Official Virtual AMPEG Portaflex Club

[Rip Topaz]

Agreed. AmpKit does have the better metronome, but that isn't enough to win over AT. The ability to type in the tempo (and other time signatures) would be awesome, and I've emailed IK about this several times. Hopefully they're still watching this thread.

Most apps on iPhone give you the ability to double-tap to enter numbers. Add that to AT and it'll improve things a bunch. Do it for everything, like the knobs as well. It's so hard to get exact setting when you're trying to turn a knob with a fingertip.

 

[Duke21]

Nothing to do with a Portaflex, but IK Multimedia added the AD200 to AT PC version. NOW can we wish/ demand for the AD200 on AT iOS???

 

[Duke21]

Yes, Amplitube iOS is the king of the emulation apps. For me it was the king also before the B15R as I liked the generic Ampeg as well.
Regarding the virtual Portaflex, it will be nice if IK multimedia will give us the 2x10" Portaflex cab, the one Ampeg made for the PF350/500. It will be nice to have something else for bass then only 15" cabs.

 

[Rip Topaz]

Yes, Amplitube iOS is the king of the emulation apps. For me it was the king also before the B15R as I liked the generic Ampeg as well.
Regarding the virtual Portaflex, it will be nice if IK multimedia will give us the 2x10" Portaflex cab, the one Ampeg made for the PF350/500. It will be nice to have something else for bass then only 15" cabs.

This. I really hope IK is still watching these threads.

 

[Duke21]

Here is a short take where I tried to emulate the B15 on my Sansamp BDDI programmable.
The first two tunes (Stand by me & Stir it up) are with my Squier CV60 P bass, played with fingers, very unlike me...
The last on the clip (Cry for a Shadow) is on my 4003.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Duke21]

Btw, the recording on my previous post is done on Amplitube iOS with amp emulation and effects disabled. I wrote more about this in the iRig thread.

 

[The Big Chief]

Here's something that some of you may find interesting.
I started out simply messing with the B15 amp to try and come up with a decent tone based on a B15 demo video I had listened to.
After finding a decent sound I decided to see how it sounded with a different bass....then I had an idea! Why don't I try it with 5 different basses!

Here's the process: Each bass was recorded in AT's 8 track recorder through the B15 amp, each bass with the same amp setting (also had a drum track to play to). I then dumped them into GarageBand on the ipad, chopped them up and mixed into a song trying to get the levels mixed as even as I could.
Here are the instruments used, THEY ARE NOT LISTED IN THE SAME ORDER AS THEY APPEAR ON THE RECORDING. Each instrument plays the progression twice (8 bars). Listening with headphones is ideal.
Fender Geddy Lee Jazz
Fender Squier CV 60's PBass
1965 Fender P Bass
1987 Korean Squier Jazz
Steinberger XL2

I found it interesting to compare the tone of Basses that range from a couple of hundred dollars up to a couple of thousand dollars.

I must admit I'm very impressed with both the Amplitube and GarageBand apps!!



http://soundcloud.com/the-big-chief/amplitube-b15-5-different

 

[SirMjac28]

these virtual amps and cabs are really getting good

 

[garmenteros]

Good thread... Just a couple of my thoughts... If you can get ampeg svx, amplitube fender, and amplitube 3 together go for it. I always open and run amplitube 3 and mix and match models from all of them that you couldn't normally just running ampeg svx or fender (for example using the ampeg scrambler OD with the trace elliot model in amplitube 3). That way you can mix and match a whole lot more for best results. You get the best results tweaking around than just going through the amps and presets.

I've owned several of the real amps on amplitube and as far as I'm concerned the b15 is way off the mark (own a b15n). As far as ampeg goes I think the svt solidstate model behaves more like the real thing (owned svt 350 and 450). The SVT classic model is OK.

In the amplitube world my go to amps are the acoustic 360 (I own a real 370 and use the fender 8 10 if I want to go for more modern sounds with it like when I paired my acoustic with real life mesa 1000) and fender bassman 300 (I use the ampeg 8 10 model for the cab to tame down the amp compared to the fender 8 10). The fender tb1 preamp is ok too.

The gk mb150 sounds decent but I use GK audiffex for gk tones (great vst that doesn't use a lot of resources).

With the b15 model on amplitube I tried to like it but it just isn't happening. Using a fender 810 cab with it yielded better results and using it without the speaker as well.

 

[garmenteros]

http://soundcloud.com/garmenteros/sets/bass-soundchecks/

Isolated bass tracks I recorded with different basses and amp models if anyone is interested... I always keep adding and trying new stuff to add for fun... Anytime a friend gets a new bass or has something different I'll have them come over and let me record something quick with it...

