Essential items for a modeler: OEMs please take note (aka Table Stakes)

[2dor]

Every variant of a 5150 ever

With a BIAS mod and Mercury Magnetics transformers

 

[DrewJD82]

You forgot negative boot time. It needs to be on and ready to go before you even think about turning it on.

I actually came to post that, as well as Stereo Inputs.

 

[Jarick]

I could probably spend hours typing up a list of models that should be included, but here's a super high level:

• Variety of vintage and modern amps, all the common ones plus some unique models for differentiation
• Matching cabs for each amp and the ability to mix/match cabs
• Factory cabs should be able to mix two mics
• User loaded impulse responses - should be able to mix two IR's as well
• Proper speaker impedance modeling at the amp level (even if it's a reactive load curve or matching cab)
• Variety of effects - either 1:1 recreations of classic effects or flexible workstation type effects that you can dial in to recreate classic effects
• Delays should include mono and stereo with the ability to create custom L/R scale percentage and ping/pong effects
• If you have convolution reverb, need a time/decay control
• Dry/wet mix on all effects
• At least one stereo effects loop
• A screen - preferably a large high resolution touch screen depending on the size of the unit
• Knobs to control parameters - more is typically better
• At least 3 programmable footswitches on the unit (for small devices, for large ones at least 8)
• Ability to fully program the device without a computer
• Ability to fully program the device with only a computer (not a phone)
• USB audio in/out
• MIDI in/out of some kind
• Tuner (metronome extra credit)

Generally, you should be able to dial in a sound from pretty much any era and have it sound reasonably good. You should be able to use the device fully on its own without a computer, but ideally also be able to fully program and control it from a computer (if it's in a rack or on a board).

That's a lot to ask but we're 40 years into digital modeling at this point and the maturity level is extremely high.

 

[mbenigni]

MIDI in/out/thru
S/PDIF in & out
Onboard support for scripts (PYTHON?)
Event triggering via switches or timeline

I like how you just tried to sneak that one in there.

Get a laptop and an interface.

 

[mbenigni]

- Synth (everyone does amp modelling just fine, give us something exciting!)

With actual polyphony, please.

 

[mikah912]

This thread reads more wish list than table stakes that cover the consensus of the current market to me.

They're not my personal faves, but amp model libraries without a Vox, Diezel VH4, Friedman of some sort, and Dumble-type amp are just begging for complaints/whining.

Other than that, I think @molul's post covers a lot of content I think modern modelers need to have, except very few have polyphonic synths.

I love "unique effects" too, but there's a fine line between "unique" and "OMG! Why they'd bother! I'm never going to use a random step-sequencing reverse fuzz!"

 

[JiveTurkey]

This threads reads more wish list than table stakes to me.

They're not my personal faves, but amp model libraries without a Vox, Diezel VH4, Friedman of some sort, and Dumble-type amp are just begging for complaints/whining.

Other than that, I think @molul's post covers a lot of content I think modern modelers need to have, except very few have polyphonic synths.

I love "unique effects" too, but there's a fine line between "unique" and "OMG! Why they'd bother! I'm never going to use a random step-sequencing reverse fuzz!"

Fart pedal = table stakes

 

[mbenigni]

This thread reads more wish list than table stakes that cover the consensus of the current market to me.

Fair enough, but if we take the OP at face value... "must-haves for a new modeler?" My POD 2.0 had it pretty well covered. I took the question to mean, "Where do we go from here?"

...except very few have polyphonic synths.

None, that I'm aware of. (Hex pickups are cheating. )

 

[mikah912]

Fair enough, but if we take the OP at face value... "must-haves for a new modeler?" My POD 2.0 had it pretty well covered. I took the question to mean, "Where do we go from here?"


None, that I'm aware of. (Hex pickups are cheating. )

Tonemaster Pro's new synths are polyphonic.

 

[Chocol8]

If I’ve been reading forums correctly, “Table Stakes” seems to mean:

• A model of every amp ever conceived of by mankind
• Zero footswitches
• 50 footswitches
• 20” touchscreen
• No touchscreen
• AI and machine learning… but we don’t know why
• A full DAW
• That one effect 99% of players have never heard of and don’t care about, but is essential for one person who will complain endlessly of its absence
• Small enough to carry in my pocket
• Cost < $99

PLUS:

• One additional requirement that you never even dreamed of before, but some guy on a forum will rant about for years

You forgot global blocks

 

[mbenigni]

Tonemaster Pro's new synths are polyphonic.

How TF did this slip past me??

Off to do my homework...

 

[RiffDuck]

Maxon OD808.

 

[Jarick]

How TF did this slip past me??

Off to do my homework...

TMP is pretty underrated...honestly the only big things it's missing from my list are proper speaker impedance curve implementation (definitely a big question mark) and wet mix for effects. There's some effects that impact dry signal which I'd rather not have, or at least have the option to take out.

One thing I didn't realize TMP did until very recently is this song mode...you can create a setlist of songs and each song you can setup switches for each part that pulls from existing presets. I really like that idea, so you can have a separate preset for each general tone (like clean, crunch, lead, chorused clean, etc.) and then pull those into whatever songs need them by part. That also means you can make changes to the underlying presets (like if you want to swap out an amp or cab) and it should carry over to all the songs using it.

 

[ragingplatypi]

You’ll see. Once someone puts a cupholder in one of these bad boys the world won’t go back. You can’t have table steaks without something to wash it down.

 

[holoholo]

You’ll see. Once someone puts a cupholder in one of these bad boys the world won’t go back. You can’t have table steaks without something to wash it down.

 

[JiveTurkey]

You’ll see. Once someone puts a cupholder in one of these bad boys the world won’t go back. You can’t have table steaks without something to wash it down.

BillyBladesFX

 

[mbenigni]

TMP is pretty underrated...

Well now I'm going to have to sit down with one for a while; see what I can make these synths do. I really hope they're awful because - between NDSP and Line 6 - my dance card is pretty full.

 

[mikah912]

Well now I'm going to have to sit down with one for a while; see what I can make these synths do. I really hope they're awful because - between NDSP and Line 6 - my dance card is pretty full.

Lurve my Stadium, but the TMP is indeed a pretty damn solid device. They had me considering selling off my FM9 to go steady with TMP before Stadium was announced.

As long as you're not hung up on flexible routing (because that fully skeuomorphic and linear signal chain AINT that) or don't need a supersection of high gain amps (once you get past the EVH Stealth, Friedman and the Soldano, it's just aiiiight)....it's got a lot that's unique to like about it like polysynths and convolution reverb.

 

[James Freeman]

Lowest noise floor for all inputs and loops that current technology allows.

 

[JiveTurkey]

As long as you're not hung up on flexible routing (because that...linear signal chain AINT that)

Good lord this x bazillion. Kemper's limited chain for my needs? No problem. TMP? Nope. Dumb.