Amplitube 2 occasionally outputs a LOUD noise spike in Logic (caught on video!)

[Captain]

I have been using Amplitube for a long time (from version 1). I'm not sure when this particular bug started happening, but I think it's been there for some time.

In short, Amplitube sometimes outputs a VERY loud and very short noise spike when playing a song. I can see it in Logic's audio meters, which go all the way up. The spikes seem kinda random, it's impossible to predict when the next one is going to pop up (usually it happens when you have the volume turned way up). I just spent 5 minutes playing a song that's suffering badly from this problem and filming the screen with my cell. Naturally, no problems at all. I'll try again later.

Sometimes a song seems to produce the spike in the same place every time. If I remove the problematic Amplitube instance and add it again with the same settings, the problem is usually gone. It's a bit difficult to explain the problem in more detail since it's a little elusive.

Now, this spike is REALLY REALLY loud. I'm quite sure it will eventually cause some damage to my speakers, not to mention my hearing. It's driving me crazy. It must be fixed somehow.

Another, possibly related problem is that sometimes when playing a song, I hear a CLICK (not as loud though as the noise spike I just described), and then entire Logic goes silent. Yes, every single channel. If I press play, I just hear that CLICK, and nothing else. Even the meters don't show any audio. I don't understand how a single plugin can mute the entire host. Bypassing all instances of Amplitube (and Ampeg SVX) bring the sound back, but enable them again = CLICK = sound gone. This problem has existed for as long as I can remember, through different versions of Amplitube and Logic, PowerPC and Intel. That being said, I don't recall experiencing this one for some time now.

Any ideas? I will naturally contact IK's support later, but I just needed to vent a little... Has anyone seen anything similar?

OS X 10.5.8, Logic 9.0.1, Amplitube 2.1.4

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]

[andiw]

I sometimes have the same problem with Amplitube. It is making a loud noise with 100dB level. Look here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vz ... directlink

In that situation I was fast enough to press F13 on my keyboard to make a screenshot.

The cause is definately Amplitube but I think a host (in my case Cubase 4.5) should not 'allow' a plugin to make such a loud noise...

Anyway, I don't think IKM is able to fix it. It took them 10 months to fix the problem with the copy protection. I don't think they can fix such an unpredictable bug.

Sometimes I think I'm better off buying a nice tube amp ...

[Captain]

Ha, yesterday I managed to get this on tape! Here:



Beware, it's LOUD even in this cell video. Amplitube had been doing that a couple of times during the same session, so I was expecting it to do it again, but you can still see me shaking a little when it happens...

[Viv Savage]

Sounds familiar...

http://www.xs4all.nl/~fstaal01/temp/crash.mp3

Same deal, but not just a few seconds. What you hear here has been sent to IK Multimedia in July. And honestly, I don't think they will ever (be able to) fix it. I've been messing with them since the day I bought the Amplitube Suite, and dumped it. Good sounds, shitty service. I don't need to get a heart attack on their account.

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]

[Stupid American Pig]

I vaguely remember something like that happening in one of the early Amplitube 2 releases, but hasnt happened for me in any of the variants(A2, Ampeg uno, Fender, and jimi) lately. however, I have noticed that on occasion A2 and ampeg uno(only, not jimi or fender) will load and produce no sound. It can be remedied by unloading/reloading, but is kind of annoying.

[djsubject]

Ha, yesterday I managed to get this on tape! Here:



Beware, it's LOUD even in this cell video. Amplitube had been doing that a couple of times during the same session, so I was expecting it to do it again, but you can still see me shaking a little when it happens...

& all in one

@ "shaking a little" it looked like you pooped yourself, it actually made me jump watching it (Blair Witch effect?)

but that is a disgusting sound that could damage ears &/or equipment!!

would not like to be hit with that on a loud headphone midnight session

Subz

[K-Slash]

That's why I ALWAYS USE a limiter on the master bus while composing or mixing, to prevent that kind of unpredictable behaviour.

It never happens, but just in case...

[Captain]

Sounds familiar...

http://www.xs4all.nl/~fstaal01/temp/crash.mp3

Great, glad (?) to know I'm not alone. Definitely sounds like the same problem. I'll try to bug their support too, since this is really getting on my nerves. It could be something like the audio stream shifting a bit or two in either direction, or MSB&LSB swapping, or similar. Would certainly produce audible results like that.

@ "shaking a little" it looked like you pooped yourself, it actually made me jump watching it (Blair Witch effect?)

Heh, I tried my best to brace myself, but the noise is just so frikkin' loud it always gets you by surpise..

