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Chapter 1 Amps and pedals 11
Amp Designer
Amp Designer overview
Amp Designer emulates the sound of more than 20 famous guitar ampliers and the speaker
cabinets used with them. Each precongured model combines an amp, a cabinet, and EQ
that recreates a well-known guitar amplier sound. You can process guitar signals directly,
reproducing the sound of your guitar played through these amplication systems. You can also
use Amp Designer for experimental sound design and processing. You can use it with other
instruments as well, applying the sonic character of a guitar amp to a trumpet or vocal part,
for example.
The ampliers, cabinets, and EQs emulated by Amp Designer can be combined in numerous
ways to alter the tone. Virtual microphones are used to pick up the signal of the emulated
amplier and cabinet. You can choose from, and position, seven dierent microphone types.
Amp Designer also emulates classic guitar amplier eects, including spring reverb, vibrato,
and tremolo.
The Amp Designer interface is divided into four main parameter sections.
Model parameters
Output slider
Microphone parameters
Amp
parameters
Effects
parameters
Amp
parameters
•
Model parameters: The Model pop-up menu in the black bar at the bottom is used to choose a
precongured model, consisting of an amplier, a cabinet, an EQ type, and a microphone type.
The other pop-up menus in the black bar enable you to independently choose the type of
amplier, cabinet, and microphone. See Build a custom Amp Designer combo on page 19.
•
Amp parameters: Located at each end of the knobs section, these parameters are used to
set an amp’s input gain, presence, and output level. See Amp Designer amplier controls on
page 23.
•
Eects parameters: Located in the center of the knobs section, these parameters control the
integrated eects. See Amp Designer eects overview on page 24.
•
Microphone parameters: Located at the right of the interface, these parameters set the type
and position of the microphone that captures the amplier and cabinet sound. See Amp
Designer microphone parameters on page 26.
•
Output slider: The Output slider (or the Output eld, in the small interface) is found at the
lower-right corner of the interface. It serves as the nal level control for Amp Designer’s
output that is fed to the ensuing Insert slots in the channel strip or directly to the channel
strip output.
Note: This parameter is dierent from the Master control, which serves the dual purpose of
sound design as well as controlling the level of the Amp section.