Aura Pro - new guitar amp from db audioware

[Ian B]

Hi Sacha,
Thanks, you may well be right. I expected (naively perhaps?) the bypass mode to be a suitable level, Ill try Aura again with as clean a preset as I can find/edit, and see what happens.

The Audiobuddy is something I've considered getting, but I've been put off by major issues with external M-Audio gear (midisport 2x2) in the past. Trying to use that under XP was a total nightmare here.

[Sascha Franck]

Hi Sacha,
Thanks, you may well be right. I expected (naively perhaps?) the bypass mode to be a suitable level, Ill try Aura again with as clean a preset as I can find/edit, and see what happens.

Ah well, it's not about the level - that should be fine in bypass mode (well, of course you can allways watch your input meters...). It's just about the quality of the output amps on such things.
Using a clean patch most likely won't help much either(I tried the same on my PODs, VAmps and whatnot...).
Seriously, the properly suitable hi-z input issue is what all the new things such as the floor controllers (incl. audio interface) of GuitarRig/Amplitube or the DI box coming with Waves GTR is all about.

The Audiobuddy is something I've considered getting, but I've been put off by major issues with external M-Audio gear (midisport 2x2) in the past. Trying to use that under XP was a total nightmare here.

Yeah well, their older hardware didn't have all that great support.
But then, the Audiobuddy doesn't require any drivers as it's just an external preamp - which actually seems to match perfect with the Audiophile. IMO one of the cheapest, yet best sounding (when it comes to guitars) combinations you can get for a home recording setup.
Just get one from Thomann for a testride, and if you don't like it, send it back.
In case I'm not going for Guitar Rig (which I plan to use live), thus getting a dedicated input box along with it, I'll defenitely get the audiobuddy once my setup is up and running again.

Sorry for the hijacking of this thread - but it's defenitely kinda related.

[Lunch Money]

I only auditioned it for about 10 minutes so far (time constraints), but is it my imagination or does it have a very compressed feel to it? Can you even turn the compressor off? (I know you can turn it all the way down, but is it off?)

There also seems to be some shimmer missing.

BUT... I'll have to try 'er again to know for sure.

[DaveB]

...is it my imagination or does it have a very compressed feel to it? Can you even turn the compressor off? (I know you can turn it all the way down, but is it off?)

For a completely uncompressed sound, keep the input/output meters within the green zones. (When you hit the red zones, the input stage and valve simulations begin to compress the signal)

There also seems to be some shimmer missing.

A close mic combined with the '2x12 modern' cabinet will give you a brighter sound.

Dave
www.db-audioware.com

[Ian B]

Ah well, it's not about the level - that should be fine in bypass mode (well, of course you can allways watch your input meters...). It's just about the quality of the output amps on such things.

What's puzzling me, is the fact I can use bypass mode with Guitar Suite and Voxengo Boogex with no 'extra' hum

Using a clean patch most likely won't help much either(I tried the same on my PODs, VAmps and whatnot...).

Ah well, I won't bother with that then.

Seriously, the properly suitable hi-z input issue is what all the new things such as the floor controllers (incl. audio interface) of GuitarRig/Amplitube or the DI box coming with Waves GTR is all about.

Yeah, that makes sense.

Yeah well, their older hardware didn't have all that great support.
But then, the Audiobuddy doesn't require any drivers as it's just an external preamp - which actually seems to match perfect with the Audiophile. IMO one of the cheapest, yet best sounding (when it comes to guitars) combinations you can get for a home recording setup.

Hmm. don't know why, but I thought this was a USB device

Just get one from Thomann for a testride, and if you don't like it, send it back.

It's cheap enough to buy outright, but having to buy one to use fx like Aura, in truth, increases the cost of the software. I'll probably stick with what I've got.

In case I'm not going for Guitar Rig (which I plan to use live), thus getting a dedicated input box along with it, I'll defenitely get the audiobuddy once my setup is up and running again.

I'm only a hobby guitarist, I don't need perfection (but I'd still like it tho')

Sorry for the hijacking of this thread - but it's defenitely kinda related.

Hijacked it has been, but there's plenty of useful info been posted

[zeoy]

@Ian B
Have the same combo Sascha suggested and I can verify that it works like a charm for guitars (Audiobuddy+Audiophile 2496 that is). I have no complaints using it with mics too.

Regarding Aura, didn't have the time to test it (rearranging studio stuff ...) but I like what I 'm hearing in those mp3's and the fact that it seems to be oriented to more classical guitar tones rather than new-heavy type sounds. Should be checking it soon.

