Hey All--
 
I'm on the fence about something and wondered if anyone here has any insight that might help me fall over--one side or the other.
 
IK Multimedia has a new Mesa Boogie amp models version coming out and if you order now before the release, it's $100 US. If you wait until it's released, it's $150 US.
 
Pretty good savings, BUT, there is no demo that you can use to determine if you A) Think it captures Mesa Boogie amps, and B) You like it/need it based on what you already own.
 
I love Boogie amps--I just do. I have a DC-30 that I mic, and I also have a couple other brand amp modeling plugs--so I don't 'need' the plug, but I just can't plunk down $100 for a plug-in that I can't test drive first.
 
What are your thoughts? It looks great--5 amps--and their video makes it sound awesome. Would you pay $100 on a plug-in that you can't demo in your system first?
 
Thanks,
 
 http://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/mesa/

Amplitube Amps in general are decent.  If IK hadn't of done a decent job 
modelling the amps I don't think MESA would have endorsed or given
them the license for the Emulations.

That's just my thoughts...and I have everything Amplitube, except this now.

I'm no expert, but for my ears, nothing compares to S-Gear...and ALL sims
are STILL severely lacking....

I thought about it briefly . . . but then I remembered how crappy I think Amplitube sounds . . . but I will try it out when it is available for demo, I'll probably end up getting just for completion sake, I have everything else and don't use them, one more is not going to hurt, but have a feeling it will probably be pretty good. Currently BIAS Amp Pro and BIAS FX Pro are leaps and bounds ahead of the pack IMO, and Amplitube has been lagging well behind the pack for quite a long time, to me anyway.

Larry nailed the issue. "All amp sims are still severely lacking"
 
Nothing out there currently, marginally resembles anything real. They put a brand name on it, get some fading rock star to endorse it, and hope that's enough reality for the masses to fire up the credit card.
 
We do not have the technology for another 20 years or more to do a real simulation of any live amp hardware. Too complex to deliver.
 
Amplitube 3's opening page is admittedly clean Fenderish though... As long as you don't have to resort to overdrive when everything falls apart.
 
S-Gear is cool, and doesn't try to push Orange, Vox, Fender, Slash, Marshall down your throat.
 
Respect Head Case also for an open, roll your own approach.
 
John

I have never bought any plugin without demoing it first, or at least hearing "naked" audio demos, regardless of how exuberant its online praise. Experience has demonstrated over and over that reputation and popularity are not reliable predictors of whether or not a processor will be useful to me.
 
I am especially dubious of amp sims.

Sims don't sound or feel like an amp in the room, but they are getting closer to a mic'ed recorded sound. I've been impressed with several of them. S-Gear is my current favorite, but Amplitube is excellent too.

Even if that Mesa bundle turns out to be the greatest thing ever, IK will surely put it on sale at a heavy discount sooner or later.  The "pre-release" price is not exactly chicken feed ... you can get Bias Desktop for that, and S-gear for not much more, and both have demos available.
 
To the tune of the Bob Marley classic:  "No demo, no buy." 
 
Cheers,
Eddie
 

Would You Buy a Plug-In Without a Demo First?
 
Yup. I did on this one (Mesa). Had some Jam Points so it was $70. Just over my no brainer limit but hey, I'm a fool.

I did it with Rap Pro.. Hmmm....

Doktor Avalanche
I did it with Rap Pro.. Hmmm....

There you go.