iOS Guitar Effects Comparison (Bias FX 2 vs. Overloud Th-U vs. Nembrini)

[@tomnowlin7396]

The high frequencies thing is why I prefer Overloud over all amp sims, even the Helix family. I have the desktop version as well and create my patches there, which is a lot more user friendly. Also there are certain options that are only available on desktop which port over in the saved patch to the Ipad version. The rig player has the best sounds I've experienced from any sim. Thanks for making this video!

[@vio4jesus]

Joel, great video.... it's 2 years later; any updates? Which iOS guitar fx processor (a) supports using AUV3 plugins for pedals or plugins, rather than just their own brand (b) lets you create presets (at the pealboard level) - and switch between presets in the middle of a song (c) lets you change presets or change paramters or settings or specific plugins via MIDI? I'm using a MIDI controller to control my iPad. Thanks. I use Loopy Pro, but I'm super frustrated that it doesn't support presets very well.

[@JeffStrickland]

Great video, thank you for this! I've used BIAS FX for many years, and still use both 1 and 2 on occasion. And I've had the same experience with BIAS FX1 and 2 (with the high end being a bit harsh). I have TH-U as well, and agree with what you've said. I really like TH-U. In terms of getting that BIAS FX harshness under control, a game changer for me in getting BIAS FX 2 (and ALL amp sims) sounding more consistent and less harsh, is putting a limiter ahead of the the amp sim. Not to my recorded DI (which I don't compress or limit), but during playback in my DAW. And there, it's NOT to apply limiting so much as to control the level that goes into the amp sim--meaning, I set the output of the limiter to the sweet spot of what the amp sim wants to receive, and set the limiter to where it's just minimally jumping in to tame the highest peaks. My favorite for this is Ozone's Vintage Limiter, set to the "Tube" algorithm (the other 2 are "Analog" and "Modern"), and just keeping the peaks in check. By giving the amp sim a more consistent signal (at least the peak level it receives), and adjusting the level the amp sim receives, I find I can way more easily dial in a tone I like. I'm really surprised I haven't seen this mentioned before, as I find it to be a total game changer for getting consistently usable tones. Thanks again for a great vid!

[@joegrant413]

Really nice comparison! This is my first time checking out one of your videos, and look forward to more since I’ll be an iOS musician for the foreseeable future.

[@tomverde86]

Good comparison mate, I got a question... Can I use Nembrini for live performance? It has midi option?

[@JoelDodge]

I’m sorry how long it’s taken me to reply. You can use it with AUM bc that app has great midi mapping. The only problem is that the tap tempo gives me problems in AUM sometimes. If the tap tempo was always good I would say yes, bias works great for live performances.

[@musicman4christjesus]

Great video! I'm building a hybrid pedalboard for live church playing. Stuck between Bias fx2 and Overloud Thu. I'm using an Xtone Pro. So far Bias FX2 , I've been able to dial in a super awesome tone with the AC30TB! But I'm interested in AUM. How would one be able to switch presets on the fly in AUM using Overloud-THU. Can those presets be stored with different BPM settings in AUM? That would be a must for me to play live in a worship church setting. Thanks!

[@Emil_m]

The way AUv3 works is, the host (AUM in this case) is giving the bpm to all of the plugins that are loaded. Some plugins have a sync off option, but generally if they sync with the host, each preset is saved with the bpm you have set in AUM.

[@cgonzt5636]

I got Bias FX1 but interested with Overloud.. is it CPU hungry? I guess If it’s still lacking the live features, I will try use AUM to host

[@johngerardmusic7761]

I have all three of those apps. Love ‘em! Good content on this channel. I’m subscribing right now.

[@djangle67]

I use Bias FX2 mobile on my iPad Air for home use through headphones and can get some very good tones using the EQ10 straight after the amp and Multi Comp HD at the end of the chain on all my patches which tames the the harsh high end frequencies significantly.

[@TomMullin1017]

Enjoying your vids and I subscribed. I have Bias FX 2 and AUM running on an iPad Mini 5 256GB. Not sure if that is insufficient hardware. My attempts to use it patched into AUM are not going well. I've seen other online comments about how BIas FX 2 in AUM will intermittently lock and emit a loud constant tone. That is happening to me as well. I recently experimented with different patching arrangements, including putting Bias FX 2 in AudioBus 3 and into AUM from there. I haven't resolved the lockup/noise issue yet. As it is I can't rely on going out live without my Line 6 Helix. As an acoustic solo artist I use AUM with a Behringer UMC404HD interface and it has been rock solid for the most part. I really want to be able to play electric guitar in a solo one-man-band without carrying the Helix. I recently picked up a Bluetooth MIDI pedal (M-Wave Chocolate) and it works great for selecting snapshots in Bias FX which is how I use my Helix, with a separate patch for every song. Any ideas will be appreciated!

