With so many great sounding virtual guitar amps on the market these days (both in plugin and hardware form) a common question I get is: do they sound professional enough to use?
Or should we just stick with real guitar amps?
Today I thought I would let YOU hear the difference for yourself and give you my take on the subject.
Hint: there’s more than just tone to consider!
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My name is Graham Cochrane and I'm the founder of The Recording Revolution, one of the world's most loved audio recording and mixing blogs with over 200,000 readers each month. 
If you would have asked me this question a few years ago, I would have not even bothered to record with amp modeling software. However, there have been many significan advancements in modeling software, such as being dynamic and adaptive to your playing, and even the responsiveness of the cabinet simulators. I recorded a track on an upcoming release with an Amplitube UA, and Amplitube (Android)usingone of the included amp.models and the result was so convincing, that people were asking me what amp I was using. They didn’t even realize it was modeling software through an mobile interface. I am a believer now in amp modeling software, but not all are the same. Do your homework!
I don’t know…. both are definitely usable but I did hear a persistent background noise in the plug-in.
Excellent overview and comparison Graham. I used the Eleven Rack and plugins for about 90% of my last album, and I could not be happier with the outcome. So much versatility these days to get unique tones.
The title track:
Hi, Graham, I totally agree, once again. But I think you should have gone the opposite way (as far as EQ is concerned) in order to compare the two amps: the real one sounds way darker than the IK, so cutting highs a bit in the IK would have got its sound closer to the Vox. Kind regards.
I use an Hx Stomp Guitar pedal as my interface and the sounds I can get from it are awesome! Thanks Graham for the work you do, I found your videos in the summer of last year and it has helped me in recording and creativity!
Great video. I mostly record guitar with (don’t laugh) a Zoom G3, which also has a built-in interface. Can get some great sounds with a bit of tweaking.
You cant compare your usual amp with a simulation that has nothing to do with the same amp… also, try not to saturate as much with the plugin… I have and use a lot of different plugins, simulators and eleven rack, a helix floor, and all those are simply different tools, the main instrument is very important, but if you are looking for different colors there is also variax guitars. The technology today went the whole nine yards and the use of Impulse Response has changed the game again…
Graham,
I prefer to use a real amp through a load box. I have mentioned the Koch before but there are others. I also like to use a Keeley Java Boost where I can have that sonic lusciousness it provides. I think the warmth of a real amp may be due to the subharmonics which I did not hear on the simulator. It sounded a bit spiky to me. I have used AmpliTube before and though it is not bad found I preferred the amps through a load box because of the subtle distortions in the subharmonics. This is not to say that the AmpliTube cannot be tamed or the other amp modelers might work differently. There are also impulse response modelers such as the Two Notes Cab M, and the tube cabinet pre amps. But these can cost some money and the amp modelers can serve the purpose of those just starting out. You videos are always great and a must watch. Thanks Graham.
It sounds to me like you inadvertently used the treble pickup for the virtual amp track. It’s way brighter and the single coil 60 cycle hum is quite prominent. I don’t hear the hum on the real amp track
Great advise! Another advantage of using virtual amps is no ambient noise through the mic. No hiss or buzz from old cables or other sources.
Graham have you ever used Line 6’s Helix Native?
You should have compared your Vox AC 15 with a Vox AC 30 plugin. It would have been a much better comparison. It still was a cool video. Thanks.
Both sounds can certainly be useable. But I confess that to my ears, the Vox sounds warm and meaty, and the virtual one sounds like it was played through a tin can. (Gotta love Voxes, but the way… helluvan amp!)
Er, I mean “by the way”
They both sound pretty awful, far too harsh. Furthermore, that Samplitube plugin sounds nowhere as musically nice as any real Marshall valve amplifier I’ve experienced. However, that Vox sounded like a cheap solid state amplifier.
What would have been good to compare is the chugging action on the bottom two strings. In that respect, I’ve yet to hear any virtual guitar amp match the real thing with regard to transient, presence and body.
whhops! That should have read ‘Amplitube’, not ‘Samplitube’.
In Joe Satriani’s book Strange Beautiful Music he reveals that he recorded direct through a Rockman with a speaker simulator for much of his first 3 or 4 albums. I haven’t figured out direct recording for myself but he used much older technology and it sounds great!
I wish I still had my original Rockman & the Bass version….had some good tones back in the portastudio days!
I have several virtual amp setups (Bias2, AmpKit, Amplitube, ReValver) plus VST’s in Sonar Platinum recording software. I also play through Roland’s GR-55 guitar synth, Peavey Classic 30 & Valve King 100w half stack, Fender GT-100 and Line 6 Helix. The commonality here is tone. All of my virtuals are played back through a 1000w JBL system to test for realistic live sound and solid tone. Kinda my version of a wind tunnel for objects that fly. They are all tested for tone because I generally run direct to FOH and use either a JBL or Blackstar 2×12 cab for my stage gear. What I hear is what the people hear. You can get great, realistic sounding virtual amps if you’re willing to put the time into making the adjustments necessary. To be fair, the playback used by Graham in his comparison wasn’t a fair one to either virtual or real amps. After recording both examples he’s playing back thru his studio monitors to a room mic and the adjustments he made were minute at best. I am a fan of virtual amps. My son is a bassist for a national touring act. He plays through the rack version of the Helix. The guitarist plays through a Kemper. It sounds awesome live and in the studio. On stage they have no setup. One cable to monitor for in-ears and one cable FOH. They have the signature tone they want and the ease of setup on stage. If you put in the time you can get what you want plus you can save your settings and recall them next time you need them.