That's why I ALWAYS USE a limiter on the master bus while composing or mixing, to prevent that kind of unpredictable behaviour.

Yeah, but even that doesn't help much in this case. Whatever headroom there is left (and even if there isn't), Amplitube's 10000dB digital noise will simply use it all and drown everything else and scare the **** out of you, no matter what your monitoring level. In my video, since I was anticipating the noise, we were listening with a moderately low volume, and there was only a couple of dBs left in the master bus (unfortunately I didn't think of showing the meter on the screen). Still, like you can hear, it's impossibly LOUD. I have also had Waves L3 in the master bus a couple of times with some heavy limiting going on, and _still_ the noise has managed to sound 10x louder than anything else, even when it peaks at the same 0dB as the song.

(The reason I'm still using Amplitube is that when it comes to basic high-gain powerchord sounds, I simply haven't found anything that beats Amplitube's Modern Tube Lead amp. But let's not go there now. )

[Viv Savage]

Great, glad (?) to know I'm not alone. Definitely sounds like the same problem. I'll try to bug their support too, since this is really getting on my nerves. It could be something like the audio stream shifting a bit or two in either direction, or MSB&LSB swapping, or similar. Would certainly produce audible results like that.

Sarcasm... You gotta love it, but I know what you mean. I have no idea what it is that does that, all I know is that this is a combination between Jimi's Plexi and Metal's Randall implementation. But after trying out other things I noticed that it does the same on most combinations of amps ("cross-program" or not).

That's why I ALWAYS USE a limiter on the master bus while composing or mixing, to prevent that kind of unpredictable behaviour.

Yeah, but even that doesn't help much in this case. Whatever headroom there is left (and even if there isn't), Amplitube's 10000dB digital noise will simply use it all and drown everything else and scare the **** out of you, no matter what your monitoring level.

Try and use the program in a live situation... Hell, I got drumsticks thrown at me the first time the thing did that in the rehearsal room. Whether you use a limiter or whatever is unimportant; the thing is unusable in a real environment thanks to that. Envision playing a nice ballad and half the audience swooning/sleeping over the melody and .... BANG... KRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!! Guess you don't need any magnesium flares after that to wake 'em up.

(The reason I'm still using Amplitube is that when it comes to basic high-gain powerchord sounds, I simply haven't found anything that beats Amplitube's Modern Tube Lead amp. But let's not go there now. )

The only good thing that Amplitube did was point me to Randall for amps. Now I have a RM-4 with 4 modules in it and that one IS stable.

I am cured of using computers for guitar, I'll use them just for synths thank you very much. And I'll use NI's Guitar Rig for effects and guitar amps with stuff like Rhodes pianos, after all I cannot depend on Amplitube not to crash on me. 500 Euros down the drain.

[K-Slash]

Just one question.

Are you on Mac or PC, or is the bug on both platform.

That may sound silly but, just in case...

[Viv Savage]

I am a Mac.

Hmmmm... Sounds like that ad campaign

[IK_M_Support]

Hello All..

Sorry to hear of these troubles with your AmpliTube software! Please know that IK is aware of the issue and is currently in the process of updating and creating a fix. The noise is not pleasant and we fully understand your feelings here.

We have discovered a temporary workaround to this issue, which is to disable the High Resolution setting within the AmpliTube Preferences options. To access this, load up AmpliTube and click the PREFERENCES button in the bottom left corner and click to disable the High Resolution here. This setting is enabled by default, so the chances are high that this is enabled.

If you have continued troubles, please contact IK Multimedia Support so we can open a Support ticket with you. To open a ticket, visit http://www.ikmultimedia.com/Support.php, and fill in the required fields.

Thanks.

IK Multimedia Support

[Viv Savage]

Hello All..

Sorry to hear of these troubles with your AmpliTube software! Please know that IK is aware of the issue and is currently in the process of updating and creating a fix. The noise is not pleasant and we fully understand your feelings here.

Duh... You are aware of it since July at last. But knowing the speed of the fixes it will be done somewhere in 2011.

We have discovered a temporary workaround to this issue, which is to disable the High Resolution setting within the AmpliTube Preferences options. To access this, load up AmpliTube and click the PREFERENCES button in the bottom left corner and click to disable the High Resolution here. This setting is enabled by default, so the chances are high that this is enabled.

Been there, done that... Still Kaplooi.

If you have continued troubles, please contact IK Multimedia Support so we can open a Support ticket with you. To open a ticket, visit http://www.ikmultimedia.com/Support.php, and fill in the required fields.

hmmm.... You mean you answer them. Funny that... I haven't had an answer over more than a month.

As I said, I moved on but I am not interested in the company line.