IK Multimedia Amplitube VST PC

i have been at it for 11 years and music too. A few problems i have had i feel have put me in a unique position amomg reviewers of this product. At this moment due to a recent robbery, i am using a dusted off 450mhz AMD k6-2 based system, #6 worth of fm801 barely full duplex soundcard, and have 128Mb ram. I was using cubase vst 5.2 public beta 7 but now had to switch to n-track studio 3.3 as win2k and the fm801 dont like each other under cubase. And to demo tracks i use amplitube in ntrack, reason for the drums via rewire and one borrowed epiphone explorer for all guitar and bass(high quality pitch shift) parts. heh if i catch the sod who nicked my stuff he's proper dead.

The interface, as in a real life amp, has its behavioural nuances which you get to know and work around and eventually come to love, it would never have a major overriding place for me in a studio but some things it does it does amazingly. i had no problems installing or registering, i think i was one of the lucky ones. And as far as finding workable sounds like i said before any real life amp has sweet spots that you learn and amplitube isnt much different.

The clean sounds can be dramatic warm bright whatever you want, and admittedly with a little help from a good EQ plugin or akai's quadcomp you can create worlds of different sounds. The driven distorted high gain sounds take a little more work but again if you tweak and tweak and maybe fill in the pieces with eq or compression you can again get awesome sounds, the gate however is utter tripe, signal drop off on muted distorted parts with gappy polyrythm parts is slow and sound a bit like the last bit of water going down the plug hole, but after all that this is my only complaint and as all but removed if your source signal is clean, mine at present is a line in with no preamp or protection from noise, but this artifact still can happen with good clean signals

Well i got it from a guy who had no clue what he had or how to use it properly, so i feel a little guilty telling you full-pricers i got it for #20 second-hand. which easily is better value for money than even guitar rig at full price. although guitar rig is on my purchase list, this plug-in will, for me have a place in my music where not much else can touch it, even if on my 450mhz pc i can only run two inserts of amplitube, even if i have to do things the long way around i will. Another reason why i like amplitube is that after losing almost all equipment(amps, guitars, rack fx), is that it lets me carry on doing what i love doing, and to a degree of quality even i can accept after having the real deal for so long. IF SOME GUY OFFERS THIS TO YOU FOR #20 #30 OR EVEN #100 THEN RIP HIS ARM OFF!!!!!!

Been playing for three years. I used version 1.3 of the Amplitube plugin along with both Cubase SX and ProTools. I play alternative and rock mostly. I have tried Amplitube on both the PC and Mac. My setup is an Mbox into Cubase SX, monitoring with headphones.

The UI is ok. If you know how to use an amp you can use the software. Installation was easy, but there is a massively long product key to enter. It comes with a bunch of presets that all pretty much suck. I was able to find a zip file with 250 user presets on the 'net. Many of those presets were better than what comes with the product.

The sound is not so great. All the clean channels sound really muddy. There is zero life in any sound you get out of this product. Even when you crank up the distortion it just sounds computerized, and not in a good way. I get better sound cranking my Mbox gain to 10 and piping the result into Cubase's compressor/limiter and a little reverb. I cannot get a really good sound out if this product. Either the sound is too muddy, or it's too noisy. The gating helps the noise, but overall I am not impressed.

Not worth the price at all. For $299 you can buy a Vox Tonelab and hook it right into your PC. You will get everything Amplitube has to offer plus an authentic tube sound and physical piece of hardware. The only good thing I can say about this product is it's fun for a while to play with the controls and try and get a good sound. After a while, everything just sounded the same to me and I sold it.

I've been playing guitar since 1968. My main ax is a Roland-ready Fender Strat updated with noiseless pickups and locking tuners. I just purchsed Amplitube Live (which includes Amplitube LE). I also use mostly Cubase SX but also have Sonar 3. I use the OEM Sonitus effects plugins from Sonar in Cubase. I particularly like the vintage compressor and reverb models.

Within those applications, I use some software sampling synthesizers: e.g. Kontakt and EWQL Orchestra (Silver) which I love, but find some of the voices that came with an OEM version of Sampletank perfect for blending with guitar.

I have a 2.4GHz P4 Shuttle with 800MHz FSB, 1G RAM, and 200GB 7200RPM hard drive, & Win XP home. Sony stereo headset and/or a $50 car extension speaker that makes a great compact stereo stage monitor. I'm planning to replace that with some in-ear monitors (even MORE compact).

The interface is easy to understand and operate, like a real amp.

Copy protection is always a headache. I don't like to go online with my DAW because a virus caused an extreme rebuild. Nearly all new software requires a big-brother connection to enable. I wish they'd figure out some way to prevent theft of their products without exposing my investment to crippling viruses. The dongle that Cubase requires isn't a very good solution either. I had to have mine replaced as it wasn't very durable.

