What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

[everdrone]

I wont tell you which is which yet, but one of the clips uses an ampsim analog pedal. The other clip uses a free digital ampsim.

http://soundcloud.com/earthalliance

1) tell me which clip sounds better
2) guess which one uses the analog-pedal and which one doesnt
3) do you think the clip that sounds better is worth paying a one-time cost of $170 for?

Ill let yall know later which one uses the pedal and which one doesnt, and what kind of pedal and ampsim they are, and where to get the digital ampsim for free.

 

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

1) Clip 2 sounds better, more crisp, less boominess to the sound which is good.

2) Clip 2 by my judging is the analogue pedal. why? clip one sounds digitally rendered, if you understand my perspective, what I mean is, there is more definition to the sound in terms of overall sound. if you listen to clip one that boom and middy range coming through sounds very computer processed as I notice some programmes ( and please remember I am not a heavy software user and never have been) are known for giving a very processed sound so they overall balance is better, so it isn't to trebly, middy or low.

3) if you mean in terms of the item producing the sound or helping to then produce the sound then perhaps. if it was in a pedal format definitely!

EDIT: something else that just hit me, clip two sounds reminiscent of the late 80's and early 90's grunge scene, think nirvana type tone a la nevermind and bleach. i'm not talking about the riff, i am talking about the sound.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

I dunno but I like clip 2 the best.

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

I don't know which one is which, but I initially thought clip 2 was better. After going back and forth between them a couple of times, I figure the 1st clip might be better if it had the volume that clip 2 has. Also, clip 1 sounds like it's mid scooped while clip 2 seems to have thick low mids, so maybe an EQ shift can make clip 1 as bold as clip 2. I don't know for sure but I think clip 1 might be my choice.

 

[everdrone]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

1) Clip 2 sounds better, more crisp, less boominess to the sound which is good.

2) Clip 2 by my judging is the analogue pedal. why? clip one sounds digitally rendered, if you understand my perspective, what I mean is, there is more definition to the sound in terms of overall sound. if you listen to clip one that boom and middy range coming through sounds very computer processed as I notice some programmes ( and please remember I am not a heavy software user and never have been) are known for giving a very processed sound so they overall balance is better, so it isn't to trebly, middy or low.

3) if you mean in terms of the item producing the sound or helping to then produce the sound then perhaps. if it was in a pedal format definitely!

EDIT: something else that just hit me, clip two sounds reminiscent of the late 80's and early 90's grunge scene, think nirvana type tone a la nevermind and bleach. i'm not talking about the riff, i am talking about the sound.

cool man! thanks a ton for the insights, I appreciate the feedback

I dunno but I like clip 2 the best.

Cool brutha, thanks for the feedback :scratchch

I don't know which one is which, but I initially thought clip 2 was better. After going back and forth between them a couple of times, I figure the 1st clip might be better if it had the volume that clip 2 has. Also, clip 1 sounds like it's mid scooped while clip 2 seems to have thick low mids, so maybe an EQ shift can make clip 1 as bold as clip 2. I don't know for sure but I think clip 1 might be my choice.

EDIT TO ORIGINAL CLIP: I MADE CLIP 1 LOUDER AND BOOSTED THE MIDS SOME, GREAT FEEDBACK, THANKS

Cheers, I appreciate the feedback, interesting how the volume and eq can make the difference. hmm...this gets me wondering :scratchch

Hoping for any more posts or feedback, I am wondering if I should return this pedal back to guitarcenter since it has a 30 day money back guarantee minus the stocking fee :scratchch

 

[UberMetalDood]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

EDIT TO ORIGINAL CLIP: I MADE CLIP 1 LOUDER AND BOOSTED THE MIDS SOME, GREAT FEEDBACK, THANKS

Cheers, I appreciate the feedback, interesting how the volume and eq can make the difference. hmm...this gets me wondering :scratchch

Hoping for any more posts or feedback, I am wondering if I should return this pedal back to guitarcenter since it has a 30 day money back guarantee minus the stocking fee :scratchch

That improves clip 1 and gives it a little more growl. I think I'd go with clip 1 because I'm guessing clip 2 is the amp sim.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

Smartphone won't let me access sound clips. This matters not one jot because, IMO, this topic is entirely subjective.

At my advanced age, I have the dubious luxury of being able to listen to recordings of mine from up to thirty five years ago. Some of the sounds that I thought were wonderful then seem acutely embarrassing now. Time has been kind to only a few of the recordings.

For example, in the late Eighties, I made extensive use of a Nomad Axxeman (a British-made Rockman-inspired guitar pre-amp). Most of my guitar work through this device is pigeon-holed in a specific era. Fortunately, my main use for the unit was for fretless bass.

 

[everdrone]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

That improves clip 1 and gives it a little more growl. I think I'd go with clip 1 because I'm guessing clip 2 is the amp sim.

Thanks much for the second listen I think I will tell everyone after some more posts

Smartphone won't let me access sound clips. This matters not one jot because, IMO, this topic is entirely subjective.

At my advanced age, I have the dubious luxury of being able to listen to recordings of mine from up to thirty five years ago. Some of the sounds that I thought were wonderful then seem acutely embarrassing now. Time has been kind to only a few of the recordings.

