13 Reasons why Real Amps DESTROY Amp Sims!

[@Downhuman74]

"Even the cheap ones sound great." As demonstrated by Josh Homme recently when he revealed that the secret behind his unique tone was....a 100 dollar Peavey Decade practice amp! Of course, people lost their shit and now those things go for over 1000 dollars. So, not so cheap anymore.

[@kanodogg]

they going for about 250 now it seems

[@mirelchirila]

there’s a few amps in the lineup that have the same preamp, so save your money and buy the audition 20.

[@j.jester7821]

Agreed. If you gave Jeff Beck a really crappy amp and guitar, when he played it he would find a way to make it sound great.

[@CosplayingasaMusician]

I still love my freeware amp sims, don't even care how close they come to the real thing - making music comes first

[@Hekkin]

I love your channel name haha

[@BeauJames59]

Good enough for you is good enough. I wonder if this might fall under playing for an audience as opposed to playing to impress other musicians.

[@MetalZoned]

Great point

[@27Hawke]

I'm using bias fx 2 (positive grid) for live with a behringer fsb 1010 pedal going straight to the mixer from the scarlotte. So my amps and cabs travel on my laptop in a backpack.

[@juancarlossuarez7486]

@@BeauJames59 I've been busking in the street for two years with an electric into a zoom into a JBL go bluetooth speaker and the only comments I got from other guitarists about my tone was they couldn't believe it was coming out of a one inch speaker. Common people? As long as the tone is not horrible they just listen to the song

[@mrcoatsworth429]

For me, a real amp is just inspiring. I like turning real knobs and getting the immediate feedback. And I like committing to a tone when I record. I don't want to endlessly screw around with the plugin settings etc.

[@petegaslondon]

I hope you do the Glenn thing too and always take a clean DI ? ;) I can do it on the HX Stomp (for bass) and I'm making a mini Direct box soz I can do it on the main rig ***SO PLEASE DONT YELL AT ME GLEEENNN*** !!!!!

[@mrcoatsworth429]

@@petegaslondon No, I don't. I know exactly what I want and mix my own music. If I were to send it off to somebody else to mix, I'd do that of course.

[@Chugg.Norris]

So you just turn knobs and never find a sound? Come on.... I've had so many high end amps... and the neural dsp shit literally just made recording so easy... and sounded balls to the wall after dialing.... opened my mind for sure to sims now.

[@mrcoatsworth429]

@@Chugg.Norris where did I say I don't get the sounds I want?

[@bigassdummy46]

Lol

[@smeemusic]

I love how you make arguments based on any point of view. I love that these videos contradict each other. Just kinda goes to show, different strokes for different folks because at the end of the day, the best thing is just simply what works best for you… the end user.

[@frags4679]

I think that the word “perspective” few right over your head. Reviewing different kinds of recording hardware/software from different perspectives is a great way to to choose what’s better for you. Maybe try watching or listening and you might just pick that up.

[@smeemusic]

@@frags4679 ….what?

[@gitarman666]

@@smeemusic you heard him, it few right over…we all saw it!

[@warthogstudios9784]

Ha ha yes. I remember his rave review of the Quid Corset. 😁

[@zackakai5173]

Part of the appeal with real gear for me is that I spend most of my time for work, my own projects, and recreation sitting at my computer. The guitar is something I can do to get away from that for a bit. There's something about the physicality and weight of real gear that I don't think computers will ever replicate, no matter how good they can sound (at least not until we have that SAO full dive VR technology).

[@cygnus_XI]

I went through middle and highschool almost exclusively making music with VSTs then realized just how fun using real gear is when I bought some Roland rack stuff. Same with amp heads and cabs.

[@isomatic]

I was gonna joke about SAO being "Sword Art Online" but I think that's what you really meant lol

[@iurigrang]

I mean, there are physical amp Sims. Kemper being the closest one to using a real amp, Helix and quad cortex being fine if you don't mind the pedal board format. Does that do the trick for you? Or it's not about being physical, but rather having no digital components?

[@cotati76]

You just crystallized why I prefer real amps. I’d never realized part of it was the whole “being back on my computer after work” thing. I tried a real 6505 and a 6505 sim and the sim didn’t sound anything like a real 6505 so I’m going to get a real one instead.

[@wannabecliffburton4275]

I've always preferred real amps because the amp being actually present in the room is so much more engaging for me.

[@spacebomb9126]

Had 6 different tube amps throughout my life. Now just a Helix. Both worlds chugg and have ripping leads. Pros and cons for both worlds. Do what sounds best for you and your music and stop worrying about the music industry snobs that only care if you're using a tube amp or IR sims. Ridiculous debates about two different worlds that both sound great. I'm just going to tell people I recorded my guitar parts using an ENGLE powerball. And after about 12 months I'll tell the truth and say it was all Helix. $5000 says nobody will be able to tell the difference and they'll all say it sounds badass. It's the writing that makes your music sound different from other bands. Using a good sounding piece of gear that's been used by a million other people makes absolutely no difference. It's all in the writing, not the gear. If you think a 5150 sounds great through vintage 30's, then do it. It's whether or not the writing is unique and original, that will determine things sounding differently from other bands. Don't get lost in the hyped up KZbin battles of the engineers saying "blah blah it's already been done blah blah" The sales numbers, subscribers and views of all the newer music of today is obliterating all that old stuff anyways. If you use an 57 mic and 5150 amp and vintage 30s speakers, you will get great tones. But if all you're playing is riffs that sound like every other band out there for the last 30 years, then that's what will make you sound like regurgitated music. It's always mostly been the player and what they're writing that sucks. Funny how everyone blames the gear.

