Recording - July 2011 - 46

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...where we bring you follow-up articles with application hints and upgrade news about gear already reviewed in Recording

IK Multimedia
New features, new sounds, and a tasty online store to fill your plate
By Paul Vnuk Jr with Christopher Short

AmpliTube 3.5

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The paid version of AmpliTube 3.5 includes 160 included gear models 51 Stompbox effects 31 Amp models 46 Cabinet emulations including rotary speaker 15 Microphone models 17 Rack effects High-precision Tuner 8 series/parallel rigs with mono/true stereo input Cabinet module with 2 freely movable mics

Many of our readers will be familiar with AmpliTube, IK Multimedia’s product line of guitar/bass amplification and effects modeling software that comes in a variety of packages. Available in standalone mode or as a plug-in for your favorite DAW, Amplitube is more than just your average plug-in, it’s really an entire virtual guitar environment, made up of individual modules that each represent a component of an entire electric guitar or bass chain—effects pedals, amps, speaker cabinets and rack effects, as well as microphones and rooms. In November 2007 we reviewed version 2 of the main program and also the first-ever specialized artist package, the Jimi Hendrix edition. Other releases have included a Fender version, a Metal version, and an Ampeg SVX bass version, as well as bundles with IK’s interface products, the StompIO, StealthPlug, and StealthPedal, and iOS versions that work with IK’s iRig I/O interface. Today we’ll look at the revamped and expanded version 3.5 of the main AmpliTube program. Paid and free versions In a bold move, IK Multimedia has released simultaneously two versions of the newest upgrade of the main program. One costs $349.99, the other is free. What do you get for nothing? The free version of AmpliTube 3.5 includes: • 24 included gear models • 9 Stompbox effects • 4 Amp models • 5 Cabinet emulations • 3 Microphone models • 2 Rack effects • High-precision Tuner • 8 series/parallel rigs with mono/true stereo input • Cabinet module with 2 freely movable mics
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Aside from the additional new modules and the Custom Shop (see below), AmpliTube also now offers: • 3 playback modes (Hi-Mid-Eco) designed to ease CPU strain when necessary • Improved MIDI implementation for both external controllers (IK and third-party) and DAW automation • Improved preset and patch management complete with a graphic user interface • Improved sonics and circuit modeling • Full stereo setups and routing • Multiple mic setups that are fully movable and pannable • Improved distant microphones and room modeling • Drag and drop effects pedal routing • A 4-track recorder and speed trainer with built-in accompaniment drum grooves • Online copy protection: in other words, no more dongle! • Native 64-bit compatibility on Mac and Windows • Much improved forum based tech support (not a new feature, but still noteworthy) Note that some of the features mentioned above have been available since AmpliTube 3.0, which we didn’t review. Also note that the Fender, Hendrix, Metal, and Ampeg SVX versions have been updated to include all of the new features in version 3.5; they differ from the full version in the scope and particulars of which effects and models are included. See the IK website for full details. Custom Shop All versions of AmpliTube 3.5 come with a built-in feature called Custom Shop that lets you try out for free and then purchase, one by one, any additional model from IK Multimedia’s huge selection, so if whichever program version you have doesn’t already contain everything you’re lusting after, you can choose your additional stomp boxes, amp heads, speaker cabinets, microphones and even studio rack gear to build your own fantasy guitar setup. Rather than spending money in the Custom Shop, you purchase credit packs that range from $20 for 20 gear credits all the
Recording - July 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - July 2011
