Sonic Reality

jess123 · Post by **jess123** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 1:41 am

I was seriously looking into AMpeg SVX till it dawn on me that I don't have bass guitar. And if I do, well, I'm not a good player.

Are there other ways of using this modeller besides plugging via an actual electric bass guitar?

Kim Lajoie · Post by **Kim Lajoie** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:09 am

It'll be useful for anything requiring a solid low end. Kick drums (or whole drum kits for special effects), synth bass, sampled bass, secret weapon on vocals (some studios keep a tube bass amp head to run vocals through for a different flavour of tube compression). How you can use Ampeg SVX will really depend on what kind of music you're making, and how creative you're willing to get! Even at it's most bass-ic (har har), you can use it on anything that would benefit "down there" (har har).

Stay posted, more Ampeg SVX tips coming from me in the next few weeks...

-Kim.

Kim Lajoie · Post by **Kim Lajoie** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:14 am

(must avoid jokes about having a tight bottom, getting something solid down below, plugging tubes in down there, rattling the cabinet, etc).

Ok, I'm done.

-Kim.

jess123 · Post by **jess123** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:10 am

Heh, but at the end of the day, if one doesn't have a bass guitar...it's very unlikely one would buy Ampeg SVX as it's not cheap!

Unless...one here can reveal more pragmatic uses of it that makes you feel that the price is worth it

Kim Lajoie · Post by **Kim Lajoie** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:01 am

Whether the price is worth it or not is really up to the individual. A lot of bassists are going to get Amped SVX (of course), but like I wrote above, I think it's going to be useful for other sounds too. I bet there's going to be more than a few dance/electronica folk who get this because it's a secret weapon on dance kicks and synth bass. For a professional composer, Ampeg SVX might be worth it to get a special low rumble for a film sound track.

Just think about what you could do if you had a high-end bass amp in your studio. Then think about how much MORE you'd use it if it had the flexibility of a plugin (total recall, multiple instances, non-destructive processing, etc).

Maybe for a hobbyist it's a bit harder to justify because it's not marketed as an "all-things-to-all-people" effect, but I think it's something that people will find has more uses than they initially thought. I plan to do a demo song with Ampeg SVX on EVERY TRACK! (As soon as I get some time!). Maybe you don't need it if you're making choral a capella recordings, but if you're even on this thread then that shows you're interested and you'd probably find it useful.

-Kim.

jess123 · Post by **jess123** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:41 am

Yes I mainly do rock/metal stuff.

The only 'hope' I have is consider using Trilogy electric bass and run the samples pass Ampeg SVX. Hopefully the price does go down sometime in the future

Beardedone · Post by **Beardedone** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 3:23 pm

I installed the SVX demo and realize that to judge this plugin properly I think I will need to borrow a real electric bass. This is because I was not able to hear any dramatic improvement using the ST2.1 basses, synth basses or even what is now my go-to electric bass set designed for Manystation (the UBK set- it almost makes me like electric basses now). The results of applying SVX as a send effect were minimal - often too quiet-the gain needed to be turned way up in every case except for the distorted patches. Fortunately I will have access to a fairly good five string to see if there is an advantage for a bass player in a performance settting with Brainspawn Forte. For my taste, I get more than I want using TRacks, EAS Neodynium or the PSP Mixpack plugins to when I need to beef up the lower frequencies. Please steer me in the right direction I am do something wrong but I barely even whelmed with SVX so far and I am running short of trial instances. Btw, why are there only 8 demo trials?

Gordon

flynn · Post by **flynn** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:17 pm

Why do you apply it as a send effect? As I see it, it should be used as an insert.
(as if you plug the bass into the amp..)

You can blend the amp sound and the DI signal if you want in Ampeg SVX. (if that was the purpose using send?)

But I think you're right regarding the real bass issue. I get more out of it playing my basses through ampeg SVX than using any sampled sound. (as I find them already "processed" in some sort)

I like the real Ampegs, and the SVX really gives me what I want without spending alot more than i can afford

(and not having to disturb my family trying to get the sound I want, mostly in the need of high volume.)

EF

Beardedone · Post by **Beardedone** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:37 pm

OK I'll try as an insert. But I generally prefer using effects as sends as it gives me more choice in terms of mixing.

Kim Lajoie · Post by **Kim Lajoie** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:58 am

Yes, definitely use it as an insert first.

-Kim.

Beardedone · Post by **Beardedone** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:43 am

When I get my hands on a bass and practice a bit I'll try again. Problrm I have too few tries left. I though we got 25 tries how come I only get 10? Ten tries is is sufficient to get an idea how to use and make sure it works in my host (I now use 7 hosts) never mind determining how it sounds.

Trojan Badger · Post by **Trojan Badger** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:18 pm

When I get mine installed (hopefully by the weekend) I'll plug it into some of my trilogy tracks and see how I do.

Although I have to say, now that I have a bass again I don't see myself using Trilogy for much longer. It's fantastic and has a great sound, but as a wise man on this forum once said, "The groove is in your hands when you play real bass".

Beardedone · Post by **Beardedone** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:16 pm

Right on Trojan Badger!

Sonic Reality

KVR Audio

Ampeg® SVX - Are we there yet?