FREE guitar/bass amp simulator software

[lew_1987]

I'm sure this has probably been a thread before, but oh well...

Which are good?

Basically I'm using Audacity to record guitar and bass to a drum track (from drum machine), and the head that I was going to use to record guitar is broken, plus I don't have a bass amp. Plugging the bass straight into my computer doesn't sound too bad, but I would like to try and improve it. I'll be plugging the guitar straight in also.

I haven't really got time to check out loads of different pieces of software, so if you could just say the name of it and one or two brief reasons it is good that would be nice :-).

[screamoutmyname]

ahh, dude... my friend had this sweet program to simulate all sorts of different heads and effects and stuff, but i never got the name of it.

sorry man. if i do happen to talk to him, though, i'll be sure to get the name for you.

good luck!

[Tristan Needler]

I don't know about free ones. Are you willing to pay for software?

[lew_1987]

ahh, dude... my friend had this sweet program to simulate all sorts of different heads and effects and stuff, but i never got the name of it.

sorry man. if i do happen to talk to him, though, i'll be sure to get the name for you.

good luck!

Thanks!

I don't know about free ones. Are you willing to pay for software?

Possibly, depending on features/price.

[remoteCONTROL]

amplitude

[Tristan Needler]

amplitude
Amplitude isn't free. But it'd definitely good.

[bassdrummer2333]

Can someone explain how you use these if I plugged my guitar in through a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter.? I have guitar rig but no clue how to use it.

[remoteCONTROL]

if you have a direct in from your amp, you take the instrument cable and plug it into the direct in, put the 1/4-1/8 adapter on the other end, plug the 1/8 into the computer, and select that as your input source. what program are you using to record? youre not using a macbook are you? i could explain it a lot easier if you were

[bassdrummer2333]

I am using a macbook but I also have a PC to do it with. can you explain the guitar rig part with that after I have selected it as my input.

[remoteCONTROL]

so you have it going from "direct out" on the amp, to the input on the side of the MacBook next to the headphone jack, and have the external input selected to record? Just hit record and play. Are you using GarageBand? Does your amp specifically have the direct out? Are the volumes up?

[acor]

If you are willing to throw down money get reason

[patrickhowell]

Here's a few of the low-end software options:

Amplitube Duo (http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/IK-Multimedia-AmpliTube-2-DUO?sku=482677) - Only 2 amp models, but only $50 (instead of the ~$300 you'd spend on the full version)

Peavey ReValver HP (http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-REVALVER-HP-Virtual-Amp-Modeling-Software?sku=703195) - $70 for 6 amp models.

Line6 Gearbox Silver (http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Line-6-?sku=706520) - $99 for 18 amps, and I'm pretty sure it's on a huge sale, plus it offers a free upgrade to the Gold edition.

Guitar Rig 3 XE (http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Native-Instruments-GUITAR-RIG-3-XE-FULL?sku=703277) - $99 for 5 amp models.

Amplitube 2 "Live" (http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/IK-Multimedia-AmpliTube-2-Live?sku=703369) - $80 with models of 5 amps and 9 stomp boxes.

That's just the basics, before you buy anything, you should check out reviews, more info, etc.


If you are willing to throw down money get reason

I'm pretty sure that Reason can't do that...

[Tristan Needler]

I'm pretty sure that Reason can't do that...Yeah, Reason is MIDI only. It can't record audio.

[patrickhowell]

so you have it going from "direct out" on the amp, to the input on the side of the MacBook next to the headphone jack, and have the external input selected to record? Just hit record and play. Are you using GarageBand? Does your amp specifically have the direct out? Are the volumes up?

Who is this for? One of the guys said his amp is broken, and the other is trying to go direct from his guitar into Guitar Rig...

Also, make sure that if you're using a tube amp that you NEVER use it without speakers (or an attenuator) - even if you're using it to record direct. That will overheat and ruin your output transformer.

[bassdrummer2333]

Yeah basically when I plug my guitar in how do I record and get all these sounds with guitar rig i hear about.

[lew_1987]

Thanks everyone for their advice, but I've decided to buy an 8-track which has built-in guitar tones; I've graduated from Audacity, haha. I still learnt something in here though, so thanks again.