Introducing AmpliTube 3.5 Custom Shop

[Chester Desmond]

Yeah, thanks for the correction, I was referring to the AT2 and X-Gear stuff ..

I would hope it's just a bug. All owned models should imo be available.

If I can't load the Ampeg BA500 which I already own and use into 3.5Free, then I won't load 3.5 Free but X-Gear instead - and then I won't access the CustomShop either, so it wouln't really make sense for them include this odd restriction.

I'm also a little disappointed that it will still require running two different vsts to get full access to everything, but it seems to me that giving access to all the old models would be like IK giving a free upgrade to AT3 (in the case of the AT2 stuff especially). In other words, if all my AT2 models were present in 3.5free, then I would have very little incentive to upgrade to AT3. Prior to this freebie, AT2 users would have had to upgrade to take advantage of any new gear\features anyway.
AT2 users are sitting in about the same place as we were, except we have a free platform to get the AT3 gear (and\or more) we want at a fraction of the full upgrade price. Plus the bonus of using any 'Powered By' gear in the new 'shell'.

Having said all that, I haven't installed it and may yet change this opinion.

[jens]

ah, so it's indeed a bug, just as I assumed.

That this doesn't work for me might have to do with the fact that I didn't install the standalone version. In any case it seems we're beta-testing right now.

[kcisANDderit]

If I can't load the Ampeg BA500 which I already own and use into 3.5Free, then I won't load 3.5 Free but X-Gear instead - and then I won't access the CustomShop either, so it wouln't really make sense for them include this odd restriction.

I can load Ampeg BA500 here

i'm having problems with a lot of locked gear but that's not one

[kcisANDderit]

I got a response from IK about locked gear. This didn't work for me since i'm on winXP but it might work for others:

IK Multimedia Technical Support

Hi,
Sorry to hear about your issue, let's see what we can do about solving it quickly for you. what OS are you using? If you are using win7/vista uninstall AT 3 and reinstall it like this and retry it.

You must install our plug-ins under admin account. To do that launch the installer right clicking on it and selecting Run as Administrator.

Right click on the AT3 icon and go to properties > compatibility > and check the Run as administrator option. Now retry it and it should work.

[DF2R]

Their evil plan is working. I just totally fell in love with the Soldano amp. Next pay day that shall be mine!

[moxton]

Yeah, thanks for the correction, I was referring to the AT2 and X-Gear stuff ..

I would hope it's just a bug. All owned models should imo be available.

...

AT2 users are sitting in about the same place as we were, except we have a free platform to get the AT3 gear (and\or more) we want at a fraction of the full upgrade price. Plus the bonus of using any 'Powered By' gear in the new 'shell'.

Having said all that, I haven't installed it and may yet change this opinion.

Can't see the point of AT3.5 Free over X-Gear - you gain a few freebies and lose masses of stuff you bought and paid for. Back to X-Gear for me - it's IK's loss, as I'm not about to upgrade to full AT3, and it will remove my access to the Custom Shop where I might have made some impulse purchases. Surely if IK cared about getting cash from AT2 users, it could have been a bit more flexible than this ...

Describing Free 3.5 as an upgrade to AT3 is a bit rich - it is really an upgrade to X-GEAR

[Chester Desmond]

Can't see the point of AT3.5 Free over X-Gear - you gain a few freebies and lose masses of stuff you bought and paid for.

Just to be clear, by "lose" you are referring to all the AT2 models? I haven't installed it yet, so want to know what to expect.

[DarkStar]

To anyone who has bought any Gear through the Custom Shop:

What happens?
Does a file representing the purchased gear get downloaded / installed?
Or does some "magical" unlocking occur? (and presumably stored in some config file somewhere)

[kcisANDderit]

Just to be clear, by "lose" you are referring to all the AT2 models? I haven't installed it yet, so want to know what to expect.

no

There is a bug (i think) where not all previous gear gets unlocked.

see my post above from IK support

[Cordelia]

I was interested in this. But it's a mess, which is the IK way. I've come to my senses now.

[moxton]

AT2 models are not available through AT3.5. You can only access them via AT2 or X-Gear, which rather defeats the purpose of AT3.5, at least for AT2 users.

Presumably, AT3 users would have been very unhappy if people like me could access a large number of models in an AT3 wrapper without upgrading to the full AT3.

[SJ_Digriz]

Presumably, AT3 users would have been very unhappy if people like me could access a large number of models in an AT3 wrapper without upgrading to the full AT3.

Why would expect to get a patch for a version of the software you never bought?

[kcisANDderit]

Yippee!

just restored again and all the AT2 gear is unlocked

[Hink]

a bunch of hype that boils down to buying more names and some minor improvements

...has IK not seen all the posts over the internet people make saying "I dont care about models, I care about sound"?...

