Does My Laptop Sound As Good As a Real Amp?

[@johncox2552]

I would love to see more plug in reviews such as these. Tutorials in recording application would be helpful as well. I am just a hobbyist so plug-ins offer so many advantages.

[@whosbehindthedoor8788]

Yes !!!

[@afterglow2020]

I will never use a plugin modeler unless I can buy a controller for it that has actual knobs, switches, etc.

[@joshuaharris7787]

@@afterglow2020 there's a billion midi controllable knobs. Logic has an easy learn function. Go nuts!

[@afterglow2020]

@@joshuaharris7787 What is this midi you speak of?

[@braedonmorrissey7548]

for me I may want to work in the music industry this stuff is amazing. all of his videos are great

[@samuelwnovak]

Worth mentioning: I’ve heard many amp sim v. real amp comparisons. Some are definitely closer than others of course but, from what I’ve seen at least, many of the subtle differences become mostly negligible in the context of a (moderately dense) mix. The amp sims I did think were very close in isolation became virtually indistinguishable (or completely indistinguishable LOL i.e. I’ve failed a few blind tests) to my ear. What a time to be alive 🤓

[@kristianalexanderpedersen7382]

you are deaf

[@Texasbluesalley]

Great demo and comparison. These plugins are getting scary good. My personal favorite way to use them is for when I'm writing a song and don't have a good idea of what kind of guitar tone I want. I'll record the track dry and experiment with different tones in software and when I have a better idea what sounds right, I've been using my other gear (Kemper, real amps, etc...) to get the best version of that tone I can.

[@Nospoon777]

Texas Blues Alley!!!!😎

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

That's a great idea. Re-amping the dry signal is perfect for sorting out what tone is best for the song.

[@promoeqp9139]

This is exactly the way I operate. Sometimes scrolling through different amp plugins actually inpires more than I'd originally thought so it's a good way to spark creativity, too.

[@jaywhy3178]

Sounds like a good process you got going. I feel like best practice is to always record the dry/direct un-effected guitar part of everything you record, so you always have the option to make changes. Counter argument too that is the way you play often changes based on your effects chain.

[@DanielinLaTuna]

Hey Rhett, thanks for sharing. I used your “Five pedal types every beginner should have” video to buy my niece her first pedal for her high school graduation gift. She really loves guitar, guitar history, rock history, old (to her) musicians… I swear, in her enthusiasm she’s packing my lifetime of music into her few years of learning guitar.

[@taylorpaulmusic]

I started my musical journey with modelers and have always felt comfortable on them. Many musicians with limited budgets or living in apartments are unable to have the real deal and use it as intended. I appreciate you getting into modern gear and turning some of your more traditional fan base to it.

[@markntexas8265]

Exactly

[@BrettPapa]

That plugin sounds great! Get the job done for sure!

[@marcuslajeuness8400]

How the heck are you not verified. SMH KZbin

[@EdgarBowlin]

@@marcuslajeuness8400 that's crazy...THE Brett Papa not verified.

[@hbengineer]

Hey Rhett-please, please, please do more of these! I’m a Quad Cortex user and I just love what I’m able to do with this technology. I think what NeuralDSP and the other modeling vendors are doing for the craft IS the future and it’s going to be how we will be able to hang on to the sounds of our heroes for generations to come.

[@mblueser3770]

I love that amp, so easy to play and the tone is so rich. I also had a Falcon Grande that was so addictive. Your tone and that Novo is just killer. Novo guitars are magical. Congratulations on your half million approaching! I’ve been here for quite a few years and you are well deserving of the success. Never stop being you my man, you’re a blessing to all of us. Lol just came back to see that this is a year ago 🥴so congrats on all of it!

[@bigsalupnorth]

Pretty blown away ... I actually like what the plugin is able to bring out where the amp seemed less clear with some of the mids and highs. Off to pick it up. Thanks for this!

[@samouellette5130]

did you get around to it?

[@bigsalupnorth]

@@samouellette5130 I sure did. I've since picked up three of the Archetypes by Neural.

