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Comment by notahacker | Hacker News Reader

There are plenty of touring musicians using Kemper digital models of their tube amps or Helix/AxeFX

I just returned a Helix because of lackluster... everything. I'll try modelers again in a few years. I think of tube amps a lot like I think about Vim.

I want to preface by saying I love playing with music instrumentation and other audio software and it’s long been on my list to learn more to play with ideas much like OP so hats off to Keith for releasing this software.

But as far as guitar instrumentation goes— I have a lot of respect for good solid state amplifiers—think Roland Jazz Chorus—that are not modelling another sound but a very intensively tuned original instrument.

As for physical, electrical amplifiers versus a software emulated version I just can’t see the point in using one outside of the [potential] convenience.

Now, if your goal is to take that signal and twist it into something new altogether that’s different. But if I want to sound like an AC30 I don’t know why I would use something like hats just trying to sound like an AC30 versus something that is and AC30.

Lacklustre has always been my experience. Like leaving a tube amp too quiet—not saturating the tubes. It just tends to sound dull.

Outside of "convenience" they're attractive for the flexible routing and parameterization. I can only realistically deploy 4 tube screamers and a handful of delays before someone notices they're all set almost exactly the same way. I'd love to replace the combinatorics with presets, and although MIDI routing is an option, it sure would be nice if a compact reliable digital solution sounded good.

So that's why I want it to be good... But it's not.

Sure, I hear you— but then are you really looking for good modelling? Or are you looking for an entirely novel sound processing that just drew inspiration from the physical devices? I understand the latter. I don't understand the former... except for maybe as an exercise.

The Helix is honestly pretty awful, so I'm not surprised you returned it. I spent some time auditioning modellers a few years ago, and my reaction to the Helix was "LOL! Seriously??"

The Kemper is far more credible, with the AxeFX system and and some of the better amp sim plugins you can buy from (say) UAD following behind.

How did you audition them? what did you use in addition to the modeler?

There's only one criterion for success- blind taste test with my current rig. At this point I need mathematical proof or someone to risk something (money) for me to try again. No offense, but other people's ears have always let me down.

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