Why I Prefer Amp Sims Over Tube Amps - Recording Metal Guitars

I absolutely LOVE tube amps.

Aside from maintenance (new tubes cost $$), I really enjoy the overall simplicity of using a great sounding tube amp both live and in the studio.

I also really love the creative process of picking the right cab and dialing in the perfect mic placement for the tone I’m going for in the studio.

An amp sim is a SIMULATION. It’s not the real thing…

With that being said, I PREFER AMP SIMS in the studio.

Why on earth would I claim to prefer amp sims over tube amps after just listing the things I love about tube amps?

Why would an audio engineer ever prefer a simulation to the real thing?

In this video, I tell you exactly why I prefer amp sims over tube amps in the studio.

[PowPresents]

As someone who just loves making metal as a hobby, I wouldn't be able to do that hobby if it weren't for amp sims. There's no way I could afford the amps required to get the tones that I get using amp sims, nor could I record those amps in my bedroom. Great video.

[ghosttownicon]

amp sims sound great until you tell someone its an amp sim, then it sounds fake and fuzzy

[OmegaStationMusic]

100% agree with you Bobby. Loud volumes, tube maintenance, required space (for home studio mixers just like me) and inconsistency are huge problems

[AravKrishnan]

I use amp sims for all my stuff haha, great vid as always dude!

[basskirkster]

It is truly amazing the quality of amp sims available today. The new Toneforge Jeff Loomis is absolutely outstanding sounding. You really can’t tell the difference between that and his real amps. Don’t get me wrong though, I love the sound of a turned up tube amp for jamming. Gets the blood moving. Excellent video. Love your custom IR too. I use it a lot.

[jordanheyvaert]

I keep watching your videos, having my mind changed, making the changes and my life gets easier in the studio. You're the man!

[correametal]

Another point for you Bobby. I totally agree 100%. I don't even use real amps anymore. On a home studio amp sims are more practical. Also with the amazing technology that the amp sim companies have come up to these days I would not change the ease of recording with an amp sim to the torture of dealing with a cab and real amp. But that is just my humble opinion. Thanks Bobby!!!

[arthur.monticelli]

If we were talking, say, 12 years ago, things would be different.
Right now, amp sims are so close to the real thing that is purely a matter of "experience". Meaning, you wanna have the experience of recording a real amp, go for it. But then the reason for doing that is not "the sound", but the "magic" behind it (which tbh should not be ignored. Art and magic are closely related so if recording a real amp will inspire you, you should definitely consider doing it). I never plan on giving up real amps when recording, but having the possibility to blend it with an amp sim (d.i. track of course) gives you a world of extra possibilities.

[AlbertodeVictoria]

If the music is good, it doesn't matter tube or bit

[darkflamesquirrel]

Feels great to hear someone else bring up the crap impulse response thing. I'm only a hobbyist so I have to figure a lot of this stuff out myself and go off of instinct. Always had a hunch the cab/mic simulation is what gave sims bad rap.

[richjennings]

As an aspiring engineer, I bought an SM57 just to practice mic placement on a cab. Of course my sister screamed at me for it being too loud 😅

[leearmitage]

Personally I record alot using amp sims because as you said I'm someone who records at home and sometimes overnight and it makes things easier, and have used your IR on a lot of mixes and demos ;)

[RiverwoodOfficial]

Couldn't agree more 🔥 well explained man

[markbeitle]

Love the shirt man!! You truly love the retro thang eh!!? So sick!! Great video bobby!! What are your thoughts on achieving feedback from amp sim..i don't think you really can? Like for instance you want that loud amp feedback before a huge chorus comes in.. that's the only thing i cant do with an amp sim.. thoughts on this??

[orenfisher]

Well-presented, well-organized, well-supported information. All true.
I have no patience for tube amps, under any circumstances. The tone I wish I could dial in (and maintain for any length of time) on a toob amp is available to me on an amp sim - with far less farting around. The same applies in a live setting, provided your amp sim is being reproduced by a high-quality full range solid-state amp.

[Sergio-nbhj]

Love amp sims!! People get way too worried about these kinds of things.

Imo getting a good drum sound should always be of higher priority than the guitar tone (and the vocals even more so)

[AdamStrachn]

Completely agree man. Plus, sims from Neural DSP & STL tones & the like have gotten incredibly good. I've been using the GGD Zilla cabs & love the tones I'm getting. And from an economical standpoint it allows people to produce music that otherwise they might not be able to do.

[mickeymice]

for the type of metal frightbox uploads all the time, I completely agree. I never thought guys like this needed this question answered again in jan 7 2021.

[alexanderfischer]

100% agree with you. There are just not many people out there that have the balls to make such a statement loud and clear 😎 (I also own four tube heads, two 4x12's and several mics and I love them). If you have to deal with limited amounts of time, money and musical talent/technical understanding of your customers, amp sims are the way to go. Period.

[firmans]

I agree with you.
Love amp sim for recording make life much easier.

But for jamming, for me personally i cant stand jamming with amp sim with real amp felt much better doesnt matter if its a tube or solid state.