Hello, Any advice on buying a bass amp modeler/plugin?

For a plugin: Ampeg SVX. That is the best one that I have heard and played. Sounds very nice, but now I use a POD X3 which includes a bunch of bass amps as well. Real nice sounding as well.

AmpliTube SVX is pretty cool.

It's the only one I have so far.
I do have the Berhinger Bass V-Amp Pro (hardware). It's cool too.
Then again, besides my Almebic bass, I have a Line 6 Variax Bass.

I'm a bass player (go figure!)

FYI - AmpliTube SVX is an IK Multimedia product which all suffer with one common (reported and acknowleged) bug when used in SONAR: looping causes crashes. I've not seen this yet cuz I don't loop (yet).

I have ampeg SVX...I like it...

I havent had it crash on me yet...thankfully...8)...and I was just this minute looping with it...go figure...8)...

and thats with it inserted over the Studio Instruments Bass Guitar Plug in...

Wiz

Not a direct answer, but an option: consider getting a nice DI, and going direct. As my friend Bill (lifelong bass expert) has commented: "There''s a reason that pros have recorded their electric bass direct for 40+ years... it almost always sounds the best that way" (and I agree). Just another option. HTH,
Ed

ORIGINAL: ed97643

Not a direct answer, but an option: consider getting a nice DI, and going direct. As my friend Bill (lifelong bass expert) has commented: "There''s a reason that pros have recorded their electric bass direct for 40+ years... it almost always sounds the best that way" (and I agree). Just another option. HTH,
Ed

Which inevitably leads to this possibility.

http://www.tech21nyc.com/bassdriver.html

I use the IK Multimedia Ampeg SVX Plugin and it seems to give range of tweakability. I don't have an Ampeg head to compare it to but for my purposes it is top notch. What Ed says is correct though. For tracking if you have a great DI or pre coming in, so often you can get stellar tracks without even thinking of going to an amp plug after the fact.

btw... I think IK Multimedia has a buy 1 get 1 free plug promotion going on right now. So if you bought it you could pick another plug free. And then there is also a one millionth install promo running in addition to the buy one get one free. I'm not 100% sure but I think you'd get both.

Take care,


Bob

ORIGINAL: ed97643

Not a direct answer, but an option: consider getting a nice DI, and going direct. As my friend Bill (lifelong bass expert) has commented: "There''s a reason that pros have recorded their electric bass direct for 40+ years... it almost always sounds the best that way" (and I agree). Just another option. HTH,
Ed

I had some really good DI'd bass tracks. Applied SVX to it and BOOM, better!

Depends on your taste, needs and skills. DI is not much good for a keyboard player.

I've tried the Ampeg SVX and it is a really good product.

I have the Line 6 Gearbox plug in with my Pod XT. I have the bass model pack. I use it to reamp a dry (direct) bass and I can get the sounds I like.

The way I put together a piece of music and IK stuff is wholly incompatible. When I am laying out the structure of a song, I tend to break it up into 8/16 or whatever bars. I then set record mode to loop and track until i get the take right. IK's Ampeg thing and Amplitube do not handle looping at all.

I can get a sound I like while Sonar is paused, then disable SVX. I can then apply the effect afterwards.

That method sux in that I cannot play the amp. This is more of an issue to me with the guitar sims, where I like to dig into the strings and hear the dynamics and harmonics show back up in the sim.

If you track non-stop start to end, this will not be an issue.

For me, I have active electronics on my bass and can get a wide range of tones going direct. I run it through the front of my UA LA610 so I have a tube pre in the chain.

I can get sounds I like from Revalver and Guitar Rig, though sometimes just putting a limiter on it to even it out is enough for me. I really prefer the direct bass sound for all but the most thunderous of moments.