Softube ENGL Savage

[MirrorProfiles]

Didn’t expect this, ENGL have done amp sims with a variety of companies (IK, Plugin Alliance) and Softube already had an unlicensed model in Amp Room.

Curious to check it out.

 

[Whizzinby]

I need to dig in on the Savage. I love the Fireball and Powerball.

 

[OrganicZed]

I need to dig in on the Savage. I love the Fireball and Powerball.

The ENGL Severe models in the Axe-FX are great.

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

The ENGL Severe models in the Axe-FX are great.

Yes, but they are models of the Mk I Savage.

 

[LeftyLoungeLizard]

I have the Brainworx ENGL Savage 120 (based off the original, not the MkII).

I got it not for what you'd expect (chug chug chug), but because Blackmore used one on Rainbow's "Stranger In Us All" album; example:



I fiddled with it a bit but have yet to really dig in, but it's cool.

ENGL Savage 120

Developed by Brainworx the ENGL Savage 120 is a beast of an amp. It's a recording studio classic, which can be heard on countless albums. Most famous for its metal tones, it also shines on a lot of other genres.

www.plugin-alliance.com

 

[mbenigni]

ENGL Blackmore Signature captures have been my go to’s from the first day I got my QC. I’ve wanted a Blackmore or Savage ever since.

 

[Whizzinby]

ENGL Blackmore Signature captures have been my go to’s from the first day I got my QC. I’ve wanted a Blackmore or Savage ever since.

Is the Blackmore an offshoot of one of their other amps? (Fireball, Powerball etc)

 

[mikah912]

Is the Blackmore an offshoot of one of their other amps? (Fireball, Powerball etc)

Yeah, the Savage MK1.

 

[SeeD]

wow, the amp controls and buttons and text is sooo tiny... I have my face right up on the pc screen to see hahaha

 

[Mongillo19]

wow, the amp controls and buttons and text is sooo tiny... I have my face right up on the pc screen to see hahaha

 

[SeeD]

Well I get `young` again when wearing glasses. Buuuut it`s still to small

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Finally checking it out, they've done a good job.

Spoiler: UI Rants

I kind of agree that some of the buttons and text is hard to read even though the amps look stunning. I also find Amp Room a bit clunky to use and generally prefer their standalone stuff where possible. Its just not as slick as it could be - lots of things take several clicks to do, information isnt always visible, its all a bit hodge podge (some elements could do with some kind of background as they just look like buttons dropped onto the screen). I also find it laggy, sometimes the graphics will take a few seconds to update (which is annoying when I'm trying to remove redundant processing blocks). Its got a lot of the issue's I don't like about Amplitube's UI (too bloated, too many clicks to do things, laggy/sluggish performance). Compared to Amplitube, I think they generally have more and better information on the screen at any one point but they could do with adding type to search and more ways to group to find what you need, rather than scrolling through a list that is very jumpy. It feels buggier than any other Softube plugin I use too, moving the mic feels jumpy, sometimes the value displays don't show any information.

It sounds great to me, behaves like I'd imagine/sounds like an ENGL. Not sure I'd buy, but its more because I find all ENGL amps to be so similar to each other and I can probably get close enough to the tones I like with what I already own. I think this would be great for someone who LOVES the Savage Mark II and wants all the channels and modes etc.

Guessings its 3V=0dBFS for input levels. Its a gainy and diverse amp with a lot of modes and features, so I think accurate input levels would matter a lot for this one.

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

I find it very difficult to get a usable sound from the Savage plugin, but I really like the Fireball model of the Metal Suite. However, there are two things that prevent me from using it more often: First, the file size (the Amp Room plugin weighs in at a whopping 744 MB and Cubase projects with multiple instances of it take forever to load), second, I'm annoyed by a bug that causes the settings to constantly change drastically without my intervention. It happens to me all the time that after reopening the plugin, all the knobs are suddenly in completely crazy positions.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I find it very difficult to get a usable sound from the Savage plugin, but I really like the Fireball model of the Metal Suite. However, there are two things that prevent me from using it more often: First, the file size (the Amp Room plugin weighs in at a whopping 744 MB and Cubase projects with multiple instances of it take forever to load), second, I'm annoyed by a bug that causes the settings to constantly change drastically without my intervention. It happens to me all the time that after reopening the plugin, all the knobs are suddenly in completely crazy positions.

weirdly I much preferred the savage, the Fireball model didn’t seem to have a full master volume emulation.

Definitely hit up Softube support, they’re really good.

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

[...] the Fireball model didn’t seem to have a full master volume emulation. [...]

Yeah, that's a little bit strange. And it does have a depth control, although the original amp does not.
However, I think the model sounds really good.