I don't know about automation, but I've very disapointed in the LIVE MIDI implementation. I bought a MIDI footcontroller (Art Ultrafoot) so I could instantly switch from one sound to another, trading in a floor full of stomp boxes because it was impractical to do a tap dance to change settings. Amplitube LIVE is WORSE as it requires you to SEQUENCE through the list of patches until you find the one you're looking for. i.e., instead of pushing 4 or 5 stompbox switches, you have to hit the up or down switch 100 or so times! I don't understand why they made such an inane compromise. I understand that DSound has a plug-in host that fixes that, but I'm not certain.

Sounds are very nice.
I'll probably upgrade someday to get the rest of the models.

I wish they labled them for the amps they modelled though. Lots of amps can have clean, lead, or crunch sounds. These lables tell me nothing.

It was worth what I paid, just because I want to make my rig more portable. If you've played as long as I have, you love to play but despise the logistical nightmare of getting a rack from here to there.

Guitar Rig is more flexible, but I only liked a few of their demo patches. Also, I didn't want to have to kludge in their pedal dongle into my setup, opting for a pure software implementation.

What I don't like about it is the lack of flexibility. You cannot architect a patch like you can with TC Works FX Machine.

Lack of MIDI program change mapping is a market killer, IMHO. If DSound allows me to get around this, I'll be happy. If not, I'll be _sort of_ sorry I bought it. It still has usefulness in the studio, because you don't need to change patches fast when you punch in, but this kludgy feature really limits consideration as a serious LIVE application.

I am a working producer living in LA. I have a very diverse client list that requires my understanding of various software and hardware devices. To have tools that I can use to accomidate my clients wishes is important to me. My studio like so many other users out there consist of 2 systems. 1. Pro Tools HD2 Accel, Pro Tools|HDpack Version 6, Mac G5 Dual 1.8GHz PowerPC G5,2gigs of ram, Wave Platinum Bundle, T-Racks Mastering suite and tons of outboard gear. 2. PC Intel 2.4Ghz pentium, 1gig of ram, Cubase 3, Hammerfall Digi9636,

My main instrument is guitar and piano, I have been playing since I was 10 I am now 38.
I too have a lot of pedal effects, stomp boxes, and multi-effects boxes for my guitar set up.

As a producer it is important to me to work quickly and efficiently, so picking any application, ease of use is number #1. I had no problem installing Amplitube on my PC, went to the website and registered my copy, so I would not get that annoying sound when the product is in demo mode. While at the website I downloaded some user presets. Once installed I launched the plug-in and started to rock. Everything I know as a guitar player was right in front of me. My amp selections, my cabinet selections, my pedal effect, and so much more. It was a pleasure work with an application that spoke to me, the guitar player.

Now being the kind of guy I am, tone is everything. So I was very excited to hear what this puppy sounded like. Much to my surprise I was blown away! For software to sound this real was a pleasure. So many times I have played software for the GUITAR PLAYER, only to be disappointed. I was most impressed by the accuracy of the VIP presets, what a time saver.

Overall I think what I paid was a steal, considering what I would have had to pay if it were all hardware. The most important thing for me is speed and accuracy of a product. This was a winner for me and I will use this on many tracks to come, not just guitar, but drums and vocals as well.

I am a long time user of PC recording software. First with Cakewalk followed by Emagic Logic and now using Cubase. In addition to the sequencer programs I also use Cool Edit Pro and a variety of VST instruments. My computer has a 2.2G processor with 512M of ram. I have used an assortment on outboard guitar processors such as POD, PODxt, GT-6, Adrenalinn II, J-Station and Guitar Port. I use a set of 12-inch biamped studio monitors and also a set of smaller Yamaha monitors to play through.

I was intrigued by the potential of Amplitude as a VST processor. I had difficulty with the installation in that the first several times I tried to install the program, it would quit automatically after a very short time. I also noticed a pulsating noise problem in the output when the program was launched. Finally, I got the 'unwanted'
fatal error message indicating the program would shut down followed by a blue screen. I had to restore my computer to a previous date to correct the problem. I never did get it to work correctly.

The very short time when I had the program up and running and could record and listen, I was less than impressed. I don't think the sounds justify the cost and the hassle. I believe the external processors are far better sounding and a better value. The noise was very irritating.

I know that some people have had good luck with this plugin, but I could not recommend it to anyone. There are way better processors out there for much less money without the problems. Plus, if this thing doesn't work out for you - there are no returns for a refund.

