Best Amp Simulator

[The Elf]

The Helix's ability to hand off to (and receive back from) other hardware is a significant advantage - I have mine connecting to a more sophisticated looper, for instance. And don't underestimate the MIDI control - it really can become the pulsing heart of your system if you are prepared to take the time setting it up.

[Guest]

I've used a few and to be honest they all sound pretty good these days. Neural DSP's Petrucci Plugin is defintely worth looking at I'd say, has a really nice Acoustic channel in there beyond the higher gain stuff. Have to second Helix it's great, heard a lot of good things about Scuffam S-Gear but never used it. My current go to is Guitar Rig 6 as the effects/ presets you are bundled with are really really good with some taken from their synths.

If you are interested in another way of doing things, send a distortion pedal directly into your interface and use IRs, Two Notes Wall of Sound actually has a simulated pre-amp and you change around the 'tubes' as well for a variety of flavours. I recently sent an EHX Russian Muff straight in and it sounds extremely good, there's a thickness from the pedal that's hard to get in amp sims.

In terms of interfaces hard to go wrong lots of people use the Scarlett ones, depends upon your budget, the RME Babyface is great I use that, SSL 2+ is meant to be extremely good considering it's price.

[groovelator]

Scuffham S-Gear for me too. I love it and use it all the time.

[Guest]

So, I have a Helix and a Kemper.

The Kemper is getting sick as a dog and is only really useable from the computer editor. I just really don't get on with the Helix, it has been packed up for a while so I think I'm gonna sell it.

I have been having a look at the Headrush MX5 and am thinking of getting one, it is far simpler than the Helix, sounds fine in the videos I have looked at, and the user interface looks good. I also quite liked the Eleven Rack I used to use.

Does anyone have one of these (or the other 2) and have any issues that should put me off?

[Sam Spoons]

I have the Gigboard and I think it's pretty good. I bought it to replace my analogue pedalboard and I'm confident it will do so when I have built patches I'm happy with. The user interface is excellent with the touch screen and I have A/B tested it against a direct cable into my amp to prove to myself that it doesn't change the sound unless I want it to. But I have a gig in three weeks and will probably resort to the old pedals just as a confidence thing (though that also depends on me (with Dave's help/advice) fixing my 18 watt ).

[Guest]

Thanks for the info, I would prefer the Gigboard but they seem impossible to get hold of in the UK.

Have you used the FX Loop? I'm wondering if I can stick my Orange Amp/Torpedo Captor in the loop with a Cab after in the Headrush. I will download the manual and have a look...

[Guest]

I looked in the manual.

The main out and fx return can be set to either +6 or +18 dBu but the fx send seems to be set to who knows what, +6 I guess.

[The Elf]

What problems are you having with the Helix? I've always found it fairly straighforward.

[BigRedX]

What problems are you having with the Helix? I've always found it fairly straighforward.

I have to admit that was my thought too.

The only downside of the Helix for me is that because I do 99% of my programming via the HX Edit application, I struggle to make anything but the simplest of changes from the front panel controls. However that's entirely because I've been too lazy to work out how to get to the more esoteric functions this way.

[Guest]

What problems are you having with the Helix? I've always found it fairly straighforward.

I don’t like the sound of the amps, just something about it. I find myself constantly fiddling with parameters and IRs to try to get what I want.

The fx are great, it’s the amps/cabs I can’t get on with. I have some of the patch sets from Glenn DeLaune that make heavy use of IRs to make the amps sound better so I know it’s possible to make it sound great for guitar but it’s beyond my ability.

Also I don’t play live anymore so it’s a bit of overkill.

[The Elf]

Fair enough. If it doesn't gel with you then time to move on.

[Martin Walker]

I'm wondering if I can stick my Orange Amp/Torpedo Captor in the loop with a Cab after in the Headrush.

It's a long time since I was so intrigued by a product name, but after a mention of the Torpedo Captor I just had to do an online search to find out more

[Dave.P]

Just bought one today Martin - cost me more than the bargain amp I just added to my GAS list

[Guest]

It’s a brilliant device.

[Martin Walker]

Never thought I'd hear a torpedo being described as brilliant

[Dave.P]

Never thought I'd hear a torpedo being described as brilliant

I am sure I will be calling it a few other things when it arrives and refuses to work as intended

[Guest]

Never thought I'd hear a torpedo being described as brilliant

I am sure I will be calling it a few other things when it arrives and refuses to work as intended

It is pretty idiot proof, I know this as I'm an idiot and it is working here.

[ore_terra]

Few days ago I got one of these new Victory V4 amps

https://youtu.be/vGT94NrQvYg

I have The Copper. Vox-ish version.

It’s not really an amp emulator - it is an actual amp - but it can definitively fill the gap since they’ve implemented a xlr out with Two Notes Torpedo cab emulation.

So far so good. I still have to try it with the band in practice, but I see myself gigging with this and an HX effects on the pedalboard.

[Dave.P]

Few days ago I got one of these new Victory V4 amps

https://youtu.be/vGT94NrQvYg

I have The Copper. Vox-ish version.

It’s not really an amp emulator - it is an actual amp - but it can definitively fill the gap since they’ve implemented a xlr out with Two Notes Torpedo cab emulation.

So far so good. I still have to try it with the band in practice, but I see myself gigging with this and an HX effects on the pedalboard.

Very impressive - look forward to hearing how you get on. Looking forward to getting my Captor tomorrow and see how that sounds with my existing amp now too.