Amplitube 2 Jimi Hendrix RELEASED this month!!!

[vonRed]

And btw, what is all that talk about detailed specs of certain circuits being present or not?!? I really don't think software's there yet at all. I haven't heard a single software actually being able to sound like my Twin, regardless of how it was miced, so I couldn't give less of a damn which condensators are modelled in whatever circuits.

Oh and btw, are you folks all buying upside-down strats and original JH cables (which one were those, btw?!?) as well? Without these you don't even need to start thinking about whatever capacitor was used in whatever amp sim.

I would agree with that, except these are components which determine the shape of the tone controls. You can quibble about this or that capacitor sounding better than others (like those high end hifi idiots tend to do), but it's the value of the capacitor, and thus the frequency at which the tone control operates, that's being discussed here.

And then, what about the latency of all your 100% identical soundcards? Is it almost like zero, as on every decent real amp? In case it isn't, all your playing experience will be *entirely* different, even if you don't even seem to notice it (it's a pretty much underestimated fact that our hearing is *extremely* sensible in terms of timing).

I would also agree with that, except when you start getting latencies of 6ms or so (that is, 6ms from when the sound goes in to when it comes out again), you're getting in the ballpark of real amps (depending on where your speakers are etc).

Which isn't to say playing through ampsims is indistinguishable from playing through a real amplifier, because it's not.

[redshift factor]

Oh, and, while not being exactly related: Will someone finally release an amp sim that is actually offering enough comfort to be used in a live context? So far there's *none*, if you have some specialized needs (which actually aren't all that specialized). Just to give you a few examples:
- What do I do whenever I think my clean sounds are too loud for a given live job? Reprogram each and every clean sound during soundcheck?
- What do I do whenever I need less overall reverb? Reprogram each and every patch?
- What do I do when I need more gain on my crunch sounds? Reprogram?
- What do I do should I monitor myself through a guitar amp instead of through a fullrange system? Reprogram all patches by switching off the speaker sim?

As I think Squids would be quick to jump in an point out: Get the Stomp I/O. Plug in some CC pedals, and you can change all of that, volume, gain, reverb level whatever, all while you play. No need to "reprogram", though you could save your fine-tuned setup for instant recall at a later date, which is more than can be said about a real amp. And of course you'll be able to recall any preset from Stomp I/O with the tap of your foot. It has a lot more convenience than working with a real amp.
Now how about my commission, Squids?

Actually though, this gave me what I think is a really cool idea. Imagine a controller sort of like Stomp I/O, but rather than being a foot controller, it would be a rack mountable unit more like a control surface, that resembles the AmpliTube2 amp page panel, complete with large amp sized knobs. Since all models use the same knob layout, it would be easy to design. Each component module could have a standard FX unit digital display showing the selected model ("British Tube Lead 1"), and up/down program increment buttons to change models. You could set this up on stage right where your real amp would sit, and if you want to grab a volume or tone knob and turn it up, then away you go. The design could be expanded to, say, 2U rack spaces to accommodate more digital displays and up/down arrow buttons for cab and mic selection as well. It would be perfect not as a replacement but actually as a compliment to Stomp I/O, with Stomp I/O for controlling the effects, and this unit for hands-on tactile control of the amp.

The knobs could be the infinite turn style with LED display showing the knob position, so it can automatically sync to the knob settings upon program changes, and even show automation movements in real-time, all without the need for motorization.

I would agree with that, except these are components which determine the shape of the tone controls. You can quibble about this or that capacitor sounding better than others (like those high end hifi idiots tend to do), but it's the value of the capacitor, and thus the frequency at which the tone control operates, that's being discussed here.

That is exactly right.

[Sascha Franck]

As I think Squids would be quick to jump in an point out: Get the Stomp I/O. Plug in some CC pedals, and you can change all of that, volume, gain, reverb level whatever, all while you play.