Good luck to IK, but this is not for me

This is an unfortunate turn because it instantly struck me as a marketing innovation for them, rather than a technological innovation such as the created the original Amplitube. It looks as if they realized that you can only sell a comprehensive amp/device modeler once to each customer. However, this new method of selling lets them encourage continued repeat buys and, ultimately, much greater revenue from each buyer.

I think it's brilliant marketing and good on them for figuring out how to make lots of money. However, I can't base my purchasing decisions on my respect for a company's marketing people--I buy based on cost vs. functionality. If IK phases out entirely the comprehensive package for a core + add-ons structure in the future, I'll look for better alternatives--especially those in which the developers are proudest of their technical advances.

+1, my point is it's all about G.A.S....there comes a point where you do not need all these models, one good model will do the job. Midway between releases of every sim it seems to shift to 'if it sounds good that's all that matters' and people do not care if it's a Marshall model or an Orange model or a Fender model etc. But yet IK is still pushing models and some of those same people will be gushing over the models.

I've been involved in a ton of these threads and I doubt anyone will say that I am either anti or pro sim or anti or pro real amp because I am not biased in any direction. (the only true bias I have is against revalver for they way they treated me personally). The truth is imho that more models wont make you sound better, I really like AT3, I really like GR4, I kinda like GTR3.5 and then there's VANDAL (I do not put that in the same category, it's a virtual amp) and I own them all. There are great freebies as well, some of which are giving the big guys a run for the money sound wise.

Here you have my pet peeve and I'm sorry I do not recognize you (but it's a pleasure to make your aquatence)...however those who know me know how I feel about Gibson and Fender, in this economy performance matters...not the name. I do not buy names, end of story.

IK is pushing the 'official' models which is a business model that I do not care for. That does not mean it's bad, I'm right or wrong but to me and to a lot of people I know it is all hype. I have really been very consistent about this over the years and will not change, what matters is my needs.

I have all the sims I have, I have several amps and am getting more (owned quite a few others over almost 40 years) for a reason. I want as many options as I can get. Now that might sound like I'm contradicting myself but I'm not, I want a lot of options but I do not need a lot of duplicated options. And to be brutally honest the 'official' label is like all the other advertising I see in the world, just like adding 'pro' to a name...bs. There is a lot of duplicated options because I can alreay get that sound from another model, why do I need it to say Soldano or Marshall?

I dont buy a car because some race car driver endorses it, I don't buy a guitar because some rock star endorses it, I don't buy groceries because it's what some celebrity endorses...I buy what works for me. AT3 works for me, I'm glad I can get AT3.5 for the 64 bit when I need it (I use samplitude and it's not yet 64 bit)...but more models will not make me perform better, sound better or produce more. I do think AT3 is a cpu hog and was already bloated, therefore it's primary purpose for me is for re-amping and I'm okay with that. But I would have rather seen AT 3.5 move more in a direction that enhanced it's own performance rather than add a mechanism to add more models, which are just names...or the 'official' name.

That's how I see this update and there will be those who will jump all over me, but I speak my mind with honesty. So I am a bit disappointed, but I dont expect anyone else to be and I respect the right of all to disagree with me (and am bracing myself for the attacks that will follow my statements)...but for me this is not what I hoped for.

I do also recognize that IK needs to generate income the best way they can to continue to deliver a fine product to us, but as you say so well "I buy based on cost vs. functionality"

There are a goodly number of gigging bands whose day jobs leave little time
for them sort gear, and having understandable 'brand-names' will be valuable, when adding new cover songs to the playlist. They may be fully capable of finding tones when using generics, but time is money. And competition can be fierce.
(I don't need the names either, since I don't play any covers)
Cheers

I hear yah and that's probably why I have an issue with it, I play guitar so I must love a Les Paul and if you come see me play and I dont have one I must suck. (not saying you think that) In my younger days I could afford one guitar and one amp, I lived on hotdogs and mac and cheese and that one guitar was a black 72 tele custom that I killed with mods (including installing a Kahler whammy).

However I'm not sure generic is the appropriate term (but it does fit a bit), there's nothing generic about my Daion guitar or my jackson and surel not my Mesa Boogie. There is a middle ground in there and I truly walk the line

I dont play covers either, even when I did i always played them wrong, but I called it 'my way'

[DarkStar]

Yippee!

just restored again and all the AT2 gear is unlocked

That's good to hear. I was worried when I read this.

Users of AmpliTube Fender™, Ampeg® SVX, AmpliTube Metal, AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™ and AmpliTube 2 Live will be able to use all of their existing gear models in the new AmpliTube 3 FREE version which includes the Custom Shop.

And AmpliTube 2 (Full) ?

DarkStar, since AmpliTube 3 supersedes AmpliTube 2, I believe you must upgrade to AT3 to unlock those models in 3.5.