[@gibson2623]

audio speakers with IRs are a joke compared to a real cabinet....It s night and day dude

[@fredriksvard2603]

Wish i could agree 100% but theres a reason people chase certain pieces of gear. Won't get cannibal corpse tones with a fender single coil guitar straight to an ac30. But yes you will absolutely get a huge chugs through a helix. Who even cares what gear is being simulated, i dont select amp, mic etc plugins because they say mesa or sm57 or anything, i just want them to sound good. Badonk is great.

[@gibson2623]

@@fredriksvard2603 Software amp sims sound better than helix and GT1000

[@fredriksvard2603]

@@gibson2623 those are software amps... just run on a deeicated device. if plugins are better, that's subjective. There's a lot of digital noise in neural dsp plugins, i think its because theyre optimized to be less cpu hungry than helix.

[@gibson2623]

@@fredriksvard2603 I have both . i use gt1000 with power amp and real cabinet, and software plugins for recording.... I bener liked the GT1000 into a soundcard for recording ;)

[@XSFlanger]

Choice paralysis - is something that disturbs me as well and not only for amp sims, but even more for post processing as there are galore of plugins available. It's like having inner voice telling you it's not enough and next one is something we need yes! Especially for IRs, damn. On the other hand, I'd gladly invest into mid tier amp, if miking it up was not such a fucking pain in the ass.

[@zackakai5173]

BIG agree. Real amps to me are kind of like when you were a kid and you only had a handful of video games, so you played the shit out of them and learned everything you could about them. Whereas nowadays I've got a Steam library full of hundreds of games, some of which I've never even touched. I can sit down with my Marshall and some real pedals, and I have to figure out how to get as close to the sound I want with what I have. Whereas with sims, I can sit there for literal days just trying out every conceivable option and never actually settling on one thing long enough to enjoy it.

[@_fifeusz]

I had this problem a long time ago of tweaking over playing and finally decided to shift things up and I set up a basic writing session Reaper template. At the same time I am a cheap bastard and don't have/didn't want to use too many external plugins so I've set up all my channel strips with stock Reaper plugins. The only 3rd party stuff are the drums and the ampsims (clean and distorted 'generic' sounds) but I don't touch them before I have something bigger recorded, to avoid distraction. Boy oh boy, is it liberating, really saves me and my two remaining brain cells time and energy to actually experiment with writing rather than endless tweaking. Just as a cherry on top - stock Reaper plugins are fantastic, as most of you already know, but it really can't be stressed enough.

[@DerekPower]

This is where setting rules/boundaries can help. I go into each project saying “I’m only going to use these plugins” or even “I’m *not* using these” can minimise that choice paralysis and pushes you forward. Similarly, if you also find yourself using the same thing over and over, maybe this is a chance to reevaluate somethings and try something else.

[@Terrible_Peril]

Everybody wants to run an amp until it’s time to buy or build an iso cab and be dedicated about it

[@robertw1871]

Just find a decent tone and play the hell out of it…. The more you stick with a few tones the better you’ll be able to play em…. Use your hands to change the tone is what I’m sayin…

[@drlove2112]

Glenn is knocking out of the damn park! I've never seen any channel up their video output like you have and still pump out quality stuff at the same rates. Awesome work!

[@t3hgir]

The best analogy I've heard was from Javier Reyes. It's like comparing the highest-end sim racing setup, full cockpit+wheel and pedals to simply driving a 911 or Corvette out on a track. The real thing will always be the goal.

[@SWATTECHNOLOGIES]

That's the worst analogy. If the average person saw you in a very high-end sim racing setup, full cockpit+wheel and pedals, they would 100% know it was fake by looking at you and the setup verses you in a real car. 90% of people cannot distinguish between real amps and sim amps. Musicians can (particularly guitarists), but avg people cannot and actually like it. I am currently using Garritan orchestra, people cannot distinguish my flute and guitar concertos from the real thing. This is where we are.

[@tanvarma4169]

@@SWATTECHNOLOGIES Correct. The only limit really is our imagination. Most guitarists in today's age have access to or can have access to amazing gear for a very low cost, the only thing stopping them is skill, talent and hard work.

[@SWATTECHNOLOGIES]

@@tanvarma4169 skill, talent and hard work...yes, yes, and yes

[@jiffey_faux]

Holy shit, Music production and sim racing?! Haha I flipped when I saw Javier mentioned. I don't know anyone else personally that likes music production OR sim racing, let alone both!

[@digiscream]

And...for an alternative view of the hybrid system - what about running a modeller into a power amp (neutral or not, your choice), into a cab and then sticking a mic on it? As has been said before on this channel, the majority of interesting things happening in a guitar tone actually happen in the speaker, and that's where modellers have always fallen down IMO. It's one of the reasons my gigging rig is exactly this - all the flexibility of a modeller, all the feel of a real cab, and none of the backache.

[@VForsaken]

Mostly I satisfied running my Helix into return of tube power stack, bypassing IRs. Response of a cab is very nice and "real".

[@phenixnunlee372]

I have a old Behringer modelling amp and turning off Cab simulation have me much better tone and I am looking at getting a cab to mic up the speaker is a game changer.

[@willprince643]

That's what the band Vader does, they use Kemper as preamp into 5150 effects loop into a real cab, and they say it sound like a real amp, not a digital simulation.

[@neonether]

Yeah for sure. The tones you can pull out of the current best modelers are virtually limitless. Stick those behind whatever cabs you have and mic that up FOR SURE. Nice call.

[@chasitynowicki8099]

I was looking for this comment. I run amp sims/pedal rig into my power amp, then into 1 x 12" cab. Sounds amazing compared to any IR i've ever used.

[@phonomorgue.1372]

"Choice Paralysis" is effectively what I felt when I got a Kemper. Amazing piece of gear, but ended up selling it for a couple real amps solely because of this. I think a good compromise would be having a powered Kemper with a handful of cabs with different speakers/mics.

[@tanvarma4169]

The Kabinet comes to mind

[@ni4ni775]

Choice Paralysis is real. Collecting vst's instead of just playing can become exhausting.