[@Aaron.k19]

I’m glad a lot of companies are providing you with free / review models of their lineup. When it comes to amps, I couldn’t think of a better person to review them. You’re definitely one the of the most passionate guitarists with a keen fascination on the inner workings of amps, guitar and gear. Top job as always Rhett, won’t be long until you hit a million subs.

[@Skyne_E_Vader]

Nothing beats a bathroom reverb

[@CoenBijpost]

Don’t underestimate the towel fabric and toilet paper patterns!

[@therealeleusis]

Make sure there's a full roll of butt paper in there for just the right amount of sound dampening 🤘😜🤘

[@inquisitor4635]

A non-flushed deuce still in the bowl gives boost to the lows.

[@Pyriscent]

A Church Reverb...

[@michaeldeleon6634]

Electric fan autotune better

[@chrismarcyy]

Would love to hear the real amp through the NeuralDSP IR cab section to see how different they really are.

[@Berndaddie]

That would bring this closer to apples and apples.

[@axilleas]

Bump

[@DaveMullinsPlaysBass]

Really good point.

[@matroid4996]

@@Berndaddie that’s fair, but I think this better represents the difference in a recording or live situation. You’re either gonna run the plug-in and cab sim, or mic up the amp. Not too many people use cab sims with a tube amp live, most just mic up

[@leaveitorsinkit242]

@@matroid4996 Point is… the IR section in the plugin is not modelled off miking the amp in a bathroom.

[@wladnav]

Rhett I have been watching your videos for several years and I always learn something great that makes me a better guitar player. I loved this video in particular because you went the extra mile to compare both the real amp and the plug-in. Your work and effort are very much appreciated. I would like to see more videos like this because that helps me to choose wisely without the need of investing extra money to make the comparison myself. Well done! Keep it up!

[@gregarnold1696]

I'm an old guy and I kinda like the idea of the cab pushing the air but with the way things are now I think it doesn't matter as long as you hear what you're looking for. Sounds great 👍🏾

[@RodrigoMurasawa]

I know that it is a head to head comparison but in some moment or even in all the video it would be fine a really close level match. Idk if it is just me, but the real amp sounded louder and it’s tempting to call it better, even if the plugin sounded clearer and way more ready to go to me.

[@26theband]

I agree…it wasn’t level matched at all and I also wonder what the input gain was set to on the front of the Apollo…cause that’d make a HUGE difference to how the amp sim reacts with different input hitting it.

[@newearth5d]

yeah i noticed that right off as well. if the volume isn't exactly equal...the loudness bias kicks in. however the plugin sounded fantastic, maybe a bit fuller, surprisingly

[@sea-ferring]

The level of the amp was about 2 dB louder.

[@xdoctorblindx]

Rhett had decided the amp sounded better before he even started the comparison, so he unconsciously biased the representation toward the amp.

[@26theband]

@@xdoctorblindx Maybe unconsciously... but I don't think he did it on purpose. I think people doing these "shoot out" style videos don't do enough of the BASIC gain staging stuff. Input level of the instrument hitting the amp is as essential and as character changing as having a drive or boost pedal turned on. Level matching is essential for your ear to make a clear call. I put the same settings Rhett had on the plug with a Gretsch with Filtertrons and got closer to the sound of his guitar through the amp than he got with his guitar through the plugin based solely on just getting the gain staging and mic positions on the cab closer to "right" and no difference in anything else. I mean I'm sure that Neural DSP would have gone to pain staking efforts to do exact shootouts and blind tests to make sure they got as close as possible to cancelling out. At the end of the day I could get this plug to sound as close to the amp as two of the same amps would be to each other and that's all that counts. Put it in a track and they both sound AMAZING! This amp sim tech has come SSOOOOO FAAARRR in the last few years it's insane! We live in the greatest time for making great sounding music on a budget! And as for the argument that "real amps move air" that's just nonsense. Every studio I've ever been in for the past 30 years have had about 95% guitars tracked in the mix room with no direct amp interaction (except through the studio monitors) and a huge percentage of modern pro stages are virtually silent...even if they are using amps they are baffled off stage. I've personally used in-ears and amp sims on stage since 2006 and loved it...if you want feedback you can get it in the side fill or step to the front of the stage. 😜

