Plug-ins

🎸 Plug-ins

Native vs. UAD2

Native plug-ins are written to run as software on your computer, and they "plug in" to your DAW using defined interfaces that are system-specific (usually, VSTs on Windows PCs and Audio Units on Macs). Your DAW must support the interface(s) that the plug-ins are written to use, in order to load and use the plug-ins.

UAD2/Apollo plug-ins are written to run on DSP chips built into Universal Audio signal processing gear: Apollo series audio interfaces, and Satellite series processors. There are advantages to running plug-ins on separate hardware: that processing load is removed from your computer's CPU chip at a time when it's typically busy. And, running signal processing inside the audio interface is the lowest-latency point to run it, before the audio interface sends it over a USB/FireWire/Thunderbolt cable to the main computer. You can monitor in real time while singing or playing, without the latency of the round trip into the computer/DAW and back out through the audio interface again.

Native

IK Multimedia

IK Multimedia: (Modena, Italia). IK Multimedia also makes guitar-focused audio interface hardware, for sale separately or in bundles with the AmpliTube software titles.

AmpliTube 5 CS

AmpliTube 5 Custom Shop. "Free expandable guitar amp & effects modeling software with 41 models to start." Additional models for sale a la carte.

AmpliTube 5 SE

AmpliTube 5 SE. "Affordable guitar amp & effects modeling software with 80 essential gear models." $150 "list".

AmpliTube 5

AmpliTube 5. "Industry-leading guitar amp & effects modeling software. Includes 183 iconic gear models." $300 "list," $100 "sale."

AmpliTube 5 Max

AmpliTube 5 Max. "The ultimate guitar amp & effects modeling software bundle. Includes 11 brand/artist collections for over 400 gear models." $600 "list," $200 "sale."

AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix

AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix Anniversary. "Hendrix tone on your Mac/PC. Now with Custom Shop!" $100 "list," $50 "sale."

Line 6

Line 6 (Bay Area, California?). Kudos to Line 6 for calling out when their plug-ins don't run natively on M1 Macs, but require Rosetta; or don't run on MacOS Monterey at all.

Amp Farm 4.0

Line 6 Amp Farm 4.0 ($200). Native plug-in emulates 12 amps, 48 cabs, 4 mics. Not compatible with M1 Macs or MacOS 12.
59 AC30
59 Bassman
65 JTM45
66 AC30
67 Twin Reverb
68 plexi
86 JCM800
87 X88R
89 SLO
94 Trem
95 Recto
96 Match Chief

Helix Native

Line 6 Helix Native ($300; $100 for registered owners of Helix hardware). Native plug-in version of Helix effect and amp models.

Metallurgy

Line 6 Metallurgy Collection (Thrash, $100; Doom, $100; Modern, $100; Collection, $300). Each native plug-in emulates effects, 4 amps, 8 cabs, 8 moveable mics. HX technology. Supports AAX/AU/VST3 or standalone operation.

Pod Farm 2.5

Line 6 Pod Farm 2.5 (Standard, $100, or free with certain Line 6 audio interface hardware; Platinum, $300, or $200 upgrade from Standard). Native plug-in emulates 12 amps, 48 cabs, 4 mics. Requires Rosetta (not native) on M1 Macs. Might require either certain Line 6 audio interfaces, or an iLok?

MixWave

MixWave (Bethesda, Maryland?).

Benson Chimera

MixWave Benson Chimera ($180). Native emulations of Chimera amp, cab, and all Benson effects (Preamp, Germanium Boost, Germanium Fuzz, and Tall Bird).

Neural DSP

Neural DSP: (UK). In 2022, requires Rosetta to run on M1 Macs.

Archetype: Abasi

Neural DSP Archetpe: Abasi (€119). Native plug-in emulations of amps, effects, and cabinets with adjustable mics and placement. Tempting for extended range and for just big tones.

Archetype: Cory Wong

Neural DSP Archetpe: Cory Wong (€119). Native plug-in emulations of direct-DI tones, clean, edge-of-breakup, and fusion-drive amps, effects, and cabinets with adjustable mics and placement.

Archetype: Gojira

Neural DSP Archetpe: Gojira (€129). "The heaviest plugin in the universe."

Archetype: Nolly

Neural DSP Archetpe: Nolly (€135). Native plug-in emulations of amps, effects, and cabinets with adjustable mics and placement.

Archetype: Petrucci

Neural DSP Archetpe: Petrucci (€149). Native plug-in emulations of four different amps, effects, and cabinets with adjustable mics and placement.

