Amplitube 2 vs. GTR

[Alouf]

Andrew, what is that PC interface you speak of that is better than the PRS?

Sorry for my lack of knowledge, I thought that the PRS is something revolutionary, unlike traditional interfaces.

[Funkybot]

Any interface (or good external pre and/or direct box) with a good hi-z input matched up with nice converters or digital out will probably sound better. There's nothing revolutionary in what Waves did with PRS, and I really doubt that they used the highest quality components they could find, as that would have really increased the price tag of the package.

[Alouf]

Funky, can you please give me an example of such a guitar->PC interface?

AndrewSimon, which interface are you using?

Thanks guys!

[Sascha Franck]

Any interface (or good external pre and/or direct box) with a good hi-z input matched up with nice converters or digital out will probably sound better. There's nothing revolutionary in what Waves did with PRS, and I really doubt that they used the highest quality components they could find, as that would have really increased the price tag of the package.

Not sure about that.
I mean, PRS is known for high quality stuff, so I doubt he'd give his name for something less than ideal.
And, regarding the price, I allready DO find the Waves thing quite expensive, so they better have HQ components in that box.
What bothers me is that they didn't offer an AD converter straight in the box. That'd just make sure that everybody would get 100% the same sound out of it - which, obviously, is the purpose of something coming with dedicated hardware.

However, I wouldn't mind a dedicated box to feed an amp simulator from, but it should probably be optional.

[AndrewSimon]

Andrew, what is that PC interface you speak of that is better than the PRS?

Sorry for my lack of knowledge, I thought that the PRS is something revolutionary, unlike traditional interfaces.

I use a modified ART DPSII mic pre.
It has 1 Mohm HiZ input, it has both tube and Op-Amp pre amp inputs. I modified the circuit so I can completely eliminate the Op-Amp stage and go with pure tube only.
I also ripped out the power supply and put it in a separate box to reduce noise.
This thing also has a beautiful A to D converter built in so I plug the guitar into it and take a fiber optic output to the computer (how is that for lifting ground loops? )



more info at:
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ARTDPSII
or
http://www.artproaudio.com/

There are many other great mic-pre/instrument DI's out there.
If money was no object I would choose the LA610 from Universal Audio (same people that make the UAD cards)

http://www.uaudio.com/products/analog/LA-610/

[A3ntar]

What bothers me is that they didn't offer an AD converter straight in the box. That'd just make sure that everybody would get 100% the same sound out of it - which, obviously, is the purpose of something coming with dedicated hardware.

Does the PRS device offer A/D? What medium does the digital out use?

I use a modified ART DPSII mic pre.
It has 1 Mohm HiZ input, it has both tube and Op-Amp pre amp inputs. I modified the circuit so I can completely eliminate the Op-Amp stage and go with pure tube only.
I also ripped out the power supply and put it in a separate box to reduce noise.
This thing also has a beautiful A to D converter built in so I plug the guitar into it and take a fiber optic output to the computer (how is that for lifting ground loops?

Who! That is neat, allthough I did not understand half of the stuff in this sentence.

I am wondering, how would that PRS device that comes with the GTR compare to a standard pre-amplifier ( or is it amplifier ) that you can find on common mixing desks like Makies VLZ for instance.

[Sascha Franck]

Does the PRS device offer A/D?

No, it doesn't.

[A3ntar]

Sascha, you are right. It is surprising that they did not offer one, so everyone can have the same basic tone. They assume that everyone have good A/D convertors. Weird.

[Funkybot]

Sascha, while I'm with you that PRS is known for being a quality outfit, they're also not known for curcuit design. I'm pretty sure something like my Grace 101 (good transformerless design for a super clean/neutral tone) or a good DI Box paired up with RME converters or better (Lucid, Apogee, Lavry, etc) will almost certainly sound better than the PRS DI, though I'd be shocked if theirs wasn't of good quality in it's own right, I just think it would be as good as some of the other options out there. Especially, since there's no conversion going on in the box.

[A3ntar]

Squids, do you know what is the PreAmp and soundcard they were using at the NAMM 2005 show when you heard the Amplitube 2 and fell in love with it?

[Squids]

At the NAMM show? I think it might have been an 002 rack from Digi. I prefer the HD system though.

The Grace 101 is very good. I have the Apogee minime that I also like (at least for going in)

RME stuff is excellent although I don't use it personally.

I finally got to hook up the sub for my Dynaudio 5.1 speaker set up. It sounds incredible. I am used to just using nearfield speakers on their own but it's fun to have even a 2.1 set up.

I am working on a song using an early version of AmpliTube 2. I am really liking how it sits in the mix. I can't wait until the final version of AT2 is done too... believe me! I am going to use that plug-in like crazy and Ampeg too.

[Alouf]

Squids! Wahoo! Please keep us posted when you finish that song! We all want to hear it!

[Alouf]

Btw squids, what do you make of that PRS interface that comes with Waves GTR?

[dusted william]

will this work on bass guitar as well?

I have an aardvark 24/96, does anyone else have one of those? I never seem to get a good guitar or bass sound when I plug directly in to them.

dw

[Alouf]

I never got a good sound with either GuitarRig demo or Amplitube demo. They both sound fake. I am using a Yamaha MG10/2 mixer as input for my guitar.

The only useable distortion I got was with GreenMachine II.