Guitar Amp Modeling
We’ve probably skirted around the subject of amp modeling quite a bit without ever really diving into it very deeply. Let’s take a closer look at some hardware amp modelers you may not know about.
Guitar amp modeling is not new anymore. The Line6 POD brought the concept to the masses years ago and though Line6 makes some great sounding products, they’re certainly not the only game in town. The concept of modeling is to take a real guitar amp, analyze it and then re-create its characteristics via software. A similar concept is applied to the speaker portion – the frequency response is captured with different mics and saved as an impulse response which then allows you to obtain the sound of certain guitar cabinets that you may not actually own or have access to. When you put both the amp modeling and speaker impulse together you get a full guitar amp/speaker solution. Put a bunch of different amps and speaker models together in a hardware unit and you can mix and match amps, speakers and even microphones allowing a vast variety of attainable tones. So with that background, here are some hardware-based modelers have faithful re-creations of vintage and classic amps and also enough versatility to obtain your own unique sounds (very handy in the studio for sure).
Vox Tonelab: ST and LE versions both have plenty of room to store multiple presets of amp/cabinet combinations and the LE even has an 12AX7 preamp tube for added warmth. Silent tuning, easy preset switching all built into rugged little floor units.
Line 6 POD X3 series (X3, X3 Pro and X3 Live): Current version of the classic bean-shaped POD series has 2 inputs (1 mic and 1 line) to run two separate modeling patches simultaneously. Process a vocal on one and guitar on the other or stack/blend guitar amps for some interesting combinations. The X3 Live is a floorboard unit perfectly suited for running on stage with easy preset switching.
Digidesign Eleven: The new rack-mounted modeler from the makers of Pro Tools provides some fantastic sounds and is at home in a studio rack or in a live rack. Presets can be created and shared with other Eleven users. Integrates perfectly with Pro Tools and other DAWs.
Digitech GSP 1101: 1U rack-mounted modeler with lots of amp/cabinet combinations and FX. Great sounds. Presets can be shared with other 1101 users. For live use the 1101 requires a MIDI switching pedal of some sort (or use with the Digitech Control 2 foot controller).
Fractal Audio AXE-FX: Perhaps the least well-know but possibly the holy grail of modelers. Sold online through the company’s website, the AXE-FX has a devout following and has gained the endorsement of guitarists like Steve Vai, Dweezil Zappa and John Petrucci. Beautiful FX and stunning amp emulations. Lots of horsepower. 2 versions – the Ultra (more processing power) or the Standard. Supports user-created speaker cabinet impulses and presets can be easily shared with other users.
If you haven’t checked out any of these modelers you’re missing out. The price range goes from very affordable (Vox) to price (Fractal Audio) but the results can be fantastic. Running a modeler into the FX return of a great tube amp head and micing the speaker cabinet can be a great way to get the best of both worlds. Live or in the studio, you need one of these solutions, trust me.