Digital amplifier / amp sim

[gy1900s]

I dont plan gigging. What do you think about Spark 40, should i wait for Spark 2 really? I can found used Spark 40 for 160 - 180 usd.

Yes, wait a couple months for the spark 2.
It has a built in looper, an improved tuner, improved modeling, a built in drum machine, and the option for battery pack.

it also has an AI engine. Like you can say, "create a Metallica tone for me," and it will create a tone for you in seconds. It might not be the greatest tone, but then you can then tweak it. With the Katana, you'll be downloading patches for that.

Even if you don't need any of that stuff, the regular Spark 40 will be under a hundred bucks on the used market once the Spark 2 has been out a couple months. It can be used as a Bluetooth speaker, you can use it for bass, you can charge your phone with it etc. It does a lot more than the Katana


Also, I've used both amps to record with, and the Spark sounds better for silent recording simply because it's a MUCH quieter amp with gain. The Katanas tend to buzz/hum even with a noise gate when you crank the gain. They can be a pain in the @$$ to silent recording with for that reason. They're just a noisy amp by nature when using the speaker as well. The Spark is not, and it has a superior noise gate, even if it was.

Again, the area the Katana is better is for performance because even the 50 is absolutely loud enough to keep up with a rock drummer, and it has a superior footswitch. The katana is a great amp for live performance in regards to bang for your buck, but the Spark would suit your needs better imo.

 

[kubilaydem]

Yes, wait a couple months for the spark 2.
It has a built in looper, an improved tuner, improved modeling, a built in drum machine, and the option for battery pack.

it also has an AI engine. Like you can say, "create a Metallica tone for me," and it will create a tone for you in seconds. It might not be the greatest tone, but then you can then tweak it. With the Katana, you'll be downloading patches for that.

Even if you don't need any of that stuff, the regular Spark 40 will be under a hundred bucks on the used market once the Spark 2 has been out a couple months. It can be used as a Bluetooth speaker, you can use it for bass, you can charge your phone with it etc. It does a lot more than the Katana


Also, I've used both amps to record with, and the Spark sounds better for silent recording simply because it's a MUCH quieter amp with gain. The Katanas tend to buzz/hum even with a noise gate when you crank the gain. They can be a pain in the @$$ to silent recording with for that reason. They're just a noisy amp by nature when using the speaker as well. The Spark is not, and it has a superior noise gate, even if it was.

Again, the area the Katana is better is for performance because even the 50 is absolutely loud enough to keep up with a rock drummer, and it has a superior footswitch. The katana is a great amp for live performance in regards to bang for your buck, but the Spark would suit your needs better imo.

Thank you very much.

My first thought was Spark. Then I created other options. My problem with Spark is the bass problem. This caught my attention.

Yes, it can be corrected with the help of EQ, but in the end this causes a tonal difference between recording and listening.

 

[gy1900s]

Thank you very much.

My first thought was Spark. Then I created other options. My problem with Spark is the bass problem. This caught my attention.

Yes, it can be corrected with the help of EQ, but in the end this causes a tonal difference between recording and listening.

If can be bass heavy when recording, but all you do is turn the bass down when recording. Yeah, it seems weird running a vintage Fender amp sim with the bass set at 3 or 4, but it's to correct the extra bass the little speakers use.

Aparently, this has been corrected in the spark 2, as it's voiced differently between the speakers and line out. Yet, another reason to wait a month or so.

 

[kubilaydem]

As a result of my final decision, I now have three options;

1- Helix Native + Scarlett Solo + Presonus Eris E5 or JBL 305p

2- Pod Express + Presonus Eris E5 or JBL 305p

3- Nux Mighty Space

It'll all be second-hand.

 

[[Nathan]]

If you end up with an interface there’s a long list of free amp sim options and you can always keep your ear to the ground for plugin sales.

 

[kubilaydem]

If you end up with an interface there’s a long list of free amp sim options and you can always keep your ear to the ground for plugin sales.

I don't know much about the free options. What options are available? Are there really good free options?

