Sonic Reality

Cosmic Bandito · Post by **Cosmic Bandito** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 7:51 pm

Beardedone wrote:
Moog pedal
What's that?

You haven't heard of these?

http://www.moogmusic.com/detail.php?main_product_id=111

Cosmic Bandito · Post by **Cosmic Bandito** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 7:54 pm

I think the low-pass one is the most popular (and cheaper too)

http://www.moogmusic.com/detail.php?pro ... _id=5#page

Beardedone · Post by **Beardedone** » Tue Apr 05, 2005 8:10 pm

Ok yeah I saw a review in SOS but haven't read it yet. I can barely afford software never mind hardware!

flyingsquirrelofdeath · Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:51 am

I sold amplitube to customers at guitar center over POD's or any other emulator amps we had. As much as I respect the experts with their tons of amps, they still spent a small fortune and years of gear-collecting-instead-of-music-making just to get an edge in their sound over emulations and the 'cheap amps'. Especially considering the percentage of people that can actually hear the difference in a final mix between my AT1 and their amp collection is a very small minority. And an even smaller percentage within that percentage that even listen to new music anyway.

Sure you can (probably) get better tone collecting all the real amps. But like with those Line 6 Variax guitars, getting even 75% of the real sound is more than enough to get the point across to the average listener. I get more than enough of the 'real thing' from AT1 to be satisfied with. I still use AT1 for bass, guitar, flute, violin, and vocal effects.

Probably the only improvement I'm hoping for that hasn't been directly mentioned in the press release for v.2 is that it will be more stable with multiple instances. Have you noticed anything along those lines demo'ing the new one Mr. Squid? And will it be released in time to be a birthday present (apr25)?

Squids · Post by **Squids** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 8:42 am

More stable is difficult to tell with a prelim version. But, actually, the good news is that I don't think I've seen the prelim version crash once! Maybe once but I can't even remember which is a good sign.

AT2 is more heavy on the processor but it has two simultaneous guitar rigs in parallel or serial. Multiple instances? I don't know. But, it's simply a must-have piece regardless of what else anyone has. Partially for the VERY good reasons you mentioned but also because it is such a unique and cool piece to have for inspiration and control of your sound. The possibilities with it are so incredible and it is conveniently laid out like a guitar player would want. The stomp section alone is totally worth the price. You know as well as I that just a Fuzz Face in hardware costs as much (the real one I mean). This has a Boss CE-1 emulation and Dynacomp too!!! Plus some other greats. I AM a collector but you're right that when it comes to MAKING MUSIC as a #1 priority this is where these kinds of tools SHINE. The other stuff is nice to have too but it all depends on your priorities and your budget.

Cheers to the flying squirrel.

Vervil · Post by **Vervil** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 1:53 pm

Sure you can (probably) get better tone collecting all the real amps. But like with those Line 6 Variax guitars, getting even 75% of the real sound is more than enough to get the point across to the average listener.

I don't like that kind of logic, and I have heard this often when talking about guitar amps simulations.
When people complain about oscillators aliasing in VA synth, it is always valid, or when someone says that available software native EQ's are not yet up to some hardware units. But most of the time someone notices considerable difference in integrity of sound between software emulation and hardware preamp or mic-ed guitar amp, there are some people that think it is some kind of placebo of guitar players that don't like software.
Simply, there is still big difference in quality. Why should be anyone happy with 75% of getting there? Do we use same logic when programming drums or recording vocals?
And other problem is usability of software-amped guitars in busy mixes, they still fail when it comes to recording heavily distorted guitar tracks. They sound OK-ish on their own, but only time I tried to use software for this ended as hell for the guy who mixed the record, so we had to re-record guitars with Marshall and mic, and then, Mix was finished in few hours. Real quality of emulation is always noticed best within the contest of the mix, most of the software emulations can sound convincing on their own, or in a really simple mixes with mostly clean guitars. When working in studio, I don't really need all existing amps or guitars, but I do need two or three different sounds that will work and sound really great.
On the other hand for someone that just wants to make some demos at home, software emulation can be a good solution, that's true.

Beardedone · Post by **Beardedone** » Wed Apr 06, 2005 2:29 pm

But most of the time someone notices considerable difference in integrity of sound between software emulation and hardware preamp or mic-ed guitar amp, there are some people that think it is some kind of placebo of guitar players that don't like software.

Well said Vervil!

Still in a dilema about Amplitube 1 though.

flyingsquirrelofdeath · Wed Apr 06, 2005 8:40 pm

well, the same thing can be said in both directions. A studio I worked at used an SSL board for those "noticeably better" EQs, but only did because they could afford to. My point is go for the best quality within your budget. I saw many a kid come into guitar center convinced from guitarists and professional engineers that they could never mix quality music on a 001 or have great guitar tone with software or a POD.

I guess you could say I've got an axe to grind with the purists. I wasted time and money NOT making music because I let the pro's opinions get to my head. I'm convinced that the tool's matter less and less to producers and engineers the longer they spend mixing albums. Obviously there is a threshold point with any of those tools you don't want to go below, but Amplitube is nowhere near that point!

For those who want to make a career out of mixing music and don't necessarily write music, I can understand why to recommend an SSL, a 40thousand dollar Pro Tools rig, the full blue microphone series, and Dave Jerden's guitar Amp collection.

I work with guys who recommend top-of-the-line gear to college students who just want to record their own music. I recommend simple setups because most guitarists I run into are interested in making music with quality guitar tone. Amplitube definitely gives them that.

The more time we all spend at mixing the more we learn there are always tricks to making something sound a little better using another plugin or another piece of hardware. To assume you can't make a high quality guitar track using amplitube is shortsighted. Even if certain things about the guitar tone don't quite meet your standard, you can still fix it with plugins before/after amplitube in the signal chain.

I guess I'm not disagreeing with you guys, there are noticeable differences between emulations and the "real thing". I'm pleased with the guitar tracks I make using amplitube. Amplitube is my baby though, and I'll defend her like my favorite football team.

Kim Lajoie · Post by **Kim Lajoie** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 12:35 am

The real question is: does it rock? Remember: it's the ear, not the gear (also known as "It's the witch, not the wand").

Forever,

Kim.

iDavid · Post by **iDavid** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 5:47 pm

I've lost track here, when is AT2 coming out?

mondo tormento · Post by **mondo tormento** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 12:35 am

Yeah, spring is over soon so when is AT2 coming out?

Squids · Post by **Squids** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 3:19 am

Soon.

t-willy · Post by **t-willy** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:11 pm

Squids wrote:Soon.

"soon" as in a couple of months or soon as in geologic time............

oh, and my AT1 kicks ass. i got it about a month ago (free w/ the ST2 L upgrade) and have been tweaking the hell out of it. i mostly use it for bass, but like to use it to track guitar ideas as well. it also kicks ass for getting some cool vocal effects.

lates

t-willy

Squids · Post by **Squids** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:30 pm

Soon as in a couple months? Maybe about that. Could be sooner or a little later but not much.

You guys are going to love AT2.

Kim Lajoie · Post by **Kim Lajoie** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:33 pm

t-willy wrote:oh, and my AT1 kicks ass. i got it about a month ago (free w/ the ST2 L upgrade) and have been tweaking the hell out of it. i mostly use it for bass, but like to use it to track guitar ideas as well. it also kicks ass for getting some cool vocal effects.

Yeah, it's my secret sauce. Well, maybe not so secret anymore...

Forever,

Kim.

Sonic Reality

KVR Audio

Amplitube 2?