RIFFS plug-ins... Words: D.P. Wilson baby
IK MULTIMEDIA AMPLITUBE 3 & CUSTOM SHOP
The new IK Custom Shop lets you download any of the current IK amps, cabinets, effects and microphones… but only when YOU need them! SRP: €270.00
Contact: IK Multimedia
www.ikmultimedia.com
We actually took a look at IK Multimedia’s fantastic guitar amp simulation software back in issue 85 (April 2010). So what’s with the major update? Well anyone that’s read any of our previous looks at guitar amp simulation software may have noticed a common thread. Since the very arrival of these versatile bits of kit, I for one have constantly bemoaned the lack of a la carte downloads that allow individual items to be downloaded, rather than having to buy the whole thing at once. Obviously, if you are a software manufacturer deciding which amps to stick on your latest simulator, from a commercial point of view you’d probably look to cover all the bases and offer something for everyone. However, from a user’s point of view you may only find one or two amps that you only ever use. Therefore, it makes more sense to have a whole depository of amps, speakers and pedals where the user can pick whatever they like. We can report that the boffins at IK Multimedia have answered our prayers with the new IK Custom Shop. The idea is very simple, all the current IK amps, cabinets, effects and microphones can be downloaded as you need/ want them and installed permanently into the Amplitube software. The system uses a simple ‘credits’ system (see credits box) where you buy credits that allow you to download your individual models. To accommodate this, current users will need to update their Amplitube software to the aforementioned version 3.5 which adds in program links to the Custom Shop. The Custom Shop is very easy to navigate and after the first use always automatically logs you into your IK account. From the home screen you can see track your account, including which models you currently own. The left hand side lists the various model
46 pickup
types along with updates regarding any ‘new’ models there are available in each section. You can select ‘Brand’ (IE Fender, Ampeg, Orange etc) if you know exactly what you’re after or browse through: Stomp (pedals), Amp, Cab, Mic and Rack. Hovering your mouse over these creates a sub menu, making searching for what you’re looking for that much easier. The menu also includes Collections and Hardware where you can purchase hardware controller pedals or complete IK Amplitube packages like the previous ‘Fender’ and ‘Ampeg SVX’ add-ons, although the Custom shop will also let you build up your personal gear collections bit by bit if you so wanted. If you’re lucky enough to already posses Amplitube 3 and all the previous add-ons, the extra available models in the shop may currently look a little scant but there are some great new Orange amps and some seriously cool additions in the Stomp Box department. Some of the ‘Coming Soon’ stuff looks seriously interesting too. All the models can be downloaded as a trial version to use in Amplitube for two days before you decided whether to make a purchase. I should also mention that IK also now offer a free version of Amplitube 3 that, whilst only arriving with a smattering of amps, still allows you full access to the Custom Shop. This will be a great route for those with very specific tastes, as it would work out very expensive to buy everything but the facility to try everything and only download the very models you need can’t be beaten!
Special branch If there is a flaw in the system for me it’s that these new models can only be used if Amplitube is installed on a computer with an Internet connection. I personally am one of a possibly dying breed that runs my music software on a separate partition so that my music making software runs very clean with no interruption from anti-virus software or the like. Obviously, to run the web based Custom Shop you must
have an internet connection which I have on my ‘everyday’ partition but unfortunately I could find no way of moving the custom shop models over to the other partition for use there. Unless, there is a way to do this, this is a bit of a shame for those of us who still work like this. Despite this issue, which it must be said
probably won’t affect the vast majority of users the Amplitube & Custom Shop pairing must now push this software to the top of tree when it comes to guitar amp simulation software? The quality of the sounds on offer is at least as good as the very best of the competition, plus the forthcoming options are potentially limitless. Also remember that, cost wise, this system can go anywhere from a virtually free of charge bare bones system to a fully fledged behemoth! PM
THE CREDIT SYSTEM The Custom Shop works on a system of credits which you use to spend on the models you require. Amps generally come in at 20 credits each while the matching cab comes in at 5 credits. Rack units and Stomp Boxes come in at between 10 & 15 credits whilst a microphone will cost you a lowly 5 credits. You can buy credits through the custom shop although they seem priced only in Euros, and the more you spend the more credits you get per Euro: 14.99 Euros will get you 20 credits whereas 74.99 Euros will get you a much more useful 125 credits. The prices do seem a little steep at fi rst but when you bear in mind that all the models can be mercilessly demo’d for two days, there’s no need to spend money on something that you don’t want.
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