The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Amp Sim Plugin for Steel
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Amp Sim Plugin for Steel
Joseph Carlson


From:
Grass Valley, California, USA
Post  Posted 19 Apr 2019 4:34 pm    
Reply with quote

I know the best option is to mic up an amp, but sometimes I just want to throw down a quick steel track on a demo or as a placeholder.

Rather than dragging out an amp and mic I would like to record direct.

I've tried Ampire (free with Studio One), Kuassa, and the Pedal Steel setting in Toontrack EZMix2 and none of them are even close to useable, even for a demo. Too much fizz, even on the clean settings.

Has anyone tried some of the other options on the market for pedal steel? There seems to be hundreds of options out there.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Douglas Schuch


From:
Valencia, Philippines
Post  Posted 19 Apr 2019 10:58 pm    
Reply with quote

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=328465&highlight=

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=328367

I started the first post is in response to some comments on the second one. Some good info in there.

Doug
_________________
Bringing steel guitar to the bukid of Negros Oriental!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Tony Prior


From:
Charlotte NC
Post  Posted 20 Apr 2019 2:58 am     Re: Amp Sim Plugin for Steel
Reply with quote

Joseph Carlson wrote:
I know the best option is to mic up an amp


Uhmmm, who said ? Mic'ing vs direct is a process .


Many will obviously prefer one over another but thats not saying one is BEST . It may be BEST for them.

Plenty of discussion threads on this subject.
_________________
Emmons L-II , Fender Telecasters, B-Benders
Pro Tools 12 on WIN 7 !
jobless- but not homeless- now retired 9 years

CURRENT MUSIC TRACKS AT > https://tprior2241.wixsite.com/website
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Ken Metcalf


From:
San Antonio Texas USA
Post  Posted 24 Apr 2019 10:05 am    
Reply with quote


_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

David Mitchell

 

From:
Tyler, Texas
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2019 10:04 am    
Reply with quote

I've always been satisfied just going into the DAW with a really good high quality studio preamplifier. Your volume pedal should have two output jacks. Send one output to your guitar amp if you like just for monitoring purposes if you are use to hearing your amp. Send the other output of your volume pedal into a high quality preamplifier that outputs to your DAW by either PCI, USB, FireWire, Thunderbolt, etc and set your levels and record flat into your DAW with no eq or reverb. Then when you go to mix equalize the tone and and reverb, delay, etc. Some soundcards have a low enough latency that you can monitor effects in real time as you record but most devices struggle with all the processing that is necessary.
If you do it as I have described above latency will not be an issue. Here is an example of my EMCI steel I plugged directly into an Audient id14 USB interface and did it as I described. When it's recorded flat and boring the sky is the limit when you start to mix. You can get lost in your options. I don't use amp Sims. Most of them are too noisey for my taste. Most of the time I use only stock plugins that came with the software. What you hear in this demo is plugins that came with Steinberg Nuendo software.


https://youtu.be/G5dNO4cuDUk

Direct tone used in a song here.

https://youtu.be/fw39GnGhWls
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Brett Lanier

 

From:
Madison, TN
Post  Posted 30 Apr 2019 9:04 pm    
Reply with quote

If you have a modern interface with internal digital pre's, I think the best bang for your buck is the Sarno V8. It will sound even better going into a nice mic pre, but still sounds very good as a line in to just about any interface. Something cheaper might just leave you feeling underwhelmed enough to never use it.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Scott Denniston


From:
Hahns Peak, Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 1 May 2019 10:27 am    
Reply with quote

Here's one. I think you can test it out for free. I really like it for guitar but have yet to run thru it with steel. It's VERY tweakable with lost of clean & overdrive choices. As I remember it's mostly based on Dumble and Fender type circuits. Click >>> https://www.scuffhamamps.com/
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Ken Metcalf


From:
San Antonio Texas USA
Post  Posted 1 May 2019 12:34 pm    
Reply with quote

I don't think a steel needs an amp plug in unless you are looking for a effect.
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Tim Kowalski


From:
Illinois, USA
Post  Posted 3 May 2019 6:56 am    
Reply with quote

I like a free plug-in called Boogex by Voxengo. You can get a very nice clean sound that adds space and brightness. The plug-in also has EQ and a vintage reverb built in. Easy to use and adds the "amped" character.
I own a couple of purchased products that don't perform as well. I keep going back to Boogex.
Seems to me like most of the simulators are going for the crunched/distorted/overdriven Marshall sound. This can do that, but can also be used to sound clean and defined.
What the heck - it's free... give it a whirl.
_________________
Bad wine is better than no wine.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

John Macy

 

From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
Post  Posted 4 May 2019 9:46 am    
Reply with quote

I was never a big fan of direct steel until I got Brad Sarno’s V8 tube pre, and now also the Telonics direct out. Especially when used with a great preamp, both sound great! My main overdub rig at my house is the V8 into a Neve pre and I use it all the time. I take my Telonics to sessions and gigs and everyone likes the direct out on it. YMMV....
_________________
John Macy
Rockport, TX
Engineer/Producer/Steel Guitar
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Brett Lanier

 

From:
Madison, TN
Post  Posted 4 May 2019 9:59 am    
Reply with quote

John Macy wrote:
My main overdub rig at my house is the V8 into a Neve pre

Same thing here with an old 1073 channel strip. I like the EL8 Distressor after the Neve too.

John, have you compared the V8 xlr out into the back of the Neve vs the 1/4" out of the V8 into the front of the Neve? I haven't yet, wondering if you prefer one over the other.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Bill Terry


From:
Bastrop, TX
Post  Posted 4 May 2019 11:45 am    
Reply with quote

I posted on some other thread about the Amp sim I've been using a lot, recommended by Tommy Detamore, the Bias amp from Positive Grid.

It's actually pretty happening, I like it. But I also acquired a Urei LA 610 a while back, and it's become my default pre for all steel tracking.. As John and others have mentioned I think a decent pre is pretty important in getting a good amp-sim sound. In fact, I can bypass the sim altogether with that LA 610 and it's not bad. I'm convinced that some judicious use of the LA 610 comp is an important part of the equation, or at least MY equation. LOL...
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Bryan Daste


From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 7 May 2019 12:01 am    
Reply with quote

Not a plugin, but the Kemper Profiler is the best amp sim I've heard. Super flexible.
_________________
http://pedalsteelpodcast.wordpress.com
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

John Macy

 

From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
Post  Posted 7 May 2019 6:51 am    
Reply with quote

Brett, I really like the mic level XLR out into a mic pre, but even the 1/4” line level out straight in is impressive!
_________________
John Macy
Rockport, TX
Engineer/Producer/Steel Guitar
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP