Amplitube \ T-Racks and General IK Multimedia Discussion Thread

[socialleper]

Hey guys, I have a quick question about Amplitube. I am probably going to purchase the Ampeg bundle but I wanted to know if there is a to tune down or up with one of the effects?
I know with the helix native software or hx stomp I can use the digitech whammy and do it that way. I bought a hx stomp and plan on returning it and I will not pay $400 for the helix native
I am not sure if there is something comparable in Amplitube.

thanks in advance

I haven't really messed with their FX too much. I purchased the Ampeg 2 pack because I was more interested in the amps and cabs than the "Ampeg" pedals.
I think the basic "Custom Shop" version of Amplitube has a Wah built in, but you need a MIDI controller to work it properly in real time. Otherwise you have to try to control it with the mouse.

They are running a 50% off sale on the big package of Amplitube for the holiday's. If there was a time to get it, now is it.

 

[vns]

Hi, maybe this is a little bit off-topic, but it is related to Amplitube.

I use Amplitube a lot with my guitars, I plug them into my audio interface's instrument input (input gain set to 0) and that's all I need hardware-wise, I get around -18db input level which is great.

When I plug my bass (Fender Jazz Bass American Pro) I get much lower level so I need to increase the gain in the instrument input. My question is, I am loosing something tone-wise doing this? Will I get better sound/tone if I buy a DI? I was thinking about purchasing something like the MXR M81 or the Aguilar Tone Hammer. The idea is to plug them in a XLR input and power them using phantom power. But I am not really sure if I am going to improve my sound or if I should save the money and keep using the gain in my audio interface input preamp.

I don't have plans to play live, so basically all I do is playing/recording in my home studio.

 

[socialleper]

Hi, maybe this is a little bit off-topic, but it is related to Amplitube.

I use Amplitube a lot with my guitars, I plug them into my audio interface's instrument input (input gain set to 0) and that's all I need hardware-wise, I get around -18db input level which is great.

When I plug my bass (Fender Jazz Bass American Pro) I get much lower level so I need to increase the gain in the instrument input. My question is, I am loosing something tone-wise doing this? Will I get better sound/tone if I buy a DI? I was thinking about purchasing something like the MXR M81 or the Aguilar Tone Hammer. The idea is to plug them in a XLR input and power them using phantom power. But I am not really sure if I am going to improve my sound or if I should save the money and keep using the gain in my audio interface input preamp.

I don't have plans to play live, so basically all I do is playing/recording in my home studio.

I switch back and forth between active and passive basses a lot. My amp has a DI out, but now that I'm using Amplitube I just go right into my Focusrite interface. I don't think you are changing much by adjusting the volume in your interface. Changing the Input volume on the Amplitube interface doesn't impact your tone too much either.

 

[vns]

@socialleper thanks!

 

[socialleper]

Question for T-RackS users:
Since I recently purchased the full Max version because of the 50% sale, I now have a grip of processors I don't know exactly what to do with and in what order.
What does your insert track signal chain look like when you are recording guitar\bass\drums? What about your send\return chain?
Do you have specific chain you like for final mixing\mastering?

On my last recording I only used inserts since I am new to the idea of sends and returns. I usually go Amplitube -> EQ -> compressor. I was using the EQ-81 4 band EQ, but now I'm using the EQual EQ Processor. I like how it shows your tracks EQ wave form so you can pin point what to balance. I'm not decided on any one of the specific compressors yet. For the EZDrummer track I also included a little CSR Plate Reverb.
I only just started final mixing\mastering. I tried using either EQual or Classic T-RackS EQ, along with the White 2A compressor to even out the peaks.

 

[cosmicevan]

I'm no sound pro, but definitely was at one point in time an obsessed hobbyist...and I always read (and in my practical experience observed) that you should really drive the input channels for best sound. You don't want to clip (a lot), but you want where your normal dynamics sit to be driving the input of whatever you are running into to get best results. Adjusting the volume on your DAW input does help drive the amp more for better sound...in the same way that boosting the signal before DAW would do.

That said, since you are doing digital manipulation through amplitube, it might not matter. As always, use your ears to judge as what might be "the right way to do it" may not produce the sound you are looking for and the "the wrong way to do it" might get your sound exactly how you want it. There are so many spots to adjust these days in your gain stage that you can also compensate for having things not driven properly earlier...but once you have overdriven your signal, you will distort/clip your way through your chain. If you are happy with the way it sounds now, I wouldn't invest in anything else.