[@sabineandkennii]

I've recently purchased this.... I'm a producer, and I've been using plug ins and sims for all my sounds just because they are so easy to recall. This one is getting used a lot in my studio... I have presets for all my guitars on it, and it sounds really damn good. For years, I had a few great Fender amps set up--a 68 Twin and a tweed, and this is so much easier than setting all that up...and I can come back a different day and punch in a part without it sounding different because my mics are a little different or my pedal settings are a little different.

[@BraeburnTV]

The plug-in sounds like it’s compressing the audio. When you switch to the amp, there seems to be more dynamics and the sound gets punchier. The plug-in almost seems flat. BUT the tone is VERY similar, I am impressed, you can get 95% the way there with the plug-in, pretty damn good.

[@ClaudioMartella]

Tonally it's missing the lower mid range

[@mimimmimmimim]

I totally agree. Though KZbin's own compression doesn't help at all. The amp is living and breathing along with the player and his ax.

[@hepphepps8356]

It's just louder, and the tone differencejust has a slightly different EQ due to mic placement.

[@craigwillms61]

I would agree. The amp has an intangible quality that is most pleasing to my ear - but the plugin is very, very good. I would use it! I don't know a damn thing about the Tone King, but I like it.

[@ClaudioMartella]

@@craigwillms61 one of best amps for low gain vintage clean / or breakup tones. Something like a reverb deluxe

[@MorbidManoeuvres]

pffft im gonna say it, i actually prefer the clarity on the plugin. amazing video thanks for taking the time to do this !

[@johnstizza5135]

This is a really great review/comparison. It seems the end result was more or less just the difference in mic placement and room (which are huge factors, regardless). the rest sounded identical, to me. do more of these videos!

[@ivanradkov]

Super awesome blog! Thank you very much for content!

[@d3w4yn3]

Okay, well then, as much as I hate to admit it, this changes everything! I've sat by and ignored all of these digital solutions for analogue greatness for quite some time. This was so close, that if it were a live performance, I'd have to hear them side-by-side, immediately switched, to be able for me to perceive any real difference! And this gives me hope, because I can't afford the number of amps (in money, or in space, or in my dear wifey's patience!) that my heart truly desires. Dang it.... you did it Rhett, you did what the rest of the community failed to do, and now, I'm a believer!!!

[@davegrice3423]

Happy to see this comparison. I love the Tone King Neural plug-in. So much so that I'm having to think really hard about picking up an Imperial MK II combo.

[@thebrushwithin]

There sounds like a volume discrepancy, with the amp being noticeably louder, for some reason, even though the knobs are set the same. Thanks for the shootout!!

[@Bryt25]

I think the amp sounds a little cleaner.

[@propellergarage]

Gain mismatch, it would be much closer if he matched "input gain" on the preset

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Yeah it drives me nuts there’s such a big volume discrepancy. Also he micd his amp in the bathroom, whereas the plugin is modeling a totally clean studio setup. He should throw an IR of his bathroom on the end of the plugin, about 8% wet.

[@hherhold]

From about 11:32 to 12:00 sounds fantastic. It all does, really, but I keep replaying that riff. Simply great.

[@almightytreegod]

Seems like you can hear the room (or maybe the cab comes through more?) with the real amp, and so you’re getting more resonance in the mids/low mids… if you DI the amp so both run through the same cab modeling it would probably be a better comparison?

[@pandrewhowett]

Good call, I was thinking the same thing.

[@iurigrang]

@Dave DeVille I mean, I wouldn't put that on the amp. The reason you can "hear the room" on the live amp is because it's being recorded in a bathroom. Same for the low mid resonance

[@frankgreco]

Yep. The real amp seems more "alive". The plugin does sound good, but thru my desktop speakers, the real amp sounds better from a tone pov.

[@sum1waybetter101]

Wut?

