and it does it very good.

http://www.simulanalog.org/


Bluelight

I got a soft spot for Krakli's 'trAmp' simulator. I think it's got a pretty good pair between the legs IMO. It's a freebie SE effect, but IanW knows what he's doing!

Check it out! http://www.krakli.co.uk/

Well since some hardware has been mentioned I would recommend the the Yamaha DG Stomp. The built in effects are nice, along w/ reverb & delay, but the AMP Sims are great. You can get one on ebay for around $70 and I saw one still at Guitar Center last week. Just messing around with the knobs has inspired whole songs for me.

bluelight wrote:

Guitarsuite just does the amp and it does it very good.

it's well godamnit! "it does it very well."

sorry, a grammar nazi moment brought to you by the letter Q and the number 5.

um anyway I'd agree that http://www.simulanalog.org/ has the best amp simulations. I'm planning to do a blind test with a guitarist friend this weekend to compare it with the amplitube and warp demos (there is a warp demo.. right?).

I tried it once before with another metal guitarist and he really thought that Amplitube was pathetic, and he was amazed by how good the guitarsuite stuff sounded.

http://www.behringer.com/02_products/prodindex.cfm?id=X-V-AMP&lang=eng

Personally, I have yet to find a digital modeller that responds naturally. At least with the DG Stomp & the one I posted above, they can be taken out & easily integrated into your amp setup when you're not recording. I love the DG Stomp's effects & bypass the preamp completely most of the time using it.

I love Trash. Love it to death, but I Think Amplitube is a good one too.

Personally i've yet to find a user of said things that can hold a tune. Thought you were into the music?

Sorry, my mistake;

Pleeze! give me a song!

donkey tugger wrote:

Personally i've yet to find a user of said things that can hold a tune. Thought you were into the music? Sorry, my mistake; Pleeze! give me a song!

Easy there brotha!
What's produced and what's posted don't have to coincide.

Since some hardware has been mentioned: What about VOX ToneLab? I haven't used it, but if everything i true, what I heard, it must be amazing.

I've gotta new one to stir into the pot here.

How about the Guitar Amp Sim in the Powercore? My Powercore arrives on Wednesday. I can't wait. The Voltronics guitar amp modeler looks very interesting. And it will be included in the 1.8 Powercore update.

See: http://www.tcelectronic.com/Default.asp?Id=2440&AjrThmPg=0

EnjoyRC wrote:

See: http://www.tcelectronic.com/Default.asp?Id=2440&AjrThmPg=0

It does look pretty cool and it's GOTTA sound good. Let us know how it sounds! Also thought I'd mention that Nomad Factory have one in the works too: http://www.nomadfactory.com/products/rockamp/

I am interested in your recordings with guitar amp plugin. I don't really care about sound examples of plugin's homepages. guess why:-)

And one other thing. If someone has good Revalver, Trash or Amplitube presets, write...we'll exchange if you want.

Yes please

You can find some of my presets here

http://www.dog-on-blues.co.za/bloodhound/studio.html

Email me your presets for those. I always love more presets.

Hmmm... I use a mix of hardware and software.

I just upgraded from GuitarPort to PODxt and the POD is excellent! I see myself gliding away from software amps more and more, I seriously don´t need them now that I got a POD... but sometimes I wanna do something wicked and combine both the POD and Amplitube. Can get interesting enough at times.

Before the GP and the POD I used Amplitube and Warp VST combined. I don´t like the overdrive thats in Amplitube, it feels too numb. Warp has an edge and a really nice overdrive. Combined they provide a solid sound. Nothing that can compare to either the POD or the GP.

If I had around $160 to spend I´d definately go with the GP (well... I actually did and I loved it!! )
The PODxt is superior though, IMO.

Nobody tried VOX ToneLab?

well I know it's not out yet but... this should be cool

http://www.nomadfactory.com/products/rockamp/

What beats the Gsuite plugs?