[@orlock20]

If you had GAS, you'd want the Kemper back.

[@phonomorgue.1372]

@@orlock20 Not gonna lie, I do sometimes wish I still had the Kemper. And then I remind myself of why I sold it lol. If anything, the Kemper made my GAS worse, hearing all these excellent amps I'll never have the full control of is for a person with greater will power or money than I.

[@slavesforging5361]

@@phonomorgue.1372 That's why i never got one. i'm pretty sure not really being able to adjust settings would drive me mad. i have to tweak.

[@umbertoyltp]

The embarassing fact is that I have been waiting for the right statement that fits my opinion and then agree ;-) Adding to the pros: real amps don't have expiring licenses, and all they need is AC power. And nothing beats the smell of warm tubes and transformers!

[@dirgmario]

Great video as always, Glenn; however, there’s a part where I disagree a bit. Nowadays, I don’t think the top of the line digital stuff gets outdated that quickly. The kemper has been around for over a decade and it’s still one of the most used devices by musicians in all genres. The Helix also has been the same since 2016 and still receives updates. Regarding the fractal stuff, despite the AX FX III coming out and displacing the II, there’s still people using those and even the Ax8 or the Ax FX Ultra. And by analyzing the last products Fractal has released (AX FX III, FM3 and FM9), I believe right now the improvements (or variations) come from the processing power. Because the truth is, a lot of these digital devices already sound like (or at least similar enough to) real tube amps. Like I said, the improvements being done right now (not only by fractal) are in more technical matters. And, when the Quad Cortex came out, many people just kept their Ax Fx’s and Helix and stuff. It didn’t displace them, it just gave people more options and different user interfaces. In my opinion, at least in digital audio, the ceiling in sound quality is very close to be reached and I don’t think the next units will have “This one does sound like a real amp” as their marketing flag, because like I said, most units already do. The sale incentive will be things like more outputs, processing power and new capabilities of internal routing, sensibility, better AD/DA convention, more power in less space, much less latency, etc. Of course, I could be wrong, but that’s what I think about the matter. Also, I do believe that with digital things you can make your own sound. You just have to think outside of the box, stop being lazy (means no presets) and experiment. (I don’t mean you YOU, I mean like, In general). I know it’s too much to ask to some people, but it might be worth it. You can even combine plug ins, real pedals, etc. The possibilities are there, people just need to stop (like you said) wanting the same boring 5150 tube screamer vintage 30 sm57 sound that everyone has heard already. Seriously, with todays digital options, people could be creating new sounds every day, but no, of course, because that would require them to learn in depth how to use them and not just getting to “plug and play” with the new preset they purchased to sound like every other person in their neighborhood. Anyway, great video, Glenn. Just wanted to share my opinion. Your content is great not only for metal musicians, but for everyone serious about improving their audio engineering skills.

[@lucaferrarotto7443]

that's the point, the power of digital is not to have a perfect "that amp" simulation but to allow endless option to find you sound. Just don't look what display say and judge only with your ears what sound ok.

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

“Even the cheap ones sound great.” YES! My Orange OR15 through an Orange 4x12 is awesome. Plus it only has 5 knobs and one channel. So simple even a bass player can figure it out. Lol

[@sbratknob]

OR15 owner here... massively underrated amp

[@Chesus78]

Haha our Tyrant Spectre Logo!!!! Happy to see it in the video! Thx and greetings to Canada from all at Atlas Amplification.

[@frankwestphalen6602]

A short story: I work since 2 years with amps- sims from waves , amplitude etc., was happy about the phantastic quality and now just before mixing my new album I did the "mistake" to try an "Ampwerk"- Head (small Company from Germany) and have to record so much again. It IS a difference, real tubes are unbeatable!

[@CyberChrist]

Link, Or It Never Happened ;)

[@Herrierecordsinc]

Why rerecord? Just use the tracks without ampsims and reamp them.....

[@CyberChrist]

@@Herrierecordsinc Because he doesn't know the kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6mrqaCsmqiIe7M trick, I guess :P (or he didn't listen to Glenn saying he should get a DI track, lol)

[@JimJWalker]

I love my Fender Super Reverb. The 4x10 45 watt tube tone is just ungodly. It moves so much air and takes pedals like a boss.

[@theoryofmine7473]

I remember a Kerry King interview about his Marshall head (not the signature, his original) he asked Marshall just why it sounded so good. They tested the components and they were _all_ bang on the spec, in the middle of the tolerences. Pretty cool.

[@kurtbader9711]

Yeah, the tolerance of the components is why all old Marshalls sound different, and how a good tech can tune it to your liking.

[@greybrother01]

For as easy as plugins and IRs are supposed to be, I tried forever to get a recordable tone that way and couldn't get what I was looking for. Most amp sims don't seem to do "just past the edge of breakup" 70s hard rock/proto-metal tones very well at all. After finally getting a cheap tube amp and a 2x10 cab, I was immediately closer to the tone I was trying to get. Currently experimenting with mics and placement.

[@_TwoDot]

Well usually using the sim through a cab and recording with mics instead of directly fix that issue

[@PurpleMusicProductions]

As a bassist I would NEVER get rid of my Mesa Boogie rig. I will record with and lug around that heavy ass gear to my grave. Hybrid is the way to go but sims and plugins do not match the real thing despite what the marketing teams and paid shills tell you.

[@NelsonBlakeII]

Might be a big difference between guitar and bass, though. It took quite a bit of adjusting to tame the low end for me as a guitar player. For guitar, it's definitely matches the real thing and I will never carry another head again.

[@TheOuterDrive]

Have you tried parallax sim through some powered speakers tho..sounds sic.

[@isomatic]

Punctuation and complete sentences? You're no bassist.

[@WilDBeestMF]

@@isomatic Also, notice the distinct lack of drool and urine free pants.

