Alternative to BIAS AMP

Discussion in 'Software' started by pelao, Jan 12, 2017.

  1. pelao

    pelao Kapellmeister

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    totally agree, the fingers are the fx
     
  2. RiffMaster

    RiffMaster Guest

    i often go in through a real pedal first just to crack the signal a bit instead of a sim , for some tones it gives a lot more energy to the sound , also vadim taranov models just the pre amp stage of some amps and if you put them through an ignite TPA-1 custom power amp you can get some very unique killer tones ................
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 13, 2017
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  3. Zenarcist

    Zenarcist Audiosexual

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    A Kemper Amp is the only digital hw/sw product that sounds like a real amp, so anybody looking for an authentic amp sound has two choices, real tubes or a Kemper :wink:
     
  4. digitaldragon

    digitaldragon Audiosexual

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    Same here, except I'm using an Art MPA Pro II in the chain instead of a pedal. Guitar DI into the faceplate, saturate to taste, out the back XLR to the recording interface, and back 1/4 to either an amp or multi-fx for monitoring. I did this with a guitar player I was recording through an Orange Thunderverb 50, and he loved the tone so much, he ended up buying an MPA for his rig.
    It really made the amp sims "come alive" when I started using this chain, particularly for the single coil telecasters and such.
     
  5. RiffMaster

    RiffMaster Guest

    Holy crap that thing looks awesome , never heard of it before , just watched a couple of vids of it an now im drooling at the bit lol i so need to get me one of those , cheers for the shout dude :)
     
  6. Torrao

    Torrao Platinum Record

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    When people connect a guitar to an amp, they do just that.

    When people play through a VST modeller, there is a whole different signal chain going on which ALSO has to be taken care of. You can't judge properly a modeller through a crap interface with crap preamps, crap converters, through crap monitors, and pretend you're going to get proper "5150 into a Mesa Oversized 412 tones". It's just NOT going to happen.

    For starters, get a good cable and decent audio interface with good preamps/converters (Audient ID4 should cut it, Audient ID14 even better). That will be your "amp". If you can get a decent DI box, even better (although the Audient ID series have a very nice JFET instrument input). Then start worrying about the VSTs (effects).

    Nothing touches S-Gear and Thermionik for realism in the VST world. You will be definetely covered with those two for any kind of sound you want. For IRs, Ownhammer or 3 Sigma for tracking. Nebula for mixing if you can bear with the CPU hit on all your guitar tracks. I personally use Ownhammer IRs for mixing because there are very few Nebula cabinet choices available, and they are not sampled with the same "budget" as current commercial IRs.

    Best ITB tone I've ever had is plugging a good analog distortion pedal through Nebula "full amp simulations" (Henry Olonga, etc). They are presets and you can't change a thing, but it sounds and feels real. The day Acustica Audio ports its Acqua plugin format into VST amp territory, that will be a real game changer.
     
  7. pelao

    pelao Kapellmeister

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    i have searching, tested and i finally have my bundle of plugins:
    For metal : Lepou, thermionik. Really good ones with an post eq
    For clean tones: vintage amp room is really cool and s-gear 2
    For FX guitar rig 5

    i have another question ¿is really important the IR loader or can be anyone a good one?
     
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2017
  8. dragonhill

    dragonhill Guest

    Did anyone mention Ignite Emmissary? The whole free Ignite line is pretty good
     
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  9. Piszpunta

    Piszpunta Kapellmeister

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    Back to the topic:

    During last 5 years I tried almost every availble amp sim. So far, no real alternative for BIAS AMP, IMO.

    Loading the GUI takes ages, and I think the plugin suffers from the denormalization problem (so I need to insert a dithering plugin before BIAS AMP in Reaper - otherwise it takes much CPU). But it sounds great and no other current plugin convinces me. (I mostly use the Marshall emulation.)
     
  10. digitaldragon

    digitaldragon Audiosexual

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    I did extensive research before getting mine. You can get a lot of tonal variation just by changing out the tubes in it. And it's not an atypical starved plate design so lot's of color. @rhythmatist would remark on how much he liked his which got me to looking at it to begin with. I really didn't plan to use it recording guitar DI when I was shopping, I was looking for mic preamps. But it's served many different purposes, even as an outboard saturation effect. I also ran this in series with my Akai Reel to Reel and it sweetened the sound there too.
    Sorry, OP. I'll stop hijacking the thread with this! Just thought it would be interesting to share as it does have a bearing on amp sims.
     
  11. pelao

    pelao Kapellmeister

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    yes i forget emissary sorry :)
     
  12. pelao

    pelao Kapellmeister

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    compare the white amp of vintage amp room and any marshall of bias. You will see the that is an alternative
     
  13. Mattc90

    Mattc90 Kapellmeister

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    What preamp plugins do you like to use?
     
  14. Montgent

    Montgent Kapellmeister

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    I like LVC Pre-amped, any channel strip plugin with a gain knob, there's one named Tube Preamp, can't recall the developer. Even tape plugs work, just something to saturate a little before entering. It helps take fizz or brittle highs out of amp sims.
     
  15. Greggers

    Greggers Kapellmeister

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    this one?

    [​IMG]
     
  16. digitaldragon

    digitaldragon Audiosexual

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    Nick Crow Labs has got several available. I haven't tried them myself as I have actual hardware. Free! :wink:
     
  17. Montgent

    Montgent Kapellmeister

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    The one I'm thinking of is by Shattered Glass Audio. They have a couple of free ones. The Kush Omega Transformers are nice too. There's a lot of them out there, but really, it's only for a touch of saturation and to calm down the highs before going into an amp sim. Like I said, it works for me and might not really work for someone else's tastes. Those Nick Crow ones are nice too.
     
  18. digitaldragon

    digitaldragon Audiosexual

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    You also may have luck with the R2R Wollensack Emulation from CDSoundMaster. I have actually used it on the output end for tonal smoothing.
     
  19. pelao

    pelao Kapellmeister

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    post your virtual gear and exchange ideas
     
  20. digitaldragon

    digitaldragon Audiosexual

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    Well, this thread certainly made me want to test drive Bias! If the Marshalls (or any others really) beat my current Mecurial and Krank emulations, I'd be happy as I think they sound pretty good. Still, haven't found anything that beats the tone from my Mode 4, Krankenstein, or Orange Thunderverb when they are mic'd up and screaming! :metal::guitarhero:
     
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