

Mike Scuffham has gone to some lengths to address this problem, and it seems he feels that capturing the complex interplay between pre and power amp, and between power amp and speaker, is the key.
Orange amp sim software#
A common criticism of software amp simulators is that however closely they capture the tonal character of a real amp, they fail to reproduce its 'feel', the dynamic response to touch and picking intensity that makes a good valve amp rewarding to play through.

One of the interesting things about S-Gear is the attention that has been paid to the interactions between these stages. Most guitar-amp setups consist of several stages of processing and amplification: effects pedals feed a preamp, which in turn feeds a power amp, which in turn is loaded by a speaker. The Jackal design was strongly influenced by the original Soldano SLO-100.” There are, likewise, only two effects supplied, but they are far more versatile than any stomp box.

The Stealer is derived from a classic Marshall Plexi amp, with a unique twist by way of the Bright Contour control. I particularly like the Super Reverb because the tone stack does not scoop quite as much mid-range as, say, a Fender Twin, and as a result, some very expressive tones can be achieved. "The Duke is based on a Fender Super Reverb, with a little extra gain available. "The three amps have some influences,” says Mike. Each of these draws inspiration from a hardware original, but is much more than simply a recreation of it. Mike Scuffham's approach falls squarely into the latter camp, and S-Gear currently includes only three amp models, called the Duke, Stealer and Jackal. Rather than provide an exact replica of the Fender Bassman or Vox AC30, developers such as Magix, Peavey and McDSP have tried to create much more open-ended amp designs: designs that can be set up to respond like a Bassman or an AC30, but which are also capable of producing a far greater range of sounds than any hardware amp. Other designers, however, see the move into software as an opportunity to escape the limitations of vintage equipment. The approach pioneered by Line 6, and many others since, is to replicate specific items of classic guitar gear as closely as possible, providing readily identifiable clones of familiar amps and effects pedals. Gearing Upīroadly speaking, designers of amp simulators usually take one of two angles. It's authorised by a challenge-and-response system, which is painless if your studio computer is connected to the Internet and causes only mild twinges otherwise.
Orange amp sim for mac os#
S-Gear is available for Mac OS and Windows, and operates either as a stand-alone application or a plug-in in the VST and Audio Units formats.
Orange amp sim how to#
S-Gear is the brainchild of Mike Scuffham, a former product designer at Marshall Amplification with no shortage of fresh ideas about how to replicate the sound - and the feel - of valve guitar amps in software. The latest entry into this crowded market comes from a new company called Scuffham Amps.

Almost every MIDI + Audio sequencer comes bundled with a selection of virtual guitar amplifiers and effects, and if they don't float your boat, there are innumerable third-party hardware and software products to choose from. To those of us who remember the novelty of the early Line 6 products, it's strange to see how digital amp modelling has become a stock effect. With so many virtual guitar amps already on the market, can newcomers Scuffham Amps bring something fresh to the party?