[@bishoy95]

Your tones are great, I got Bias FX 2 Mobile Elite earlier this week. I can’t seem to get a sound to like in the same easy way I get with my pedalboard. I have a Boss Katana MKII on Clean channel , a TC Electronic Mojomojo, Flashback, T2. That is basically my sound there. What do you suggest ? And do you suggest using IRs?

[@JoelDodge]

IR’s will help you for sure, it just helps things sound more realistic. The other thing I always do is run two amp sims in bias that definitely helps too. You can try out my patch on the tone cloud called “JD KZbin Wet Dry”

[@bishoy95]

@@JoelDodge Will definitely try it 😍 Your ideas inspires me greatly 🥰

[@unstablesun8179]

I also use a Katana Artist MKII but don't use the clean channel. Look at the back you can plug directly into the power stage bypassing the preamp. Sounds way better.

[@EduardoBerth]

8:26 Hi, what DAW is that? Thanks!

[@FamilyRobledo]

Cubasis 3

[@DielectricFailure]

*I’m using an iPad Pro but I’m still working on getting amplitube to work without sounding like I’m not plugged into an IR when I’m trying to record.*

[@timothy5974]

Hi Joel, I have trolled your channel for a while and love what you do. I’m late to the Mac /iPad game and just learned of the Nembrini stuff. Is it possible to somehow use iPad/AUM for building an amp rig but record to my Mac Mini ? Thes Nembrini software versions are crazy expensive but the app versions are a lot less. Any insight on this would be fantastic.

[@JoelDodge]

Sorry for the delayed response! The best way I've found is to have an interface connected to the iPad and the computer and record audio from the ipad into the computer (I've been happy with the sound quality too). I've been doing more of a hybrid set up my self and its easy to use midi auv3 units in logic from the ipad but I havent found a way that works with audio auv3 units.

[@timothy5974]

@@JoelDodge hello thanx for the reply. Hope your well. I purchased a Focusrite solo and am wondering if I should have went the Xtone route. I did get AUM and man it’s so overwhelming. I’m old and come from tape machines 🤣 hope to see more grime you in the near future. 🙏

[@theforgedone]

FYI - you can normally get major discounts on nembrini during major sales (i.e.: black friday) for both ipad and desktop

[@droidfan]

This was perfect! Now, I didn't know about AUM until I watched your video on the X STOMP (on my wishlist now since the new iPad made the MIDI Commander almost obsolete lol) Unless I go the Nembrini route, are there any other uses for AUM that you can think of? I find it interesting but I still don't know if it's for me, especially when the iPad is the only MAC/iOS device I own (for example, I hear people using AUM with MainStage, but that will not be my case). Thanks for the video!!!

[@JoelDodge]

AUM is a really useful app it allows you to send audio between apps including daws and run audio units. I don’t think it’s something everyone needs but it gives you a lot more options with your iPad.

[@droidfan]

@@JoelDodge Thank you Sir! It seems AUM is not for me - yet? Btw, any tips on how to make your BIAS sets sound "good" live? Through headphones and studio monitors they sound so so good! hahaha but when I tried to use them live -- oh my - horrible. Signal chain: Guitar >iRig 2 > iPad > Mixer (Maybe the topic for an upcoming video? LOL)

[@EdBMetal]

You really pointed out my biggest gripe with OVERLOUD TH-U, which are the sliders in a seperate side bar instead of allowing us to tweak the knobs. That so annoys me and makes it one of the only apps (besides the older Ampkit) that does it like that. Pretty much all apps on iOS lets you adjust the knobs except this one. It seems that at some point in the development stage the knobs were adjustable on screen but they decided to disable that feature. Because when you put your finger at the knobs you can sense that they all have their own ‘hit area’. If you are outside of that area you can still pan the surrounding workspace, but when you are inside the hit area of each button you can’t pan the workspace. Which to me indicates that those areas were already set for the knobs to respond to your finger movement. It is a shame they disabled that. It would make the app so much more intuitive, especially on a touch screen device. I really wish they had a setting on the app’s preference page where you could enable or disable the behavior of the knobs. I pointed it out to the developer but I never got any response from them and they appear to fully ignore users’ feedback. Unlike lots of other developers on iOS who listen to their users a lot of the times. Sorry, I had to express my frustration here a bit hahah. I own BIAS FX2 and all of the Nembrini apps as well and I agree with everything you pointed out in this video. Good review Joel 👍

[@baptistec.4546]

I had the exact same feeling at first while using THU. So so boring. But I finally got used to this unconventional gymnastic for two reasons: first is that you naturally get used to it. The second is that once I've thought about and built my own setups, it's pretty rare now that I come back to them, except for a few small corrections. The Kemper, a few chosen rigs, a few effects, that's enough to cover 99% of my needs.

[@JoelDodge]

Its definitely annoying that you can’t use the knobs, but to be honest the most disappointing thing to me is that they didn’t include tap tempo or saving bpm with presets bc I would like to try it out live.

[@foundjoe]

I like TH-U’s sliders because you can be much more precise than trying to adjust a knob on the touch screen.

