Guitar Amplifier Software (warning: Blues-Rock inside)

[luis]

Nothing compares with a true amplifier, but software emulators had gone a long way from their humble origins, and for me, playing in my home with a pair of headphones they are the only possible alternative.
I tried a lot of them, but in the end I always come back to Guitar Rig (by Native Instruments) probably because it's the one I found most versatile and easy to use.

Here is a sample I recorded with my Epiphone Black Beauty, so if you never heard a software amp you will get and idea of how it can sound. It's some time I don't play so I'm a little rusty

The song is "All your love", the version played by Eric Clapton with John Mayall on the "beano" album.
The backing track with drum, bassline, rhythm guitar is from a magazine: Guitar Techniques.

I stop right after starting the solo because I didn't really know how to play it all, I'll have to listen back at the original to learn it...
At 1:24 starts the arpeggio that make this piece unmistakable !

Anyone else here using software amplifiers ? Maybe it's not the right forum but anyway...

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/38644496/ayl.mp3

[Kuron]

Anyone else here using software amplifiers ?

Yes.

[idle]

sounded pretty good to me can you really notice the difference between analogue effects vs digital effects
it's way more versatile to use software effects processing for your own enjoyment.

[luis]

Yes.

What software ? With a physical instrument (guitar or... ?) or with other software as input ?

can you really notice the difference between analogue effects vs digital effects

If you mean if I can discriminate between a true amp and a software one by listening to it:
If I can listen to the same piece played with the same equipment once through a physical amp and then through its software approximation than *usually* yes if I know well enough the real amp, or if the software is pretty bad.

In all other cases, if the software is used properly, probably no. The player has his importance too in make you believe, anyway !

And yes, using an all-computer solution is extremely versatile, and does not take any further space.

[Kuron]

What software ? With a physical instrument (guitar or... ?) or with other software as input ?

Guitar Rig plugged into Saw Studio when on Windows. Then I am also using Ubuntu Studio with Rakarrack and Guitarix.

Yes, physical instruments, guitars, basses, mandolin, even keyboard/digital piano.

Don't always use the computer though, that is mainly for work. For my personal needs, for analog I still have an old 16 track 3M M-79 2 inch recorder, then for digital, an 8 track Tascam, a 24 track Zoom and a 32 track Tascam. For my personal stuff, I mainly use the computer for mastering, and use traditional effects pedals and rack units and various amps.

[LuCiFeR[SD]]

Sounded pretty damn good to me luis, must admit, I didn't play it at my usual cranked up to 11 volume (seeing as its gone 1am hehehe, but I'll definitely give it some noise when I crawl out of my bed lol , I can honestly say I have never tried any digital amp software (I am no guitarist, I play bass badly), I play drums though, but I wont bore you with the details lol

Ciao!

[electrochrisso]

Hey! that sounds pretty good luis, I will take a look at Guitar Rig.
Looks good, but a bit too pricey for me at the moment.
Still, I have only just got my NUX MG-100, which is hardware and software, an awesome sounding, all in one unit, at a bargain price.

[Nituvious]

Hi luis!
Nice tunes man. If you like playing your guitar through your computer I suggest getting the game Rocksmith if only for the virtual tone/pedals/amps. It's loaded. You can even create your own effects.
The games a blast too, probably the most fun in a computer game that I've had in some time.