[CRISPYW]

Hi - just to say I tried it, I liked it, I bought it... For 24 quid (half price offer) this is the bargain of the year! - the CPU load is a bit higher than I'd like, compared to Warp, but then I don't get reverb, delay, compression, etc on Warp so not really a fair comparison. To my ear the sounds are really good - My only qualification being that I found myself playing the guitar more than I was playing with the settings. I have GreenMachine Amp, which I've pretty much given up on - and use Warp too, but this looks like the all in one solution I've been looking for and will stop me stringing vst effects together to get the sound I want. Sync to midi would be nice as already mentioned. One question - What settings would you recommend for bass guitar?

[Ian B]

@Ian B
Have the same combo Sascha suggested and I can verify that it works like a charm for guitars (Audiobuddy+Audiophile 2496 that is). I have no complaints using it with mics too.

Thanks zeoy,
Maybe I'll get round to getting a Audiobuddy, but it's not at the top of my shopping list at the moment. I'm happy enough with my RP50 and the amp vst's I have now.

Regarding Aura, didn't have the time to test it (rearranging studio stuff ...) but I like what I 'm hearing in those mp3's and the fact that it seems to be oriented to more classical guitar tones rather than new-heavy type sounds. Should be checking it soon.

I doubt you will be disappointed, the sounds themselves are top notch.

[fac]

Just purchased Aura Pro after some problems with Share-It. To be honest, I haven't demoed the "big guys" (Guitar Rig, Amplitube, etc). I have only used Cakewalk's Amp Sim (pretty basic and not too useable) and Revalver SE, both included with Sonar. Revalver is useless in a live situation because it introduces some latency. In any case, Aura Pro sounds better than any of them and it's pretty easy to use, and the effects (chorus, phaser, tremolo, delay) aren't bad at all. It's perfect for my occassional guitar parts but also sounds good with EP's, bass, and vocals.

BTW.- CPU usage averages 18% in most presets in my Athlon 64, 2.4 Ghz, audio running at 24/96 and 2.6 ms of latency. A patch with all effects on uses about 23%. It's not that bad for that kind of quality. There *is* noise but the gate usually takes care of it.

[Lunch Money]

I've tried it out a bit more now, and I guess it's just not the sim for me. However, some amps, period, are just not for me.

A few (hopefully) constructive criticisms:

1. It seems too "polite" for lack of a better word. When you try to punish it and make it bark at you, it won't. I think that's what I meant by the feeling of it being too 'compressed'. It might not be compression per se, but it doesn't get rude with you.

2. The static burst is enough to drive a man mad.

3. Possibly related to #1, but it doesn't have enough bite in 'crunch' and 'hi gain' applications. Somehow the hum is exascerbated more than in some other amp sims.

And a positive note, too:

When I tried using it for 'clean and smooth' tones, I finally found what I considered to be superior performance. Many amp sims, including my favourites, still "break up" too much when trying for that subtle singing smooth overdrive. This one did not. It delivered the goods, making it perfect for music that uses that kind of tone. A great amp sim for many types of jazz, for example!

I like mine a bit more 'raw' than this offers, even for my blues playing. But when I'm craving that smooth tone that Aura Pro provides, I'll wish I had it in my arsenal.

Greg

[zeoy]

Thanks zeoy,
Maybe I'll get round to getting a Audiobuddy, but it's not at the top of my shopping list at the moment. I'm happy enough with my RP50 and the amp vst's I have now.

Whatever works for you buddy

I doubt you will be disappointed, the sounds themselves are top notch.

I checked it last night (not in detail though) and my initial impressions were very positive. I quite liked the smooth character for blues-jazz tones and the effects worked well for this kind of sound.
However I also felt this "too much compression" thing but I must try what DaveB suggested about it. Some nice driven sounds but not so raw.
Overall Greg summed it up very well: a useful plugin but for a specific kind of sound. Some will hate it , some will love it
I'd love to keep checking it (I only used an EMG active humbucker equiped guitar, gotta check my sigle coils) but that noise is too much. Periodic silence would be a much better alternative demo restriction.

[Raindog]

OK, now that Aura Pro has been available for quite some time what is the user experience (what do guitar players think)? I have Nigel with my UAD card. Waht do you think, how does Aura Pro compare to it? I listened to the Guitar Rig and Amplitube 2 demos which are top notch in my opinion but definitely out of my price range.
Would Aura Pro be an alternative?
Thanks for your opinions
regards
Raindog

[Raindog]

Anyone?