[@lyndonbauer1703]

@@NelsonBlakeII That was my biggest hurdle with the my axefx 2, low end was just weird and woofy all the time but eventually figured it all out.

[@petesmith6434]

In reality, sound quality is subjective. Each person “hears” a particular “sound” differently…what you hear is not exactly what I hear. Therefore, the question should not be “do I use a physical amp” or, “do I use an amp sim” but what tools will allow me to produce the sounds I want to produce. Then it’s up to your listeners to determine if the sounds you produced please them as well or not. In the end, the listener does not care how you achieve your tones…they only like them or they don’t. This applies to not only guitar tones, but everything associated with recording music.

[@LoreAccurateHusky]

Reason 14: You can have a real amp modded. If you want something more that a stock amp sound, take it to a shop and have component values changed or add new features the stock amp doesn't come with. You can't get a more unique sound past modifying your gear and last time I checked, people aren't offering mods for amp sims.

[@_TwoDot]

You don’t need to mod it when you got pedals and different amp choices, usually people mod their amp when they want a different sound but don’t want to spend hundreds-thousands

[@michael1]

Actually you're completely wrong, component modelling and circuit simulation is most definitely a thing that exists

Just poppin' by to say I'm loving the aspect ratio you've been using since your "13 reasons why amps sims destroy real amps video" (different aperture, less high exposition, color grading... different camera altogether?). Looks mighty fine and much more cinematic!

[@FSdarkkilla]

That hybrid setup thing is what I love about my H&K GrandMeister Deluxe 40. It has the loadbox built right into it, I can completely operate it silent (or at varying wattages) and by disabling the built-in redbox I can easily go straight into the computer, use IRs and practice at every time of the day without annoying anybody while still having my own sounds. And thanks to some developer who wrote an app to remotely control the amp via MIDI I can dial in the sound either by hand on the physical knobs or through the software and even have backups of the settings should my amp needs to be replaced due to any defect. And while I still also own many VST amp sims and many do sound quite decent, it still always feels better when I turn on the amp. I found this to be especially true when trying to practice tricky parts. So there's also that dynamic/feel/latency thing there... it definitely makes a small difference. But when you practice stuff that's really fast even small differences add up and can lead to frustration when practicing.

[@unleashthefury111]

It's too bad those H&K amps have some weird fizzy sound that is absolutely impossible to dial out because it's part of the amps character, I guess.

[@CryoHeart-LC]

@@unleashthefury111 I got the Tubemeister + helix with the 4 cable method. I usually add nothing but tubescreamer or percision drive before the amp (And some delay/reverb stuff post amp) and I get some seriously amazing tones. Check your cab maybe... Or could be faulty parts...

[@unleashthefury111]

I should clarify that I meant its on the ultra channel. But I've had two HK amps both did the same thing. Every review I read said same thing. The Hugh gain sound has a grainy fizzy texture that cannot be undone

[@FSdarkkilla]

@@unleashthefury111 I can't complain at all, I haven't yet noticed a "grainy fizzy texture" at all and I use the Ultra Channel a lot for lead sounds. Best thing I've bought in years... well apart from my RME interface, because holy cow RME really knows their shit and the software that accompanies it is mighty awesome. Maybe you have some electrical interference that affects it? I have issues with my PC generating electromagnetic interference (switching noise) from the VRMs on the mainboard with varying frequency depending on CPU load. If I position my guitar badly they absolutely pick that up and on high gain you then definitely get a "fizzy sound"... but I get that with amp sims too.

[@nohalo7]

Praise be to the Crate GFX-212 and 1200H half-stack. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@Massobliteration]

Hey man, its the Crate GFX 212 and the 1200H the same thing? i mean one is a combo of head plus cab, and the other is just the head, right? Ok i checked and yes, its the same thing. Same with the GT212 and GT1200H....

[@SalemsChilde]

Preach! We use amp sims for demos, but used real amps to record our last couple releases. Each is a tool and useful in their own ways depending on what you're wanting to accomplish. Can't go wrong with a beefy tube half stack for live stuff though! Great vids!

[@mondojellykingsofficial6450]

Thanks for this, Glenn. Sold a 72 JMP 50 I used live and in studio for almost 30 years and ventured into sims. Never found the dynamics, pick attack and feel of a real tube amp. The Kemper was fun, but still unfulfilling. Just can't get the inspiration and joy from a sim. I do keep testing out of curiosity, but have since had 3 handwired clones of my favorite amps built to use on stage and in studio. Yes, it is a daunting task to set and mic them for recording - but it is a labor of love. Cheers

[@allendean9807]

It’s really hard to beat a turned up JCM800 from the 80’s, into a 1960 cabinet. Just the movement of air alone gives you a chub….

[@johnsguitarmusicanddemos]

I couldn’t agree more! Marshall just has that special tone in the upper mids most amp companies forget about.

[@mattemartinmusic]

I’m not much of a metalhead, but I really appreciate you always advocating for originality in music!

[@Boosuf]

dude, anamorphic lenses on a youtube video is exactly the kind of extra effort i'd expect from you

[@WIMPY86]

More lense flares gdi!

[@JimJWalker]

I also love my Boss Katana that I run direct into my DAW. It sounds way better than any Amp sim software for demos/songwriting.

[@joebloe9901]

You feel a real amp in your guts. Headphones will never replace that.

[@curtisssmith5204]

I once did a gig using my iPhone with the Ampkit sim and a Bluetooth pedal board from IK multimedia. Lol. This was years ago and it was funny seeing the look on my friends faces because it did sound great. They were expecting a toylike cheap sound. To be fair, the PA and monitors used were top notch. I can’t comment on what works best for recording and the studio. I was always a live player in assorted cover bands. But the big thing in your live sound is going to be in your playing ability. Not so much in whether you use sims or real amps.

[@u4yk]

I would never use an amp sim live simply because of latency which exacerbates in hot, unventilated clubs where the owners are too cheap to pay for HVAC.

