What Is The Best Amp Simulator For Aspiring Music Producers?
There are way too many amp simulator plugins out there. So picking one that suits you best isn't easy. So we've put together a list of 9 amp simulators that you may want to check out. But first...
What Are Amp Simulator Plugins?
Guitar amp simulator plugins or amp simulators imitate the sound of a guitar amp. Amp sims are software that enables you to run your guitar through it to get many different guitar tones. So if you just have, say, an acoustic guitar, you'll be able to get an electric guitar sound with it. Pretty cool, huh?
Where Should You Use Guitar Amp Simulators?
You can use guitar amp simulators on their own or in tandem with amps to give yourself more options when it comes to tone. They are usually an easy plug-and-play solution that allows you flexibility without requiring too much effort.
This makes amp simulators perfect for recording, rehearsing, or just jamming out by yourself. Some even come with built-in FX like reverb and delay which will help broaden its application range further still!
Ok, let's get back at it...
You've probably heard all kinds of things about amp sims ranging from the very common "you'll never sound real" to the also very common "I can't make a lot of noise at home and guitar amp sims are now sounding like the real thing!"
So which one of these is true? Well, it depends on who you ask and what you're trying to accomplish, my friend! The truth is, studies have shown that over half of musicians can't even tell when an amp simulator is being used! And amp sims are only getting better and better so that stat may even be higher these days!
The debate usually comes down to if amp sims will ever be able to sound like the real thing. But what is the "real thing" in the first place? So to not overwhelm you with politics here, let's just say something that we can all get behind: If you're recording in a home studio, using software (amp sims) is probably better!
How so? Well, you don't have to worry that much about room acoustics. You don't have to worry about noise (with some exceptions, of course). You don't need a mic. And if you don't have a bunch of time, you can access a wide range of sounds and effects easily.
Alright enough of this! Let's get into the list we've compiled for you!
Amp Simulator #1 - Amp Designer (Free With Logic Pro X)
The "Amp Designer" is one of the most popular guitar amp simulator plugins that's included with Logic Pro X which makes it an excellent choice for anyone starting who already has the software. It comes with three amp emulations and nine cabinet impulses ported from classic guitar speaker cabinets. So, you can get a wide range of guitar tones using it.
It also includes several built-in effects including reverb, delay, phaser, and distortion pedals among others! This can make it a great way to get started if you're on a budget or just getting into recording your music at home without too much background knowledge in guitars.
Amp Simulator #2 - Bias Amp
Bias Amp is a free amp sim that has been around for quite some time and it's still going strong! It comes with support for AU, VST, and AAX formats so you can use it on any DAW. This one is also one of the most popular guitar amps and it will enable you to enjoy a wide range of guitar tones.
It also supports all kinds of guitar pickups such as single coils or humbuckers which allows you to take full advantage of your instrument. And if that wasn't enough, Bias even promises zero latency output! The downsides? Well, there aren't many but its interface doesn't look very appealing at first glance. But don't let this fool you because underneath lies pure tone heaven my friend!
Amp Simulator #3 - AmpliTube 4
AmpliTube is an amp sim that can run as a standalone app or as a plugin. It has also been around for quite some time and it's constantly evolving to keep up with the times which is great! It comes packed full of features but what we're going to mention specifically are its Fender modeling options because they speak out from the crowd!
You get three amps, five cab settings, and 18 stomp effects all based on real-life models! Amplitube even offers you a "guitar scan" option so you can find your exact instrument type in their library instead of having to use presets all day long. This makes it perfect for those who want authenticity without too much hassle involved.
Amp Simulator #4 - STL Ignite Emissary 2.0
STL Ignite is a bit different because it's an amp sim that was built with modern music production in mind! You get five amps, four cabinets, and 12 stomp effects all based on real-life models but each one has been tweaked for more contemporary sounds such as EDM or Hip Hop which makes this perfect for those who produce these types of genres. And if this weren't enough, you can load up to eight parallel chains at once (which would be insane!) Also, its output section lets you control gain levels and gating options among many other things too!
Amp Simulator #5 - Kuassa Matchlock
This amp is one of my favorites because it was designed for music producers. It's very easy to dial in a nice tone and its amp models are so much fun to play with! Unlike other amps which you can just use straight up, Kuassa Matchlock has some cool features that make it stand out such as the ability to load your impulse responses. There's also an effects loop built-in that lets you add pedals and rack gear too - pretty awesome!
The Kuassa website also allows users who have purchased their plugin products from them to get free lifetime updates if they signup using their email address. This is great news for those who want access to more amp sims or plugins in general without paying any extra money!
Amp Simulator #6 - AmpLion Pro XT
This one is a bit different since it's not technically an amp sim. It’s an effects rack that contains over 200 stompboxes and studio-grade racks modeled after classic pedals. You get emulations of almost everything you can think about including delay (including tape), reverb, distortion, compression plus many others too!
