Amplitube 2, my review
Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:20 am
Gotta say, this is a darn good plugin. That's coming from a guy that has pretty ruthlessly shunned hardware or software based digital modelling. There's a 4x1 power group buy with IKMultimedia right now that's insane. I bought Amplitube Fender from eSoundz for $209, then immediately got 3 more products for free. I picked up the Amplitube 2 crossgrade ( I own Amplitube LE), Amplitube Metal and SVX; all four plugs for $209, plus eSoundz threw in a bunch of loop libraries.
Here's my take on the Amplitube stuff, I've only been using them for a few days:
Fender: some killer tones in the tweed models (Deluxe and Bassman). Some good sounds in the '65 Deluxe if it has a little bit of grind. In general the squeeky clean stuff is a bit chirpy to my ears; might be able to tweak it out with cab/mic tweaks. Love the echo stomp box, and the Fender Blender has a gritty in your face fuzz tone.
Amp 2: The AC30 simulation sounds amazing, as does what appears to be a vintage Ampeg amp --> some really useful straight ahead jazz tones on that box. The JCM 800 doesn't do it for me. I'd rather use my Mad Professor Red Distorion pedal and a h/w cab sim. I actually like the Fender Twin simulation in here better than the one in the Fender collection.
Metal: Geez, I don't know. I'm not a metal/hi-gain guy, but some of the pre-sets I've demo'd sound pretty convincing. One patch can have 2 different amp chains panned left and right (all their products do this). I picked this up cuz it was free, and if I decide to take a crack at heavier stuff again these tones seem more than serviceable
SVX: Great bass tones, seriously. My only nit is that they seemed to lay the LF on real thick and juicy in every patch and simulation; not always a bad thing, but it seems I'm constantly notching out some low end to clean up a mix with this plug in it. I love the vintage Ampeg convertible simulation -- I used to gig with one of those amps!
Doubtful that I'll be tracking solos and feature parts on my CD's with these plugs, but for supporting parts, and film/tv tracks this stuff is amazingly cool. Being able to pull a project up and have all your tones persisted is golden, no more 'What pedals did I use on that track, which mic did I use, and where was it placed...'
Here's my take on the Amplitube stuff, I've only been using them for a few days:
Fender: some killer tones in the tweed models (Deluxe and Bassman). Some good sounds in the '65 Deluxe if it has a little bit of grind. In general the squeeky clean stuff is a bit chirpy to my ears; might be able to tweak it out with cab/mic tweaks. Love the echo stomp box, and the Fender Blender has a gritty in your face fuzz tone.
Amp 2: The AC30 simulation sounds amazing, as does what appears to be a vintage Ampeg amp --> some really useful straight ahead jazz tones on that box. The JCM 800 doesn't do it for me. I'd rather use my Mad Professor Red Distorion pedal and a h/w cab sim. I actually like the Fender Twin simulation in here better than the one in the Fender collection.
Metal: Geez, I don't know. I'm not a metal/hi-gain guy, but some of the pre-sets I've demo'd sound pretty convincing. One patch can have 2 different amp chains panned left and right (all their products do this). I picked this up cuz it was free, and if I decide to take a crack at heavier stuff again these tones seem more than serviceable
SVX: Great bass tones, seriously. My only nit is that they seemed to lay the LF on real thick and juicy in every patch and simulation; not always a bad thing, but it seems I'm constantly notching out some low end to clean up a mix with this plug in it. I love the vintage Ampeg convertible simulation -- I used to gig with one of those amps!
Doubtful that I'll be tracking solos and feature parts on my CD's with these plugs, but for supporting parts, and film/tv tracks this stuff is amazingly cool. Being able to pull a project up and have all your tones persisted is golden, no more 'What pedals did I use on that track, which mic did I use, and where was it placed...'