Audio Assault Hellbeast Review and Demo (plus shootout with NDSP NTS)

[@TaylorDanley]

How do you guys feel about this plugin? Let me know below!

[@END3RCAM]

I used to record all my songs with this amp. I just used an actual TS808 in front of it. I love that amp sim.

[@END3RCAM]

Oh look. I already saw this video and basically commented the same thing HAHAHA

[@END3RCAM]

I love Hellbeast. I used to use it on everything. Use a real OD into the interface for better results... also Audio Assault has a stand alone tube scream plugin that sounds better than the one built in HellBeast

[@AleArzMusic]

Woooh sounds killer! The NTS will always be my go-to, but you made the Hellbeast sound very tight. Also, loved the Vitriol tshirt

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks! 🙌 They're old bandmates!

[@CloudburstStudio]

Would've loved to hear a shootout with both plugins using the same IR. overall nice video though!

[@themagicbullet]

I just bought this and havent used it yet. But tbh I thought you got some very usable tones whole rolling thru the IRs. I mean with a little sculpting. It doesnt sound outstanding out of the box, but there's definitely something there and if you know how to use EQ I am 100% sure you could get pretty good definitely usable tones outta this thing

[@chrisstrong3748]

FINGER GUNS, HELL YEAH! And yeah, I'm not a fan of any of the stock cabs, but with a couple of my favorite IR's, it's really not bad. If you're broke, download some good free IR's to go with it and it'll certainly get the job done until you can save up for one of NeuralDSP's offerings

[@TaylorDanley]

What free IRs do you suggest? Maybe I can feature them.

[@TaylorDanley]

Oh, and yeah... finger guns! Lol

[@cmd_f5]

Awesome demo. I have this pluggy and think it's a banger for 5 bucks or whatever I paid for it. It's a bit thin and probably superb for the shreddy or proggy stuff, but it lacks the heft of the NDSP NTS. That thing is disgusting and huge. Lol. That said I've had success with a 3rd party OD plugin or a real pedal before the Hellbeast amp. Can bring more lows and carve out the honky mids. Also, the Hellbeast seemed like it had less gain when I played it. Overall I can't get too annoyed for how cheap it is. Ps: You gonna review V2? That's coming out soon and from the demos I've watched it's way, way more meaty and chug certified. They also added the Natas on a second channel and a clean 3rd channel. Can't wait to mess with it. Peace

[@instrumentalist28]

Actually the hellbeast sounds more like a Randall thrasher than a Satan or natas.....I own a thrasher, so that is how I came to that conclusion.....great video kudos

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks! 🙌 it is modelled after the Satan though, right? It looks like it.

[@instrumentalist28]

@@TaylorDanley yeah I think that was the attempt.....so far the only sim I found that successfully modeled a Satan is Vadim Taranov's blades sim

[@TaylorDanley]

Hmm, I'll have to check that out!

[@MatthiasBuesing]

Nothing beats the NeuralDSP stuff! 🤘🏻🥰

[@TaylorDanley]

💯%

[@georgezorbas6422]

Yes it does..Overloud TH-U. The most close to real amp until now

[@MatthiasBuesing]

@@georgezorbas6422 Got TH-U (full) myself. It's OK, with Choptones rig profiles it's pretty good but IMHO not even close to the NeuralDSP stuff...

[@georgezorbas6422]

@@MatthiasBuesing Which one from Neural you suggest to buy?I am curious, because when I use TH-U and I compare it from my monitors with neural stuff, I believe that TH U sounds better!!

[@MatthiasBuesing]

@@georgezorbas6422 - depends on your style and tuning. I'm a big fan of both Fortin amps as well as the Omega Granophyre...🤘🏻

[@OinTaylor]

The comparison of the two plug-ins in the mixto me it sounds like the neural DSP plug-in is an MP3 at 320k and the audio assault plug-in is an MP3 at 160k. The audio assault just sounds a little more mute were you using built-in impulse responses for each Plug-In or did you load the same impulse response for both?

[@TaylorDanley]

I used the IRs that came with the plug ins. Using the same IR for each would be better for comparison, but I wanted to give people an idea of what each will get you. I agree, Hellbeast sounds very flat by comparison!

[@savagecowboy4960]

How about a shootout against the Ignite Emissary, which is free. 🤑 Oh and howdy from Fairview

[@TaylorDanley]

Hmm 🤔🤔🤔 I like your ideas sir! Honestly, I didn't even know that plugin existed. I know.. I know... I'm out of the loop

[@gregmerritt9366]

@@TaylorDanley STL made a bundle with the Emissary amp sim and the NadIR IR loader. Between that and Reaper, one can get solid, usable metal tones right after purchasing an interface. Left me with no excuse for my laziness.

[@relativedimentia]

Try using other IR's, it'll sound a lot better. The stock ones that come with it aren't bad, but they're not great either.

[@TaylorDanley]

That's true, but to be honest I have almost no use for this software. Hopefully others find it useful!

[@relativedimentia]

@@TaylorDanley for poors like me it does a decent enough job of a simulator, which I think is exactly what AA is intended for. So people can get good enough tone without breaking the bank on the big names.