[@drpibisback7680]

Good stuff, and I'll add one more thing: quality of feedback. Most people's gut response is "no, that's bad and we're trying to eliminate that, why would I care about feedback?" Sure, if you're going for pristine technical metal you don't want screeching guitar feedback, but that's why noise gates exist. For the rawer, punkier players who do play with a lot of feedback, I find amp sims almost always struggle to feed back when monitored and tend to lock into microphonic squeals when they do. You don't get the same sensitive, textured feedback of a real amp with the volume high and the gain set reasonably. There's a particular swell that natural feedback easily does that I've never heard come from a monitored amp sim, even when that amp sim was going through an actual cabinet.

[@albertplaysguitar]

The bloopers at the end remind me of reason 8 out of 13 as to why I haven't jumped into the KZbin game.

[@timcobb1752]

you missed one.... it's a lot easier to play a gig with a real amp than an amp sim program...

[@jamesmarkham7489]

I’d actually like to see a blind sound test. Can you hear the difference in a mix between a real amp and an amp sim tuned to sound the same? Like the tone wood test but for these.

[@AndiKravljaca]

Glenn literally did that a couple of years ago. A blind test, with amp sims and a real amp. Most people didn't guess the real amp.

[@jamesmarkham7489]

@@AndiKravljaca yeah I remember that. I’d like to see if Glenn himself can tell with modern sims.

[@RyanWright]

Andertons did some of those... It was pretty funny, b/c they both said that they were sure they would be able to tell and there was no way that the sim (Kemper and Helix I think is what they used) would sound the same, and they picked the modeller as the amp the majority of the tests.

[@zimorog]

Any budget 100w amp and box you would recommend Glenn? Peavey 6505 prices went through the roof and the only ok option now i see is marshall DSL. Would use it for recording/home playing only.

[@Infinighost]

00:14 Glenn, you've really outdone yourself. This was your best scream ever. I can't tell you how hard I laughed at this.

[@kenowerner7652]

cannot stop playing it back its so hilarious

[@eightfootmanchild]

I’m using a hybrid setup - real pedals and preamps, with a DI/cab simulator. I’m destroying myself.

[@neonether]

That's the way to go! I did that with a Mark 2C+ for a long time. Took a while to get a good IR that gave me the same satisfaction as standing in front of a 4x12 recto cab, but now there's so many killer options. Run the amp into a torpedo, suhr reactive load, whatever, and into the console, then you can bypass the preamp section of an amp sim and mess with the mic positions and stuff... so many options!

[@craigsi16]

If the cab makes more difference than the amp, would it be better to reamp an amp sim through a real cab rather than having a real amp go through an IR, especially if you're wanting to get more unique tones?

[@craigsi16]

Actually a comparison video of this would be really cool!

[@taLLdavidproduction]

Its the power and watts that gives the oomf in a real amp. Unless u have a crazy powerful PA i dont see how it could measure up against a 100watt for example. The set up involved just to play with a drummer is so excessive for amp sims, thats mainly whats holding them back

[@craigsi16]

@@taLLdavidproduction I'm only talking about recording, not live

[@NelsonBlakeII]

@@taLLdavidproduction I'm playing through a sim and regular cab via a Power Amp. My buddy is using the Seymour Duncan, I'm using the Harley Benton. It's 100 watts. In the room, no one can tell it's not going through the head.

[@morbidmanmusic]

Yes, but most use sims becSuse they cant use amps...so that is out

[@WIMPY86]

The B&W clips with goofy voices really makes an impact :) Definitely keep them rolling.

[@isaacdenton2944]

Awesome video Glen! That drum and guitar tone was 👌🏻👌🏻I love the blooper clips at the end, nice touch!

[@Axxon_N]

GLLLEEEEENNNNNN. I just gotta say, I adore how much personality and character you put into every comment voice. Some people say it's annoying sometimes but I think it's great. Your effort is not unnoticed!

[@michaelrichardson8343]

I say to each his own. I lugged a huge Mesa rig around for years and a friend kept urging me to save my back and go with a Kemper. I did 4 years ago and it has worked out awesome! I do not try and convince others to do that too but it works great for me. If it sounds good who cares🤘🤘🤘

[@jaakkolamminpaa7959]

Two traps which I fell into when I had the kemper. 1) swapping between thousand simulations for amps and cabinets but not really playing. 2) when recording, I noticed falling into same patterns; this is what others use and so it must be good. Ended up playing way too little and sounding just like everyone else. But it is still an awesome machine. It has good impulses and I do not regret owning one. If you record in an apartment, it is awesome. Some time ago I bought a house so bye bye kemper, hello tube amps. Are they expensive? Yes. Was it worth it (money and tone -wise)? I don't know. Do I have regrets? None.

[@emarstudio]

Hey Glen!!! Great episode. I was hoping you would mention the hybrid setup. I love the tone of my H&K tube amp, but I've always struggled with getting a real cab to sound good. My amp running through the Wall of sound is my general go to. Keep up the good work. 🤘🤘

[@xnirvanaXnevermindx]

Glenn is the the only electric guitar enthusiast I haven't unsubbed. They can fully express themselves without making an absolute ass of themselves

[@ileutur6863]

He still hasn't gone more than 3 sentences without screaming.

[@NelsonBlakeII]

For playing live, I disagree with the advantages listed here. I played through a 5150 for years and I can't feel any difference playing through a Pod Go. If we sat down and isolated my signal and I was trying to match the 5150 exactly, you could hear a difference, but just trying to sound as good as possible, in a band, NO ONE can hear a drop off in quality. The opposite. Because digital is easier to control than tubes, the Pod Go is more consistent. And instead of playing the 5150's clean channel, I can switch to a clean amp I prefer, so the Pod Go comes out on top in OVERALL sound.

