The Dire State of Guitar Amp Sims

[zerocrossing]

Line 6's Helix Native doesn't have a skeuomorphic GUI. Everything is very consistent, which I Iike.

I have Kazrog Ampcraft, and that's enough for me.

I didn't know Kazrog had an amp sim. Haven't tried, but the demo sounds good.
Quick question then do you (and others) use a foot controller to control amp sims? Just switches or pedals?

I use a Behringer FCB1010. I also have a db Instruments 4e dual axis expression pedal hooked up to my Line6 HX Stomp XL.

[paramita123]

I use a Behringer FCB1010. I also have a db Instruments 4e dual axis expression pedal hooked up to my Line6 HX Stomp XL.

Niiice ! Whilst I knew theFCB1010 for years, I didn't know the db 4e pedal, dual axis pedal, so nice !
And now relating back to my post, I would love to see such pedals dedicated to controlling virtual amp sims and FX, USB I suppose, and cheaper.
I think we shouldn't be too far away from seeing some.

[zerocrossing]

I use a Behringer FCB1010. I also have a db Instruments 4e dual axis expression pedal hooked up to my Line6 HX Stomp XL.

Niiice ! Whilst I knew theFCB1010 for years, I didn't know the db 4e pedal, dual axis pedal, so nice !
And now relating back to my post, I would love to see such pedals dedicated to controlling virtual amp sims and FX, USB I suppose, and cheaper.
I think we shouldn't be too far away from seeing some.

I used to use the 4e a lot more when my main amp modeler was a Fractal AxeFX, and not that much now that I'm mostly ITB. I'm thinking of moving it to synth duties, but I haven't figured what the best one would be yet.

[jancivil]

I've never used MIDI to control any parameter of any amp sim. I use MIDI qua MIDI, mixers and that are host automation here in every case.

I would agree nonetheless that IKM Amplitube UX is pretty dire.

[paramita123]

I use a Behringer FCB1010. I also have a db Instruments 4e dual axis expression pedal hooked up to my Line6 HX Stomp XL.

Niiice ! Whilst I knew theFCB1010 for years, I didn't know the db 4e pedal, dual axis pedal, so nice !
And now relating back to my post, I would love to see such pedals dedicated to controlling virtual amp sims and FX, USB I suppose, and cheaper.
I think we shouldn't be too far away from seeing some.

I used to use the 4e a lot more when my main amp modeler was a Fractal AxeFX, and not that much now that I'm mostly ITB. I'm thinking of moving it to synth duties, but I haven't figured what the best one would be yet.

Exactly ! Most hardware and software manufacturers for guitar stuff still have the hardware mindset. I really think there is a market gap for MIDI food controllers to do advanced pedal control of ITB amp sims and more. I'd buy a good tool like that to help with playback to do takes and a dual motion pedal to tweak say a wah and a distortion at once.
Even dual dual motion pedals ! Like car driving games haha, full throttle guitar playing

[pekbro]

I have a nice lehle expression pedal that can be used to control lots of stuff, tho I can't say I've ever been inclined to use it with any amp sims, or effects therein. Generally, I don't use on board effects in amp sims, or I don't use amp sims that have effects in them at all, for instance, I've been really enjoying the DiBiquadro stuff lately.

If I do use effects, I am going to go with some dedicated effects plugins that I rate much higher than any that come included in an amp sim.

Interestingly, I do use Ableton Live to control HW pedals occasionally, but not really the reverse of that.

[paramita123]

I have a nice lehle expression pedal that can be used to control lots of stuff, tho I can't say I've ever been inclined to use it with any amp sims, or effects therein. Generally, I don't use on board effects in amp sims, or I don't use amp sims that have effects in them at all, for instance, I've been really enjoying the DiBiquadro stuff lately.

If I do use effects, I am going to go with some dedicated effects plugins that I rate much higher than any that come included in an amp sim.

Interestingly, I do use Ableton Live to control HW pedals occasionally, but not really the reverse of that.

Interesting share !
I had never heard or DibiQuadro, had a look, very Italian-looking Interfaces remind me of Acustica, which I gave up on as it was too heavy and did not work for me. As to my topic I also find them very classic, copying hardware, very skeuomorphic without innovation. Of course if the sound is great that is without a doubt the priority.

Your Lehle pedal actually has USB so it could probably control parameters in Live, eg if you wanted to modulate the gain with the pedal from a verse to a chorus. Or modulate the FX you use.
I tend to agree that build-in FX are usually a little pale. I use Deelay and Supermassive a lot, as well as Skynet for long reverbs. And a myriad of others, classic and more quirky like the MS20 filter. MIXBOX also has great FX for guitars and keys etc...
If you can name a few you like that'd be interesting !

