Guitar amp sim

Krank · 18th November 2007

I haven't seen this discussed elsewhere - how do the amp sims of Logic 8 compare to the best of what's available out there (Revalver, Amplitube)? Has this part been updated since v. 7?

mdme_sadie · 18th November 2007

It's pretty crap and unusable (unless you're into the digital fizz) - which IMO makes it on a par with all other software based amp simulators including the ones that you've mentioned.

(personal rant on this coming up)

Here's my take on amp, distortion and overdrive in a rough list from worst to best:

All current software based solutions,
Pod,
Zoom,
Korg/Vox Tonelab,
Boss/Roland/Digitech,
AxeFX,
....
(big gap)
....
A real amp

Sorry, that's just the way it is. You could take the cheapest practice amp out there and mic it up, or even more tellingly use it's line out to get a better tone than from any simulator. All software sim's sound like bitcrushers with no bass or low mids, no warmth, musicality or presence, i like to equate it to electronic drums in the early 80's versus actual real live drums it's that large of a gap to my ears. Perhaps they're trying to emulate the already mixed tone, as so frequently people EQ the hell out of guitars anyway to not muddy the mix or vocals, whatever reason though the result is awful.

Nordkrog · 18th November 2007

wow... I guess I'm really a horrible producer/ guitarist, because not only have I actually USED sims - I also LIKED what I heard...

Well, to answer the original post:

The sims in Logic are not very good. It is possible to get some ok sounding guitars out of it, depending on what sound you need, and how the sound will have to blend in a mix.

The best amp-sim out there for the time being is - IMHO - the waves GTR3. It actually has some musicallity and life in it's tone.

loaf · 18th November 2007

I find I spend so much time tweaking plugins such as amplitube to get a not very acceptable sound that I've gone back to an sm57 stuck up against a practice amp - much quicker!

Switchcraft · 18th November 2007

I get great sounds from them, but I use some pedals as well and mostly use clean stuff, I wouldnt ever try to use distortion sounds besides maybe a latin Carlos sound.

They are good on things that are not guitar too. Amps do sound better but with a good pre/DI and amplitube 2 I have alot of options for funk soul hip hop stuff. Rock would be a huge challenge though.

David Robinson · 18th November 2007

hi,
yes a good tube amp is where it's still at.
but, guitar amp sims have a place..........
i've been a gtr plyr for45yrs, and have suffered many bad tube amps back in the day.
a sim is certainly better than you average cheapo practice rig.
in addition, if you run a sim thru small bookshelf monitors, you will not get the sound the sim is capable of.
thru my tannoys, 15"DC's, any sim will sound decent.
they do have the lower mids and thud, etc.
DR9.

soundslikejoe · 18th November 2007

I can't speak to the original post....

As to Sims not sounding good.... a lot of that has to do with the signal path you use. If you plug you guitar direct into an interface... not very good. If you run through a high quality DI or Preamp (Avalon, UA), you can get a much better tone. Still not as good a the real thing but VERY usable.

18th November 2007	#1
Krank Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 234 Thread Starter	Guitar amp sim I haven't seen this discussed elsewhere - how do the amp sims of Logic 8 compare to the best of what's available out there (Revalver, Amplitube)? Has this part been updated since v. 7?

18th November 2007	#3
Nordkrog Gear addict Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 363	wow... I guess I'm really a horrible producer/ guitarist, because not only have I actually USED sims - I also LIKED what I heard... Well, to answer the original post: The sims in Logic are not very good. It is possible to get some ok sounding guitars out of it, depending on what sound you need, and how the sound will have to blend in a mix. The best amp-sim out there for the time being is - IMHO - the waves GTR3. It actually has some musicallity and life in it's tone. __________________ www.nordkrog.com

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18th November 2007	#2
mdme_sadie Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,070 2 Reviews written	It's pretty crap and unusable (unless you're into the digital fizz) - which IMO makes it on a par with all other software based amp simulators including the ones that you've mentioned. (personal rant on this coming up) Here's my take on amp, distortion and overdrive in a rough list from worst to best: All current software based solutions, Pod, Zoom, Korg/Vox Tonelab, Boss/Roland/Digitech, AxeFX, .... (big gap) .... A real amp Sorry, that's just the way it is. You could take the cheapest practice amp out there and mic it up, or even more tellingly use it's line out to get a better tone than from any simulator. All software sim's sound like bitcrushers with no bass or low mids, no warmth, musicality or presence, i like to equate it to electronic drums in the early 80's versus actual real live drums it's that large of a gap to my ears. Perhaps they're trying to emulate the already mixed tone, as so frequently people EQ the hell out of guitars anyway to not muddy the mix or vocals, whatever reason though the result is awful.

18th November 2007	#4
loaf Gear addict Joined: May 2004 Posts: 369	I find I spend so much time tweaking plugins such as amplitube to get a not very acceptable sound that I've gone back to an sm57 stuck up against a practice amp - much quicker!

18th November 2007	#5
Switchcraft Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,059	I get great sounds from them, but I use some pedals as well and mostly use clean stuff, I wouldnt ever try to use distortion sounds besides maybe a latin Carlos sound. They are good on things that are not guitar too. Amps do sound better but with a good pre/DI and amplitube 2 I have alot of options for funk soul hip hop stuff. Rock would be a huge challenge though.

18th November 2007	#6
David Robinson Gear maniac Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 251	hi, yes a good tube amp is where it's still at. but, guitar amp sims have a place.......... i've been a gtr plyr for45yrs, and have suffered many bad tube amps back in the day. a sim is certainly better than you average cheapo practice rig. in addition, if you run a sim thru small bookshelf monitors, you will not get the sound the sim is capable of. thru my tannoys, 15"DC's, any sim will sound decent. they do have the lower mids and thud, etc. DR9.

18th November 2007	#7
soundslikejoe Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Carolina Guy Posts: 719	I can't speak to the original post.... As to Sims not sounding good.... a lot of that has to do with the signal path you use. If you plug you guitar direct into an interface... not very good. If you run through a high quality DI or Preamp (Avalon, UA), you can get a much better tone. Still not as good a the real thing but VERY usable.