Small portable amp heads for silent recording?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Soundstorm
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Soundstorm

Soundstorm

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I'm looking for a small portable recording solution, preferably with quality sounding direct out with IRs.

So far I know of the Revv D20/G20, Friedman Runt (the compensated out doesn't sound very good IMO), Suhr PT-15, and own the Laney LA Studio with the Two Notes out (which I also think doesn't sound very good).

I'll have to travel with this thing for work, so small and compact without needing an additional load/IR loader would be nice. I've tried all the amp sims/plugins and they just don't do the trick for me. I can't get to that place where I'm inspired by my tone, and therefore can't get into the riff writing zone. I'm looking for something that can do heavier tones without needing additional pedals.

I've been battling with this for about two years at this point and I'm willing to plunk down some serious cash for the right solution. I spend 6 months a year away from home so if I can't write like I can on my gear at home it really cuts down on what I'm able to do creatively each year. Thanks in advance for any advice!
 
I assume you're recording to a computer and daw right? In that case I'd say just grab a Yamaha THR10X (or one of the new ones) and use an IR loader in your DAW

You'll get the bonus of being able to use the built in speakers for low volume jamming if you want

It will also eliminate the need for a seperate recording interface because the USB on the THR works as an interface
 
Devin said:
I assume you're recording to a computer and daw right? In that case I'd say just grab a Yamaha THR10X (or one of the new ones) and use an IR loader in your DAW

You'll get the bonus of being able to use the built in speakers for low volume jamming if you want

It will also eliminate the need for a seperate recording interface because the USB on the THR works as an interface
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Yeah I'll have my Apollo Arrow and MacBook Pro. I actually owned one of those for a time and didn't gel with the sound of it unfortunately. Looking for tubes- kind of leaning towards the Revv G20 but the Two Notes direct recording out just sounds really bad in all the demos :/ (oh and what's up Mang, it's Trey!)
 
Fryette GP/DI has some great tones in it. Not sure it has an IR loader, but the analog cab sims are pretty nice on their own
 
guitar software plugin? small audio interface (e.g., Zoom AMS-22)?

Some plugins I like and use; and worth a look IMO: PolyChrome DSP McRocklin Suite, Helix Native, Blue Cat Audio Axiom.

Neural DSP Archtetype plugins sound good too, but more limited in their options IMO
 
CrystalSky said:
Digital solutions won’t work?
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They can get me far enough to practice and enjoy some of the tones, but not in a creative setting they don't work for me. I own 4 of the NDSP suites, a couple Bogren (my favorite of the sims), and a few UAD.
 
Soundstorm said:
They can get me far enough to practice and enjoy some of the tones, but not in a creative setting they don't work for me. I own 4 of the NDSP suites, a couple Bogren (my favorite of the sims), and a few UAD.
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Oh, I see. Hope you find a solution that will work best for you!
 
Aynirar27 said:
Fryette GP/DI has some great tones in it. Not sure it has an IR loader, but the analog cab sims are pretty nice on their own
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I'd vouch for this. The new version of the GP/DI does indeed have a IR loader as well as the analog cab sim. I have the original KS version so no IR loader but I do enjoy the analog sim.
 
What about Mark VII? Their footprint is not so much bigger than smaller amps it seems to me. Or am I tripping?
 
Devin said:
I'm sure the Mrak 7 is heavy as hell (weight-wise I mean)
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So the Colossus sounds perfect for what I'm looking for. Preamp with an IR out, do people ever skip the power amp step when going direct? I guess I could try the line out into my DAW and shoot out IRs that way too depending on the sound quality.
 
Soundstorm said:
So the Colossus sounds perfect for what I'm looking for. Preamp with an IR out, do people ever skip the power amp step when going direct? I guess I could try the line out into my DAW and shoot out IRs that way too depending on the sound quality.
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I've done this myself tons of times with good results, either using just rack or pedal preamps or the fx send from one of my heads in to the interface.

There are also power amp emulator plug-ins you can use in the DAW if you wanted; not really necessary though in my experience
 
For example this is my AMT R/S Lead pedal straight in to my interface running the Wall of Sound plugin:




Obviously I'm sort of a noob but I dug this toane
 
Devin said:
For example this is my AMT R/S Lead pedal straight in to my interface running the Wall of Sound plugin:




Obviously I'm sort of a noob but I dug this toane
Click to expand...

That sounds killer! That's all I need. And this is mostly for trying to write riffs and build songs. I just can't write shit when I'm constantly trying to dial in a tone I like.
 
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