Stuff used is in the track description.

 

[Duke21]

http://soundcloud.com/garmenteros/sets/bass-soundchecks/

Isolated bass tracks I recorded with different basses and amp models if anyone is interested... I always keep adding and trying new stuff to add for fun... Anytime a friend gets a new bass or has something different I'll have them come over and let me record something quick with it...

Stuff used is in the track description.

Nice collection of clips. Btw, is the timing on Black Dog "right" thus according to original recording?

 

[Duke21]

Here's something that some of you may find interesting.
I started out simply messing with the B15 amp to try and come up with a decent tone based on a B15 demo video I had listened to.
After finding a decent sound I decided to see how it sounded with a different bass....then I had an idea! Why don't I try it with 5 different basses!

Here's the process: Each bass was recorded in AT's 8 track recorder through the B15 amp, each bass with the same amp setting (also had a drum track to play to). I then dumped them into GarageBand on the ipad, chopped them up and mixed into a song trying to get the levels mixed as even as I could.
Here are the instruments used, THEY ARE NOT LISTED IN THE SAME ORDER AS THEY APPEAR ON THE RECORDING. Each instrument plays the progression twice (8 bars). Listening with headphones is ideal.
Fender Geddy Lee Jazz
Fender Squier CV 60's PBass
1965 Fender P Bass
1987 Korean Squier Jazz
Steinberger XL2

I found it interesting to compare the tone of Basses that range from a couple of hundred dollars up to a couple of thousand dollars.

I must admit I'm very impressed with both the Amplitube and GarageBand apps!!



http://soundcloud.com/the-big-chief/amplitube-b15-5-different

Listened to your track. Amazing how little difference there is between the basses! Most people will not know you have switched basses in between! I can't really tell were you play one or the other bass even though I've the CV60 P bass and the Geddy. But I usually have totally different settings on my amp and I play with the pick. So for my part the difference between my 4003 my Geddy and my CV60 P bass will be quite obvious, I think.
Btw, do you play with all basses with all pups and tone dimmed? And do all basses have same type of strings? My guess will be:
The Geddy first as it is the brightest clip, the Steinberger last as the sound at the end was fullest. But then I never played a Berger and as it is active it could be bright as well, I guess. Around 55sec I think it is a P bass....

 

[Duke21]

Good thread... Just a couple of my thoughts... If you can get ampeg svx, amplitube fender, and amplitube 3 together go for it. I always open and run amplitube 3 and mix and match models from all of them that you couldn't normally just running ampeg svx or fender (for example using the ampeg scrambler OD with the trace elliot model in amplitube 3). That way you can mix and match a whole lot more for best results. You get the best results tweaking around than just going through the amps and presets.

I've owned several of the real amps on amplitube and as far as I'm concerned the b15 is way off the mark (own a b15n). As far as ampeg goes I think the svt solidstate model behaves more like the real thing (owned svt 350 and 450). The SVT classic model is OK.

In the amplitube world my go to amps are the acoustic 360 (I own a real 370 and use the fender 8 10 if I want to go for more modern sounds with it like when I paired my acoustic with real life mesa 1000) and fender bassman 300 (I use the ampeg 8 10 model for the cab to tame down the amp compared to the fender 8 10). The fender tb1 preamp is ok too.

The gk mb150 sounds decent but I use GK audiffex for gk tones (great vst that doesn't use a lot of resources).

With the b15 model on amplitube I tried to like it but it just isn't happening. Using a fender 810 cab with it yielded better results and using it without the speaker as well.

I do like mixing stuff. I like to use the Marshall head on Amplitube iOS with the Ampeg cab, or the Ampeg head with the Marshall cab. I do more mixing in Ampkit as they have many many many more possibilities of cabs and mic's.

 

[Duke21]

I also took the opportunity to record 4 different basses on the same track, playing the same well known tune.

I'm not as fluid as The Big Chief which played all the 5 tracks very very consistently. I'm not playing all of my basses as much so I can be rusty on some of them....

Anyway, the basses on this track are:
Rickenbacker 4003, Squier CV60 P bass, Fender Geddy Lee Jaz (MIJ), and my Eastone Beatles/ Violin bass. I played all the basses in the 8 track recorder. Each of them on its own track. Amp settings are identical, all knobs on the basses are dimmed, so max pup volume on all and tone sett on fully open. The Rickenbacker bridge pup is set on vintage mode. The Eastone bass is sett on "solo" mode (the alternative is rhythm mode).
Which is which? And, do the B15 make all basses sound the same?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Rip Topaz]

The first and fourth examples sound very similar, the third sounds like your Ric.

