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The Amp Of The Future

#102
agedhorse said:
Or the amp would be free but to use it would cost $99/month subscription...
Click to expand...

LOL! This.

With emphasis on “to use.” Because it will come with a license that clearly states you’ve only purchased the right to use the device - however, the ownership title is retained by the manufacturer.

If you “own” an iPhone, grab a cuppa coffee and try slogging through the 100+ page user agreement you periodically need to reaccept to use it. It’s quite eye opening.
 
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#106
Too much schlep.
1_BlUSVsFvzNapuvxM1RnFXQ.png
 
#108
The amp of the future:

iu


Also, the bass of the future:

iu


Also, the drummer of the future:

iu


This is also the composer of the future, as well as the actors, moviemakers, etc.

The only thing that gets to stay an actual human is the guitarist. They still get whatever they want. You need to learn to program.
 
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#109
groooooove said:
one with a mic to self-tune the EQ to the room would be super cool. you feed it information (your band instrumentation, bass, pickup selection, etc) and it makes the adjustments so you sit in the mix how you need perfectly.

and then you'd see the added benefit with you team it up with another one for your guitarist, and everyone else, it will it the mix like puzzle pieces and end the volume wars once and for all!

...this post started as a joke but, this probably is possible with 2024 technology?
Click to expand...
I was considering a career in acoustic engineering years ago, and then thought of this. I'm glad the spectre is still haunting peoples' minds.
 
#110
Ok, just putting on my professional UX design hat:

The idea of a small, portable brick with lots of DSP is appealing, and in fact practical with modern SoCs.

The interface isn’t really practical at that size. Certainly not for live use.

And while ICE power amps are small they’re not that small, and still require cooling.

So even if we had an all-DSP amp with a Class D power section, if it’s intended for live use, it needs to be rugged, easy to set up and use on a dark stage. It’s going to have a certain minimum size to accommodate heat sinks and cooling fans.

From a usability perspective, it needs to match some basic rules (adapted from Jakob Nielsen’s heuristics)

  1. Visibility of system status. It should be clear what’s going on with the system at all times.
  2. Match between the system and the real world. Use common language to describe and label things, don’t assume users know things or use technical jargon. Controls and inputs map intuitively, vs requiring menu diving or “modes”.
  3. User control and freedom. This means both designing the system to avoid errors, and providing ways for users to undo a mistake.
  4. Consistency and standards. It shouldn’t feel totally alien, rather, it should map to users’ experiences with similar products. Symbols and terminology should be standardized - the user shouldn’t have to guess what something means or what the result of an action will be.
  5. Aesthetic and minimal design - which doesn’t mean minimalism per se, but the user interface and physical design should not be confusing or include irrelevant information.
Too often, music gear and software is not designed with usability in mind; trying to cram a desktop interface into a pedalboard is a recipe for frustration.

Even analog gear can suffer from this - there’s lots of full-featured preamp pedals that sound great, for instance, but have confusing layouts, labelling, signal paths, tiny side switches, etc.

Things like the choice of knobs affects this - how often do you see ones without line pointers or whose indicators aren’t easily visible (especially on pedals?)

There are things like rotary encoders with built-in displays that could be used, to preserve that analog knob feel while giving users a clear setting indication visible at a distance. This one is the open-source RoenDi:

IMG_2496.jpeg
 
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#114
Code Brown said:
Here it is - the amp of the future!
(Apologies for my poor photoshop skills)
View attachment 5439836

A digital modeling / multi-effect processor with touch screen interface and fully integrated preamp / DI / 800W power amp - all in the palm of your hand!

Basically a Kemper, Fractal, etc. with a cell phone screen attached to a very compact amp head. It'll have everything you ever wanted:
3,500 effects (up to 128 simultaneously)
Store unlimited user patches
Cab sims and IR
Bluetooth / Wi-Fi / USB connectivity
Every type of input / output connection
2 hour looper
USB audio interface
MIDI I/O / Thru
Stereo FX loop
etc.....

A optional footswitch is available.
MSRP: $599.99

How is this miracle of technology even possible??? I don't know, go ask agedhorse.

I think this is where we're headed. Agree or disagree? Will you embrace this future or stick with your traditional gear?

Credit to Headrush Core screen that I totally used without permission :)
Click to expand...
FC1D1198-C7F2-46FF-90D1-7E81A00EEA6A.jpeg


BB0F1F1B-909A-46D3-B536-6A16DBFD04A6.jpeg


1,000 songs in the pocket.
 
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