[@dailygrindproductions]

dude I love your channel! I'm not sure if this would be considered a "hybrid" system, but one thing I always do is record a di in addition to real amps. I will then sometimes use an amp sim on that di track and then blend that into my mix. Side note, I definitely agree that having real tube amps in your studio is a giant benefit. Whether, you let a client use them, or you use them for re amping purposes. They WILL help your recordings stand out from everyone else and at least in my case, they only gain in value. I've been lucky with my tube amp purchases as I was able to buy mine from musicians who really needed money for the same price that a music store would buy them for. So, don't go out and just blow a bunch of money on vintage tube amps, keep your eyes open and when the time is right invest. Thanks for another great video dude!

[@julienverardo6432]

Hi Glenn ! You should make a video comparing plugins & analog units, explaining which are best & why Thanks ! Love your videos

[@Kevin.Kelly.]

Nothing beats the feel and inspiration of a real amp.

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

Nothing also beats the weight and damage inflicted to your spine. 😁

[@CodyWardenPerry]

@@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623 weight lifting time! don't skip leg day

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

@@CodyWardenPerry LOL 😂

[@blitheringrando1410]

Get a good dolly and don't go bigger than a half stack. Idk how people stack those 4X12 cabinets on top of each other, so big and ackward.

[@MaestroJericho]

Yup, just trying out the new Neural Petrucci and it's fantastic, but I just enjoy met Mesa Roadster into an Oversized 4x12 Recto cab next to it.

[@yackohoopy]

Here’s my biggest issue with amp sims, literally every single one of them have one major downfall: guitar feedback. I prefer using real amps because I can create feedback. I’ve used many amp sims and, when I do use one, I use Universal Audio Marshall amp sims. They sound amazing, but, yup, no feedback. When you’re doing metal or, in my case, punk, feedback is FUN and I can’t have that kind of fun in an amp sim.

[@outernationalstudios]

Around 10 years ago, I had an awesome freestanding building where I built a studio- and I had an entire room filled with over 20 vintage and modern tube and solid state amps- everything from Vox, fender, marshall, roland, mesa boogie, soldano, etc from the mid 1950s, lots of 1970s until then present day. I had a client come to check out my place to see if they wanted to record. They kept asking about "amp farm"- and I said no I don't have that but I literally have a real room full of everything you could want. They said the sounds they wanted were in amp farm. I said the sound amp farm wants is in my back room!!! They didn't end up recording at my studio. I was happy with the decision! I could tell it was not gonna be a good fit!

[@bripage21]

Please, oh please say that what's coming out next year are impulses using the Lewitt DTP 640! Great video!

[@tomekdudzic]

There's one quick way for choice paralisis with plugins: STOP USING PIRATED PLUGINS! Problem solved ;)

[@ChernobylAudio666]

REAL AMPS WILL NEVER BE BETTER THAN AMP SIMS

[@DarrenWaters75]

😂

[@Sphereal]

Most likely the title of his next video.

[@simply8670]

I've always said this and i always will! Something magical happens when air is allowed to be moved and the actual real soundwaves are picked up by a Mic. Something that truly can't be emulated no matter how hard you try. You know how long that list can go with what and how it feels to actually have something ''live'' going on.

[@michael1]

You can say it as much as you like but it's still going to be complete and utter tripe

[@charlesb7831]

I couldn't make up my mind about my sound, I started chasing that Zakk Wylde sound and it evolved from that. I run 3 amps simultaneously, A Carvin X50B with 4x12 cab and a Marshall jcm800 4010 combe with a Eminence DV-77 speaker and a Peavey stereo chorus 212. Yeah it's fucking loud at unity volume, but so amazing! The frequency spread is unbelievable, however trying to figure out how to record it is a challenge lol. I only run a variety of overdrives, MXR Zakk Wylde overdrive, Ibanez Nu-tube screamer and a 40th Anniversary SD1. And wah , MXR stereo chorus. And the Earthquaker Swissthings pedal to split up the amps. Great video Glenn, cheers!

[@t.j.fuller9531]

big amen to all of this video // HiFi tube audiophile peeps must laugh hysterically at guitarist's who think their dreams have come true via their Helix pedal

[@Joshcheyka]

I think some of these software companies like Amplitube have come very far in the way of amp simulations, however they still lack the character & power of a real amp. I am totally in love with the idea of having a physical representation of my guitar tone and honestly having something that doesn't have to boot up and won't ever freeze up due to a software update or license gripe. I love the idea that if I plug into this thing that it has its own unique voice (not 1000 voices I'll never use), something thats simple and fast to dial in a sound. The amplifiers I use are the 100 watt Marshall 2555x Silver Jubilee and the 100 watt Marshall 2466 Vintage Modern, both of these amps are fast and easy to get a great tone on, you simply fuck with only a few settings: Presence, Bass, Middle, Treble, Gain and volume on both of these and you're ready to go, much easier to setup and much harder to fuck up when you're at a gig!. As much I like amplitube, its not replacing my real amps anytime soon, it likes to frequently crash.

[@MrMadact]

At 9:28 - that mic is actually perfectly set up to capture the sweet sound of a Marshall preamp stage. And a bit of the power transformer.

[@1972LittleC]

20 watt JCM 2000 DSL201 combo from 1999; stil works great and can go earsplitting loud. Even our lumberjack of a drummer was struggling to get over it when around 2 o'clock.

[@TheToillMainn]

I do a lot of electronic and orchestral music. There is nothing like re-amping a synth (even a VST) through a real amp and recording it with a mic instead of using the pure line-out signal. It is fun to experiment. Especially running synths through guitar or bass amps.