Sorry, but I think you completely underestimate the stupidity of currently available software here.
What if I switch a patch and switch back to the "pedal-modified" one? Will it still have less reverb? I would bet an arm that it wouldn't.
Besides #1: I wouldn't want to deal with slight modifications of my overall reverb amount by fooling around with any foot pedal.
Besides #2: I will *never* use any USB device on any stage floor. USB connections are consumer quality. Stomp I/O makes no difference there (I've seen it in Frankfurt). An absolute no-no.
Besides #3: I would like to use other plugins as well. Amplitube doesn't allow for that in standalone mode and in plugin mode Stomp I/O doesn't make the slightest sense.

It has a lot more convenience than working with a real amp.

It has a lot more patches. But the convenience is a lot smaller. With a real amp I turn down my clean channel and all clean patches are affected. Show me how to do that with Amplitube, Stomp I/O or whatever software of your choice. It's impossible.

Unfortunately, all this sort of stuff isn't made with live musicians in mind. Amplitube isn't, Stomp I/O isn't either. Maybe fine for the occasional top 40 gig, but that's about it.

[redshift factor]

Sorry, but I think you completely underestimate the stupidity of currently available software here.
What if I switch a patch and switch back to the "pedal-modified" one? Will it still have less reverb? I would bet an arm that it wouldn't.

You're incorrect. Changes to presets in AmpliTube (and most plugins) are retained as long as it remains loaded. They only go back to default upon reloading, assuming you didn't save the changes to the preset. It doesn't matter how those changes are transmitted to the software, either, whether its a control surface or a mouse.

[Sascha Franck]

You're incorrect. Changes to presets in AmpliTube (and any plugin) are retained as long as it remains loaded. They only go back to default upon reloading, assuming you didn't save the changes to the preset.

What do you refer to as being "any plugin"?
Also, are you saying that once I switch to preset A, change something, then switch to preset B, then back to A, changes made to A would still be valid?
But, even if you were correct (which I doubt), how does that help in adjusting my overall reverb amount? And how does changing the level of one clean preset change the level of all clean presets accordingly? It simply doesn't help at all. I would still have to adjust each and every patch separately.

[ultimo]

To sound like jimi, all you need is a cordless shure mic.
purple haze all in my fridge.

[redshift factor]

Yes, I am saying that, and I know for an absolute fact, as I created my own bank of presets for AmpliTube when I demoed it, and I could scroll through my various presets, make changes, scroll to another, come back, and find my most recent changes still in place.

And what I mean by "any plugin" (which I had already changed to "most plugins", just because I'm sure there are a few that don't follow the rule - Waves plugins I think, if you use their internal preset browser) is just that. My experience with most plugins (and their stand alone couterparts) however is that changes are carried over.

[Sascha Franck]

And what I mean by "any plugin" (which I had already changed to "most plugins", just because I'm sure there are a few that don't follow the rule - Waves plugins I think, if you use their internal preset browser) is just that. My experience with most plugins (and their stand alone couterparts) however is that changes are carried over.

Ok, fine.
But as you may have found out by my previous post, this still doesn't help me in the slightest, as I still would have to change all clean sounds separately (just to name this single example).

[redshift factor]

Why not just turn down your guitar volume or the audio device output then?

[multree]

I found a place that still had the old Marshall BluesBreaker pedal in stock (BRAND NEW!!! - well old stock but anyway) and I'm playing it thru AT2 and it sounds NICE....

all I can add to the discussion...

just got a used Shredmaster as well this morning (yeah I'm back to hardware pedals... but mostly due to the fact that their value increases over time)

I still think there need to be more Distortion Pedals in AT2 and a few more transistor (solid state?) amps - cuz to get that authentic MULLY WHEN HE WAS YOUNG AND USING HIS OLD SHREDMASTER THREW A MODIFIED FENDER PRINCETON CHORUS INTO A MARSHALL 4x12 CABINET sound... you need stomps and crappy amps....

tube amps are well and good but.... I think there's still room for more stuff in AT2

personally I think it would've been a KICKASS decision to modell all this stuff seperatly - and sell it seperatly (yeah I know... you lose resolution going from one plug to another since it's only 32bit max and noth 64bit integral and all that - but - who the f**k cares... I don't - I couldn't tell a dithered from an undithered track if I'm not told to listen for that exact effect (not sure I could if told to do so... never tried))

but wouldn't it be cool to buy a certain pedal... just that pedal...