[zerocrossing]

I use a Behringer FCB1010. I also have a db Instruments 4e dual axis expression pedal hooked up to my Line6 HX Stomp XL.

Niiice ! Whilst I knew theFCB1010 for years, I didn't know the db 4e pedal, dual axis pedal, so nice !
And now relating back to my post, I would love to see such pedals dedicated to controlling virtual amp sims and FX, USB I suppose, and cheaper.
I think we shouldn't be too far away from seeing some.

I used to use the 4e a lot more when my main amp modeler was a Fractal AxeFX, and not that much now that I'm mostly ITB. I'm thinking of moving it to synth duties, but I haven't figured what the best one would be yet.

Exactly ! Most hardware and software manufacturers for guitar stuff still have the hardware mindset. I really think there is a market gap for MIDI food controllers to do advanced pedal control of ITB amp sims and more. I'd buy a good tool like that to help with playback to do takes and a dual motion pedal to tweak say a wah and a distortion at once.
Even dual dual motion pedals ! Like car driving games haha, full throttle guitar playing

Here's what I really want. The dual axis thing is amazing, but it's somewhat awkward to use. Your foot just doesn't rotate horizontally as easily as it does vertically. A dual pedal that has something akin to "aftertouch" on a keyboard. A regular pedal that starts spitting out another CC and/or CV when you put your weight on it. I used to have a multi effects pedal by Korg called an AX-1000 and it had one pedal that was this spring loaded pressure sensor and it was fantastic. You couldn't "park" it like a regular pedal, but the feel was really awesome, like bending a string. The resistance was just perfect. Kind of like what the Expressive E Touché, but for your foot.

[zerocrossing]

I've never used MIDI to control any parameter of any amp sim. I use MIDI qua MIDI, mixers and that are host automation here in every case.

I would agree nonetheless that IKM Amplitube UX is pretty dire.

“Dire,” seems a bit hyperbolic, don’t you think? Very image heavy, but at least it’s clear and pretty intuitive. I think they should take a page or two from Guitar Rig 7’s UX book, but I’d hardly call it dire.

[RipleySterling]

I like amplitube but the UX is a bit much. It's comprehensive, but at the cost of having maybe too many bells and whistles.

I love IK's tonex though. Between amplitube, tonex, and neural stuff, I've got all the amps I could ever need.

[paramita123]

Between amplitube, tonex, and neural stuff, I've got all the amps I could ever need.

Yeah I agree, just for amp stuff it's great, especially that once dialed in, there isn't much need to tweak it.
The area where I'd like more innovation is on the handling of the FX and modulation of parameters. So far NI Guitar Rig 7 wins on this front, having for example an envelope follower to control parameters is great. Better UX than Amplitube too.
But I am nitpicking, I love firing up plugins and feeling I'm soaring through the bars !

[paramita123]

Part of my post is aimed at the UI and UX issues and limitations with skeuomorphism.

The other angle is something like : what developer will be the first to put an MSEG on an amp sim?
Or something like that, going beyond hardware of the past.
Make studio guitar work creative and fun !

[dan_flash]

download.jpegPrimo by APFX is my goto amp sim solution for now. IT addresses nearly all of complaints above and sounds great IMHO.

https://apfxaudio.com/products/primo?sr ... 3n1BV_RYVY

This looks ace, thanks for sharing. If there were a Linux version I'd buy it right now.

Lately I've been a huge fan of OmniAmp by Aboreal Audio.

https://arborealaudio.com/plugins/omniamp/

It's a dead good, nifty, simple but unique amp/cab sim that doubles as a very usable channel strip. None of that hypershit skeumorphic GUI nonsense. Been mega impressed with it.

[aMUSEd]

I don't know if the Klevgrand one is any good but I like how it looks

https://klevgrand.com/products/stark

[paramita123]

download.jpegPrimo by APFX is my goto amp sim solution for now. IT addresses nearly all of complaints above and sounds great IMHO.

https://apfxaudio.com/products/primo?sr ... 3n1BV_RYVY

This looks ace, thanks for sharing. If there were a Linux version I'd buy it right now.

Lately I've been a huge fan of OmniAmp by Aboreal Audio.

https://arborealaudio.com/plugins/omniamp/

It's a dead good, nifty, simple but unique amp/cab sim that doubles as a very usable channel strip. None of that hypershit skeumorphic GUI nonsense. Been mega impressed with it.

Looks quite nifty with the channel strip and exciter, perhaps not creative, but practical and $25 is a good price.
I saw they also have a free character amp worth a shot :
https://arborealaudio.com/plugins/str-x/