[@RudeRecording]

One of the biggest problems with micing a cab of any kind is the room it's in. Speaker age and condition makes a difference too. If the room isn't that good, what do you expect from the tracks? A properly placed room mic in a properly treated room can make for a unique sound. Unfortunately, very few are interested in unique. The standard for micing guitar cabs goes back farther than a couple of decades. It's amazing to me how many clients want to sound like everyone else. I mentioned before, when I asked one famous producer what his favorite guitar cab mics were on air and he responded "I like mics that end in 7." SM 57 close and U 87 for a room mic has been a standard since at least the 70's. I had to send out for a pair of 57's on a lunch break back in the 80's due to the famous guitarist that I was recording at the time thought what I was using "didn't sound right." I was using a Sennheiser 441 in close. I had used that mic for years with no complaints. The owner HATED Shure mics so we didn't have any in the locker. I put an SM 57 on the amp and when the client listened to the track "That sounds great!" I was using a pretty standard U 87 in the room, thought on some sessions I swap the room mic for a C 414. Since you've already observed that speakers make the biggest difference in timbre, why not collect speaker IR's for variance? Problem is with a lot of IR's is that there is no room mic used. There may be an assortment of close mics used but very few have a selection of room mics available or a way to blend them with the close mic. Kazrog used to have a multiple IR cabinet loader and Ignite Amps has the NadIR that is capable of 2 IR's. I've seen one quad IR loader but can't remember where...

[@kevinrenaud]

When I was in college I used a Behringer Xenyx mixer as an interface and used amp sims to practice. All through headphones. Fast forward a year or so I went to play with a drummer and realized I had unconsciously learned to play with latency. I was in time in my headphones but way ahead in real time. Finally using an amp made me realize it and it took a long time to get my playing back in time. Seems so obvious now. Don’t make that mistake too kids!

[@Infernalhermit]

I felt like I definitely saved my noggin' some grief after getting my Peavey. Now I just have to get over my choice paralysis when it comes to IR's! Doh!

[@SleepingLionsProductions]

I like my hybrid approach. Amp sim with no cab sim>reamp into power amp (or amp fx return)>cab mic (sm57) I used a dual rectifier sim into my orange rocker 15 terror power amp and then captured it on Celestion 7080s. And it sounded magnificent. Better than the actual cab sim and has a different flavor than the actual Orange Amp.

[@andybungert]

13:18 and that Revv Generator 120 Mkiii behind Glenn has the Captor built in. Just ordered one and cannot wait.

[@atomicfrost9204]

I run my 50 watt Marshall 2204 into my speaker isolation cabinet that has microphones in it. I can mount any 12 inch speaker in there and then I connect the Iso Cabinet to my interface and I am tracking. This keeps my live amp sound nice and quiet. I can record a full blast amp in the middle of the night and not disturb anyone in the house. I can change mics, speakers and mic placement within the cabinet. Works nicely for me.

[@avjake]

Love the widescreen aspect ratio. Looking forward to seeing you in theaters soon.

[@waranghira]

3:17 That's why mad respect for Lars' St. Anger tone

[@jackjohnson1128]

Ha. He put Christmas lights around the Hammer victims. I don't know why, but that makes me laugh.

[@Chaycethedrummer]

Another great one Glenn! I know some people don't really take advantage of using guitar room tracks but with a real amp, the choice to mic a room is there if you wanna be creative!

[@DazzleRebel]

Hi Glenn, awesome video as always. I notice that you (almost) always have two channels of audio recording displaying on the monitor in the background. I'd love a video on how you record your vlog audio! Maybe you've already got it but I'm a pretty new subscriber and I'm also a lazy sack and can't be arsed to look through hundreds of your videos to see if you've already got one. If that's the case can you point me in the right direction, please? Cheers from the UK. P.s. regarding the value of real amps. I bought a second hand JCM800 Bass head and 4x12 bass cab for £100 about 20 years ago. It still sounds great, especially with a bass overdrive or fuzz pedal. It's also worth a hell of a lot more than what I bought it for now.

[@murderbymedia]

GLEEEEENNNNNN! I just wanted to say that I’ve been watching your channel for years and I think I just got my first clear good sounding mix out of my new project and I owe it all to you and your amazing channel. thank you for everything you do. The feeling of getting in my car and hearing my mix at full volume with no distortion and no rattling of car parts is as close to heaven as I ever care to get. Fuck you very, very much!

[@trecool223]

Love the bloopers at the end! It always reminds us that however succesfull you are, we still all make mistakes!

[@JohnnyMegabyteCanada]

I was back and forth for years with amps, Zoom guitar processors, Amplitube, Guitar Rig, etc until 2 1/2 years ago, I got a Two Notes Cab M, and later a Captor 8 for load box. TA-DA. I document every amp, settings and Cab M patch I created, in Excel. I am all over the place musically, and for clients. Impulse Response I found for Axis and Off Axis as the two IR on the Cab M. ... Fredman. Yeah.

[@NefariousDreary]

Glen's voice for that opening comment had me rolling 🤣

[@jasonstallworth]

Ouch, Glenn, the angry yelling! 😂 Nothing like a real amp…great video🤘

[@j.jester7821]

Let us pretend only sims existed when all your favorite classic albums were made....... omg what a horrible thought.

[@CoTeCiOtm]

I have an Ibanez TB15, which is pretty much the practice amp version of the TB100H you mentioned. I modified it so I can get a feed straight out of the preamp section of it and I can connect that to an external power amp that can deliver more juice. It sounds pretty interesting, it has a very unique sound to it and when cranked up on the power, it really sounds great! Hell, even when connecting the pre to my interface and using the Ignite TPA-1 as a power, you can get it to sound wicked! Sometimes the most interesting sounds lay on the gear you expect the least, and people should explore these hidden gems a lot more than they actually do.

[@thegreenreflectors]

We've been using one of the Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb amps for the last two years. LOVE IT! It's great for jamming. Being able to adjust the wattage is gold. When it comes time to record, the ability to record directly from an XLR out and mute the internal speaker is exactly what we need. Lots of cool stuff out there these days! Cool times! Surf's up!