I've been playing guitar for the better part of the past 4 years. I use Amplitube in conjunction with Cubase SX on an Athlon 1700+ with 512 meg of RAM, using an Audigy 2 ZS soundcard. That runs out to a fairly primitive set of computer speakers.

IK attempted to model a generic amp interface with the look of Amplitube. Whilst it is a rather primitive design - especially in comparison to NI's Guitar Rig - it is rather straight-forward for the average guitarist. It does its job.

The actual sonic aspect requires alot of tweaking to get solid tones. You'll spend alot of time with the post-EQ and the different settings, as the original patches aren't very well programmed for use in a mix. Some alright jamming tones to start with, but nothing overly solid.

I just DI my guitar into the PC, with no preamp and obviously with my soundcard, that inherently leaves alot to be desired as far as sonic richness goes. Amplitube itself can give relatively convincing high-gain sounds that can be used in a recorded mix. It certainly doesn't rival the outboard processors like the PODxt, but it certainly is cheaper.

The problem is that Amplitube requires a good home set-up to work well in conjunction with. To fullfill its potential you need a professional-grade soundcard, preamp and decently fast PC, especially if recording multi-track.

Well, firstly, it isn't worth the retail price. I would save the cash and go for something like a PODxt, which gives a better array of sounds.

Right now, however, it is the best software amp module to use for high-gain 'metal' sounds. Whilst modules like NI's Guitar Rig are almost superior in every way, Amplitube still remains the best for tones with balls.

I have been playing music in one form or another for over 20 years, my primary instruments being guitar and bass and some occasional vocal work. I have also been working professionally as a producer and engineer for the past 10 of those years. I have numerous systems including Pro Tools HD, Pro Tools LE, Logic Pro, and Digital Performer. All my systems run on Mac OS X 10.3.5 on G4 towers and one G4 I Book. All systems also have atleast 768 MB of RAM. I work on a wide range of music: rock, country, R&B, contemporary christian, and vocal performance.

Amplitube has to be one of the coolest, easiest to use guitar amplifier plug-ins on the market. Whether I'm tracking directly to hard disk with the plug-in or "re-amping" the guitar track in a mix, it never fails to work without any problems.

Sounds great. A cool trick is to use it on a DI guitar track in conjunction with the original amplified track. Obviously no plug-in will ever sound as big as a well recorded half stack, but it's a fast and efficient way to to thicken up a guitar heavy mix. The presets also sound great, if there's a particular sound your looking for right off the bat, pull up a preset tweak it a little bit, and away you go.

It's definantly worth the money. In a mix situation, a hardware unit is only good for one track whereas the Amplitube plug-in can be used simultaneously on as many tracks as you want. That to me is a obvious advantage. As a native plug-in, it isn't a CPU hog and I have never crashed a system using it-mine or anyone else's. (for that matter, I have never had any problems using it on a M-Audio or MOTU interface either)

I've been a guitarist for about 30 years. I tried to use the Amplitube version for MAC OS-X 10.3. I'm using it on my I-Book, a G-4 with 512mb Ram. I have an M-Audio 410 Firewire connected to my I-Book, which is heard through a set of Bose computer speakers. This is my "Notepad" rig.

It crashed my MAC. How hard is that? It is a useless CD-ROM I use as a coaster.

I have not had the opportunity to hear it, since it immediately terminates when I attempt to start it up. This happens on my I-Book, and my B&W G3/4 with 1GB Ram.

Take your cash and get a Pod XT. That is worth twice the price. Like I said -- I now own an expensive, but quite durable, coaster on which I set my Diet Coke Cans...

I've been playing guitar for 15 years or so. I've used tube and solid state amps of all kinds. Currently I use a AMD Athlon XP 2100 with 512mb RAM and a firewire 410.

The user interface is very intuitive because it looks like a guitar amp. The cabinet controls great, giving you a lot of cool control. Overall, great easy to use interface.

Sound qaulity is great. With a good selection of realistic sounding presets that are a good starting place.

The stompboxes are excellent as well.

The cost if well worth it for the sounds that I get . It is a great tool , recording miked cabinets is now a not needed with Amplitbe. I can get really great sounds from it.

I've been using Amplitube (DX version) in my personal recording studio, with Cakewalk's SONAR 3 as my sequencing software on a very powerful Windows XP box.

I paid more than $300 U.S. for this software, and I never use it! Why? Because it crashes my entire computer when I attempt to change patches while SONAR 3 is running!

In the modern Windows XP environment, it takes a really, really badly-behaved computer program to crash the entire computer.

Sound quality is good ... it's too bad I can't rely on this software.

Not worth the price. Perhaps it only crashes on PC platforms.