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I’ve been experimenting with some of GarageBand amp profiles, there’s a ton to choose from. For the most part they sound tinny and cheap. I have some real nice studio monitors and run it through a Scarlett 2i2 interface. I’m wondering if it’s the profiles themselves or something else. I think Brian uses a Kemper profiler, but that’s way too much money for me. I presently mike my amps and that works pretty good but I’m always looking at alternatives. Any thoughts?
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The Kemper profiler is amazing. I had a chance to trial one at my local music store. The options are overwhelming. In the end though, there are a few settings I like using my amp and pedals and I think it’s enough. Your tone always sounds great, Bruce. I think a lot of the tones we love are at amp volumes we wouldn’t normally play at, out of concern for our neighbours and hearing.
John -
Oh yes, I can understand your dissatisfaction, which you describe.
Also, I have tasted the Kemper two months with me extensively; one without and one with preamplifier. The Kemper is a stupid pc who can only do what he’s taught; and he does that pretty well. You can buy amp profiles or make yourself. Everything at a high level, but also expensive. With a Kemper alone I would buy profiles and then trim. Anyway; I decided against the Kemper because the sound on my amp (Mesa Boogie) sounds a bit better. However, this is only my opinion. Plus, if you’ve got an amp profile into the Kemper (profiling), this sound is just a base for just that basic setting from your amp; everything else is then processed digitally. Example: an amp profile with a high bass content can only be digitally controlled in the Kemper. And here you compromise. If they are okay for you, then everything is fine.
In the meantime I do my recordings on my amp, their settings and lead the signal through my mixer into the DAW; finished. I no longer influence the sound through Logic Pro x. Everything remains as it is. I had tried a lot of effects before, but I also do all that in front of the DAW. Anyone who chooses a Kemper should, in my opinion, in any case have a (in his view) good amp in addition.
A good amp does not have to be expensive. I go after that; good is something like it. The market offers a lot.Play guitar just like you live; don't get bogged down in theory, it's just a tool without feeling.
Wilfried
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Good points, thanks. I still get the best sound thru a mic in front of the amp, and digitally tweak from the EQ in GarageBand. The profiles I’m playing with from GB go thru to the studio monitors that have 6″ speakers so the bass is way lighter than the amp. I think there is a way to use the amp with the profiles but not sure how to hook it up.
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There is a wide range of stuff available in modeling/profiling now.
Kemper sits at the top of the heap, along with Fractal Axe FX-3, and Line 6 Helix. They run from $1500 to $2500.
At the next tier are stripped versions of the Fractal and Helix, the Helix LT and the soon to be released Fractal FM-3. These offer the same sounds as the flagship devices, but with reduced functionality. In this category are also the Boss GT1000, Atomic Amplifire, and Headrush. These are about $1000.
There is another level at about $600, including the Helix Stomp, a smaller Amplifire model, and other Boss stuff. I think Atomic has its Amplifire models in a pedal now for about 300, and you can get Helix Native for about the same and run it through your computer.
All of these will be a lot better than what you get from GarageBand. The best of them have shown themselves to be indistinguishable from the Tube amps they copy in blind tests.
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Thanks Duffy, but doesn’t it depend a lot on speakers too? That’s what you’ll be listening to the profiles with. I like to be able to hear the effects before the recording part.
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There seem to be two trends with speakers right now – either FRFR or using a guitar cab.
The FRFR will give you the sound of a recorded guitar. It is also the sound that would come over the PA in a live situation. It’s the sound of a miked amp through a speaker. FRFR stands for Full Range Flat Response, and it’s somewhat a lie. There is no difficulty with speakers covering the full range that guitars put out. But flat response is aspirational. In theory, all FRFR speakers should sound alike. In practice, they don’t. It’s difficult and costly to create a true flat response in speakers. Right now, however, you can do really well for just a few hundred dollars.
Playing through a guitar cab is another solution. It gives the “amp in the room” feel that some people prize. It comes at the cost of some flexibility in the sound, because you will always have the coloration of the cab you select.
There are companies that are working on trying to get the best of both alternatives. Line 6’s powercab tries to do this and gets great reviews. I have not tried one.
Personally, I think we (definitely including myself) spend way too much time and energy trying to get a variety of ‘tones’. Almost every player I admire had a distinctive sound that he developed on his own. Ideally, I would like to develop my own distinctive sound. But then I hear something cool that I would like to sound like. FWIW, I’m on the wait list for the Fractal FM3. When I get it, I will start deciding on the best speaker solution. I don’t think I will need the zillion sounds it is capable of, but I’m pretty sure I will be able to find a nice set of sounds to use.
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The problem with profiles to me is the amp sounds different at varying volume points
Lucky enough to own a couple of origin pedals they both have a blend nob so you can feed the origional signal through with the modified. Mixing in more dry signal the less volume you have seems to help retain the overall sound.
While I don’t really want to do the wet/dry thing (well maybe if I win the lottery build my own music room etc) I could see it working well with a profiler amp and a dry amp.
Interesting discussion
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I feel like I’m in a similar state of confusion as to which path to take, with all the options out there. I’m torn between the ‘pure’ software route, like Bias FX2 + a DAW. But then there are some more affordable ‘hardware’ options now – has anyone experienced the Mooer Preamp Live pedal? It gets great reviews on the tube, and at a fraction of the the price of Kemper (albeit it doesn’t claim to be everything that the Kemper is).
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I feel like I’m in a similar state of confusion as to which path to take, with all the options out there. I’m torn between the ‘pure’ software route, like Bias FX2 + a DAW. But then there are some more affordable ‘hardware’ options now – has anyone experienced the Mooer Preamp Live pedal? It gets great reviews on the tube, and at a fraction of the the price of Kemper (albeit it doesn’t claim to be everything that the Kemper is).
It really depends on what your wanting the mooer for, the Kemper isn’t just an amp modeler it’s a multi FX as well so for the mooer your needing additional pedals.
If your going digital then to be honest the kemper looks a solid price for what it does and is the market leader for a reason.
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