[@joehervey84]

Today I wake up feeling like crap n grab 2 cigs n put this on. Lol more metal!🎸

[@nikirose7673]

03:00 - Shuts up and actually gives us a listen to the amp. Savihost btw will let you run pretty much any VST as a standalone.

[@rhettmccoullough6990]

I paid like $6.66, for the money it's actually one of the better sounding ones with the right IRs.

[@barryprosser1370]

Dude lets hear it with your custom ir's!! \m/

[@TaylorDanley]

😂 you really want an audio assault vid huh?

[@barryprosser1370]

@@TaylorDanley damn right :) \m/ DO IT!!!

[@forrestperkins6237]

How does this compare to ignite emissary?

[@jacobsmith1877]

NTS sounded much better to me. Hellbeast sounds like it has a blanket over it. Probably just due to the IR used

[@Marlew1204]

late Reply, when you use it with the Barefood IR Pack it will blow you away

[@SAagreedSA]

I didn't dig the Hellbeast. It brought me back to like the Digitech Metal Master kind of tone more than a Randall, just being honest. Their recent Blacksun is a better amp sim and it is free until December 2021. I did get some IR packs and I like some of the included IRs, I think their aIR rack plugin is cool too for the low price it goes on sale for with a useful IR export feature.

[@mje19D]

Where do you get your drum tracks?

[@TaylorDanley]

It's a program called perfect drums

[@mje19D]

@@TaylorDanley Thanks

[@joehervey84]

If I had a modern pc I'd go down the plug in rabbit hole. It sure makes it easy to get a great tone. I just don't like the include effect's . Tbh I'm not much of a effects guy. I tend to get away from digital tone(mainly why I don't use plug in's) why add a bunch of digital effects. I dont know about u I can tell when a digital effect is activated.n

[@TaylorDanley]

Theres nothing wrong with that. Tube amps still sound the best. If they didn't, every plug in wouldn't be trying to emulate them!

[@joehervey84]

@@TaylorDanley tbh I don't use tube. Got a 1st vypyr it has analog distortion but has digital effects which sounds bad imo.

[@panasony23]

I bought this about a month ago and the IR's that come with it are kinda crappy. I even spent an extra 13 on the sigir pack that was offered and they all have this dark and ugly in a bad way sound. Use a different IR and it will sound boat loads better

[@rentblop8070]

I bought it for 15 Dollar a few months ago. I'm not impressed. I get better results with free stuff like Emissary Ignite or NaLex Ninja and both are actually free. The IRs are the biggest factor and therefore the first thing to blame on the HellBeast. The IRs are mostly bad IMO. Generally speaking you have to tweak way too much on everything to get anything somewhat decent going. I don't want to tinker around 10 minutes just to get a decent guitar tone. I wouldn't recommend Hellbeast, especially considering the free options we have.

[@cmd_f5]

Fair enough. Also if you don't mind Windows only Vadim Taranov's Blades and Redtone can get the same kind of thwacky chugging thing that the Fortin stuff has. The demos are good enough to use in a pinch.

[@CrushingAxes]

2:51 you can't definitely tell the plugin get the most "natural" sound of the guitar.

[@monkeyxx]

I bought it and I think it's horrible. That NTS you shot it out with got my attention big time though.

[@TaylorDanley]

They have free 14 day trials. Try the Nameless 2.0. It's probably my favorite from Neural DSP.

[@KleeMusicAZ]

It may be better for building a cool metal bass tone in conjunction with some other processing.

[@mieszanesztuki]

I'm sorry, but this sounds nothing like a Randall Satan. I had the real deal for a while, so I kinda know what to look for in that ampsim. Hard pass even at 9$ (price rn). Natas is amazing, it's not a Satan, but it never had an intent to be (at least until Mike modified it for Ola).

[@TaylorDanley]

Sorry, not sorry? 🤷‍♂️ lol. Theres a lot of great free amp sims out there, and I agree, this sounds nothing like the Satan or even the NDSP NTS for that matter

[@mieszanesztuki]

@@TaylorDanley Actually, you should do a demo of the Emmisary :) sounds way better than the Hellbeast. I was shocked it's free. When I get tired of the Nameless suite I always give Emmisary a go.

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks for the suggestion. I've actually had a couple people tell me to do it, and I actually have the plugin, just haven't got around to checking it out yet. I'll have to do that soon.

[@tonyd7137]

There are so many options now that I dont think its even worth your time if you have something that sounds this crappy "out of the box". I would rather take LeCto

[@TaylorDanley]

LeCto? I didn't think this plugin sounded bad, but compared to how GOOD most sound no, it's kinda flat by comparison. It would be fine for tracking DIs and monitoring yourself.

[@lekcjegitary-gd1dv]

I don't like the sound, but it's better than Fortin

[@chrisfinster1346]

Hellbeast is a hard pass even @ that price for me. Way off the mark!

[@TaylorDanley]

I'm interested to load a good IR in and see what that does, but yeah it's super flat. I think for someone who is getting into this and wanting to make demos, it's better to invest in a good interface, tracking solid DIs and come back to the revamping later when you can afford something better. That's this plugins niche in my opinion