[@pseudobeast4653]

Yes. That's exactly what I heard, much more than the high end stuff Rhett mentioned.

[@paramoir]

this is one of the coolest guitar videos i've ever watched, i didn't know amp sims were that detailed even going as far as letting u choose what mic you're simulating. plus you play beautifully and the production quality is top notch as always. loved the video!!

[@BryanLozano-y5t]

I'm new to home recording and I just purchased my first plug-in because of this video. Thank you, Rhett!

[@buddyalbert5808]

Agree with your assessment. I really like the plug in and use it a lot. The effects are really tasteful too. That being said it’s just a tad bit refined sounding, but adding the room feature to the sound really helps it come alive.

[@evenstephen2000]

Bottom line to me is I just think it’s great to have a plugin that sounds THAT good, available. I use some of the Amplitube Mesa Boogie plug-ins occasionally and they blow me away. To have almost any sound you want at your fingertips is a huge accomplishment and benefit. Never replace my amp, but I’m all for this!

[@neoconnor4395]

Plugins straight up REPLACED my amps. I haven't turned them on for home use at all.

[@plecogod]

I already have a few of the Neural DSP more Metal centric plugins (Nolly, Gojira, Petruci, Cali) and they are amazing pieces of software. Picking up the Tone King on this years Black Friday sale for sure. Been playing my Tele's and Strat's a lot more lately, so this is a perfect fit. One thing I would have like to have seen you mention was the difference in price between the plugin and the actual amp. The plugin in goes for $99 euros and the amp goes for $2500. Most of us don't have the option to use the real thing like you do even if we wanted to. This plugin is a great option for the rest of us.

[@BurtonsChannel]

I would love to see a guitar collection video, Rhett style. What you love / don't love about each one, how often you pick it up, what you use it for, what tunings they live in, what ones you're thinking of trading / selling, etc. It would probably be an hour long but I'm here for that!

[@Onemanband410899]

+1 for this!

[@tah5w]

I feel like select plugins do get to that amp voltage sag thing people look for. People still talk about "moving air in the room" but my feeling is that is derived from comparing small computer monitor speaker to big cabs. If one sets up high quality stereo pairs of flat response large monitors on tripods projecting at ear level, I find that there is much more of a "in the room" effect than with, say a 2X12 traditional cab sitting on the floor (as most do), but I could be wrong.

[@alexg4946]

I tried it with amplitube 5 through yamaha HS-7s and it just doesn't feel the same. I was going for the strat into cranked deluxe reverb sound... Rcorded, the plugin gets very close. Still it doesn't "breathe" as much as the real thing even if you add simulated room mics. But that's the thing. It is soo hard to capture with microphones what a cranked deluxe reverb does in a room. The plugin does a fine job imitating that recorded sound, which unfortunately is quite far from what you hear in the room anyway. But when it comes to gettimg that feeling in the room, and feel beneath the fingers (plugin still feels like there is a computer between your fingers and the sound somehow, it might be a latency thing, can't explain it) ... forget about it.

[@tah5w]

@@alexg4946 Understood. In my experience Amplitube 5 sounds fairly good but does lack that feel. Only particular amp sims seem to incorporate sag/voltage drop feeling. I think Neural DSP Soldano and the one I listed in my other comment do it pretty well. For sure, the Atomic Amplifire does. That sounds about as good as anything in my opinion.

[@christopherweise438]

Greg Koch calls voltage sag "squish".

[@alexg4946]

@@tah5w Thnx for the recommendations, I will give these plugins a try if I get the chance! Can I ask u a question though, out of curiosity: (Idk if u have played a real Soldano, but regardless:) In a desert island setting (forget about resale value, rarity etc.) If you had a real Soldano, would u exchange it for the neural DSP version? Or rather, if u could exchange it for many different neural DSP sims, would you do it? I think I wouldn't trade mine for every amplutube 5, neural dsp sim combined haha But that is just my answer... I think it would be fun if people like Rhett who do reviews like this, tried to answer this question at the end of the video. It's all good, but at the end of the day... would you trade it? I think this question cuts straight to the point: what is the relative value of these two items, in your perception? How much value do you actually place on this plugin?