Archetype: Plini

Neural DSP Archetpe: Plini (€119). Native plug-in emulations of amps, effects, and cabinets with adjustable mics and placement.

Archetype: Tim Henson

Neural DSP Archetpe: Tim Henson (€119). Native plug-in emulations of amps, effects, and cabinets with adjustable mics and placement.

Darkglass Ultra

Neural DSP Darkglass Ultra (€99). Native plug-in emulation of the Darkglass Vintage and B7K bass preamps.

Fortin Cali Suite

Neural DSP Fortin Cali Suite (€99). Native plug-in emulation of the amp, with adjustable mics and placement.

Fortin Nameless Suite

Neural DSP Fortin Nameless Suite (€99). Native plug-in emulation of the amp, with adjustable mics and placement.

Fortin NTS Suite

Neural DSP Fortin NTS Suite (€99). Native plug-in emulation of the amp, with adjustable mics and placement.

Omega Ampworks Granophyre

Neural DSP Omega Ampworks Granophyre (€99). Native plug-in emulation of the amp, with adjustable mics and placement.

Parallax

Neural DSP Parallax (€99). "Everything you need to design the ultimate bass tone."

Soldano SLO-100

Neural DSP Soldano SLO-100 (€99). Native plug-in emulation of the iconic amp, and cabinets with adjustable mics and placement. Endorsed by Mike Soldano.

Tone King Imperial MKII

Neural DSP Tone King Imperial MKII (€99). Native plug-in emulation of the combo amp, with adjustable mics and placement.

Overloud

Overloud: Almatec srl (Modena, Italia). Guitar & bass software, studio plug-ins, IR libraries, and rig libraries.

TH-U

Overloud TH-U (€269). Collection of amp and effect models, cab IRs, etc. 89 guitar amps. Same audio engine & presets as iOS version. Share presets using several cloud services.

THU iOS

Overloud THU iOS ($0-120). Collection of amp and effect models, cab IRs, etc. 89 guitar amps. Same audio engine & presets as desktop version. Share presets using several cloud services. There is a basic pack for free, with various expansions via In-App Purchase - TH-U Full pack is $120 or $60 if you own TH-U Desktop.

Positive Grid

Positive Grid makes virtual amps and effects, along with modeling amp hardware.

Bias Amp 2

Positive Grid Bias Amp 2 ($100-300). Various bundles, like AmpliTube has.

Bias FX 2

Positive Grid Bias FX 2 ($100-300). Various bundles, like AmpliTube has.

Bias Essential

Positive Grid Bias Essential ($270). Bundle with AMP 2 Pro, FX 2 Pro, and 3 expansion packs.

Bias Complete

Positive Grid Bias Complete ($390). Bundle with AMP 2 Pro, FX 2 Pro, and 4 expansion packs.

Bias Platinum

Positive Grid Bias Platinum ($480). Bundle with AMP 2 Elite, FX 2 Elite, and 5 expansion packs.

Scuffham

Scuffham Amps: Mike Scuffham (UK? Estonia?). Kudos for listing compatibility with M1 Macs!

S-Gear

Scuffham S-Gear ($129). Impressive demos. Five crafted virtual amps, rather than dozens. Virtual effects, too. Native on M1 Macs (Universal) as of version 2.9.9.

Softube

Softube (Sweden).

Amp Room

Softube Amp Room ($150). Vintage Amp Room (F/M/V models), Metal Amp Room, Bass Amp Room; includes effects and emulated miked speaker cabinets, with adjustable mic positions. This seems to be a more full featured collection than the UAD version, and perhaps with more recently updated models.

On the other hand, a brief listen to the sound clips suggested somewhat boxy, midrangey, raunchy tones. Take this with a grain of salt, because I used cans of unknown provenance at the office.

Amp Room Marshall Ed.

Softube Amp Room Marshall Edition ($330). I think this includes everything in the Amp Room Bundle, with upgraded emulations of the Marshall model 1962, 1959, 2203, and 2555 amps.

UAD2/Apollo

Brainworx

Brainworx Audio: (Germany).

Chandler GAV19T

Chandler Limited GAV19T. UAD plug-in that emulates the Chandler Limited GAV19T amplifier.

Diezel Herbert

Diezel Herbert Amplifier. UAD plug-in that emulates the Diezel Herbert amplifier.

Diezel VH4

Diezel VH4 Amplifier. UAD plug-in that emulates the Diezel VH4 amplifier.

ENGL Amps Bundle

ENGL Amplifier Plug-in Bundle. UAD plug-ins that emulate the ENGL E646 VS, E765 Retro Tube, and Savage 120 amplifiers.

