How to present guitar emulators shootouts?

[brandondrury]

I've been putting quite a bit of work into the testing and reviewing of guitar amp emulators and how they compare to the real deal amps I've owned for years.

I can't figure out how to present them.

I'd love to hear a side by side comparison of Amplitube Metal and Metal Amp Room, for example on the same song, but the tones within these respective plugins vary dramatically. Even if I absolutely love an emulator (and, yes, there are a few that I do love believe it or not) it seems absolutely impossible to objectively compare one emulator with another.

It's just as impossible as doing a head on shootout 2 real amps. There are way too many differences and most of them are personal choices. It's not like I can just dial in sound #23532 on both and we can hear that one is superior.

So, my methodology has been different. I've simply created a little 20 second piece of ruckus (always with drums...sometimes with bass and other instruments) and then shown 5-10 variations of that that tone just to show what that single emulator can do. The end. I create a new piece of ruckus for the next emulator.

This ends all issues with objective comparison and lets you decide if an emulator is "there yet" or not, but you'll still have to go about finding your own way in the matter.

Then again, something doesn't seem right about this methodology either. Any thoughts.

Brandon

[thefruitfarmer]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

So, my methodology has been different. I've simply created a little 20 second piece of ruckus (always with drums...sometimes with bass and other instruments) and then shown 5-10 variations of that that tone just to show what that single emulator can do. The end. I create a new piece of ruckus for the next emulator.

This ends all issues with objective comparison and lets you decide if an emulator is "there yet" or not, but you'll still have to go about finding your own way in the matter.

Then again, something doesn't seem right about this methodology either. Any thoughts.

Brandon

I think that methodology shows the emulator in context, which is how you're going to use it so it will give a good impression of what the box / software can sound like with backing.

Maybe have a section of just guitar alone. To show how the amp models respond to dynamics in your playing and to show any effects?

[magno]

I think your methodolgy is correct Brandon. I also think that it doesn't really matter all that much.
The most valuable part is letting us be able to hear it and think about the sound and use that information to hopefully make us better at what we do. It's amazing that we can all share our studios and equipment virtually.
AE's of the past(and present) could do these kind of shootouts, but it would be a big deal to get it all together and publish the results(unless they wanted to keep it secret). I imagine anyways.
So I say the more shootouts, tests, examples, a/b's whatever the better.
I love doing the shootouts myself.If you aren't doing them how would you actually know the sonic differences of your own gear?
I more or less followed Brandon's methodology but I haven't had too many responses from my latest mic+sim shootout here Guitar amp microphone shootout+sims </shameless plug>

[magno]

One shootout I'd like to see. Have someone record a song, record the guitar with a well known mic(sm57) and a DI track. Pass out the DI track, with the mic track, and have everybody try to emulate the sound with there simulator of choice. It would be interesting to see what people come up with.

[Metaltyme]

One shootout I'd like to see. Have someone record a song, record the guitar with a well known mic(sm57) and a DI track. Pass out the DI track, with the mic track, and have everybody try to emulate the sound with there simulator of choice. It would be interesting to see what people come up with.

Yes, this is what I would suggest as well. I'd be happy to participate in attempting to 'match' the real amped signal using the DI of the same performance. The emulators that I have to bring to the table would be a Boss GT-10, NI Guitar Rig 3, and Peavey ReValver mkIII.

It would be exciting to see how well people with emulators know their products. It could even be a tweaking contest of sorts where people actually vote for the best match(es) of emulation versus real mic'd amp(s). Hmmm....and with a little thought and planning, maybe each emulator can have its own category to be judged or rated on its accuracy of emulating the original amped up tone using the same DI'd performance.

From the results of this shootout, we'd be able to see which emulator is/was used the most, and which one yielded the most consistent best results...kind of a "several birds with one stone" kinda thing. It'd be fun as all get out, and quite educational too.

[Lateralus359]

I'd be really up for that. Sounds like a great idea whatever way it's done.

[OldDog]

I have the two Digitech pedals that I used live, one being the GNX4 modeling pedal. The thing I seem to have the most problem with is getting usable sparkly, shimmering, clean tones, crunch and grind are pretty good, but clean tones are really artificial. I would like to see what each of the software emulators can do in that regard. I have just started playing with GR3 LE, hope to get a good usable clean tone out of that.

[brandondrury]

The contest would have to be a highlight of the individual's talent just as much as the emulator used even in the context of just using a DI. Squeezing the tone out of some of these things takes some real work.

For example, I tossed together about 10 different metal sounds using GTR 3.5. I got one sound I REALLY liked, but the other 9 weren't happening. A person could subjectively prefer some of the others, I guess, but then again I'd expect most of us to dramatically prefer the one I liked.

I like the idea of this contest. Let's get on it.

Brandon

[Matthias King]

I think the only way to really achieve this is to eliminate all the variables.

1.) record two D.I. tracks for L+R double track

2.) present the comparisons with accompaniment of drums and bass, or without, but in the case of with accompaniment, build a template mix of those things and leave it completely unchanged between each entry. And leave all FX off guitar buss on each.

3.) open the template project and run the D.I. tracks with the ampsim, adjust volume of guitar tracks, done. Repeat with each ampsim, getting as close to the same volume output from each ampsim as possible and leave the mix as is

4.) for comparing to amps or hardware like POD, V-Amp, etc... run D.I. tracks out to them via something like a Radial ProRMP or similar box, and back into your project. Adjust guitar track volume and done. For amps, use the same type of cabinet and mic as the ampsim you're comparing to.

This seems like the best way to get an even comparison with no variables to affect the outcome.

[Whistlin' Pete]

Something like this would also be really interesting for a reamping/mic technique shootout. I suppose there would be a number of variables with this (different signal chains), but I think it could still have some interesting results.

Anyway, I have Amplitube Metal and Hendrix to contribute to this.