[@tah5w]

@@alexg4946 I get what you're saying and I wouldn't do that trade but not entirely because I think one sounds better than the other. Rabea Massaad has A/Bed on his channel and the recorded sounds produced are virtually indistinguishable. I've played tubes for 20 years and love 'em but if I can get the same sound and relatively close feel, the plugin is pretty handing to just open and start recording without all the cab in the other room mic mixing chain hassle. Also, if I'm going to a desert island, the head would be heavy to lug around and I might want to play on top of a mountain or something. Laptop and sim make that easy. Also, I'm just being crazy and understand what you're sayin man

[@timholtguitar6999]

I’ve really got to learn more about this part of recording. Both the amp; and plug-in sound great! Fantastic video as always.

[@jdwild1698]

Sounds are real close , dynamics and amp response of the real thing is so much better though , I mean really what would you expect? Good vid man and done well 👍

[@larion_de]

Beautiful playing at 11:31 Rhett, also loved that you were riffing abit with Custard Pie, love that song

[@bhp1162]

Nice shootout! In the first run of A/Bs, there seemed to be a marked volume difference, so that colored the result a bit. Later A/Bs were more matched. I'm impressed with the plugin and will probably grab it. The real amp was a bit warmer in this test, but keep in mind that no tube tube amps sound exactly the same due to tubes, tube age, component tolerances, etc. So Rhett's amp probably sounds a bit different than the one they modeled. Meaning maybe the plug requires a bit more bass, or gain to get to that point, or the amp requires a bit more presence or treble... Other things that likely "warmed up" the sound from the real amp: 1. The room - probably the biggest factor 2. Differences in mics (again, no two are exactly the same). 3. The speaker cab & speaker (and again...) 3. Mic placement (may not have been exact to the plug-in placement) So it all boils down to whether or not you like the plug-in on its own. I'll probably grab it, I think it sounds great, and any super subtle differences are not going to be evident in a mix anyway. Nice job, Rhett!

[@louderthangod]

The input on the plugin was maybe a little low as well but the volume difference was pretty significant which almost always favors the louder one.

[@thomasradcliffe298]

Recording ,no brainer plug-in for ease. But, live or pure listening enjoyment for the the player. The amp hands down ,not even close.

[@mikeault]

Hey Rhett! Great demo. The volume in the plug in was a little lower in comparison..

[@andrewmanara5289]

It's remarkable the technology we have now.

[@fullwaverecked]

Congrats on the half a mill subs. Cheers!

[@matroid4996]

For me, plug-ins are the way to go for practicing at home. I have an HX stomp on my board, but after a few years I got tired of even taking that out and setting it up. Id much rather just keep my gigging setup ready to run and use my interface and plugins for practicing

[@BlackChromeJamTracks]

Def like to see more content like this! Excellent sound from the plug in. It probably sits very well in a mix

[@JorgeSalasGuitar]

Great video, Rhett. Thank you!

[@braedonmorrissey7548]

I've been binging your videos for a month you make amazing content. First video I watched was on why new young players don't play Gibson's in their bands. thank you KZbin recommended

[@edmo808]

I absolutely love your channel and learn a ton from it. Just wanted to say thanks man!

[@Jd.421]

Good demo. I made a switch to amp modeling few years back for live performance i don't regret it...

[@scottkidwellmusic9175]

A few months ago MixWave released the Benson Chimera plug in. Whole I don't have that particular amp or cabinets to do a shootout with, I was impressed by the tone(s) and responsiveness of the plug-in. Technology is pretty amazing these days. Appreciate the demo/ shootout with the NeuralDSP gear

[@CharLessMajor7Music]

I was thinking of getting this tone king by neuraldsp but all my neural dsp plugins seems to sound similar in some way, and good thing mixwave drop the chimera like a few days after tone king and that amp sim is on a different level..

