CHEAPEST AMP MODELER RIGHT NOW?

[@felipebuzelin]

This is the best era to start to learn to play guitar.

[@Marta1Buck]

To start learning to record too, I might add.

[@My0wnSavi0r]

Was just thinking the same thing. The budget gear compared to 15-20 years ago, and budget guitars are so much better.

[@alexiruse]

always-been.jpg

[@ItsMrMcFly]

Couldn’t agree more. I was just talking to my son about this. Budget guitars are fantastic and being able to get a piece of gear like this or any of the tons of plugins it’s a beginners dream.

[@mrbobmetalhead69]

​@@ItsMrMcFlyYeah, even my rip off guitar is perfectly usable despite having crappy floyd rose bridge.

[@pointymason]

NDSP didn't think to have the ability on the Nano Cortex to have an IR on one output for FOH and turned off for another output to a power amp, yet a 90euro modeller out of China does. Nice demo, this thing actually sounds alright!

[@Killadelphia_]

That's one of the features I was hoping the Nano would have. Would make it totally gig-able for me. The lack of control on the Nano is pretty surprising. I suppose its possible they could do a firmware update to add it, but I'd never hold my breath for a Neural update hahaha. Would also love if the tuner showed up on the app too!

[@Killadelphia_]

UPDATE: I just received my nano cortex & after playing around with it, there is a tuner on the app!

[@klap00]

​@@Killadelphia_also engagable on the pedal

[@Voidheartband]

@@pointymason that’s the thing, NDSP didn’t think. Lol

[@GhostNoteAudio]

You're bang on when you say that all these Chinese units are either built by, or at least the software is developed by, the same company. However we don't really know who that is. Mooer, Valeton, Nux, Harley Benton; they're all using the same effects engine, packaged up in a custom enclosure with their branding - a white-label kind of deal. It first came out in the Mooer GE200, and has evolved a little bit since, but not very much. A few tell-tale signs: 1. They all have this weird "Tube emulation" in the cabinets section (which actually does nothing except add an EQ curve to the output). No other modelers place this feature in the cabinet section. 2. Yellow Comp / Blue Comp, / EV 5050 DS etc... they all have almost an identical set of effects and amp models, and they're named the same on most of the units. 3. Same global feature set. Ability to apply cabsim to left channel only (mono signal with IR to headphones, mono signal without IR to power amp). 4. Same rhythms / drum beats. If anyone knows which company is behind the software, I'd be really curious to know - They do sound good, though! I still like my GE200 :)

[@riangarianga]

It's not like this is new and there isn't anything wrong about it. Since forever companies have either outsourced manufacturing because starting your own factory is crazy expensive, either just relabelled products offered by manufacturers (that in turn might sell their stuff either under a minor brand, either with no brand). This is a way of cutting costs, which is the point with most of the Harley Benton stuff. Many of their studio gear is actually Alctron-rebranded stuff, while Thomann consumers in the EU get the benefit of a lower price, lower shipping costs, relatively local support and 2-year warranty, compared to buying directly from Alctron (slightly pricier, shipping costs from China, import taxes, sending to China for repairs going through exports and all that, warranty just 1 year).

[@MaxYourTracks]

Cherub in shenzen

[@Rav3nghast]

Please tell me this is good for bass.

[@shaneperry4430]

I use to work for Caline,this is completely accurate lol😂

[@riangarianga]

@@shaneperry4430 Really? I'm curious, what's your insight? As far as I know, Caline are manufacturing themselves. It doesn't mean they don't rely on suppliers, but you can find Caline-branded components inside devices from their second brands (I love the feel of their switches and I notice that). I'm also aware other brands outsource their production to them.

[@philknight6844]

Mine arrived 2 days ago. Its absolutely awesome for the price. Seriously impressive for the price.

[@DecapitatedOwns666]

Good to hear that about the price. People will be thrilled about the price.

[@philknight6844]

@@DecapitatedOwns666 I have been banging away for decades. Played with a lot of effects and pedals. This is absolutely amazing for the price. It would still be good at twice the price. Don’t get me wrong, it has its limits but its an excellent little unit.

