For those who love plugins (IK Multimedia 25th Group Buy)

[Zoltan]

Incase some of you are interested and haven't yet noticed: There's an IK Multimedia 25th Group Buy that's currently at "Buy 1 get 15" going on. As a whole this is a huge bargain if you're interested in programs like Amplitube, T-tracks mixing & mastering plugins, or their dedicated mastering chains (like Lurssen console). The sale was extended to the end of September and they're trying to get up to "Buy 1 get 25".

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/25gb/

I'm still tempted to partake in this although i've tried to stay strong The Sunset Sound Studio reverb is especially mouthwatering. I like the Amplitube stuff, but as i've gone into a zero digital modelling zone it's easier to resist those. Those tape machine collections are also good, but i'm still not sure if they're necessarily any better than the freeones i'm already using.

Some of the IK stuff is really good, but personally as i've slowly started to gather some knowledge on what i'm doing (with my tried & true "throw everything on the wall and see what sticks" method) i'm a bit vary of going for the fancy guis. Also i did manage to get Reaper to crash with some of those demos, and i don't have any crashes with the plugins i commonly use.

This is not an advertisement, and if this has already been mentioned here the mod(s) can remove it. I thought to post this as i noticed the talk about Waves CLA plugins and though some of these might be of interest to some.

[guitarron]

I'm always interested in good plugins. It's a certainly a type of GAS for me.  I resisted the urge to invest in this promotion thus far. Tempting though for sure. The are so many good free ones out there too.  I can really fall into a rabbit hole I don't catch myself.
I always ask myself do I really need this? Reaper has a lot plain Jane looking plugs that are terrific, and use minimal resources.
The CLA waves stuff has been on my radar a lot lately too, but there again, can I get the desired results with what I have?

It's funny you mentioned those 2. Because I was doing the same thing you are.

[des0free]

Thanks for alerting me!  I will probably pick up a load of stuff. Let me "pour gas on your GAS fire" by listing my picks   I don't really "need", but for $199 total it is hard to resist all of this:

1. Amplitube 5 - 35 amps, 46 pedals, etc. (priced $199 for me since I bought a prior version)
2. Sample Tank 4 - 6000 instruments (> 100 GB; 70 GB new) - $199
3. Syntronik- 38 vintange synths >2000 presets - $199
4. Modo Drum - 10 modeled drum kits, 1400 midi grooves, $199
5. Modo Bass - 14 modeled bass guitars, $199
6. Sampletron 2 - 400 tracks, 10 tape-based samplers (mellotron, etc.) + load your own sounds, $199
7. Miroslav Philharmonic 2 CE - 733 orchestral instruments, $149
8. Sunset sound studios reverb - $149
9. Amplitube Fender 2 collection $149
10. Amplitube Mesa/Boogie Amp collection $149
11. TRackS Mixing/Mastering Plugs - includes "Master Match" EQ, $149
12. Leslie Speaker model - $129
13. Amplitube Fender collection $99
14. Hammond B-3X organ $99 (includes Leslie speaker...)
15. Amplitube SVX Bass Amp collection $99
16. ARC auto room correction plug for mixing $99 (ref mic must be purchased separately...)
??17. Lurssen Mastering Console, $159 / AmpliTube Joe Satriani ?? $99
18. Amplitube Orange Amps, $99
19. TRackS 5 SE (has different plugs than "TrackS 5")?
(and maybe more!!!)

But it is hard to decide...

Others of interest: Amplitube SVX2 Bass amps, Brian May collection, Jimi Hendrix, Slash collections; Alternate Keys,  American Acoustic (guitar samples), Neil Peart Drums, ??

[guitarron]

STOP IT !!!!     I must resist

That is really a great score. If we're still working I'd probably jump on it

[Zoltan]

This is still super tempting. But i know a person (i'm not naming names) who just a while ago bought a Fender Mustang guitar and because of this would be better off from not buying anything.... ever.... or at least in the near future

[des0free]

Note: This deal got extended thru Oct. and as of now you now can get 21 free products if you buy 1...

(alternately you can get lots of free plugins online...)
 

[Bishmanrock]

I can't remember why, but for some reason years back I tried the Amplitube demo and was really unimpressed with it, and it left a bad taste in my mouth since and I never really found any of IK's other products tempting.


Shame as on paper this looks like a cracking deal. Clearly just a personal thing, but I'd recommend giving the demo/free sims a go before jumping in. I also found them a bit intensive on my machine but I've upgraded since so that might've just been my older rig.

[Zoltan]

Yeah, the deal is certainly getting better and better! As for Amplitube. If someone is interested IK Multimedia offers (and has offered for a long time) a free Amplitube / Custom Shop. It's their "demo" version, but it contains several amps, cabs and effects that can be used for free. And thru this version it's possible to demo all the available amps and cabs.

Currently they're also offering a free Orange Dual Terror amp: https://bedroomproducersblog.com/2021/10/03/orange-dual-terror/

As for amp modelling etc. I think the current version(s) of Amplitube are great. It's actually a little shameful to admit this after buying so much gear I've tried most of the commercial amp sims, and years ago i also didn't like Amplitube and thought Overloud was way better.

I've been occasionally testing out different amp sims, and i've also tried out the Torpedo Cab M+. There's so much great stuff... But it seems that the only thing that really works for me is the Humboldt Simplifier. It's the only "modelling" thing that's pure joy from the get go. And it doesn't suffer from the "It sounded great yesterday... why doesn't it sound great today?" -syndrome.

A case in point. I've been trying to get a good sound out from Orange Bax Bangeetar + Two Notes Cab M+ (with Orange cabs) for TWO DAYS straight. I'd already given up on Cab M+, but as i know so many people are getting great tones out from it... I just had to put more work into it. I got some cool tones and some very realistic ones. But it was always at the expense of "it doesn't feel great to play anymore", or "it took two hours, and i'm already in a different mood".
And now i just turned the Humboldt Simplifier on and Ooh... No messing around. The tone is there. I can even mess around with the settings and the sound doesn't suddenly turn into something unusable. The only downside is that Simplifier takes pedals like a champ and THAT can turn into an expensive hobby

Disclaimer. The above is only my personal preference. Others might enjoy other things a lot more