I’ve currently got a Kemper which I love - but it’s connected to my PC in the lounge, which is connected to the TV.... which can make practising difficult when the Mrs wants to watch TV!
I was thinking of getting either a second Kemper - which is too expensive - or getting a decent guitar plugin / VST for a laptop that I can take to the office and practice with. However, a key thing for me is that the plugin must have a great ‘fee’ with the guilt, and be responsive. That’s a key thing I love with the Kemper, and I never found it with things like the Helix (I was looking at Helix Native, but this kind of puts me off buying it. Plus, I never managed to get decent sounds from it...).
I know Neural do some well regarded plugins, but they seem kind of one trick ponies. I’d be playing stuff from blues to classic rock to some 80’s metal.
Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations please...?
Thanks!
Comments
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Most guitar amp plugs have demos so I’d just try as many as you can and see which you like best
Kuassa are my current favourite. Responds well to guitar volume backing off like hardware. https://www.kuassa.com/
For late night noodling you can't go wrong with an amplug lead from vox.
Also ordered the Komplete Audio 6 mk2 interface, as you get the full version of Guitar Rig 5 Pro with it - and I needed a second interface anyway
Amplitube too - and you can get a chunk of that for nothing
these days though i generally use a handfull of 1 trick poiny sims though as they are typically much better quality. My gotos are the STL 5150 and the brainworx VH4.
The Neural ones sound pretty good, but slightly more of a one-trick pony.
TH-U just seems full of random amps and makes that are not as well known.
Scuffham sounds good, but seems to lack any options for pre or post pedals / FX...?
Had heard some people suggest about using a preamp to ensure you're getting the correct impendance into the interface...?
Maybe a stupid - and somewhat related - question; would this tube pre-amp work to connect to the PC as an interface to send the non-eq'd dry signal (via the tubes) to the DAW?
https://www.laney.co.uk/produc…rt-irt-pulse-effect-pedal
From what I've read, it sends the dry signal on the L channel of the USB - just want to make sure that's still going via the tubes! Would be interested in using it in front of the Kemper as well....
If you add an external pre amp i'm not sure if it will be mic level or instrument level. It's also a moot point as the 'tone' generated from the pre-amp will still be processed through the modelling software.
another dumb question... in theory, should a tube based pre-amp improve the ‘feel’ when going direct into it, and then a VST?
Don't get me wrong the Bias stuff fills a hole (i.e silent practicing and capturing ideas when they strike) but to use it as a substitute if you have proper gear seems daft.
I'm considering a reactive loadbox (Captor X) type thing but it's the kind of gear i'd definitely like to try before I commit.