Brian Walton

If I only used plugins I purchased or had updates/upgrades in 2021, my cup would still be running over. I'm hoping 2022 affords me some time to get value out of what I have.

Quite a bit of diversity in that line up though certainly some overlap in approach and styles in a few of them. I'd prob demo the Shur and Train II as starters I think Marshall for Schon, Beck Liefson, and Rothery. Gilmour is obviously a Hi-Watt guy but really runs it more as a high headroom clean platform for pedals and therefore the tone of the amp itself doesn't always feel like the signature.

Depends on the Tone you are looking for and the style you want. Train II is IMO extremely unique (and fairly versitile, just mess with the Input under the FX rack section). I've played a number of real Trainwrecks and it is pretty amazing to get something with that flavor in the box. I like the Overdrive Supreme for clean tones but certainly demo it as there can be some noise in the high end that bothers some people, I think it is pretty acceptable in the context of a mix. On the cheap (at the $10 out of pocket level) Chandler is cool for classic rock/southern rock stuff, but don't think it has the responsiveness and complexity of the other two. The Suhr PT100 is quite good for the plexi thing but with more versatile than a straight plexi amp. Train II has to be my top choice though as it offers something special that can cover a fair amount of ground. Note I'm not a metal player as the "audio assault lineup" is going for. Things like the Diezel VH4 or ENGL Savage 120 fit those shoes well. Highly recommend running a few demos real quick. I found I could get the idea of how well I could mesh with a amp within a very short period of time. Yes, some of these take a bit of tweaking (the Train II for example with adjusting the input way more than you would think necessary to bring the amp to a lower gain range then mess with the 2 gain knobs to get a sweet spot).

You can disable the Cab sim in the PA amps and then use the IR Loader after the PA amp. It works well that way. I do have the free Blacksun Amp, still have it installed, but seems pretty unlikley I'll ever really use it. It is one of those things years ago I'd be thrilled with, especially for free. But given what I have and is available now, I think it isn't top tier.

None of the amps did anything for me (comparing them side by side to PA offereings) via a demo. However, I did grab the IR Loader plugin and signature cab pack. If you buy the sig cab pack for $5 it gives you the option to get the IR loader for $6. Now this won't compound with the 20% off coupon, but that is $1 less than if you used the 20% discount on each.

Check to see if your local library offers free press reader access. If so, your library card and pin number will get you access on any android/ios device.

This thread is helping me with the Jan 4th target of aquisition date (if at all). ?

It just doesn't sound like a clean DI guitar with any dynamics at all to me. (note I'm a guitarist used to higher end guitars and boutiqe effects/amps in the real world). Even decent sampler has a free DI guitar that sounds more authentic to me. I really like PA plugins, but this one is a dud in my limited experience. The discount sales and voucher method really works as a business model, I've spent way more money with them in a single year than any rational person would have. Lots of plugins were not even on my radar and someone makes some comment about what it does, I demo it and sure enough it is awesome.

Yep it has been part of the core for years now in every issue since (as far as I know)

There is a basically free version with computer music magazine with a few features removed but still feels like a full product. Ive debated on the upgrade but haven't done it yet myself.

I found some of the old PA ENGL amps unusable, but they have others such as the Train II which has a level of realism I find lacking in the AT5 package (I own all of them). Though they are absolutly usable in the context of a mix too. The smooth filter as well as EQ in post can help some of the harshness. AT5 can have that nice processed sound out of the gate which limits the highs and harshness. The PA stuff sounds a bit more like a recording chain where you get the amp and the gear captured. And AT5 would get more use if they can optimize the resources, it is a massive hog compared to the PA suite, insane for something many of us need to be zero latency, real time in the context of a project (not just stand alone)

I ran PA amp sims (and IKM sunset sound reverb) which sound great with a real guitar for my test. Honeslty found the sound deplorable. EZKeys I can at least get something usable out of. (though tend to run it as an engine to run another vst)

Did you demo it? I tried it this morning and spent the time to find the files to delete it from my HD altogether. Only PA plugin I've tried so far that I thought was basically useless.

Have both (and think both are good). The Fiedler seems like the more unique tool of the two. Mpressor needs a resizable update, IMO. Chances are we will have a code reset in the next couple days...so there is also that...

When they run a Mega Sales, not every plugin hits the lowest ever price. I imagine part of this is to minimize some of the compound discounting and those that have the $250 voucher from a subscription. It is true VSM-3 on its own has been cheaper. It is a cool plugin. I'd say run a demo of it (and also run a demo of MSaturator from melda and mess wit the 2nd and 3rd harmonics). It is surprising how much of that kind of sound/effect you can get for free. And if you happen to have MSaturator MB you can get even more of the way there becuase it allows you to target parts of the frequency like VSM-3 does. But as someone that has all of those, I do still use VSM-3.

Yes, but it has been given away so many times (even without purchase) that the number of people that actually don't have it must be fairly low.

Yep, def interested in this one. The question is can I hold out until Jan 4th when they likely release a new freebie? As this should last til Jan 9th I've got all the current freebies:

Then that means the Amek Eq isn't the latest thus more prone to price drops Bring on another channel strip too!

Not if you don't have full Kontakt it isn't. ?

I've used Bome MIDI translator classic for a few years to do the MIDI to keyboard shortcuts/combos. You can test it out for free, just has a count down splash page - simlar concept to REAPER. Mostly use it for Photo Software interaction with a X-Touch Mini controler (similar functionality as Loopdesk offers without the propreitery interface). https://www.bome.com/products/mtclassic

Along with the cockroachs that can't be killed off....or are they one in the same?

While you are at it, tell him we still want a Pro Channel version of the Pan Knob. He noted that was a good idea, but never did anything about it. Honestly I'd be surprised if he coulnd't make it in a single day worth of work.

Send an email to Boz. I have a bunch of their plugins and recall one or two were not showing up in my account b/c they were purchased elsewhere. Sent him all the proof and they are now all in one nice and tidy place in my account. Add to the rant thread, some of the Exponential Audio stuff shows up in my Izotope account and some doesn't. With the ilok thing in the middle I don't think all the info gets passed back to Izotope, which is annoying.

Bump for 2012-12 update (see post #2 for the link)

They are my go-to also, but I've seen a few failures in more than 100 deployments - so they are not perfect - but about as close as I'm going to expect for the price.