ENGL E646 VS

ENGL E646 VS Amplifier. UAD plug-in that emulates the ENGL E646 VS amplifier.

ENGL E765 Retro Tube

ENGL E765 Retro Tube Amplifier. UAD plug-in that emulates the ENGL E765 Retro Tube amplifier.

ENGL Savage 120

ENGL Savage 120 Amplifier. UAD plug-in that emulates the ENGL Savage 120 amplifier.

Friedman Amps Collection

Friedman Amplifiers Collection. UAD plug-ins that emulate the Friedman BE-100 and DS-40 amplifiers.

Friedman Buxom Betty

Friedman Buxom Betty. UAD plug-in that emulates the Friedman Buxom Betty amplifier.

Fuchs ODS-50

Fuchs Overdrive Supreme 50 Amplifier. UAD plug-in that emulates the Fuchs Overdrive Supreme 50 amplifier.

Fuchs Train-II

Fuchs Train-II Amplifier. UAD plug-in that emulates the Fuchs Train-II amplifier.

Suhr PT100

Suhr PT100 Amplifier. UAD plug-in that emulates the Suhr PT100 amplifier.

Suhr SE100 😍

Suhr SE100 Amplifier. UAD plug-in that emulates the Suhr SE100 amplifier.

Softube

Softube (Sweden).

😍 Amp Room Bundle

Softube Amp Room Bundle ($200). Vintage Amp Room (F/M/V models), Metal Amp Room, and Bass Amp Room. Includes emulated miked speaker cabinets, with adjustable mic positions. Some commenters laud the emulated amp sounds; some the cabinet emulations included (recommending this purchase just to use these included cabs with other amp emulations), some laud the Metal and Bass collections.

Marshall Legends Bundle

Marshall Legends Bundle ($400). UAD plug-ins that emulate models 1962 ("Bluesbreaker" combo), 1959 ("plexi" Super Lead), 2203 (1970s JMP version), and 2555 (Silver Jubilee) amplifiers. Includes some cabinet and effects emulations as well.

Marshall Bluesbreaker 1962

Marshall Bluesbreaker 1962. UAD plug-in that emulates the Marshall model 1962 ("Bluesbreaker") amplifier.

Marshall Plexi Super Lead 1959

Marshall Plexi Super Lead 1959. UAD plug-in that emulates the Marshall model 1959 ("plexi") Super Lead amplifier.

Marshall JMP 2203

Marshall JMP 2203. UAD plug-in that emulates the Marshall model 2203 "Master Lead" amplifier.

Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555

Marshall Silver Jubilee 2555. UAD plug-in that emulates the Marshall model 2555 Silver Jubilee amplifier.

Universal Audio

Universal Audio (Scotts Valley, California).

Ampeg B-15N Bass Amp

Universal Audio Ampeg B-15N Bass Amplifier. UAD plug-in emulates the Ampeg B-15N "flip-top" bass amp. Track or re-amp; experiment with different mics and placements.

Avalon VT-737

Universal Audio Avalon VT-737 Tube Channel Strip. UAD plug-in emulates preamp/EQ/compression on lots of Top 40 hits. I bought it because it was 66% off and I figure I'll try using it for DI bass tracks, and vocals if I get that bold.

Capitol Chambers 😍

Universal Audio Capitol Chambers. UAD plug-in emulates the natural reverb of Les-Paul-designed echo chambers underneath Capitol Studios in LA.

Distortions bundle 😍

Universal Audio Distortions bundle. UAD plug-in includes three emulations: Big Muff, Tube Screamer, and Rat.

Fender '55 Tweed Deluxe

Universal Audio Fender '55 Tweed Deluxe. UAD plug-in emulates the 5E3 tweed Deluxe amp. Track or re-amp; experiment with different mics and placements.

Temptations:

UAD2/Apollo

Brainworx Friedman Amps Bundle

Brainworx Friedman Buxom Betty

Brainworx Fuchs ODS-50

Brainworx Suhr SE100

Softube Amp Room

Softube Marshall Legends

UA Capitol Chambers

UA Distortions Bundle

UA EP34 Echoplex

UA Galaxy (Roland Space) Echo

UA Moog Minimoog

UA Ocean Way Studio

UA Ocean Way Mic Collection

So many channel strips, EQs, compressors, mixing and mastering plug-ins that I have no idea about . . .

Native

IK AmpliTube Hendrix

Neural-DSP Archetype: Abasi

N-DSP Archetype: Cory Wong

Neural DSP Soldano SLO

N-DSP Tone King Imperial MKII