 

[[Nathan]]

I don't know much about the free options. What options are available? Are there really good free options?

ML Roots, STL Emissary, Nembrini has a bunch of free stuff
Reaper has a bunch of stock plugins you can use for reverb/delay/fx
NadIR is a free IR loader

Audio assault has heaps of $5 amps if you wanted something more specific.

Plenty of free stuff to get you going especially if you just want to play and not obsess about plugins. Honestly even ml roots does the job on its own for jamming and recording purposes.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

neurontube: debut - audiosingularity

Neurontube: debut is a guitar plugin with virtual stomp pedals, amps, and cabinets for endless guitar tones. It can be also used as a standalone app.

audiosingularity.com

 

[kartikg3]

My goal is to practice and make recordings.

My heartfelt 5 cents, to achieve your goal (last point is probably the most important):

1. Get a decent pair of monitors (studio monitors or floor wedges / doesn't have to be super expensive.. drum amps (like the CoolMusic DM100) are great "FRFR" monitors for modelers)

2. Get a Line6 modeler (HX Stomp recommended, if not, Line6 Pod Express or even Line6 POD GO) <These also double as audio interface for you to record / reamp)

3. Set atleast 3 tones up to your liking: (Don't overthink or spend too much time on this, just spend 10 mins, dial in and GO)
i. Clean (of any flavour you like, compressed clean or clean /w mod (chorus/phaser etc.))
ii. Crunch (for rhythm playing.. with mids slightly scooped out, so it doesnt crowd the mix)
iii. Lead (with lots of mids, to stand-out and sing)

4. Find 5 songs / parts you want to nail. Get a notebook, a metronome app and start logging your practice everyday.

5. Don't log back into TGF or TOP for ATLEAST 3 months (the longer, the better); instead, focus on #4.

All the best!

 

[kubilaydem]

My heartfelt 5 cents, to achieve your goal (last point is probably the most important):

1. Get a decent pair of monitors (studio monitors or floor wedges / doesn't have to be super expensive.. drum amps (like the CoolMusic DM100) are great ""FRFR"" monitors for modelers)

2. Get a Line6 modeler (HX Stomp recommended, if not, Line6 Pod Express or even Line6 POD GO) <These also double as audio interface for you to record / reamp)

3. Set atleast 3 tones up to your liking: (Don't overthink or spend too much time on this, just spend 10 mins, dial in and GO)
i. Clean (of any flavour you like, compressed clean or clean /w mod (chorus/phaser etc.))
ii. Crunch (for rhythm playing.. with mids slightly scooped out, so it doesnt crowd the mix)
iii. Lead (with lots of mids, to stand-out and sing)

4. Find 5 songs / parts you want to nail. Get a notebook, a metronome app and start logging your practice everyday.

5. Don't log back into TGF or TOP for ATLEAST 3 months (the longer, the better); instead, focus on #4.

All the best!

Thank you very much.

Yesterday I bought a studio monitor and tomorrow I'm thinking of buying a scarlett sound card. Then I thought I'll move forward with VSTs, but I'm also worried that I'll get lost in too many VSTs and drop everything again. For this reason, another option in my mind is to buy a Pod Express or Ampero Mini and not enter the VST world.

I started playing guitar in 2004. I took a break in 2014 and haven't played for 10 years. Last time (2014) I was playing with Pod HD (bean) and studio monitors with serious pleasure. Then I switched to other equipment with the thought of whether it would be better. After that, I stopped playing guitar. I had good recordings, but they were all left behind.

 

[Los-D]

ML Roots, STL Emissary, Nembrini has a bunch of free stuff
Reaper has a bunch of stock plugins you can use for reverb/delay/fx
NadIR is a free IR loader

Audio assault has heaps of $5 amps if you wanted something more specific.

Plenty of free stuff to get you going especially if you just want to play and not obsess about plugins. Honestly even ml roots does the job on its own for jamming and recording purposes.

