Real Amp vs Emulation Amp, which is better? #musicproduction #guitar

Are real amps always better?

[codychalmers]

I think with a slight bass boost and a touch of reverb they would be indistinguishable

[orest]

some vst plug-ins actually allow you to change the placement of the virtual mic around cabinet’s grill and even choose different types of mics

[stevedoesnt]

Both have sounded great for a while, but man, STANDING IN FRONT AN AMP IS FUN. Standing in front of YOUR amp that is part of your makeup as a creative individual is FUN.

[Defghi]

I think amp emulations are 100% up to snuff with real amps. However, I think mic and cab emulation still have some work to do. IRs are making or breaking most of the tones imo

[TheIllynow]

More energy and life in the real amp tone, immediately

[gunnarschmitz]

I use amp sims a lot, they work really well in a mix, but theres often this kind of "plasticy" sound on their own. That and sometimes at a flat EQ on the amps setting they sound to muddy, but then quickly get too shrill when dialing in more highs.

I still really enjoy them, and they're getting better every year, it seems. It takes me about 30 mins to dial in a good tone with a sim, whereas 90% of the time with a tube amp i can leave all the EQ knobs at 5 and stick an sm57 on it and instantly get the sound i need. And i dont need to use extra RAM on my computer for the sim

[DavidGossettMusic]

From someone who toured with both, the real breakthrough in the past 10 years wasn't amp emulation/modeling/profiling, but easily available, high quality IR's. When I switched to a loadbox and IR loader for live shows, it eliminated all the inconsistencies in the room, mic placement, mic backline, etc. Moving to a Kemper eventually became an extension of the same mindset, making fly dates as consistent as a normal show. Not to mention, the Kemper allows me to take a fairly close (not perfect) approximation of my favorite, very loud, very temperamental vintage amp with me without worrying about angering FOH. I definitely miss moving air and intentional feedback on stage, but all of the digital tools definitely made it much easier.

[wm]

From this particular demo, definitely the amp. But, standing in front of the actual rigs at volume, I think it would start to get much trickier to choose.

[Rocknrolldreamlp]

Trey’s tone with his trainwreck rig is 🔥 The only advantage of an amp sim is convenience.

[William.Driscoll]

I strongly prefer 1, but appreciate that 2 would also sit in a mix.

[tegaedjike]

The fender amp has this nice distortion and analog drive to it. While the emulation sounds real smoothe and clean while maintaining character

[niccster]

Cant believe you think they sound the same. The emulation has a flatter sound than the recording, but thats 10, 000% the frequency response of the microphone that's making the difference and not the cab vs emulation

[frankymcdonald]

its all down to the IR if you're using amp sims. the IR will make or break how a recording fits in the mix. i still mic my amps whenever i get the chance, however i always di bass.

[GravitasHD]

In logic u can choose the amp and mic and mic placement too

[alekmartinez]

Both sound really great. I would go with the amp due to its warmth.

[airamika]

I play amp sim all my professional career as a guitar player (from 2002). but still, nothing compares to the real good amp sound. The richness in the tone just something every guitar player ears craves 🍻

[jamesm]

It's not just about sound, it's how an amp responds, feels plays.
Sometimes, for heavier music for example, a tighter, more consistent response is better.
It's all about choosing the right tool for you.

[mod_myst]

Some emulators (I believe all of the Neural DSP ones) actually do let you change the cab mic placement and mic type itself.

[callejarvholm]

All the most used amp sims like amplitube, tonex, guitar rig, the line6 stuff, neural dsp plugins, allow you ti change mics and mic positioning, speakers and so on

[thedatabody]

With the natural reverb of a club the emulation will work. In a studio I’d go with the real thing. I like all the cab rattles and such.