[@imraanakollo-arenz1449]

As a desktop musician amp sim user, I would stick with amp sims but not for any of the reasons of the previous video(still good reasons though) but for the fact that I want to see how it progresses. The amp sim world and how it's been improving reminds me a lot of video games and how they push the envelope of visual spectacle, storytelling and immersion. Looking at the new Matrix tech demo on Unreal Engine 5 and comparing it to stuff we've seen in the PS2 and PS3 eras and it's astounding how far we've come. Same for amp sims. Some of the stuff you get is insane and with the rate at which tech develops, soon people won't be able to tell them apart. Some of the other comments have mentioned the fact that the amp sims never mentioned that they set out to sound exactly like the amp it's modeled after and that is a good thing. Then I would see it more as an emulator but that's not the point I want to make. Amp sim companies can use the amps to springboard into making amps with their own sound and I would be keen on seeing a Super Mario Maker of amp sims where you get to make your amp from the ground up with cabs you "made" yourself.

[@EVH5150iii]

Best option for new guitar players. 5150 iconic/80watt. Built in OD, reverb, and noise gate with a 1/4 power switch to play in bed/apartment. I have two high end tube amps and but I plug into my puter for the convenience factor.

[@sarelreynolds7342]

I started my career as a gigging bassist with silverface bassman's, the biggest was 135watt with a 2 x 15 cab. At this stage size wasn't an issue because i was playing theater shows so my amp stayed at the theater for the duration of the run. As soon as my original band started touring I got myself an Avid Eleven Rack, that orange box traveled the country with me going straight into the fx return on the house amps. After I stopped touring I sold it because my plugins had surpassed the eleven rack. At the moment i'm using an Orange Terror for gigs and plugins for most recording. Best of both worlds I think.

[@WilDBeestMF]

Fellow Eleven rack bassist shout out! I just can't seem to replace it, man. I've tried.

[@Boriskonst]

Nice video, especially alongside to the last one! I am very interested in your opinion about neural dsp products. They've got amazing advertising campaign for sure, and I personally like how they sound, but really wanna know what you think as more experienced and with ability to compare their products to real thing.

[@badrogersgr]

Yeeeees, the awaited sequel!!

[@josephbiron9103]

Regarding variability options, as you point out there are new sims every day. Not just “sims”, but features that allow for combining multiple IRs (Overloud’s Supercabinet), tweaking tube response, power sag, etc. With all of these opportunities for customizing a digital signal chain, I think there’s a case to be had for crafting a unique tone. Yes, there will be a finite number of possibilities available to each user, but that set of possibilities is a very large range, provided we take advantage of the tweakable parameters. If we all just downloaded the very same sim and all chose only from the default presets and did not change a single parameter, yes then we’d all sound the same. But I don’t think that’s how it’s happening, at least not on the forums I visit where modeling nerds are hanging out.

[@nasanction]

My little (11'x12') home studio Already has an Electronic Drums, 88 key Piano, Guitars, Basses, and all the recording gear. I have no room, nor the funds for Amplifiers. The digital form gives me the flexibility in a small space. Good enough for my jamming needs... ;)

[@timlaberge6135]

Great. Now Glenn is yelling at me in ultrawide.

[@JefeInquisidorGOW]

I fucking love this guy, so straight to the point, no 5 min intro, and funny as hell too!

[@SpectreSoundStudios]

Glad you’re enjoying it!

[@christreedee]

@@SpectreSoundStudios TAKE EH!!!! YOU FUCKING GOLDNEN HOSER!!!!!! .................... NO HOBO!!!!!

[@StephanS]

I produce music for a long time now, but im pretty new to guitars. If you're not completly tone deaf, its very easy to find a decent amp (even a solid state amp for jamming in your living room) and separate the good one from bullshit. There is so much crap outside, and as you mentioned: The more features are cramped into one tiny box, the more its likely to be trash.

[@clanwaddell5628]

Thanks for your videos. I'm on the free BandLab with dollar general headphones mic but people will complain about my mixing, not my amp sound. And I use a transistor, want to say solid state $25 used 20 watt bass amp with a danelectro distortion pedal and it doesn't sound bad at all on KZbin. I do more rock mixed with pop, hip hop and Funk/R&B but love my guitar sounds

[@zazoomatt]

Love it When YOU NAIL THIS TOPIC ! Thanks Glenn .

[@huseman21]

That free IR you passed out last week is great! probably the best one I have now. Thanks.....

[@myronmosley2167]

You're 100% right about more affordable than ever but two big problems us home recording guys have is while overall things are cheaper than they used to be, our income has greatly devalued over time in the great scheme of things so stuff that is relatively cheap is still unattainable for most people economically. And the second big thing, the space to do it, like myself, I have a mesa triple rectifier with an oversized slanted rectifier cab with V30's but there's no way I can use it to record where I currently live because of it's too loud. So until we can get a new house somewhere else, amp sims it is. But I agree an actual amp is ideal.

[@99HeavyMetal]

A friend of mine was telling me how his Rockerverb DESTROYS all of the amp sims on his MacBook. I told him he's comparing Apples and Oranges.

[@needsLITHIUM]

Small tip - YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN IMPULSE RESPONSES USING YOUR OWN GEAR. There are multiple videos on how to use sine sweeps or even the 9v battery trick. Then, as long as everything is in phase, you can even layer real amps and amp sims together. Real amps are always going to be easier to work with, even if it's a hybrid Joyo BanTamp or Orange Terror Stamp. Also, even if you use amp modeling hardware, you can always set the digital EQ to noon and run it in the FX loop of a real amp, even if it's a solid state one. Yes, this is still true if all you have is a $120 Valeton TAR-20 solid state nano head and GP-100 modelling pedal. Oh, and don't forget that Synergy SYN-1 desktop modules are a thing, and can be combined with real amps for MORE sounds.