[@donclarence3644]

@@philknight6844 is is good for the price?

[@irmasil3]

"let's engage an overdrive..." Neural DSP has left the chat...

[@RetroDaydreamMusic]

ROFL

[@florenttenryu5011]

Haha right 😅

[@JamesFlorio-ti8gc]

LMAO 🤣👍🏻💯😶😆

[@klap00]

Kinda no point yaving it separately if it's always drive down, vol up for heavy music and always there with the amp, so if a capture already includes it... What's the point

[@tyberard5736]

Bro I just pissed my pants

[@alrangelal]

A Nanocortex with a screen for a fifth of the price. Nice

[@cirisirpula152]

Except both are fundamentally different types of products

[@alrangelal]

@@cirisirpula152 Yeah, one has a screen.

[@Mercaison]

@@alrangelal basically nanocortex is not a modeler

[@alrangelal]

@@Mercaison so a better Nanocortex for a fifth of the price. Nice.

[@ciniclay]

@@alrangelal with more FX too! The only thing going for the NC is the captures.

[@effektgeraeteinfo]

Its basicely a Mooer GE150 without the Wah-Pedal. It has the same specs and identical Knobs etc.

[@aatreybhatt1999]

I think it might even be running the same software, al the module names seem to be the same as my GE 200

[@RedHeadGuitar]

True! Great observation. It's definitely the same software and hardware, just with a few changes to the UI. These modern modelers are just computers and you don't need excessive computing power by todays standard for processing a few guitars with low latency. That being said, many modelers are horribly overpriced. Yeah things like the footswitch rotary encoder combo from Neural are pretty cool but not strictly necessary. What they do with the nanocortex is an absolute shame on the other hand - Limiting it by dumbing down the software even though the hardware is capable of much more and still charge a fortune. As an IT guy myself I rant enough about such things in the computer world, now it seems to become a thing with guitar modelers too?

[@killamane72]

Dude I want one of these right now less then a $100 and it sounds great multiple amp models and you can load your own ir, which I think would make this the cheapest ir loader on the market as well. And 2 more size options with expression pedals for slightly more screw the nano, if you can adjust pitch with the expression pedal this is gold

[@daemonishere]

Hearing this demo this device sounds good enough for any recording! We've had classic metal albums that are classics and sold thousands of records with guitar sounds less than what this unit produces!

[@alexandruv]

''We have the best modelers, with 1000 effects that you'll never use and yeah at this price tag you can't get better'' - Kemper,Fractal,Neural DSP etc.etc. ''Hold my beer' - Harley Benton

[@CrushingAxes]

Cheapest is one of my favourite words! Nice tone!

[@JiTiAr35]

Usually the Chinese do very good affordable multi effct pedals. Mooer GE150, Nux MG300, Valeton GP100, and so on. All US$100 ish

[@Drumsholic]

Oh man!!This thing is great for the price!!Vfm product with amazing sound right out on the box!!Great man!!

[@patrevol4370]

I use the DNA fx git, second hand, and it's just absolutely perfect for the price. Same effect as this one, the wha in plus...better than a zoom...

[@Mr.Goldbar]

Honestly third party IR support makes every modeller incredibly good nowadays, tone wise

[@joshilton616]

Yup, it’s really just finding the right IR

[@Mr.Goldbar]

@@joshilton616 yeah nowadays picking modellers is mostly about build quality and interface, as long as this one feature exists

[@BarrySmith-ny6ng]

because tone is in the speakers!!!!

[@Mr.Goldbar]

@@BarrySmith-ny6ng not all of it, but 90% for sure!

[@Maskinoperatr]

Ola the quarter inch output jack is TRS for stereo, according to Thomanns product page!

[@Darker_Waters]

Makes sense.

[@alexskibicki2262]

Awesome demo as always, ola 😎🤘🏻🎸 that multi-effects processor sounds pretty killer. Kinda reminds me of my mooer ge200(which I still have for my guitar). And I too like the peavey amp model. Sounds phenomenal

[@monkehm]

The high gain tones sound pretty damn sick for something that costs as much as one shitty distortion pedal. And the software seems way way easier to use than something like ToneX's godawful UI.