or just the amp you owned in your youth

BTW I REALLY LIKE AT2 but I would love it if it would allow me to use a single stomper as a single effect and chain the f**kers inside Tracktion however I want...

right now the stomps don't have presets at all (yeah I know... 4 knobs what do you need presets for - but to tell you the truth - if you ever used stomp boxes.... you'll know that draing little circles and drawing in the knob position IS A f**king PRESET - and come on --- we all did it - I did)

oh and to redshift... turning your guitar volume down is a BAD idea..... DIGITAL isn't ANALOG.... you loose resolution (at least that's my understanding in my - sundrunkenhead)

okay so here's my list of stompboxes to be at'ed

Marshall Shredmaster
Marshall BluesBreaker (the old Black model not the new crappy one)
Ibanez Sonic Distortion SD9
BOSS BF-1 Flanger (which isn't exactlly a flanger since BOSS didn't know what that was when they built it - but it sounds SUPERB and LUSH as hell)
More EHX pedals
MI Audio CrunchBox
Fulltone DejaVibe (well the UniVibe should be good enough)
Fulltone FullDrive 2 Mosfet edition (there's your dumble sound Sascha )
Z.VEX Ringtone
Z.VEX OOOHWAH

Some TwoRock amps
More Solid State Amps (especially combos)
Roland Jazz Chorus Amp
A real (or better yet several) Leslie Speaker(s).... chooseable as a cabinet

and all that loadable as COMPLETE RACK for the full-deal-presets.... and as SINGLE VSTs for the tweakheads

YEAH

[Sascha Franck]

Why not just turn down your guitar volume or the audio device output then?

I'm not sure, but: Do you really not WANT to understand what my complaints are all about?
Turning down your guitar volume is something entirely different. Besides, it won't work with crunchy sounds, it won't work with reverb amounts, it won't work with speaker sim on/off statuses and what not.
Turning the overall output down?!? How would that help in changing my clean levels compared to the overdriven levels?

[beergeek]

Why not just turn down your guitar volume or the audio device output then?

I think your missing Sascha's point (in fact, I'm pretty sure you are )

Sure, he could program multiple sets of clean patches with varying amounts of verb but that's not really the same as turning down a knob on one channel and it's a boatload or work without the real flexibility he has with the amp channel.

The solution is not to use it in standalone and to run one instance of nothing but rack effects after an instance of the actual presets. but that's not going to work either because he wants to run it in standalone mode.

It's actually a very good idea for someone to come up with a "global rack" in the chain with it's own presets and on/off switch.

Right now, the only way I see to do it is to run 2 instances but this problem isn't unique to AT2.

[Lunch Money]

'Sides, turning down the volume knob bleeds off frequencies. Not the same at all, even in the context you're thinking of.

[multree]

'Sides, turning down the volume knob bleeds off frequencies. Not the same at all, even in the context you're thinking of.

and it reduces the bitdepth - does it not ???

[Sascha Franck]

Finally, someone who understands me. Thanks beergeek.

Thing is, I have been thinking about a lot of possible solutions (especially since I've been involved into betatesting some amp sims), yet, nobody has even come halfway close to a proper solution.
Heck, even my rusty Boss GT-5 is doing a *way* better job. In the utility section it has controls for:
- Overall reverb amount.
- Overall EQ (just bass and treble, but at least something).
- Overall speaker sim adjustment (global off/on and patchbased).
- Overall noise gate threshold.

In addition it offers 2 user tweakable custom amp models. When you change their settings, the changes are valid for all patches using those very amp models.

Now, we don't need to discuss the sound of the GT-5 at all, but even after 10 or more years, its utility section is absolutely unrivalled.
Oh, in addition, when using delays and reverbs, they overlap when switching patches. Something such as GuitarRig still doesn't (don't even get me started on that issue...) - does Amplitube?

However, as said, there's various scenarios that could adress the problems. Unfortunately, they seem to be of absolute lowest priority for any software company. Live useage of their stuff still seems to be unlikely, even for the developers. A bit strange, considering that at least AT and GR come with dedicated hardware controllers.

As is, for me, the only solution at the moment is using Kore. But setting it up properly is a true PITA - this shouldn't be necessary for those that just want an amp sim.