I would recommend to check out NAM for amp tones as well. Lot of good captures from TGF members

 

[kartikg3]

Then I thought I'll move forward with VSTs, but I'm also worried that I'll get lost in too many VSTs and drop everything again. For this reason, another option in my mind is to buy a Pod Express or Ampero Mini and not enter the VST world.

If you worry you will get lost in the rabbit hole, then you WILL get lost in the rabbit hole. Commit to a simple modeller that sounds good and has all the options you would ever need to nail any part (Line6 POD Express is one of those), get that. Again, this also doubles as a sound card / audio interface, so you can plug this into your computer and record directly, so technically you do not need a seperate audio interface.

Godspeed! Remember to log off for 3 months.

 

[[Nathan]]

I would recommend to check out NAM for amp tones as well. Lot of good captures from TGF members

NAM is awesome and I do my own captures. But if someone is dipping their toes into all this I think its a bit overwhelming, they can easily waste their time and have a bad experience. Unless im sending someone a specific NAM model and IR I think an easy amp sim is an easier starter. But yeah NAM is amazing.

 

[kubilaydem]

I bought the sound card yesterday. I've only tried the factory presets in Tonocracy for now. I must say I hear a nice sound.

I set the gain setting on my Focusrite card to the lowest setting. I activated the INST option (red color). I get a nice sound but the volume remains low. Should I increase the output level via the application until I see -4 -8 db on the output side? Currently 0 db is selected in the output section.

 

[kubilaydem]

For those who are curious;
I bought Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and studio monitors.
However, as I predicted, the “Rabbit Hole” situation occurred. I have been busy trying various plugins for about 45 days.
I think the screenshot says it all.
Now I need to get out of this hole, but how?

 

[laxu]

For those who are curious;
I bought Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and studio monitors.
However, as I predicted, the “Rabbit Hole” situation occurred. I have been busy trying various plugins for about 45 days.
I think the screenshot says it all.
Now I need to get out of this hole, but how?
View attachment 32258

Start eliminating by making some sort of ranking, based on whether you like the sounds you get, the workflow etc. Bias Fx 2 is IMO an easy elimination, and I don't see the AmpKnobs as something I would want to use long term.

My choice would probably be one or two NeuralDSP plugins as they have a good feature set, good presets and are still easy to use.

 

[kubilaydem]

Start eliminating by making some sort of ranking, based on whether you like the sounds you get, the workflow etc. Bias Fx 2 is IMO an easy elimination, and I don't see the AmpKnobs as something I would want to use long term.

My choice would probably be one or two NeuralDSP plugins as they have a good feature set, good presets and are still easy to use.

The best to my ears (top 3)
1- Neural DSP
2- Bogren MLC S-Zero 100
3- McRocklin Suite

I'm interested in Jeff Beck and Gary Moore tones.

 

[laxu]

The best to my ears (top 3)
1- Neural DSP
2- Bogren MLC S-Zero 100
3- McRocklin Suite

I'm interested in Jeff Beck and Gary Moore tones.

I'm a big Gary Moore fan, and I think I could use just the NeuralDSP Soldano SLO plugin for that kind of stuff. It does a lot.

The NeuralDSP Nolly plugin is also a good do-it-all rock plugin.

 

[Enchilada Jones]

You could, just as one example, only use Tonocracy to get the hours of practice in and never touch the others. Same can be said about most of the others you have. So you opened the digital Pandora’s box of time wasted instead of used for your intended purpose. I’m a professional abuser of that box, trust me, I live it.

The only thing you need now is discipline. Put most of those tools away and start to work. Limiting yourself to a smaller scope of choices forces you to use rhythm, harmony and melody to get where you want to be. It makes you use your ears for more than auditioning amp sounds.

35 varieties of the same amp sound have never made me a better player, if it could people would be sending me money and praises from around the world because I have way more than 35 plexi presets saved on numerous devices and so many Fender presets I should be embarrassed.

 

[Sascha Franck]

I'm interested in Jeff Beck and Gary Moore tones.

Defenitely make sure to also check S-Gear. For anything not metal, it's still among the best IMO.
Unfortunately, their sale is just over. Still more bang for the buck than most others.