[@C-Ro]

If you got the OE-IR...

[@athmaid]

​@@C-Rohe gave one away for free a few years ago

[@Jonathan-L]

And the good thing is that it can still sound like that sh!tty distortion pedal if you want to :)

[@jf6868]

Thank you Ola. You are both a gentleman and a scholar.

[@Teutonic_Shredder]

What an impressive device. It even has IR features. Can't believe how good and cheap things have gotten. Great review, Ola

[@AJDOLDCHANNELARCHIVE]

Pretty impressive for the price! I've got an AXE FX II, but I'd happily use this in a pinch.

[@Satyros2os]

1:25 I died... 😂

[@fedexnman]

@@Satyros2os man that's deeked up

[@StannyObelisk]

This is so sick. you could totally pair this with their power amp and run this into a cheeky cabinet.

[@Jonathan-L]

Thanks for the heads up. Which brand & model power amp are you referring to? I'm looking for something cheaper than a Seymour Duncan PowerStage.

[@resington]

I really can't fault these modern cheaper modellers. Got a valeton one from few years ago. Has everything I want in it. Sounds great.

[@DravenxEyeless]

This is basically a MOOER GE 150. It even has the same names for a lot of amps, overdrive pedals and controls for the cab section, including the tubes

[@louaguado995]

The GE150 cost a little more, but it has an expression pedal, and lets you change microphones and mic positions. It's much more versatile to me.

[@EhrosmithTV]

Hey Ola! Love your videos! Have you also checked the M-Vave BlackBox? I think its the cheapest Profiler Pedal out there, its only USD 55. Yes! You read it right! its a Profiler Pedal!! Haha😂 Cheers.🎉

[@emach07]

lolol I just saw this about 1 minute after posting about it. Got one a few months ago. yup, cheapest I've seen but who knows 😅there's probably something else lurking about out there even cheaper

[@slayabouts]

Based on the blurred thumbnail, I was certain it’d be the nano cortex. We’ve been bamboozled

[@putrafajar-w3s]

04 :07 , tube simulation, This one is brilliant ...

[@joshilton616]

These units rule for loop effects like a gate/eq/delay.

[@jhnrynlds]

Honestly impressed how good the distortion sounds for the price. Cleans left a little to be desired. Ironically that is the opposite problem modelers have had for the last 5 years.

[@heyjarrod]

Yeah, that sounds as good as anything I’ve heard you play through. At least cranked up in my car, in my mix position. Sounds gnarly! Too bad it doesn’t really have enough foot switches to use live. Or at least not for what I’m playing at the moment. 😆🎸🤘🏻

[@ForTiorIJohnny]

i have the advanced version of this modeler. it´s the same thing just an added foot switch, expression pedal and outputs. it´s ok, it does the job, but it does have its draw backs. clean tones are a bit plastic-ish, the mics on the IR´s sound exactly the same, changing the amp model also automatically changes the cab which is annoying when you want to compare amps, the reverbs sound metallic and not that great, and a bunch of other small things. i´m actually thinking of returning it and trying a HoTone.

[@flips220]

Pretty cool unit for someone just starting out. Doesn't hang with the higher end modelers, but it's miles better than anything I had when I started learning a couple decades ago. The price is outstanding. Also loving all the shade thrown at Neural DSP in here. They make some good stuff, but yeah they've been smelling their own farts with this Nano Cortex. It sounds good (assuming you pick the right captures), but the features are underwhelming and it's overpriced for what they're giving you.

[@fabiangussahn6371]

I've been playing guitar for 25 years and had my hands on sooo many amplifiers and modelers. I started with Line6Spider and worked my way up to Mesa Recti. I got tired of lugging around and kept downsizing my gear. Now we play with in-ear monitoring. Normally I play with a Horizon Precision Drive into an Orange Terror Stamp directly into the mixer. I bought the DNAfx Git Core last week to try it out. The little piece of shit only costs 89EUR!!!! I'm thrilled for the price. If you spend a little more time with the presets and create your own, they are suitable for live use as well as for mixing!!!! F*ck Harley Benton - You did it!