[@FUZZWAHH]

Hell yea you can make some insane tones on the computer

[@everydaybrian]

This is an awesome demo - thanks, Rhett!! (BTW - nice playing, you sound inspired)

[@joshuaraysummey7679]

Dude, you put out great stuff man, thank you

[@verycrankyperson]

Thank you. Rhett! As always a great demo.

[@rocknrollteacherpy]

Plugins and modelers need a lot of tweaking! When you did, it sounded almost exactly as the amp! Thanks for sharing your settings Rhett!

[@rileyioacura]

Both sound incredible! Absolutely amazing!

[@andrew6889-p5c]

I got the free 2-week trial of this. Was very impressed and bought it. It’s fantastic. Was not expecting to be this impressed. Sounds and feels awesome.

[@AtomicGarden68]

I'm in the process of going full Amplitube 5, laptop, interface, midi footboard and a powered speaker or possibly a keyboard amp. The technology has got there and the models and effects and possibilities are amazing. Amplitube 5 sounds like a dream my guitar tone hasn't ever been this great. And transporting equipment is never been easier.

[@bdotson1]

I love how you keep going back to Mickey's Monkey in your vids - saw it in another one earlier today. Thanks for the reminder of what a fun song that is!

[@duanekogut757]

Last time I was this early I had to prepare for fatherhood. Thanks for the video, Rhett! As someone with a half assed home studio I would love to see you do reviews of plug ins, interfaces etc. Learned more from you gear wise than anywhere else. Keep it up man, hope you get to 1mil soon!

[@peterrezba995]

I picked up one of their Archetype's Neural allows you to demo each plugin which is pretty cool Congrats to the upcoming 1/2 mill

[@elianmusic7452]

Its also right up my ally. Love the sound of it. Love the focus on clean / edge of breakup tones. Wish they'd do more

[@jeremythornton433]

I use plugins for guitar before I use anything else. But that's because I only own a few crappy little practice amps and like to record quietly in my bedroom studio. I use the plugins in Cubase and I love them. It did take a while to figure out how to get them to sound good but thanks to people like you, Rhett, and Tim Pierce I've got tones that I'm proud of.

[@PorcelainHill]

VERY close, the amp definitely had an "openness" or like "breath" to it, and it was almost a percieved volume jump. Solid video

[@ibalrog]

Both sound great, both are equally usable, and any differences just won't be noticeable in a mix. Which is awesome, because it lets players focus on whichever one inspires them more, whichever one eliminates more barriers between them and their creative output.

[@toneloke7489]

Always great video, very informative

[@benjaminboyle7329]

So this is totally un-related to this particular video but I recently discovered righteous guitars thanks to your channel. I had the best experience there and ended up buying what is now my favorite strat. I wanted to thank you for waking me up to the amazing gem of a guitar store that was just a few miles down 400 from me.

[@DirkRadloff]

Phantastic sound from the Plug-in. I use a Kemper at home, but this video has made me think.

[@dnamusicchallenge5995]

Your amps are also watching u. Telling itself "you'll come running back to us.. you'll see" 😁 awesome vid. I needed this today. Studying laptop plugins for recording.

[@clintmapes8454]

All parts in an amp have 5% variation. So the amp that was in the studio at Neural compared to Rhetts is going sound like a huge difference under a studio microscope. Then add plugin. Just getting in the ballpark is a huge accomplishment. Great vid

[@HarryStoneDotCom]

Great video, really useful and well done. This is such a great channel!

[@av8tordonny398]

I think it sounds great. Thinking of getting this one and the Soldano and I’ll pretty much have anything and everything covered. Great review definitely do more.

[@BrianMorris-zc4md]

Thanks Rhett. I just picked up an M1 Pro and am new to DAW's so this provides good insight for me. Keep up the great work!

[@Daniel-ll2cl]

Hey could i ask you a question about neural dsp please?

[@BrianMorris-zc4md]

@@Daniel-ll2cl Hi Dan. You can but I can't answer because all I have is a computer and no experience. Sorry, hope you get to the bottom of things soon.

