Best Amp sim for a newbie?

[orica77]

Try some freebies before buying anything. Audio Assault make some good amps. When you say you're a noob, do you mean new to guitars or amp Sims?

I'm new to amp sim and recording in the box, not a new guitar player

Tell us more about what kind of amps and tones you like? Do you have pedals you’d like to keep using?

Basically the options are a big complex suite with many modes, or a more focused model of one (or a few related) amps. For a beginner I’d suggest spending some time with the latter style - but it should be one that suits your music!

Yes, I guess you are right...I didn't write the music I am into.
I am into classic rock style distortions cleans, and a bit of hard rock (distortions that sounds really good - but not heavy metal tough).
Also some Bluesy ones might fit.

I really don't want too many to get lost, but few ones to like and work with.
Put my eyes on the Nembrini Audio ones, and some people mentioned that the Neural DSP have some decent ones.

Cheers

[Uncle E]

Neural DSP is great for metal and hyper cleans but not the sounds you’re describing. Try Kuassa instead. Kuassa Lancaster is a model of a Vox AC 30 and is the one I’d recommend most for the sounds you’re describing:



Kuassa Matchlock is a Fender Bassman:



Kuassa Caliburn is 3 different Marshalls, ranging from a 60’s JTM45, an 80’s JCM800, and a 90’s JCM900. This is a good choice if you want a broader variety of sounds:

[imrae]

Uncle E beat me to it! Caliburn should be a great fit for classic crunch and distortion, and will clean up if necessary.

[BBFG#]

To start, stay away from anything that's NFR or that requires iLok/PACE/EDEN or other authorizations that lock you into a lifetime ownership or that makes it nearly impossible to get rid of with out taking a substantial loss in time and/or money.

ilok licenses are easy to transfer. Not free, but easy

Maybe, but they're still a separate company from the plugin itself and their own racket that many of us have come to know as a nightmare to deal with. And as you pointed out, "not free". (Let's just not go down that road now. Okay?)

Instead, to recap some of the suggested free amps and links to start with from this thread:

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... -6-player/

https://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_FreeAmp/

https://www.kuassa.com/products/amplifikation-lite/

https://blackroosteraudio.com/en/products/cypress_tt-15

______________________
Requires a "shop/store" installation:

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/a ... itube-5-cs

https://revalver.peavey.com/

[ElVincente]

I'd say it depends if you want a lot of flexibility with a lot of tweakings or something where there are fewer possibilies but "well" chosen, and if you want real world amp names or not.
On the complexe side (the one I lounge for) I really dig bluecat's axiom, and you won't need another ampsim imho.
There's something realy deep coming along at meldaproduction too, but still beta, and preset are not always that great there...
On the realworld sim kuassa's sound nice and are dead simple to use.

[donkey tugger]

To start, stay away from anything that's NFR or that requires iLok/PACE/EDEN or other authorizations that lock you into a lifetime ownership or that makes it nearly impossible to get rid of with out taking a substantial loss in time and/or money.

ilok licenses are easy to transfer. Not free, but easy

Maybe, but they're still a separate company from the plugin itself and their own racket that many of us have come to know as a nightmare to deal with. And as you pointed out, "not free". (Let's just not go down that road now. Okay?)

Instead, to recap some of the suggested free amps and links to start with from this thread:

https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... -6-player/

https://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Product_FreeAmp/

https://www.kuassa.com/products/amplifikation-lite/

https://blackroosteraudio.com/en/products/cypress_tt-15

______________________
Requires a "shop/store" installation:

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/a ... itube-5-cs

https://revalver.peavey.com/

And another couple of good free ones which I get a lot of use from;

https://www.audiority.com/shop/l12x-sol ... amplifier/ - nice free Marshall type amp

https://www.soft-amp.com/flextron - METEL!

[ShawnG]

I'd say it depends if you want a lot of flexibility with a lot of tweakings or something where there are fewer possibilies but "well" chosen, and if you want real world amp names or not.
On the complexe side (the one I lounge for) I really dig bluecat's axiom, and you won't need another ampsim imho.
There's something realy deep coming along at meldaproduction too, but still beta, and preset are not always that great there...
On the realworld sim kuassa's sound nice and are dead simple to use.

I second the suggestion of Both the Bluecat axiom and Kuassa. the Bluecat stuff is probably my favorite all around. add the re-guitar plug and the one which does decent fake guitar feedback from them (forget the name)

If you are after heavier tones the new Rhino amp sim from Aurora is really good, and only 40 bucks, decent non-skeuomorphic interface that does not try to look like an old amp but the tones will rip your face off.

And I am pleasantly impressed by the newest version of guitar rig from NI, particularly the new amps. hopefully they get done with their mandatory Apple maintenance update soon, so they can get to making new amp profiles like they promised.

[flori89]

If you are new and don't own a daw yet, if you buy Studio One you will get Ampire with it. Can be bought standalone, too, if you want: https://www.presonus.com/produkte/de/Ampire

[Fornicras]

You can try Neural DSP's sims, they are easy to use and not too complicated especially because you don't have many options.

[beleca]

Totally depends what you want to use it for and how you want your guitar to sound. If you play metal/high gain, I haven't seen anything better than the Neural DSPs; they're expensive but you'll be happier with 1 good option than 200 bad ones. If this is your style, don't get Amplitube or BIAS especially. They can be helped a little with IRs, but compared to Neural they are not even close. If you like cleans/edge of breakup, there's nothing better afaik than the Corey Wong Neural DSP. Kuassa Matchlock may come close. If you don't want to invest that much, use as many free demos as you can and check out the brainworx stuff and Nembrini. If you want something that sounds like it was recorded in a studio, ready to mix, get Guitar Rig 6 or a Neural. I can't recommend BIAS FX2 for anything. Amp Room is like 10 year old software, as is much of Amplitube. You're going to think you want something with as many options as possible; resist this urge, because even if you get something with 500 options you'll end up finding a couple you like and using them all the time. Get free demos and focus on finding something you like, and don't be tempted to trade that for the possibility of something you might like.

[thecontrolcentre]

Last day of PA's sale today. Their amp Sims are all $29 with the Halloween sale code. SPOOKY2999
I really like the Fuchs Overdrive Supreme and bx_bassdude amps.

[bagpipe200]

I downloaded the free Kuassa one today and its pretty good. It's also easier in that it has built in cab simulation - one less thing to worry about when you're getting started. I've also gotten good use of the free Bluecat amp too - although it does need a cab simulator.

Kuassa:
https://www.kvraudio.com/product/amplif ... -by-kuassa

Blue Cat:
https://www.kvraudio.com/product/free-a ... -cat-audio

[thecontrolcentre]

There's bx_rockrack_player at PA for free ...



https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/prod ... layer.html

[zerocrossing]

Neural DSP is great for metal and hyper cleans but not the sounds you’re describing.

I’d say their Soldano emulation is totally equipped for basic classic rock sounds.

[zerocrossing]

Last day of PA's sale today. Their amp Sims are all $29 with the Halloween sale code. SPOOKY2999
I really like the Fuchs Overdrive Supreme and bx_bassdude amps.

Oh yeah, I bought the Brainworx Fuchs OD50 for UAD because I really liked the sound, even though I own an AxeFX 3. Works great on analog mono synths too.