[@coryyoung1876]

Hey Ola, any interest in Solar making some kind of tube power amp for modellers or preamp pedals like the Chug? You've done a few videos comparing solid state and tube and the tube always comes out on top! Would love to see it

[@brrblack497]

A tube powered cab/amp with one real V-30 and one FRFR speaker?

[@ejw3006]

Idk if they’d bother making a power amp since the power amps Ola mostly features is the KSR/Fryette or the SD powerstage (solid state). Both are in different price brackets and Solar isn’t really known to be an amp brand either so not sure how well a power amp developed by them would do (in terms of marketing) compared to the other more reputable tube power amps.

[@bjornleifeld4442]

Got it a few days ago and i must say: "omg"! Perfect for the living room rockers

[@StockingsTube]

This has awesome sounding distortions!!! I might need to get one

[@zzzaaacckk6905]

the layout, the fx name even the sound of the unit is basically similar to my Mooer GE200 which is great

[@AnthonyGreenMountain]

Watch out, the single output is stereo! You can get a L+R by using a TRS > TS (x2) Y cable

[@Femboy_muncher-AKA_Taco-SWE]

Jag älskar att olla på Ola! 😀

[@chrisloud1976]

Nice demo, the presets sound great.

[@patricklong9227]

Awesome review of this unit, but Ola I’m surprised you haven’t demoed the Two Notes Opus! It’s an amazing unit by itself, but I have mine integrated into with my tub amp (Marshall DSL 20). Sounds phenomenal. Just surprised how little attention it received from everyone!

[@phillipdonsbach74]

It’s interesting that anything you play always sounds like you, but I guess that’s your IR and the way you pick/fingertone. Great video and I wish I could have gotten tones like this when I was learning instead of the crazy shitty squire amp I had. The people starting out now have no idea how good they got it.

[@Cpmnk]

Tye mvave blackbox also looks really good for around the same price, if not cheaper

[@buddyhimself]

And the M Vave support amp/pedal captures!

[@alecse5478]

much cheaper on aliexpress, I bought one for 52€

[@joshilton616]

@@buddyhimselfI think that alone is worth getting it.

[@Cpmnk]

@@buddyhimself they also do a good midi pedal with an expression input for around 20€

[@drewcadaver]

Do you know if the black box also supports the ability to have the IR just on one side?

[@ZeeEm1991Gr]

The lead tones are nice for what they are. The rhythm tones on the other hand sound a bit too modern, if that's even possible. There's just not enough low end. Better to have a bit of switching delay like this unit, than to have a momentary sound cutoff between patches, like I have with my Zoom G5n for example.

[@jameslanders3421]

You can get a modeler for even cheaper with the MVAVE Blackbox. If you really want to see what the actual cheapest modeler/multiFX with custom IR capabilities can do, you should take a look at it. Runs about $75 US. Edit: Haven't finished my morning coffee yet...Also forgot to say: Excellent video as always! You continue to be one of the most entertaining and fun guitar tubers out there while still being thoughtful and concise about your reviews. The level of quality that modeling and multiFX has gotten to these days in incredible, even on the most inexpensive offerings compared to just even a decade ago.

[@jam_nineworkz]

@@jameslanders3421 And a profiler at that :)

[@Cherry_Sunburst]

YES IN DEED...Golden times for guitarists!!!

[@AdamYoudell]

All I'd say is get some cables and make sure they stay plugged in/no stress on them etc. cause to offer this at that price I'd expect it to break easily, jacks/switches etc.

[@madmod]

I can remember when I first got my DigiTech multi fx unit and plugged it into my old Peavey 50 watt tube amp. I thought it sounded so freaking good back then. I should see if I still have that thing

[@guarapo66]

What model, late 90s a friend loaned me a RP7 , then I bought a RP50 and then a GNX3000 😅 good times

[@madmod]

@@guarapo66 mine was a rp50 as well!

[@spacedye2001]

I ordered it for a my practice amp for only 83 bucks it is a steal.