[@cpamiseso]

I know that in some other videos here on KZbin, some 'experts' share their view that 'the audience don't care about them details'. But I gotta admit, having a good quality sound, gives me personally some sort of engagement and pride to my work in addition to the musicality that our band put together arrangement-wise. It gives me that confidence and big smile from a personal enjoyment because I know I do it right and hoping the audience would have it as well (although I know some don't care), and this psychological perception, is projected through how much energy you show live. For recording, of course good sound matters!

[@jimdavignon]

One doesn't sound "better" than the other that should be the overall point. It's ever so slightly different is certain areas, but in a mix, nobody can tell. Eric Valentine has a video a while back where he was going through a older mix and he forgot which track was a real amp and which one was DI. They were that close in solo and completely indistinguishable in a mix. The tones and technology for plugins once you've entered the real amp into a DAW are 100% the same quality. Just slightly different flavor. Rhett, this video proves it. Well done.

[@humbuckercafe]

That sounds really decent - surely not 100% as the real amp but then if you’d use it in a dense mix 🤔 What’s cool is to add analog stompboxes and use it altogether with plugins. Thanks!

[@jjsguitar]

I tried this plugin and liked it, I managed to get some ok tones, but didn't love it enough to buy it; it sounded way better in your video than it did for me when I played with it. I would love to see more videos of folks like yourself dialling these in. I also found the benson-chimera collection from MixWave really good - it's also worth checking out.

[@blockingthesunmusic]

Rhett, you’re gonna hit a million subs, and many more. All of us will be here for the ride!

[@balijukka9963]

that scream @ 12:24 was a really good one. Made worth listening all the rest.

[@slickcross]

I love the imperial MKII. Amazing amp. I’m gonna get this amp one day.

[@JeffTobin555]

Definitely would like to see more plug-in reviews. Thanks!

[@TheSpoonwood]

The AMP sounds great...... clever visual reference to the 80's when you go to the clean/chorus vibe. kudos

[@hoagyguitarmichael]

Having worked with amp emulations since they were invented, I am amazed at how far they have come. This one sound great. I often do remote sessions for people using Bias FX and we are both happy. (PS: The presence difference could easily be due to potentiometer tolerance variations. Amps and pedals rarely sound the same when A/B-ed at the same settings, but often a minor adjustment to one of the post brings them much closer).

[@BH4x0r]

add to that that the amp aint in an anechoic chamber

[@tah5w]

I love Neural DSP and use a lot of their plugins but recently came across the Euphoria by Mercurial Audio. It is based on a Bogner Ecstasy 101B with an optional Cameron mod switch- one of my favorite amps. If you have this or comparable it might be cool to see a head to head. I was blown away by this plugin.

[@Justice_Hammer]

The Reaxis is a great amp by Mercuriall

[@JM_2019]

All these plugins have a harshness in the overtone spectrum you cannot unhear once you‘ve ever heard it. You‘ve found the most positive way to articulate that. Congrats! :)

[@WookieWarriorz]

use better programs or vsts

[@JM_2019]

@@WookieWarriorz I‘m talking about the best: Line 6, UAD, Softone, etc. Consider yourself lucky if you don‘t hear a difference because that will save you a lot of money! ;)

[@kenny6920]

The plugin is nice but too nasal for me, I like those rich mids from the real amp. Live or studio I'd choose real amp, but the plug in would be good for quiet playing- you wouldn't lose your amp's sound when writing or practicing.

[@rickyricardo2006]

The "nasaling" thing is a trademark characteristic of vst, plugin, software modeling amps and pedals

[@kenny6920]

@Credit Car Sales i believe he's going guitar > a/b/y switcher with "a" going straight to the computer and "b" going to the amp, which is mic'd

[@steelstrunghero]

@@rickyricardo2006 What is it that causes that? I always long for more clean and clear bottom and low mids from my Helix, it’s the one thing that really separates the tone from a real amp.

[@rickyricardo2006]

@@steelstrunghero absolutely, and it wont go away even with high quality IRs.. It doesn't sound bad, its just not the same as an analog setup.

[@stevemyers2092]

exactly it has its place for sure. A good buy.

[@ClaudioBrogliato]

You could put an automation on the eq switching knob, it's like a friend who turns the knob for you when you need it. Cool stuff.