[@driverbarnvlogs6973]

Haven't tried mobile but the rig player in overloud is by far the best sound I've heard. I just wish they would release the software they use to capture to the public.

[@manningcustom]

how do you deal with latency life with bias fx?

[@perrypelican9476]

Have you tried Tonestack?

[@foundjoe]

I recommend it, especially if you’re wanting to capture the feeling of playing a vintage amp in a room. Not every model is great, but some of them are really superb. I like TH-U a lot, and it’s definitely professional level. Their reverbs are nice, better than Tonestack, so sometimes I chain these apps for the best features from each.

[@MoonSpyStudios]

Bro, until the end when you told everyone... until next time..die empty I totally thought your shirt said Dic Empty 😆 and I thought dang what a sweet superhero name, it's like Deadpool's cousin or something... Good video man, thanks for the breakdown.👍

[@JoelDodge]

😂😂😂

[@michaelmattson3515]

How do these sound going thru a guitar amp ? Can you just use the FX into a guitar amp ? Thanks 🙏

[@JoelDodge]

I haven't experimented with that very much but I know that it works and that some people enjoy doing that. I would just be careful about how much volume you send into the amp they can get over loaded pretty easily.

[@michaelmattson3515]

@@JoelDodge Maybe going into an FX return would work too with the amp & FX with the cab sims turned off. So many options love it. Thanks 🙏

[@unstablesun8179]

I have every amp modeler for iOS and a Helix floor model. I think Over Loud THU has the best sound, followed by Nebrini, then Bias Effects 2. I don't like Tonex. I use a Katana Artist MKII with a custom greenback, 100 watts, I plug directly into the power stage bypassing the preamp. Foucusrite into my ipad pro 11. Overloud models, especially distortion, rival and sometimes sound better than the Helix. I also love the Nembrini stuff. Interfaces don't bother me, it's the tone quality I'm after. Edit: I also like ToneStack Pro, if the "Pot of Gold" ever goes on sale I will unlock so I can give it a proper evaluation, but I think it's at the level of Bias, maybe just below, but it's AUv3 which is huge.

[@timothy5974]

Where did you go?

[@JoelDodge]

Hi Tim, I had another baby so I took a break and then I got busier with my work hopefully I can get back to making videos soon though.

[@sleekitwan]

Good comparison. I have Tonestack iOS, the full motherload, so am looking for quality of tone - actually was considering a proper valve amp, but have decided if there is a sufficiently good AUv3 system of FX, that’s the way to go at this time. On AUv3 vs any other, just think for a minute about Logic or Pro Tools minus the ability to deploy a plug-in, and you would then live in the non-AUv3 world of iOS. No, I have a couple of apps that have only IAA or even, need to work in the back ground entirely devoid of DAW control - it’s really clumsy imho by comparison, plus you made the points about how you can only have one at a time running. But, worst of all it’s actually a ‘fixed audio waveform’ that you drop into GarageBand or Cubasis - forget trying out other cabinets or a different delay/echo or trying a phaser just for the heck of it, later on. That, is a large part of what a DAW is so amazing at, gone. If I do 8 takes, I bet I get one good one that will do - it’s me being three score years mainly but also I am not by any means an accomplished guitarist. Takes 1 thru 3 are lousy, takes 6, 7, 8 I am kind of tired or passed the peak. So it’s take 4 and a smidge of take 5, that will work probably, for me in my music creation. If that precious couple of takes, I finally beat into shape, just need a little less reverb…I mean, no. I love the way GB or Cubasis can facilitate a skill level and correctional level, be poured and concentrated into a few minutes, that with simple recording, I do not possess the ability to do. Losing that more or less, is why I won’t often touch a non-AU app in iOS/iPadOS. Just my view, there’s probably some guy out there, only plays live and could care less about ‘pouring more effort’ into the couple of good minutes playing they got that day. I’ll have a pint of what they’re on! Anyway, thanks for the comparisons, the coalescing of iOS with MacOS might decide this stuff for the developers, in due course.

[@sasmitha8446]

I use Bias, but with higher gain sounds there's this weird low pitch artefacting when I play chords.

[@G5Hohn]

Sliders work so much better on a touch screen than anything rotary.

[@1970Richiez]

I agree, when all said and done Bias is very hard to beat... Have you tried the new Hendrix pack its incredible and puts them into a whole other league in my opinion.

[@JoelDodge]

I haven’t tried it out yet I’ll have to check it out

[@milankotevski1663]

Overloud (Rigs specifically) is the best, "through and through".

[@serotoneend5725]

can you make videos on audacity?

[@JoelDodge]

I’ll look into it

[@michaelraimondi4448]

Great video, thanks for the comparison. If I close my eyes it’s like Owen Wilson teaching beatboxing. 🤣 Is it really pronounced Overload “Through”? It’s written TH-U…

[@cmdkaboom]

So you don't like the tones of bias fx and it's a guitar amp simulator..lol