[@sutach]

I have nux mini bt amp, it plays quite good for a home sessions. And it's very similar to this modeler.

[@sharkeynoyz]

I've got the DNAFx Git Advanced, just right about to replace my pedalboard!!

[@iggysixx]

I think having a box you can put your own IRs into (aka you can somewhat mod the capabilities) is pretty sweet for 90 bucks Thanks, Ola!

[@joshuakarar3594]

I think I spent $100 in 2004 to get a Digitech RP150 that is legendary for sucking. (Though the effects/reverbs actually hold up!) Something like this being $100 in 2024 is insane.

[@howiezeng7732]

Actually it is not the cheapest. We have a Chinese brand called M-vave and its $60 amp modeler Black Box which enables users to clone their real amps with neural network training program on pc and simply put the file into it and play.

[@QuakeGamerROTMG]

Been using the Black Box for a month or so and very happy with it but still curious about these other cheap options

[@nuclertrauma]

Amazing stomp box man

[@kennyparker8644]

I have a very cheap Harley Benton St guitar 120 dollars,I’d say it’s great! I usually using this guitar to recording my music 🔥

[@DerSilvano]

ok

[@francescocagnacci]

hi ola, i have this exact same unit, i bought it for my 6 months ersmus study programe and i dig it. just a question, how did you hook up the outputs for stereo? if you'd break it down on the next video on the unit i'd be grateful.

[@sethgross3904]

I still love the roasted maple necks and it looks great with the purple. The sparkle finishes would be pimp with the roasted maple.

[@EasyHeat]

Preset name for the win! Bwahaha! You are the best Ola!

[@trubin3]

Honestly, looks and sounds like a re-branded Mooer GE - I see many if not all amp names and cabs are the same as in my Mooer GE200 that I love. Presets numbering follow the same convention as in Mooer GE too. Loaded with right IRs it should move from good to great sounding modeler.

[@RolandDeschain1]

I see all these gear review videos of people being so nitpicky about tone with amp heads and cabs or modellers and all that stuff, and I cant help but think back to the superb 'Hysteria' episode of CLASSIC ALBUMS. In that show Phil Collen says that Mutt Lange didn't give a damn about what guitar or amps they used to record. His attitude was "I'm gonna do everything in the mix."

[@70mcnevin]

Yeah, you can EQ/Multi-band Compress your way out of most "so-so" amp/head modelers irregularities or deficiencies if they were setup correctly to begin with and you double track. All the modelers have become good. It's all better than it was 15 years ago. And Ola can make even shitty gear sound more than passable.

[@RolandDeschain1]

@@70mcnevin And the simple fact is that 80% of metal bands' guitar tones all sound the same in a mix, no matter how much pissing about with their precious tone they brag about.

[@MilkoOfficialChannel]

Agree, more on your hands and your songwriting core abilities and less being picky with the años and shit

[@chrisw5742]

@@RolandDeschain1 JCM800 .............

[@SlowDeath1993]

Pair this thing with bogren ir's and you nail it.

[@jonnyf9049]

I waited for this! I want this thing, i think its interesting in the price

[@taxo]

Honestly surprisingly good tones for such a cheap piece of gear. Btw Ola did you happen to demo the mooer radar coupled with some cheap boss OD or Dist like the Metal zone or the Ds1? I've seen a couple of vids about that and some very fine tones were achieved, and that's another very inexpensive rig to gig with

[@alexsands433]

Very awesome sounding 👍

[@shaunixtvxx7278]

You should try m-vave black box

[@louaguado995]

I recently picked up a Mooer ge150. It has 55 amps, 26 cab's, 200 patches, an expression pedal, and was only $130

[@malcolmrff]

You got me. Ima get one

[@arkhamsrazor7075]

Ola you have saved me money more than once. This is the best guitar related channel on youtube

[@aatreybhatt1999]

I feel this is just a reskin of the Mooer GE 200, way more affordable, but the firmware seems to be the same

[@mmiller6873]

A breath of fresh air. I am tired of seeing everyone that is paid to praise the new Nano Cortex. I have no interest in the Nano at all. Well done on this Ola and catch you in the next testing sh**.

