August 29, 2022
HAPPY LABOR DAY
Labor Day is on the way. It is the annual
national holiday celebrated in USA on the first Monday of September and is a
three-day weekend celebration with Monday being the last day. There are
parades, barbecues, festivities, and fireworks in some areas. Canada also
celebrates the same time period as Labour Day.
Amplitube 5 and Positive Grid Bias Amp II
In the last two weeks I had the honor of being invited to a hands-on side by
side demonstration of some cool guitar and bass software: Amplitube 5,
Positive Grid Bias Amp 2, Positive Grid Bias FX II, and Positive Grid
Bias Pedal. So I threw my guitar in the car and went to try out the sounds.
Special thanks to Jeremy Bender of KPM for his patience guiding me
through all the software. Sometimes my computer abilities are less than
adequate. So without further ado, I’d like to explain my experiences without
simply rehashing what’s already been said by oh so many.
Positive Grid Bias Pedal
This one is like walking into your favorite pedal manufacturing place and
being able to test all the different components that go into designing your
own personal pedal. If having your own customized boutique pedals sounds
like a great idea then this software is for you. Although in most cases I found
the differences subtle to nearly imperceptable, there was enough difference
that, over time, I was able to come up with a distortion pedal that I’ve never
owned or heard and that fit my idea of a more perfect pedal sound. Was it
worth all the effort? I guess it depends on if you enjoy tweaking a sound until
it’s what you hear in your head, or simply improving on a model that’s
commercially available. And using their Tone Cloud offers other
downloadable choices by well known artists, that is, if you prefer imitation
over innovation. The pedal choices include distortions and related overdrives
and boosts, delays like reverb, echo, and ambient textures, and modulations
including flange, chorus, rotary, and vibrato.
Positive Grid Bias FX II
This software is basically everything a bass player or guitarist would need to
sculpt a good studio or great stage sound from scratch. Imagine choosing all
the gear you like (and even having gear available you don’t like) and
combining it into the ultimate tone setup. All the sounds are quite believable
and cover everything from many pedals, amps to cabinets to some gear
models for final processing. If you take the time (and there are an almost
overwhelming amount of options) it is possible to design a rig that is your
own sound. Just a warning, it is possible to spend hours coming up with
many very usable and inspiring combinations of gear. And once again, using
their Tone Cloud offers many downloadable rig choices by well known artists
(and not so well known) if you prefer imitation over innovation or a place to
start fiddling to design your own sound.
Positive Grid Bias Amp 2
Here’s another piece of software that lets a bass player or guitarist sculpt an
amplifier and cabinet of their choice. Maybe you have a certain sound in
your head you’ve been searching for, and the next thing you know it
becomes a sound that should have been in your head if you knew it existed.
You start with an amp and cab you like and morph it into something you like
even more. The options go on and on experimenting with different tubes,
transformers, speaker cabinets, microphones, and impulse responses.
Jeremy even plugged in the new Djammincabs Maxx 4x12 impulse
responses for cabs they don’t offer. It rocked. It also has an amp-matcher
feature that can get close to imitating a sound from a different source like an
album, like an amp you own, or your music teacher. And this software, like
their others, offers the Tone Cloud for downloadable amp choices. For
instance, do you have an artist in mind with a cool sound? There are plenty
of Tone Cloud rigs to listen to that are designed by well known artists and
many unknown mediocrities.
Amplitube 5
Did I save the best for last? It depends on what you re looking for in a tone
rig. This software definitely offers some great setups, and they’ve come a
long way from the old original Amplitube (remember that one?). There’s a
bunch of pedals, many bass and guitar amps, lots of cabinets, and plenty of
microphones and placement options. It also offers speakers of various types
to reload the cabs with your favorite speaker mixture. No screwdriver
required. There’s even studio gear models at the end of the sonic chain for
fine tuning and getting a very refined studio sound. And not only all that, but
it is possible to use up to three different (or the same) amps and cabs for
some cool mixed options. And one thing it has that’s dear to my heart,
there’s a Rockman option for people who remember the sounds of the 80s. I
had to play through it for a while just to meander down amnesia lane. And
there’s a built-in DAW if you don’t feel like booting up yours or for those who
don’t have one yet. And it even has an old DynaComp pedal and a Twin
Reverb. I was in love.
Is There Any Bad News to All This?
Well, not really I suppose. But when it comes to this type of stuff every
company is trying to make just one more extra buck by offering after-the-sale
items. I suppose it’s understandable because people have to live, but
sometimes it can get to be quite annoying.
Tone Cloud – If you are like me you prefer to do your recording work off
the grid and away from the prying eyes, ears, and interruptions from the
internet world. And when it comes to new music, new literature, and modern
art, in my opinion the proper brick wall is simply using a computer that is
never connected to the outside world. In that situation there’s no such thing
as data that’s hacked, destroyed, or inadvertently shared. Although having a
large online library of software patch downloads to choose from is wonderful,
if I had my druthers it would be nice if there were another agreeable way to
accomplish the same task.
Conclusion
I don’t think a guitarist or bassist could go wrong with any of this software.
However, if I had to choose only one it would be a toss up between the
Amplitube 5 and the Positive Grid Amp II. They both offer superb tones
and flexibility, and it would depend on what a person is trying to accomplish.
I think the Amplitube 5 offers more bass guitar options and more studio
refined guitar sound options. On the other hand I think the Positive Grid
Bias II offers slightly more options for the metal guitarist – some of the amps
are definitely rippin’ and capable of frightening even a Norse God. No matter
which one you choose, it’s very easy to say that computer software for the
musician has come a long damn way.
Maybe I’ll see you later.
Don’t drink the Kool-Aid or it’s all over.
