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IK vs Plugin Alliance plugin quality ... is there a meaningful difference ?

pfschim

pfschim

Just a Skeleton with a Jazz bass
Supporting Member
Apr 26, 2006
9,356
10,957
SF Bay Area
#1
like many, I have dusted off my old audio interface and started working on some tracks at home.
Its been several years since I had this stuff working reasonably well and I am interested to see all the additional things avail to use for recording.

One thing that really pops out to me are the variety of vst/plugins for DAWs. I used IK Multimedia Amplitube in the past (my IK account/password and verification keys still work from 8 years ago :thumbsup:). I remember their Ampeg and Fender amp/cab plugins were pretty usable even back then, so I went back to grab IK's latest and their stuff is still very useable.

In the same process I researched other options and came across Plugin Alliance. What stopped me in my tracks (pun intended :D) was the price tag on some of these things.

I wonder if there is a meaningful audio difference between the $45 IK SVX package (B15N, SVT-VR, V4B and 3 associated cabs .. 1x15, 2x12 and 810E) and the $149 Plugin Alliance B15N ?
$45 seems like an entirely reasonable price for those 3 amps/cabs with the associated mic/room options. $149 for one model ? ehhh, not so much.

seems like a huge price delta, considering that many of the basic audio interfaces for home recording are priced around $150.

anyone have any thoughts or experience with these two ... or can anyone suggest other options for
 
#3
I did notice that when I was on their site and I'll probably try that out ... but I'm in my situation, basic home recording, I'm unlikely to drop that kind of dough for a plugin.
I also saw something confusing about an Ampeg PA bundle for $5.99 ?? ... does this mean I need another piece of software that adds to the cost ? couldn't tell at a glance.
 
#5
ok, I thought it might be something like that. I will probably go ahead and check out the trial anyway, just to see if I can hear any meaningful differences between the Plugin Alliance B15N and the IK one. I already feel like the IK SVX bundle sounds pretty good for my needs. I only wish the Fender bundle had a bit more bass focused amps that I was interested in. They already provide the TPB1 as a default in Custom Shop, it would be cool if there was a Showman plugin.
 
#6
I picked up the B15N in a sale, PA stuff is quite often discounted. It's nice but it doesn't really add anything for me to my Ampeg stuff in Amplitube (which itself is quite often discounted!) I love the standalone of Amplitube too. If I'm inside Logic it's true that the PA feels somewhat leaner (in a good way, as a performing plugin) than the chunky Amplitube.
 
#7
There is Not enough bass oriented gear is modeled.
I think bass players are slow on the uptake and developers are sticking with responsive markets.

IK is very good, as well as Plugin Alliance, but I also have to say line 6 software Helix is very good, and it may be the next generation of Ampeg modeling. It's crazy if YGG doesn't jump on this more, they have the talent to do it.

For standalone I use chainer type lite vst wrappers. They're nice because all my plugins work, and I can quickly audition any VST or VSTi I want without loading it in a DAW. My favorite right now is Kushview Element.
 
#9
Chainer by Xlutop let's you chain together VST's outside of a DAW. It showing it's age.

Element is another chainer that is much more modern, and IHMO very easy to use, but I'll admit for a beginner there is going to be a learning curve.

Here's an example someone posted of Kushview Element just used as a pass=through and a bunch of VST's loaded.
This is probably how most people want to use it as a simple VST host. No tracks, no recording, just pass-through of the bass, to VST's to headphones or monitors, and playing along to a recording or youtube.


It works equally well for Live gigs. It hooks up to Midi controllers to switch presets.

Once you get your chain (graph) of VSTs set up in Element, you can use Element right inside any DAW to recall the chain to use in recordings.

Element if opensource, and it has a good developer owning it, so you can buy it to get support.
 
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#10
interesting. not sure how I'd use it, as currently, I only use VST's in Reaper sessions. for any live work or practice I just use my amps/cabs etc.

I guess it would be a cool way to work with VST's without having to ope a Reaper session just to do that, but that's not all that hard ... but maybe.

I'm trying to focus on getting more familiar with Reaper and now might not be the best time to add yet another new learning curve, but I'll certainly keep this in mind once I feel like I am more confident with Reaper.

thanks
 
#12
so far I am certain I am just scratching the surface. I can get everything working, plug stuff in, open tracks, set levels, add plugins (where needed) and get stuff recorded, but the fine points of using Reaper are still a ways off for me. It's cool though, lots of time on my hands right now (like pretty much everyone else), so now is a great time to be learning.
 
#13
seamonkey said:
Chainer by Xlutop let's you chain together VST's outside of a DAW. It showing it's age.

Element is another chainer that is much more modern, and IHMO very easy to use, but I'll admit for a beginner there is going to be a learning curve.

Here's an example someone posted of Kushview Element just used as a pass=through and a bunch of VST's loaded.
This is probably how most people want to use it as a simple VST host. No tracks, no recording, just pass-through of the bass, to VST's to headphones or monitors, and playing along to a recording or youtube.


It works equally well for Live gigs. It hooks up to Midi controllers to switch presets.

Once you get your chain (graph) of VSTs set up in Element, you can use Element right inside any DAW to recall the chain to use in recordings.

Element if opensource, and it has a good developer owning it, so you can buy it to get support.
Click to expand...

Zombifying! Curious for this one as I’m used to AULab on MacOS but Element can handle AU’s, VST2 and VST3!
 
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