[@mmgla4608]

Simple, basic, good sounding modeler for little money. I hate HB guitars but that's some good stuff. How's the latency here? Heard some people complaining

[@sysdroid98]

0:23 hahahaha love the name 🤣

[@neutron_audio]

Great Vid!

[@nickedshears]

Trola strikes again

[@musicmanxii]

Man if these things were around when I was a kid it'd be a game changer lol. My parents would buy it, and it'd sound the way I'd want. Awesome that this kinda tech is obtainable for the novice musicians.

[@MrMfalzone]

GOOD MORNING OLA!! My man!

[@M4GG0TK1NG]

Hey Ola, because they are both in the more affordable side, how would you rate this against the ToneXOne? Obviously this has things like the stereo effects and being able to use time based effects that the ToneX doesnt but as far as software, overall model sound and ease of use, which would take the cake in the "sub $200 modeler" category?

[@prezlamen]

With your impulse response sounds brutal! Do you sell that IR in your shop?

[@savvysymbiont]

This is why I'm selling all of my pedals on Ebay. Thanks O

[@DasOmen02]

Psst, Americans, 90 euro is 100.50 usd ;) Excited to see HB get into this area. I like the concept of HB, though the one guitar of theirs i tried was BOOTY so maybe this is more their forte lol

[@SecretMetalFromAbyss]

First impression is that Harley Benton made Line6 Pod with an app to control all that "greatness" with very low price. :D

[@danitwisted7300]

Much better than what we had years ago for this price. Beginners are getting spoiled

[@mcr985ful]

Ola, your content is amazing. I was curious if I could come to you for some guitar advice?

[@81giorikas]

At around 7 50. It's the face of the oh shit it does sound really good.

[@adamstein9333]

I need this, and it’s the best format for Me (this thing is in a lot of different makes), eh em Mooer GE150, however, there is a smaller more affordable Modeling and Capturing device now with a bunch of other companies and I need Your Profiles Ola. I bought My Mvave Blackbox for 48$ shipped and it’s great! Will happily pay for Your Captures. Also, can Solar do a Remake with the Washburn PXS200? Flat black, Stephen’s Extended and Buzz Fieten tuning System? I have hopes and Dreams too!

[@karstux]

Can you test the Sonicake MatriBox2 Pro? It's a new amp modeler at around 300 Euros, and it's a nice yellow. Could be a strong contender in that price range.

[@LockeColeFF]

I'd be interested to hear how this sounds in a full mix.

[@louaguado995]

Right. Sometimes amp modelers sound worse in a mix with drums and bass

[@LockeColeFF]

Yeah which is why I'd be interested. If it sounds decent then it's truly a budget gem waiting to be mined 🤘

[@maximilianosantana5696]

Its like a Flamma Fx100 without the expression pedal

[@weedian710]

I’d rather have this than the nanocortex, but I’m going with the one with the expression pedal.

[@0oChugChug0o]

Hey Man 🤘

[@igorcarvalhopadilhaandrade5886]

🤠🤘🏻It's Time To Kick Ass At Rock In Rio🤠🤘🏻

[@surveil3548]

How about the M-Vave Blackbox? When are you reviewing it? 😁😁😁

[@nedesnikderpherder7529]

Have you tried the N-ux amp academy from the verdugo series?

[@goatsurgeon]

Ola, why do you have to be DISTRACTING me with AMAZING cheap gear!? I'm trying to study business law, for god's sake! STOP being so awesome! I LOVE YOU

[@kumpesasanda9869]

Ola check the M-vave Tank-G, it is also a cheap but really good Amp modeler

[@davidmurray9193]

Silly question.........will the drum on this damage a 4x12 cabinet for guitar use via the bass response of the drums?

[@MartyMcDonnald]

Amp modelers are getting better and better by the second!!! They came to stay! Amps will become collection items very soon. This didn't sound bad at all for such price.

[@nhpIII4482]

Cool, but me i like my tone and dont change for whatever I'm jamming unless I'm tweaking the cleans. Vox Stomplab thru clean channel of a Bandit