How Amp Modeling Compares to Tube Amps
Intro to Amp Modeling
Electric guitar amplification technology is known for that iconic tube amp sound. It is used by many electric guitarists who play today, and it is argued to be the highest quality electric guitar sound. However, a modern innovation of software and digital audio processing has made it possible to amplify an electric guitar signal, and process the sound using a computer. Amp modeling software is continuously being developed today, and there are several professionals who are starting to use this tech live and in the studio. I want to compare modeling and vacuum tubes to show how amp modeling is becoming a realistic application in the music industry.
Modeling Advantages and Disadvantages
Amp modeling is becoming more common upon some musicians primarily for its versatility in a small footprint. One of the most renowned amp modeling devices today is the Kemper Profiler. The Profiler has been made to mock the footprint of the traditional amp head, however this device comes with more modern features compared to some amplifiers that allow for a modern workflow in a music setup.
The main feature of the Profiler is the ability to make a profile. A profile is a digital mock-up of a real tube amplifier that is digitalized inside the memory of the profiler. In addition to hundreds of amp profiles that come with the Kemper Profiler, there is the ability to retain the sound of your favorite amp in computer memory without having to own that amplifier. Additionally, you can access multiple profiles that are stored on the device, because you can keep lots of profiles on the memory.
Another advantage is the ability to craft the sound that you want in the profile without having to have tons of gear that would be required to make that sound. Tube amplifiers onstage and in a recording studio have to be played into microphones. The effect of microphones is that it changes the sound of the amp based on how you position the microphones in front of the amp speaker. If you digitalize one microphone arrangement into the Profiler, you can easily access that sound without having to setup a ton of gear. It can be brought onstage to be played directly through stage speakers with a cable that runs from the profiler into the sound-stage without microphones, and all the heavy tube amplifier equipment. The ability to replicate the tube amp sound without having a tube amp that needs a microphone is where the value in a Kemper Profiler. It saves a lot of time and energy in cost and equipment.
If you don’t own a bunch of expensive equipment to create these profiles, then you can just download it off the internet from people who have the ability to make profiles. Some tube amplifiers, and microphone setups can cost thousands of dollars. Some musicians will just not be able to access these amps, because of large cost. The Profiler allows access to a library of amplifier sounds for an entry cost of at least $1,800.00+.
While the points listed make it seem obvious to buy a Kemper Profiler instead of a Tube amp musicians need to understand what is there to gain in the traditional tube amplifier package that is not offered with the Kemper Profiler.
Comparison to Tube amps
Tube amplification has been the standard way to play electric guitar since about the 1960s. This legacy technology is familiar to most guitarists that play electric since it is the iconic technology behind so many famous musicians, and records. There are a couple points that can be made for Tube amps regarding whether you should buy a Kemper Profiler or other amp modeler or a tube amp.
The main argument for buying a Tube amplifier would be the sound. Lots of people are huge fans of the iconic authentic tube amp sound. Software modeling of amp sound has gotten really advanced in the past few years. Musicians like to know their gear well, and with the tube amplification they feel that they have a more direct control over a more organic sound that is made by amps with vacuum tubes. They would argue that they have more control over the sound that is made by the tube amp. Even though the audience probably would not be able to tell the difference between someone on stage with a tube amp and someone on stage with an amp modeler some musicians are crafting their sound for themselves. It creates a question for how much is it worth to the musician to lug some tube amps around.
While there are many different types of tube amps that can be bought for different prices, the tube amp compared to the Kemper Profiler has a higher barrier of entry than a traditional tube amplifier. As there are plenty of different tube amps that are being sold on the used market for prices that are a lot cheaper than the Kemper Profiler. Also, tube amps are more common technology in the live music setting because they are simple to setup, and they are commonplace. There are plenty of workshops that know how to repair tube amplifiers should they break, and if the Kemper Profiler breaks you will probably have to send it back to them for a repair, because less people know how to repair them. If you needed to buy another tube amplifier you could probably easily find one to buy. The Kemper is only sold at certain dealers and rarer compared to amplifiers.
The tubes in a tube amplifier are a part that need to be replaced from time to time to keep the amp sounding good. The Kemper profiler does not require any tubes and is lower maintenance, because most of it is just electronics that uses computer software. The Kemper Profiler is comparable to a computer that takes a guitar input and transmits it to a speaker.
Amp modeling has some clear advantages over tube amplifiers in the cost, in versatility. Amp modeling is becoming better every day, but it is still playing catch up with the authentic tube amp sound, but there are a number of musicians who are picking up the tech because of how useful it is compared to the traditional amp. The tube amplifier will probably not go away from live music for a long time. There are still many professionals who are willing to take the time and effort to use tube amps for their live shows, but equally some musicians are taking advantage of this application for computing to make their time more focused on making music than having the authentic sound. Most audience members can not tell the difference that easily anyway, and it still sounds close to the real tube amp. As time progresses it is likely that more musicians will buy into modeling due to its practicality for playing guitar.
