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Amp Sims

Amp Sims

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Recording in a home studio often times requires that we record quietly.  This could be due to living in an apartment, condo, or simply because your family does not want to hear your “Phat Beatz” blasting  at 1 AM. Thus, we have to record direct into the computer and monitor through headphones. 

If you are an electric Guitar or Bass player, this means we are probably going to use amp sims in many cases.  Amp Sims is short for “Amplifier Simulation” software.  If you have used a Line 6 POD, you already know what I'm talking about.  These days, everything is inside of the software and all you have to do, is plug your instrument directly in to your audio interface (use an input with a mic pre, not a “line in”, because the raw instrument will need some amplification to get it to an appropriate level in your program.)

There are lots of software options to choose from, and a fairly wide range of results as well.  Some amp sims will not sound believable at all, while others you will be hard pressed to call it “fake” when heard in a mix.  I personally use Guitar Rig and Overloud TH2.  I have also used Amplitute, which was very good.  I won't go into a review and list of all the amp sims out there, but I wanted to mention the idea as a great alternative to using a real amplifier when noise is an issue in your recording environment. 

Here is a great write up from Sound on Sound, including a list of amp sims and review. http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr13/articles/spotlight-0413.htm

In the day of computers, there is nothing to stop you from making your music wherever you are, and whatever time of day it is :)

-Mike Lizotte

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