Knowledge, art, and music for all…
Fred
Zystrix = a source, shaman, or library disseminating secret or lost knowledge, art, or music.
ZYSTRIX
POPULAR FREE DOWNLOADS
Introducing
the
next
generation
in
guitar
cabinet
impulse
responses.
Try
the
new
Djammincabs
Maxxx
4x12.
All
of
these
cab
IR
files
are
based
on
old,
new,
and
boutique
4x12
cab
curves.
All
are
recorded
in
beautiful
24-bit
48K
mono
and
will
work
on
most
free
and
paid
digital
convolvers.
Hear
the
guitar
IR
breathe
fire
with
pure
attitude.
Don’t
be
suckered
in
with
high-
dollar
sales
pitches,
there
ain’t
no
guitar
IR
downloads
better
than
these.
Choose
from
many
cab
sound
recording
styles:
cone,
edge,
angled,
arm
away,
inside
cab,
back
of
cab,
or
back
of
room.
Djammincabs
is
the
world
leader
in
guitar
cab
IR
invention
--
no
other
guitar
IR
company
can
imitate
these.
Djammincabs
Maxxx
4x12
makes
it
easier
for
you
to
design
your
own
personalized
sound
--
even
your
own
Metal
IR
pack.
If
you
can’t
find
a
cabinet
or
combination
you
like
here,
then
you
don’t
like
4x12
cabinets.
This
guitar
IR
download
also
includes
a
Tactical
Munitions
Manual
with
suggested
uses
and
detailed
cab
combinations.
This
is
the
best
free
guitar
impulse download available anywhere.
Djammincabs Maxxx 4x12
“Murder Your Competition.”
I feel brave. I want to try them now. Here’s my email...
Djammincabs for Guitar
Download Free Guitar Impulse Responses
Click here to download
over 200 Free Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses.
Djammincabs for Bass Guitar
Download Free Bass Impulse Responses
Click here to download
over 200 Free Bass Guitar Cabinet Impulse Responses.
Best Free Guitar Impulses.
The Top 11 Best Free
Guitar and Bass
Cabinet Impulse Responses for 2022
(in alphabetical order…)
Find, download, and test the best
free guitar cabinet impulse responses for 2022.
Free Pendulate Synthesizer Presets
Original Newfangled Audio Pendulate
synth patches/presets
Click here to download over 240
Free Pendulate Synth Presets (patches)
Free Reverb Impulse Responses
Choose from hundreds available in
48K 24 bit WAV format
including new original reverbs.
Over 400 Guitar Isolation Booth Reverbs
Download over 400 Free Zystrix Original Reverb Impulse Responses,
and over 200 Free Zystrix Original BONUS Reverb Impulse Responses.
Download all the Alesis MIDIVerb 4 reverb impulse responses.
Download all the Lexicon MPX-1 reverb impulse responses.
Download all the Alesis Wedge reverb impulse responses.
Download over 50 Reverb Relics from the past.
Click here to download free reverb impulse responses.
Free Drum Samples
Only Available from Zystrix
Free Gong Samples and Sounds
Free Snare Drum Samples and Sounds
Free Bass Drum Samples and Sounds
Free Oriental Cymbal Samples and Sounds
Free Oriental Bells Samples and Sounds
The Ultimate Original Drum Sounds List
Download Over 200 Free Original Bass Drum Sounds and Samples.
Download over 200 Original Gongs, Cymbals, Broken Cymbals, and Bells.
Download over 200 Original Free snare drum sounds.
Click here to download Drum Kit Sounds.
Dangerous Neighbors
The SW Michigan Power Trio.
Free Rockin’ Music Downloads
The
music
for
the
next
book
will
be
out
in
2022.
Production
is
a
little
behind
but
there’s
a
sneak
peek
demo
of
how
it’s
supposed
to
go
for
the
first
tune
on
the
album.
This
tune
is
called
Sting
of
Death
and
it’s
the
backing
music
for
the
first
chapter.
Click here to download a recent sample of Dangerous Neighbors.
Download
tunes
from
the
80s
to
today.
Use
the
special
codes
on
the
Embalmed
for
Life
page
(see
the
DOWNLOAD
FREE
AUDIO
BOOKS
link
below)
and
get
free
downloads for the complete album and the free horror audio book
The Fluid - Embalmed for Life.
Click here to download music from Dangerous Neighbors.
Download Free Synth Samples for
Intros, Interludes, and Endings
Listen to example #01 by clicking here (MP3 Sample)
Download FREE professional quality stereo sample packs that slowly
evolve over time. All samples are in 48K 24 bit WAV format and are about
20 seconds long or more. If you like suspense, psycho, outer space, or
terror then this collection is for you. These range from paranoia to sci-fi,
cinematic gore to strange industrial horror, and creepy creatures to insane
laboratories.
Click here to download all the synth Intros, Interludes, and Endings.
DOWNLOAD FREE
AUDIO BOOKS
The Fluid, Embalmed for Life
There are Free Audio Book codes for Audible downloads (must sign up).
There are also free sample downloads of the book reading.
There are free downloads of music samples.
There is a free “Look Inside” download of the paperback.
There is a free glossary of the largest list of mortuary slang in the world.
The Free Dangerous Neighbors Album The Fluid, Embalmed for Life comes
included as part of the audio book and parts are available here as a free download.
The paperback book is available for sale at Amazon dot com. I have no control over
these sales; because of the Amazon agreement I cannot offer complete paperback or
complete audio books here. I’m sorry for any inconvenience.
Click here for free audio books,
book reading samples, music samples, etc.
NEW RULES NOTICE -- What Zystrix does with your download information…
Take me back to the top of the page.
What's new at Zystrix? Read on...