“plus you can save your settings and recall them next time you need them.”
THIS is the big one IMHO, no more pages of notes for settings!
IMHO, Graham’s video is right on the money. I had just worked for about a year to get the real guitar sound I wanted out of my little 1×12 amps, and had gotten pretty much exactly what I wanted, and how to position mics, set gain, room acoustics, etc. I never even thought of using a sim at that point. Then a friend suggested I grab Amplitube 4, because it was on sale for $49 bucks, so I did. A lot of the options (amps, cabs, speakers, mics) were greyed out and had to be purchased to activate, but after I got over that, I had to admit the basic Marshall-type pack that comes with it was pretty great sounding. The mic placements (one of the coolest features) were VERY close to the same sounds I got experimenting mic’ing my own amps – I was very impressed.
I soon demo’d and then bought the whole Orange package for $99, plus the Fender Twin Reverb for clean sounds. I had really started moving away from guitar toward all synth stuff, but this just ignited my desire to play guitar again – these sounds are SO great and usable. I bought some other cabs and mics ad-hoc (5 bucks for a royer 121 – a home studio guy like me can’t beat that) and I am absolutely having the time of my life with my guitar now. I have thousands of dollars worth of gear – that sounds great – for under $200. And I can switch sound SO easily and quickly. I also got Ampire, because I use Studio One, and although it has a more limited selection, it has a KILLER classic rock lead sound – I always run to that for a lead. I have demos of Guitar Rig 5 and Overloud TH3 and they are also fine, but I’m throwing my lot in with Amplitube for now until they give me a reason not to.
Thanks for a great review, Graham!
“Real”? You meant physical amps, right?
Graham, I am a HUGE advocate for virtual amp sims but in this case study, I’ll have to opt for your Vox tone over the Amplitube which sounded to me like rusty nails scratching on broken glass. The Vox was warmer and smoother. Yes, I know they were different amp models and settings. Maybe it sounded different in your live space but in the video, I was hoping you would roll off some high end and maybe boost some low-mids on the Amplitube which could have salvaged that scathing tone.
Sorry to be so “harsh” (get it?). But at the end of the day, I’m with you Graham; you have much more flexibility to shape the tone you are looking for with a SIM than a physical amp.
The virtual has some wierd backgound noise like your going through a tunnel. you noticed by saying it was chunky. I didnt like to comparison of the two, there are more similiar ones you could have used.
Great video, Graham. Some people here use many different plugins. If you a windows user, “Vandal” from Magix is all you need. For bass and for guitar. They build every detail in digital. You can turn on every knob of the amp, use every stompbox you want, take every speaker in any room with some mics. Try it out, if you want. I am a huge fan of. Thanks for your work.
This all sounds a bit reminiscent of the endless “Turntables & vinyl is so much better” noise. Put any decent group on a stage with either real old amps, or electronic sims, adjusted to sound optimal, NOT just to emulate the old ones, and no one in the audience will object as long as they sound good. Nor will anyone jump up and say, “Man, you guys suck, but only because I can tell you’re using amp sims, not the real deal.” Use what you have, and if sims are cheaper but provide more versatility and range(as they mostly do) by all means don’t sweat the affectation of the “artisanal, hipster hand-soldered, hand-oiled wooden box Albert King once sat on.” If only ’cause, hey, ya ain’t Al King.
1) It’s easier to work with an Amp Simulator in a homestudio.
2) Cost less than an amp.
3) You don’t need to get an additional mic/boom/jack etc..
4) An Amp Simulator does not consume more electricity.
5) You don’t need more space in your studio when using an Amp Simulator.
6) You can record your guitar tracks at 3am with an Amp Simulator LOL!
So guess what i prefer these days hahahahahaha
I use amp sims all the time. However, there are definitely differences between sims. I still dont feel that Amplitude has it quite down yet. Nor does Native Instruments. It looks like Graham was using a Marshall Silver Jubilee model, which to me, doesnt sound like the original.
I use UA’s Silver Jubilee and it sounds amazing, with one exception. For my ears, tracking clean and re-amping with it doesnt sound the same. I almost always use it in the Unison slot on the Apollo and that gives it all the character of the original. So for this reason I commit the sound when tracking those amp sims. I might split the signal and run a clean track as well, but Im still committing the sim.
Vox must be holding out on simulating their amps since UA doesnt offer any Vox amps and Im unaware of anyone else offering Vox amp sims, which is a shame because Im sure we’d all love to have the AC-30 in a sim. However, Logic Pro X offers many amp sims, and even though I dont think every one of them is great, with a little tweaking, the Vox emulations sound really really good and useable, so my hat is off to Apple here.
So for me, UA’s sims of the 55 Fender Tweed and the Marshall Amp bundle just rule. I have owned almost every amp they model, and they are so close you cant tell. The mini mic mixer also makes it so you can custom tailor your tone even further and switch from dynamic to condenser mics.
I also could not get by without UA’s Ampeg Bass Amp bundle. This plugin also rules. With these you can definitely track all the bass guitar parts direct and use the amp sim plugin when mixing. This makes it super easy to fit the bass track right where you need it in the mix. Almost every top engineer and producer in Nashville is tracking bass this way now.
When comparing two distinct components, it can be very hard not to introduce your biases. If you were given two audio samples someone else had made, and asked to choose your preference, it would probably boil down to the totality of the output. If you start with one unit, typically an amp, then try to mimic its sound with adjustments in the virtual setup, that puts the amp ahead from the start. You don’t compare two distinct amps based on one being optimally set up, then try to make the other sound exactly like the first, a certain failure most of the time.