Ampeg® SVX - Are we there yet?

[Squids]

FIrst off.... if this piece of soft ware is taking this long to become stable enough
for a proper release, It MUST BE a JOKE.
Please, with all the great stuff Line-6 and even guitar rig has thrown down, no bass
software is gonna be compatible enough, to match, what can already be done with the
above mentiooned softies!!

If they say it can, itz a bunch of shit.

Nice theory. But, that's not the case. It's no joke. It's not a bunch of shit at all and most people here know that. It is based on AmpliTube 2 which many people already think is the best sounding guitar amp and effects emulation to date. The reality is that it isn't that it just takes a long time to make something stable. But, it takes a long time to develop the framework and models in something that is a step forward in quality and offers the other great features that this new engine provides (one of them being the foundation for something like Ampeg SVX to be powered by it).

There really are no dedicated bass amp and effect plug-ins like this. But, even if there was, Ampeg SVX is the only bass amp plug-in that actually involved engineers from Ampeg in the tweak/approval process of the models so it is as accurate as possible and worthy of their name. I don't think anyone questions whether Ampeg makes great bass amps. So, realistically, logic would support that it isn't likely this plug is going to be a "bunch of shit" given what people know about both Ampeg and AmpliTube 2 at this point.

Ehem... but, like I said. I think most of the people here know this and I didn't even have to respond to this post. I did anyway. I do think that if someone makes an extreme comment such as that then they should really back it up better than that though. Otherwise it is just blatant bashing and who knows why someone would want to do that?

[Sickle]

Ampeg SVX is the only bass amp plug-in that actually involved engineers from Ampeg in the tweak/approval process of the models so it is as accurate as possible and worthy of their name.

This alone makes it worth it.

End of line.

[DaveSmom]

Bring on 300

[raintalk]

How about now?

[A3ntar]

How about now?

LOL, nah, even the "other thread" didn't make it to 300. It stopped at 285. LOL.

[raintalk]

Now?

[Squids]

Almost here.

[zvenx]

according to harmony central, http://www.harmony-central.com/, it is shipping now. and the www.amplitube.com website too...
still no mp3 demos......
rsp

[daverich]

Sorry but i'd still rather hook up a mic to our real ampeg anyday.

Plugs for guitar stuff are just cold.

Kind regards

Dave Rich

[Beardedone]

Please correct me if I am wrong but I don't see why the big deal about a bass amp/cab emulator? Please explain the utility. To my ears all I need is a rich sounding double bass sound and a nice fretless Fender Precision. These are to be had in ST2.1 and SS2. Otherwise it's all just boom, boom, boom.

Seriously! I don't see the need to spend money on such a plugin.

[Squids]

Sorry but i'd still rather hook up a mic to our real ampeg anyday.

Plugs for guitar stuff are just cold.

Kind regards

Dave Rich

Sure, if you have one! Of course most people don't and especially not a collection of Ampeg amps (some that are $3,000) to choose from and to mix and match heads and cabs.

"plugs for guitar stuff" is very general as well. This is a brand new plug-in that unless you've tried Ampeg SVX itself then you'd never know if it was cold or not. The fact that IK and Ampeg went back and forth listening to get it just right counts for something on top of the raves about AmpliTube 2 which is the engine it is based on. I was encouraged by the fact that they had a B15 in the Ampeg booth right next to Ampeg SVX's B15 side by side and no one could hear the difference.

But, no one says that software is here to replace plugging into the real thing. It is something that has multiple purposes for production flexibility (especially since most studios do not have a bass amp at all, let alone a top of the line Ampeg), inspiration and of course the "saving of a lot of money but getting a great sound" doesn't hurt either.

By the way guys it is only shipping from Italy right now but not IK US or any dealers yet because it is taking a little while for the materials (boxes, manuals etc.) to make it around the globe. I am told it should arrive here end of the week and ship out beginning of next week (after the holiday).

[Sickle]

[Squids]

Please correct me if I am wrong but I don't see why the big deal about a bass amp/cab emulator? Please explain the utility. To my ears all I need is a rich sounding double bass sound and a nice fretless Fender Precision. These are to be had in ST2.1 and SS2. Otherwise it's all just boom, boom, boom.

Seriously! I don't see the need to spend money on such a plugin.

My heart goin' boom boom boom, grab your things they're gonna take you home. (name the song homies).

Well, bass amp/cabs are used by bass players in many classic recordings that you probably love. If you are mainly doing double bass and fretless then you probably don't need it. But, for people who want a warm tone, aggressive tone, beefy tone these are things that an Amp/Cab can do. Most people with virtual studios have been missing out on the sound of bass amps and just run direct. You can do that! People do it all the time. But, having a tool such as a bass amp plug-in just widens the opportunities in the mix. Hmmm let me see what it sounds like running it through some bass amp models. Oohhhhhh, nice! It opens it up or it gave it that warmth in the low end or it made it punchy but different than mere compression or eq. It is character shaping thing.

But, whether one NEEDS it or not is only something they can answer. You have AmpliTube 2 so there is a basic bass amp sim in there anyway. So for you probably not. For someone like me there is no question that I'd want to have this in the studio to grab whenever I needed it. If I was a studio owner working with others it'd be the same MUST HAVE kind of thing. A client comes in and you say "Wanna see what it sounds like through this????" and it is the magic ingredient or something. Bass players who are virtual studio owners I think it is a no-brainer. Guitarists who also have a bass as well (not to mention just having it to run guitar, keys or other things too could yeild some creative results). Songwriters, perhaps if they have the budget. It may not be a necessity. Producers I think it is a must-have for the sound tool kit. It depends on what kind of flexibility one wants for making music. I simply LOVE that this exists. It is a surprising hole in the effect plug-in world, a bass amp plug-in that has the authentic name of a classic.

[HelgeG]

My heart goin' boom boom boom, grab your things they're gonna take you home. (name the song homies).

Solsbury Hill, from my favorite Peter Gabriel album!

[Squids]

I just wanted to go double check that $399 price,, and thats what it says here,, but then I saw this had been announced in JAN 2005!! What is REALLY with the amp sim delays??..

That's just the MSRP. You can get it cheaper in stores and also owners of AT2 can get it even cheaper as a crossgrade. As for why it is that price, it is expensive to make for one thing. Consider it is really like 85 plug-ins in one (85 different sims in there of vintage gear in AT2) and I don't know how many in Ampeg but just one REAL Ampeg B15 is like $3K or something so since it sounds so darn close to it this is a nice "low price way in" on getting the sound of bass amps. All relative. But, then so is each person's wallet I understand. One person's expensive item is another person's bargain of the century. Is what it is I guess. We can say that about anything! I want that SSL plug-in from WAVES but to me it is expensive too... yet a REAL SSL is WAY expensive and out of reach so... I might try to get that SSL plug-in at some point.