Chapter 13

Digital guitar modeling

The best way to get an overall idea of what is happening with amps, pedals, guitar speakers, and cabs is to model it digitally. If you can only have one part of the modeler, take the cab simulator, as this is the heaviest gear with the most options for tonal variations you can get from one head. One head and a cab sim can deliver much more variety than you may think.

Since we have emphasized the need for a sound playback system, your first speaker purchase is your playback monitor, which differs from a guitar cabinet. You may already have circumaural headphones for hearing protection. Actual speaker monitors for playback are something you should look into.

Impulse Responses and Cab Sims

You can experiment digitally with many cab emulation profiles. If you use quality impulse responses, the real version of these cabs should sound like these digital versions if you recorded one with a microphone. However, in general, most IRs are recorded loud. That may also be the main ingredient you need for the real deal. Some programs use many types of cabinets you can experiment with modeling. Here is a list of some of the cabinet simulations offered by Two Notes.

Just one amp and you can hear how it will sound on all these different combinations using their software, like the Wall of Sound plugin. Since you can’t possibly have recorded cabinet sound without a microphone, all impulse response simulations must be combined with a microphone.

Line6 Helix cab & mic settings allow for one of the 16 available mic models, and then you can set the distance (1 inch to 12 inches) between the mic and the speaker grill. A low-cut and high-cut EQ filters some of the cab’s bass and treble frequencies, helping remove rumble and high-end harshness. In addition, you can add slight reflection reverb feedback effects and the overall output level of the cab.

This is cutting-edge IR software. High-end programs for cabs let you manipulate a lot, but the vast majority of impulse responses are just a single file (often from a huge directory of choices) you add to an IR loader. Therefore, it is not unusual for cabinet IR files to be expressed as “cab + mic + positioning.” The files are contained along with a readme explaining what the IR is. For example:

Marshall1969412V3057cap

Marshall1969412V30R121cone

Marshall1969412V30KM84coneedge

If you read the descriptions of each IR you will find that it is the same cab. Marshall 1969 in this instance. 412 means 4×12 cab. V30 means Celestion Vintage 30 speaker. However, we have three additional endings. 57cap would be an SM57 microphone near the middle of the speaker. R121cone is a ribbon microphone near the cone. KM84 is a condenser microphone near the edge of the cone.

You need to consult the folder for a readme file or the website that made the IRs to understand each file.

Your first head and cab choice will be a matched pair. There’s nothing wrong with playing it safe there. However, later, you might have other ideas. A good IR system models potential cab candidates.

Finding a good impulse response with the right microphone type and speaker placement for your tone can take some time. It takes the same time to do it with a real microphone and speaker.

DAW Monitors

To hear these differences, we preferably need a few things. We need quality stereo monitors and headphones to hear anything. Yes, we are back to talking about monitors again. Why not? They are essentials like EQ. Stereo monitors will probably not be unlike your Hi-Fi speakers. You hear all your music through these, and there is no reason your DAW shouldn’t use them, either. Wouldn’t you prefer your computer-processed sound coming through a Hi-Fi system over two cheap plastic PC speakers? A PC speaker system can be as good as a Hi-Fi system if it is a high-end PC but, in general, won’t be as good. Again, speakers matter.

Quality Hi-Fi speakers are not too unlike studio-grade monitors. The lines blur. Wood usually indicates that the electronics aren’t cheap, but some FRFR (full-range, flat response) is hard plastic.

You probably will have come across many brand names of speakers. Sony, Bose, Klipsch, Yamaha, Pioneer, JBL are some popular brands. There is nothing wrong with picking up a vintage set of speakers from a Hi-Fi system and using them as studio monitors. They will likely be handmade and of good quality.

Another thing to consider is like everything else with sound in the room, the acoustic dynamics matter. So if your room is poor for sound dynamics, then no amount of money thrown into monitors will solve it. Headphones, or at least try to put up some soundproofing.

Genelic is currently a famous brand of DAW studio monitors that home users can also have.

Virtual rigs

Hook your guitar up to your audio interface, select an amp profile, and swap impulse responses around hearing the result. By far the most economical way to play any electric guitar tone while staying low-budget (basic audio interface, free DAW software, free IRs and free plugins).

Today, an entry-level budget system consists of Audacity or Reaper DAW software, a basic audio interface, and electric guitar emulation software, either free like Paulin or costing after a trial like Amplitudes Tonex.

Audacity is free.

Reaper costs money after a trial but is generally cheaper than other DAW software and is equally good.

Paulin amp simulator plugins are popular VST plugins for your DAW.

Amplitude Tonex. Amp and cab profiles.

Some modeling amps/combos also come with software and may have a USB connection that works with your DAW.

50W solid-state modeling head combo, the Boss Katana 50W MKII has taken the solid-state combo market by storm. It’s affordable and sounds very good at all volumes. You can play this at low volumes with no problem. It has a USB connection for your audio interface and can work with your DAW.

Positive Grid, who makes Bias FX software, also makes a modeling head, Spark, that uses positive Grid modeling software on a phone app.

You can get into more expensive modeling like a Kemper Profiler, Line6 Helix Native, and Fractal Audio Axe FX units, for example. However, Tonex offers an affordable pedal platform profiler.

IK Multimedia Amplitude Tonex pedal.

If you are lucky enough to have space and money (and a solid back to lug them around), then a recording room full of speakers is excellent because of variations, and you have so much more to select. Also, having many microphones, like professional sound studios, would mean endless tonal possibilities. Moving each microphone by a few milometers or angling them a few degrees more can change the sound recorded by each speaker.

Once you have an excellent DAW monitoring system and a good headset, you will wonder what your virtual rig would sound like live at some point. That is because you know from experience listening to bands live that they sound different from their singles and albums. So, it will be good to address this right now because it links in with FRFRs.