I've only got two basses up and running right now, but I'll try to record something this weekend with the B15 in AT iOS. I've got it pretty well tweaked at this point.

 

[Duke21]

I can add that the strings on the Geddy and the Rickenbacker are Hartke nickel plated steel rounds. The strings on the Geddy are newer and I play mostly on the Rickenbacker. The strings on the CV60 P bass are over a year old Marshall nickel plated steel rounds while the strings on the violin bass are the original rounds, I think it is SS. The strings on the Easton violin bass are then over 3.5 years old....
On the Rickenbacker I've played in front of the pup cover, so just behind the neck pup. On the Geddy I've played somewhere between the pups but closer to the bridge. On the p bass I've played just behind the pup.

 

[garmenteros]

Nice collection of clips. Btw, is the timing on Black Dog "right" thus according to original recording?

Yeah, I import the mp3 to garageband and play over it and then delete it. Black dog is tricky and you need to get your head around it. In the recording bonzo first starts out with a two stick count before everyone starts the riff, then the rest of the song only one and about midway they do a couple without them just after robert finishes singing. Live my zep tribute band just kinds of feels out it and syncs with the vocals...

 

[Duke21]

A new quick recording.
This time I've placed bass nr. 4 right after bass nr. 1
Just to make things easier, I put both clips here:
So the first clip:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
The 2nd clip were bass nr. 4 from the previous clip is placed as number two in order. Bass number 2 from the first clip is now nr. 3 and nr. 3 form the first clip is now nr. 4
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Just reminding, the basses that I've used are 4003, Eastone Violin bass, Squier CV60 P bass and a Geddy Jazz.

 

[The Big Chief]

Listened to your track. Amazing how little difference there is between the basses! Most people will not know you have switched basses in between! I can't really tell were you play one or the other bass even though I've the CV60 P bass and the Geddy. But I usually have totally different settings on my amp and I play with the pick. So for my part the difference between my 4003 my Geddy and my CV60 P bass will be quite obvious, I think.
Btw, do you play with all basses with all pups and tone dimmed? And do all basses have same type of strings? My guess will be:
The Geddy first as it is the brightest clip, the Steinberger last as the sound at the end was fullest. But then I never played a Berger and as it is active it could be bright as well, I guess. Around 55sec I think it is a P bass....

Hey Duke,
The basses do sound quite similar, but I think that's mostly because I mixed the levels pretty well. All were played wide open and with both pick ups on the Jazz Basses.

Since you guessed at which was which I'll go ahead and list them because each of your guesses were incorrect.
That was my motivation for doing this.... would a $2500 Steinberger or a Vintage legend like the '65 Precision sound that much better than a $250 Squier?
Although tone is completely subjective and everyone has there own idea of what they like, in my opinion the Squier more than holds it's own. Even though I don't really play it at all, I will admit that the Geddy Jazz does sound awfully smooth and full on this recording.

Here's the order that they come in the recording:

1) Squier CV P Bass
2) '65 Fender P
3) Geddy Lee Jazz
4) Steinberger XL2
5) Korean Squier Jazz

 

[Duke21]

Hey Duke,
The basses do sound quite similar, but I think that's mostly because I mixed the levels pretty well. All were played wide open and with both pick ups on the Jazz Basses.

Since you guessed at which was which I'll go ahead and list them because each of your guesses were incorrect.
That was my motivation for doing this.... would a $2500 Steinberger or a Vintage legend like the '65 Precision sound that much better than a $250 Squier?
Although tone is completely subjective and everyone has there own idea of what they like, in my opinion the Squier more than holds it's own. Even though I don't really play it at all, I will admit that the Geddy Jazz does sound awfully smooth and full on this recording.

Here's the order that they come in the recording:

1) Squier CV P Bass
2) '65 Fender P
3) Geddy Lee Jazz
4) Steinberger XL2
5) Korean Squier Jazz

Hmmm, yes, I totally messed up here!
In my defense I play with a pick and usually with more gain so I'm used to hear other aspects in the tone of the Geddy and the CV60 P bass.
I guess the scooped tone of the Jazz basses with all knobs dimmed tricked me, certainly the Korean Squier Jazz. I think also that the difference between these basses will be a bit more obvious when one dig inn more. But your playing is very smooth and as you say, you adjusted the volume on the track so well.
An other thing, for my part the drum track was "disturbing" as the attack of the drums was very sharp and in front of the bass track, kind of threw my ears off.

But, to your main point, the CV60 P bass is an amazing bass for the money, I could actually not hear any difference between the Squier CV60 P bass and the 65 Fender! At least nothing regarding the quality of the tone!

What is your guess regarding my recordings? Can you spot each bass there?