For example, in the late Eighties, I made extensive use of a Nomad Axxeman (a British-made Rockman-inspired guitar pre-amp). Most of my guitar work through this device is pigeon-holed in a specific era. Fortunately, my main use for the unit was for fretless bass.

Hmm, interesting stuff, I think recording direct for bass sounds pretty good, but I have heard amazing stuff with the axefxII, so looking forward to more/better stuff from kemper etc

 

[everdrone]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

I don't know which one is which, but I initially thought clip 2 was better. After going back and forth between them a couple of times, I figure the 1st clip might be better if it had the volume that clip 2 has. Also, clip 1 sounds like it's mid scooped while clip 2 seems to have thick low mids, so maybe an EQ shift can make clip 1 as bold as clip 2. I don't know for sure but I think clip 1 might be my choice.

That improves clip 1 and gives it a little more growl. I think I'd go with clip 1 because I'm guessing clip 2 is the amp sim.

Thanks so much for the feedback and insights, I know this forum is FULL OF AUDIOPHILES THAT CARE ABOUT TONAL NUANCES LIKE ME, I would prolly guess like this too if I did not use digital ampsims for all those years, many thanks for the insights

the free plugin is the Hybritt, it and others can be downloaded for free here:

http://lepouplugins.blogspot.com/

I think it is very good

here are the recording details:

-------no1: (I labeled it - a soundcloud user could click on the "share" button to see the address is
http://soundcloud.com/earthalliance/no1-doomhybrittpoulinampsim ) recabinet IRs, lepouplugin hybritt, ozone 5 for mastering, metal foundry, ezmixII for bass, and my typical reaper plugins for eq and reverb

-------no2 (I labeled it - a soundcloud user could click on the "share" button to see the address is http://soundcloud.com/earthalliance/no2-doomoxfordorangepedal ) recabinet IRs, TECH 21 OXFORD CHARACTER SERIES PEDAL, ozone 5 for mastering, metal foundry, ezmixII for bass, and my typical reaper plugins for eq and reverb

-------song "Dance with the Devil" http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11496221 : no cocked wah was used. I use my wah though on some of my other digital recordings such as this funk song of mine: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=9941179 I used TECH 21 OXFORD CHARACTER SERIES PEDAL, EZMIXII for compression on guitar, ezmixII for all bass, metal foundry, ozone5 for mastering, I used recabinet for rhythym guitar and my typical reaper plugins for eq and reverb, but I used the original cabinet simulation that came with the Oxford Character Series Pedal for the guitar solo and put an ezmix plugin on the guitarsolo to give it that extensive delay.

Cheers all, I like my pedal and am keeping it so far but the warranty has not run out SO ANY TYPE OF FURTHER INSIGHTS/VOTING AT ALL IS MUCH APPRECIATED, thanks for the listens :beerchug:

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

I'm late to the party, I liked the pedal better. :friday:

 

[everdrone]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

I'm late to the party, I liked the pedal better. :friday:

thanks brutha, thanks for the original advice :friday:, I did a SD search and see you have been intrigued by the character series for quite some time , cheers :cool2::thanks:

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

thanks brutha, thanks for the original advice :friday:, I did a SD search and see you have been intrigued by the character series for quite some time , cheers :cool2::thanks:

Yeah, I was thinking of building a portable rig using the AC30 model, and The Oxford with an EH amp pedal. 3 pedals, maybe a delay unit and a speaker and you would be good to go.

 

[moshuajusic]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

BUMP! Because this topic interests me. I just want to point out that the comparison is pretty useless if you used IRs on both. You're basically comparing an analog pre to a digital pre, NOT analog cab simulation to digital cab simulation.

A more useful comparison of analog and digital amp/cab sims would've been to simply record the Oxford direct (with it's built-in analog sim), and then record the Oxford with it's sim turned off and IRs. My guess is that IRs would sound more realistic, but the Oxford's analog sim would still sound good.

EDIT: ****, I realized I misread. Sorry. But I WOULD love to know how the Sansamp cab sim compares with Recabinet.

 

[everdrone]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

BUMP! Because this topic interests me. I just want to point out that the comparison is pretty useless if you used IRs on both. You're basically comparing an analog pre to a digital pre, NOT analog cab simulation to digital cab simulation.

A more useful comparison of analog and digital amp/cab sims would've been to simply record the Oxford direct (with it's built-in analog sim), and then record the Oxford with it's sim turned off and IRs. My guess is that IRs would sound more realistic, but the Oxford's analog sim would still sound good.

necro bump lolerz


that analog sim is not worth comparing in my humble opinion, I tried using it every which way and the IRs blow it out of the water. so no use in including it really for my purposes of seeing whether I should return the pedal anyway...I kept the pedal

I did this song with all guitars through the oxford pedal. the solo is the oxford http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11496221

this is the oxford pedal and IRs for all guitars and guitar solo: http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11543370

 

[moshuajusic]

Re: What sounds better, ampsim physical analog pedal, or free digital amp sim?

^I was afraid that'd be the case. I've been battling my Tri AC for several years now. (I'm more a pianist, so it's been on and off.) I'll have to try it with IRs, though there's no option of turning off it's cab sim like on the new Character Series pedals.