If your DAW doesn't support VST/AU plugins then this works as stand-alone software which in my opinion makes it pretty awesome to use when mixing or mastering tracks if needed. It comes with presets for each effect. So, you don't have to do much tweaking at all because they sound great already, which makes getting the perfect tone much easier.
Amp Simulator #7 - Blue Cat’s Destructor
The Blue Cat's Destructor is an amp simulator that uses the same cabinet and mic modeling techniques as its big brother, but with fewer controls. The tone controls are simplified to bring your sound from clean to crunchy, without being harsh or thin-sounding. In addition, it offers some high-quality effects such as compressor/limiter, gate, chorus, and reverb so you have everything at hand if needed!
It also has two output modes: mono (dry) and stereo (with a pair of amps). Two speaker emulation models allow you to configure the virtual guitar cab in several ways. You can also choose between one or two speakers both vertically and horizontally placed on the stage; change their size by placing them closer together or moving them apart.
Blue Cat's Destructor is available as a digital download only and works on both Windows PC (VST plugin format) and Mac OS X machines, 32 or 64 bits.
Amp Simulator #8 - Scuffham S-Gear
Scuffham S-Gear is one of the more popular amp sims around, but it's also pretty expensive too ($129) which makes it not great for beginners. But if you can afford it then I don't see why you wouldn't want this in your toolbox since it’s really fun to play with. It has a ton of built-in amps and effects that are modeled after real-world gear including cabinets, noise gates, and compressors. There's even an EQ section inside!
The interface looks simple at first glance so dialing in tones isn't difficult once you get used to where everything is located on the screen plus they have what they call "Smart Knobs" which let you control multiple parameters simultaneously by just moving these knobs up or down instead of switching between menus and selecting each one.
They also have a bunch of presets that you can use as starting points for dialing in your sound which is useful especially when it comes to finding the perfect tone if you're not experienced with this kind of thing yet! There's even an effects loop built-in so adding stompboxes or rack gear is easy to do which I think makes this plugin cool.
Amp Simulator #9 - Softube Vintage Amp Room Bundle
This one is for retro-tone lovers.
The Vintage Amp Room Bundle is based on vintage Marshall, Fender, and Vox amps. Those who love the classic tones of the ’60s and 70’s rock hits will want to check out the Vintage Amp Room Bundle. It comes with emulations of three different amp types: a 1959 Plexi (Marshall), a blackface Super Bass (Fender), and an AC30TBX Custom Limited Edition model made by Vox in 2011 that was used during all their reunion shows back then but it's also been discontinued so this plugin version is your only chance to get it!
Each amp type has its unique sound although there are some shared features across all models. There's a bass, mid, and treble EQ section for shaping your tone including two types of reverb that can be changed between spring or hall.
There's also an Output stage switch that lets you choose from different speaker cabinets with varying impedance ratings to get the right sound when adding cabinet emulations through this plugin - it makes a difference if they're positioned together in front of one another!
Our list of the best guitar amp sims for music production is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully, it helps you find what you’re looking for. Remember to consider your own needs and preferences when deciding which one is right for you! If there are any questions that we haven't addressed in this article or if you're still on the fence about which amp simulation software might be perfect for your situation, drop us a comment below, and will help you out!
Amp Simulator #10: Guitar Rig
Guitar Rig is an amp simulator created by Native Instruments. It simulates electrical guitar amplifiers, cabinets, and microphones with precision to allow music producers to easily create professional-sounding tracks without ever picking up a real instrument.
Guitar Rig is compatible with all major DAWs like Ableton Live, FL Studio, Pro Tools, and Logic. It also works great on any computer no matter how old it is, even if you're using an iPad!
One of the most unique features about this amp simulator compared to other amp simulators in its price range (or higher) is that Guitar Rig includes 18 different amp types, each of which has its sound settings for gain/drive/tone making thousands of combinations possible at your fingertips so you can find the exact tone you want without having to spend time tweaking knobs.
Guitar Rig includes amps from popular guitar brands such as Fender, Peavey, and Vox. Plus, some Mexican amp head is called "El Diablo". The cabinet section allows users to choose different amp types too with options for closed, open, and room microphones.
A cool thing about Guitar Rig is that changing settings in the cabinet section also changes what microphone you are using which makes it easy to switch between amps without having to adjust separate parameters. However, there is a downside to Guitar Rig: It doesn't have a built-in tuner.
The Bottom Line
Alright, so there you have it! A list of 10 amp simulator vst plugins you can get started with. These guitar amps are very versatile and will give you a wide range of guitar sounds that sound good! Whether you're looking for a specific guitar tone, clean tones or to model the entire signal chain of the guitar rig, the amp sim plugins in this list should be enough for you to get what you need!
And as always, if you have any questions about amp sims, amp modeling, amp simulator plugins, virtual amps, vst plugins, or power amps, feel free to let us know in the comments and we'll do our best to help you out!