Amplitube 4 FREE and how free modelling is changing the marketplace

ilikeoverdrive

New member
It's been a while since the guys at IK Multimedia have started offering simplified versions of their Amplitube software for free.
So I got into checking Amplitube 4 FREE myself, and made a video with some of the tones I got from it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZixeHpCzA8

My verdict? It's incredible how far digital amp modelling has risen in the last 10 years. And now these guys, and many others as well are offering digital modelling solutions at no cost.
Does it replace tube? IMHO no, and nothing ever will, but that's not the point. There are many of us who like analog gear and all-tube amps, but who see digital modelling as an interesting development which offers many possibilities. Nobody can rationally say digital modelling is a "bad" thing, but even so, many of us could never really part with our hard earned money for such software. The most often invoked reason is that "I can save that buck for a tube amp or an analog piece of gear or, heck, just get a burger". There always seemed to be better things to spend the money on except software for the tube amp analog crowd.

And now it's free. Well made, good sounding digital modelling is at our finger tips for literally nothing. And I mean, legally, not otherwise:smash:!

Need an amp but don't have enough funds for that nice tube head or combo which you'd want? Or maybe you just need a simple and efficient fly rig? Just starting out perhaps? Or any other reason? IMHO, there's now a great alternative to budget amps with the advent of free modelling, and a myriad of solutions to choose from, with Amplitube 4 FREE being just one of many. So rejoice, fellow fans of all-tube amps and analog everything! With a little discipline and reconciliation, you can get >80% of the way to your dream tube amp tone FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, and save all your money for that nice all-tube rig you always wanted!

It's here. And it's pretty good.:bigthumb:
 
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Re: Amplitube 4 FREE and how free modelling is changing the marketplace

yep...put yer iPhone and a 200W amp in yer pocket...all ya need is guitar and some speakers:
20190215_140703[1].jpg
 
Re: Amplitube 4 FREE and how free modelling is changing the marketplace

That's what I use at home for practicing when I'm not the only one in the house, which is frequent and usually at night. I plug the phone in to a little desk mixer along with my laptop and put on the headphones. Perfect little setup. I have an iKlip for the iPhone on a mic stand so it's all nice and organized. The custom shop has some cool stuff. I've got the Soldano SLO, Hendrix and Slash paks, an Orange and an ENGL. I use my bass with it too and got the Ampeg SVT model. Works for my needs and I'd use it at a gig if I had to.
 
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Re: Amplitube 4 FREE and how free modelling is changing the marketplace

That's what I use at home for practicing when I'm not the only one in the house, which is frequent and usually at night. I plug the phone in to a little desk mixer along with my laptop and put on the headphones. Perfect little setup. I have an iKlip for the iPhone on a mic stand so it's all nice an organized. The custom shop has some cool stuff. I've the Soldano SLO, Hendrix and Slash paks, an Orange and a ENGL. I use my bass with it too and got the Ampeg SVT model. Works for my needs and I'd use it at a gig if I had to.

Agreed! Won't replace tube amps, but it sure gets the job done, quietly too!
 
Re: Amplitube 4 FREE and how free modelling is changing the marketplace

yep...put yer iPhone and a 200W amp in yer pocket...all ya need is guitar and some speakers:
View attachment 95987

Looks like the tpa3116 amp module. Those are nice, can be run on 12V as well, its not 200W though, around 50W+50W each side in a 4ohm speaker,. 25W in 8ohm & so on.

I made a tpa3118 one, had to use rca connectors to keep it mini size & make rca to 1/4" cables for using it with guitar stuff. Fun little project.
20190217_014004.jpg
 
Re: Amplitube 4 FREE and how free modelling is changing the marketplace

TPA3116D2*2 @24V 100W/channel...that's what TI data sheet says anyway...
 
Re: Amplitube 4 FREE and how free modelling is changing the marketplace

Looks like the tpa3116 amp module. Those are nice, can be run on 12V as well, its not 200W though, around 50W+50W each side in a 4ohm speaker,. 25W in 8ohm & so on.

I made a tpa3118 one, had to use rca connectors to keep it mini size & make rca to 1/4" cables for using it with guitar stuff. Fun little project.
View attachment 96006

Great build, very compact!:bigthumb:
 
Re: Amplitube 4 FREE and how free modelling is changing the marketplace

TPA3116D2*2 @24V 100W/channel...that's what TI data sheet says anyway...

Its supposed to be 100W in PBTL mode and 50W/per side in BTL mode as per the data sheet. Unless that module you posted runs two tpa3116 chips in PBTL mode for each side.
 
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Re: Amplitube 4 FREE and how free modelling is changing the marketplace

Its supposed to be 100W in PBTL mode and 50W/per side in BTL mode as per the data sheet. Unless that module you posted runs two tpa3116 chips in PBTL mode for each side.

yes, 2 tpa3116s (TPA3116D2*2 = TPA3116D2 times 2)
 
Re: Amplitube 4 FREE and how free modelling is changing the marketplace

Thanks for the "heads-up". I also registered for the IK/Amplitube newsletter and got two more pieces of software for free. :)

Oops. They're free whether you register or not. :wrf:
 
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