Comparing Plugins to Actual Amps in a DAW...

[franklindayala]

I have a B15 plugin, and I have a real B15. To be honest, the plug-in gets me >90% in the ballpark of the real deal 1965 B-15N.

And when you’re recording bass, much of the audible difference between the real McCoy and the plug-in gets obliterated by the other instruments in the mix.

the one instance where the real amp is preferable to a plug-in is probably lead guitar. Definitely want that real tube amplifier sound… and the player definitely wants to FEEL the amp inspiration as he/she is tracking.

Well said Admiral....

 

[mmon77]

A strong argument can be made that the unlimited tracks available can also be a limitation. Often great creative innovation arises out of technological (or financial) limitation.

It can become an issue, for sure. But this is a "problem" that I will take 1000x over the old way every time.

 

[themickster]

Thought it would be great to hear from others who have done this.

For example, I have found a .vst plugin for Bassdude to be better than what I can get direct from my Rumble 100. Same with a B15 plugin compared to my PF-20T amp direct.

I haven't compared using mic'd cabs but, the plugins have different cabs. Does that make a great difference?

What has been your experience?

I have Amplitube. Laying down bass or guitar track clean lets me give as much or little of any effect it needs. Some have a Slash signature Marshall half stack, for less than a tenth the cost of a standard Marshall head.

 

[SoulReflection]

Great stuff in this thread!

 

[Admiral Akbar]

I have Amplitube. Laying down bass or guitar track clean lets me give as much or little of any effect it needs. Some have a Slash signature Marshall half stack, for less than a tenth the cost of a standard Marshall head.

Amplitude is great!

I really get a kick out of their rendition of the Aguilar db750/751… As a player of the db750 for 15 years, it’s amazing how the voicing of the plug-in really has that Aguilar sound/vibe.

 

[MDBass]

Which parts tripped you up? All of it was common vernacular for this industry.

That's all common vernacular for someone who works in audio: not for someone who plays bass as a hobby

As someone who also works in audio what you said was perfectly clear to me.

To the OP, I'd bet at the very least that "knee frequency" and "resonant filter" are well outside of his lexicon.

 

[MDBass]

Thought it would be great to hear from others who have done this.

For example, I have found a .vst plugin for Bassdude to be better than what I can get direct from my Rumble 100. Same with a B15 plugin compared to my PF-20T amp direct.

I haven't compared using mic'd cabs but, the plugins have different cabs. Does that make a great difference?

What has been your experience?

Different cabs, or different impulse responses (IR's for short) of those cabs within a plugin, are arguably THE biggest factor in the tone.

Running totally different amps run through the same cab IR will sound more similar than the same amp run through different cab IR's does.

Going direct from either of your real amps removes the cab from the equation entirely.

A bass cab is primarily filtering out a LOT of top end information (some cabs start to roll off high end as low as 2kHz) as well as sub information, and is also introducing some peaks and valleys into the midrange.

Have fun experimenting!

 

[SoulReflection]

Different cabs, or different impulse responses (IR's for short) of those cabs within a plugin, are arguably THE biggest factor in the tone.

Running totally different amps run through the same cab IR will sound more similar than the same amp run through different cab IR's does.

Going direct from either of your real amps removes the cab from the equation entirely.

A bass cab is primarily filtering out a LOT of top end information (some cabs start to roll off high end as low as 2kHz) as well as sub information, and is also introducing some peaks and valleys into the midrange.

Have fun experimenting!

Thanks, @MDBass! I am having a lot of fun...hope others are as well.

 

[silky smoove]

To the OP, I'd bet at the very least that "knee frequency" and "resonant filter" are well outside of his lexicon.

That's why I asked my follow-up question. The OP hasn't responded, so I'm going to assume they've done some research and learned what those terms mean.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

I have been doing a lot of recording lately and just did some a/b testing amp models against recorded amps that I own. I feel the 90% rule stands here.

That said, I am starting to free up my approaches to bass recording and treating it more independently from my bass player mindset. I like a cheap transformer di straight to a mixer sometimes kinda like I like a fast food cheeseburger sometimes. If it works in the mix it works for me.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

That's why I asked my follow-up question. The OP hasn't responded, so I'm going to assume they've done some research and learned what those terms mean.

Knee Frequency = Rate at which you bend your knees?

 

[silky smoove]

Knee Frequency = Rate at which you bend your knees?

I believe that's the accepted terminology in some countries. In the US it's the frequency at which you move your knee up so you can place your foot on the wedge monitor and make awkard hip girations towards the crowd.

 

[SoulReflection]

That's why I asked my follow-up question. The OP hasn't responded, so I'm going to assume they've done some research and learned what those terms mean.

Nope, I couldn't think of a polite response.

 

[seamonkey]

If you have the original amps, you can null test the tracks. Reverse the polarity of one track and mix them together. What is left is the difference between the original and the VST. For example:



Search YouTube for null tests done with NAM https://www.neuralampmodeler.com/
And captured amps and pedals from ToneHunt | Sound Better!
It does an amazing job for a free plugin.

 

[SoulReflection]

If you have the original amps, you can null test the tracks. Reverse the polarity of one track and mix them together. What is left is the difference between the original and the VST. For example:



Search YouTube for null tests done with NAM https://www.neuralampmodeler.com/
And captured amps and pedals from ToneHunt | Sound Better!
It does an amazing job for a free plugin.

Wish I had the real amps!

 

[Lowbrow]

Amplitude is great!

I really get a kick out of their rendition of the Aguilar db750/751… As a player of the db750 for 15 years, it’s amazing how the voicing of the plug-in really has that Aguilar sound/vibe.

… and if you Amplitube users look among the ‘clean’ guitar amp selections you will find the Easter Egg of what seems to be a Sunn 200s with a 2x15 cab! Seems like it got accidentally misfiled!!

 

[DJ Bebop]

… and if you Amplitube users look among the ‘clean’ guitar amp selections you will find the Easter Egg of what seems to be a Sunn 200s with a 2x15 cab! Seems like it got accidentally misfiled!!

Probably trying to make the Hendrix connection...

 

[Nephilymbass]

I think if you’re shooting for the sound of a mic on a cab it is arguably easier to use a plug-in these days. Lot of people give no respect to microphone choice and placement, cab choice and so on. I personally have option paralysis issues with plug ins and modelers though. That’s why I prefer analog gear that either sounds great without a cab sim or has an analog cab sim such as the origin effects . But I think the future for a lot of people that have the same point of view is that