[@cemsarioglu5947]

Neural DSP plug-ins are great for recording guitarists. To my ear, in the mix of a song there’s no way to tell which is which. Perfect job from Neural DSP imho.

[@antares4975]

really great review! thanks to neural dsp we can finally kinda play those types of amps. I never could afford a tone king, deluxe reverb or JCM, JVM... the vintage and the whole modern amp sector. all the stuff i'm loging to play as a guitarist, but i'm gonna be honest to myself, i have no band, no use of real tube amps, i just play along some stuff at home, recording sometimes, and even my electricity bill will thank me.

[@AlbusBand]

If Peavey had a plug in, I’d play it 😉

[@RhettShull]

if Peavey made a laptop, Id use it.

[@AlbusBand]

@@RhettShull Damn straight you would!!! Hope you’re well my friend, it was good seeing you & Tilly and meeting Phil.

[@blueslawyer]

Did Peavey abandon Revalver?

[@louaguado995]

They used to include a cd with their Vypyr amps that had digital versions of their amps. I'm not sure if it was a plug-in or just standard software to play through.

[@farqueleyou7578]

I can't count the amount of 5150 sims that exist in the world today. Some of them are even good.

[@elvisisded]

Would love to see some Rhett Shull presets....

[@davidmorris3175]

I would love more of these videos. I am just a basement player who went all digital for the versatility and the space/cost savings years ago. $122 vs $2,395 says it all!

[@migas89821]

Hey Rhett, another brilliant video from your part. Would love to see more reviews of plugins. Would love for you to review the Amplitube 5 suite

[@johncox2552]

I agree. I have to rely upon plugins for many reasons. I realize they will not be “spot on” but if they sound good, then they are usable.

[@such.ukr.nu.metalcore]

Hey, thank you for a great video! I am fan of heavier sounding guitar styles, but your work and your skill definitely got my eyes and ears. I'm in love with Neural DSP products. Also, there is one thing you should definitely try in terms of VST/real amp comparison, just in case if you are still in touch with this team. Try to capture an IR of your cabinet in bathroom and feed it to your VST. In my opinion, here the comparison will definitely excel. Thank you again for your work, got me subscribed to your channel! Best wishes from Ukraine.

[@duckyjp17]

Great idea for a video. Well done!

[@DadRockAndGuitars]

Great video 👍 Bought this plugin as soon as it came out and use it all the time. It's one of my favorites! I really like the cab and mic section. The interface is fantastic! I use it as a cab sim with my real amp a lot (turn off the amp, pedals, etc.).

[@nickp440]

Being able to easily bring time based fx into whatever time youre in is always a gamechanger for creating textures and stuff. Alot of the time im using an iridium into my interface but using the plugins for fx. The petrucci one is probably the most useful in that sense especially since it basically has a drop pedal built into it

[@Gracebeliever077]

The judicious application of Ye Olde Wyggle Styck at 12:02 is absolutely delicious!!!

[@chrisggoodwin777]

I'll reserve comment on the sound comparison until I can rewatch with headphones. My band's guitarist recently got the combo Imperial MKII (in sea foam green 😉) and it's indeed a killer amp, so I'm looking forward to rewatching and comparing the plugin to the baseline sound I've heard in person

[@DreHolzer]

sounds really good, man! Thx!

[@TheActressAndBishop]

Yeah - I'd love to see more stuff on plug ins and DI rigs too ..

[@johngaskill5595]

Awesome comparison. I want an Imperial MK II AND plug in now. I blame you. Completely unrelated - tell us about your headphones (the only auxiliary gear you dont namecheck in the "check out below" list....

[@jeanfredericmartin8954]

As a bass player with his dream amp (mark bass f1) Guitar amp sims are a blessing. Neural DSP is my favorite one so far ( Cory Wong's and the Nolly ), I control them with a midi switch controller and push them out with the power amp section of my markbass. I can't wait for the super black friday sale to get the tone king: being canadian every price is 25 to 35% more with exchange rates.