Mesa Dual Rectifier VS 13 guitar amp modelers!
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- Опубліковано 10 жов 2018
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Timecodes:
02:35 Mesa Dual Rectifier
03:17 Fractal Audio Axe Fx III
03:59 Line 6 Helix (Native)
04:42 IK Multimedia Amplitube 4
05:25 Kazrog Thermionik
06:07 Overloud TH3
06:49 Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5
07:32 Peavey Revalver 4
08:14 Studio Devil Amp Modeler Pro
08:57 Positive Grid Bias Amp
09:39 Line 6 Pod Farm 2
10:22 Brainworx Mega Dual
11:04 Audified AmpLion Pro
11:47 Lepou Lecto
12:30 Quick isolated A/B comparisons (guitars only)
14:45 Final thoughts?
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I think it's conclusive, everyone should have a Mesa Dual Rectifier.
There's nothing wrong with owning a real amp, let alone a Recto!
Tom C When your Recto is on Standby press a couple buttons on the footswitch. It releases the static electricity build up that occurs causing the popping between channels. Someone told this to me when i had the same issue and it works for me. Hope it helps!
Ummm. Try 12:29 forward...
Gotta watch the video before talkin bout the video.
I have a rectifier recording preamp and a 2:90 power amp. I couldn't be any happier and I think everyone should try out that combo.
The quick isolated A/B was awesome. Really helpful to hear the differences. Nothing sounded quite like the real amp, but Fractal seemed closest. TH3 and Lepou were my favorite of the amp sims otherwise. Great video!
I think with a lil bit of tweaking the fractal can get close but there is something about the top end of the real Mesa that just sounds so nice .
Its amazing how close the free lepou sounded
Its that sizzle...thats why some people say modelling units get squashed by real tube amps. That siz on top is like a razor for cutting through the soup.
Th 3 was great! im my cheap headphones here - almost identical, I have Lepou at home and it sound better for me than Line6 or Bias...
...and bottom too. None of those has that defined bottom end and boosting low freq's end up dull :/
I’m already watching the second video of comparison of guitar amplifiers on this channel, and it helps me a lot in choosing a plug-in! Comrade, thank you for your work!
Superb video as always- but I just wanna say the final A/B at the end was genius. Very useful!
This is one of the best real amp/sim comparison video on youtube! Very very helpful, thanks alot for that!
As few before me already wrote: that quick A/B comparison at the end of the video was truly a genious move! You should DEFINITELY do that kind of stuff for every shootout video man... Thanks!
Well done sir! This should be the standard for all comparison videos!
That Brainworx Mega Dual is surprisingly good...great review!
Love the way you made this video man! The quick isolated A/B was really spot on to hear the differences. Cheers
Best comparison I've ever heard. Well done! Like.
Ive had my dual rec for 15 years and I never get tired of its tone. With a set of Emg 81's.....it just sounds so amazing.
The last part of the video is perfect! Thanks man
What a great video. I've been using the Lepou Lecto for years and another video like this confirms it... it's amazing the sounds you can get with free plug ins. I donated for each amp sim they had available for free!
Dude, thank you. Been looking for a video EXACTLY like this for ....a billion years...
Awesome video! Great work! Really impressed with the results for LePou Recto. Free and that close to the hardware amazes me.
Great video! I’ve had a Dual Rectifier for 15 years and an Axe FXIIXL+ for about 3 years and whilst it and a couple of others got close, there’s just no beating the real thing!!
Wow. That was such an excellent video. The planning and format was so excellent. If there was one more thing... it would be an opinion.
Thank you sooooo much for your work !! this is so great to ear this type of comparison !
that is the best comparison I've watched on the subject of comparing amp sims to the real deal.
Amazing job.
Nothing beats a Rectifier...
Thanks for making this video! I own a helix and you have helped me create some amazing sounding tones. None sound like the real amp but fractal, helix and lecto sounded great imo.
thanks for the comparison, I've enjoyed the comparison at the very end, it made things much clearer
I didn't even realize there were THIS many modelers. Great job Sir! I have an Axe 3 and love it for its consistency, flexibility...and lack of tubes that need changing. It's close enough, and at extremely loud volumes your ears most likely can't tell a difference. And and perfectly happy using my own Triple Rect for practice ;)
Really love videos like this with the quick A/B comparison at the end. Would be cool to see an updated one with the real Mesa vs Axe FX, Helix, STL Tones Amphub, ML Sounds new plugin, etc. Would be cool to see how/if technology has advanced at all since this was made 2 years ago. Still a great video!
Awesome work! Solid skill.
I prefer MODDED tube amp with no first grid resistor and 6SL7GT instead of 12ax7.
In this comparison the closest ones to the original sound are Brainworx Mega Dual andOverloud TH3.
Again, great work!
This was one of the best comparison videos I've seen. Some of the modelers seemed close until the A/B portion. Wow, not so close. I think Fractal was close, but even then something was missing. Probably wouldn't matter in a mix. Awesome vid, thanks!
The Mesa seems to sound like two amps playing at the same time, particularly when the full chords are played. Almost like a clean compressed amp underneath the distortion. Adds definition and clarity to a very thick sound.
Was about to say the same thing, you can clearly hear the articulation with the real deal.
That's the thing I always love about the rectifier series, they just sound super wide and 3 dimensional. The fractal and helix both got really damn close which is awesome because I've been considering a helix and really want a good rectifier sim.
he doubled the tracks
Low end on Rectifier is quite clean. That's why.
@strangerhythm was hoping someone commented this hahah. This guy thought he was listning to the sims in mono...? c'mon
Excellent comparison video Jon- you have produced some awesome tutorial video's on amp plugins over the years, but its nice to see you using real amps again for a change...
Thanks! Yeah, it's a lot of fun but also refreshing to go back to the roots so to speak...
man i am so impressed with the axe fx ii here, its literally dead on. from a helix user, I always felt there was a lack of body and this confirms it for me. GREAT JOB!!! now I want a fractal unit....
Superb demonstration. Well done sir. Modeling has come a long way since the first pod, but it seems not far enough yet.
Your tone achieved here from the Helix and the Axe fx is almost exactly as the Mesa Dual Rectifier. Really nice
Great A/B comparisons at the end!! Bravo!!
Thanks for doing this, so illuminating and surprising!!!
Amazingly well done comparison- thank you!
Very thorough review ! I really like the TH3, it sound the most "tidy" to me, though I've never used this plugin...
Nice video, :)
This video really helped separate sounds very well. There was a very definite distinction in tones (the 'IMO' part obviously being an important aspect). That said, IMO the Helix, AxeFX, and TH3 were great, and the LePou Lecto model held its own very well, especially taking into consideration that it is free. One thing I was surprised about is that none seemed to be able to capture distinctly the higher notes on the full chords that were separated so well on the real amp. They sounded great for the most part but utterly failed when compared with the full chords on the real deal. Respect to the real amp in this case.
Awesome! Easily the best edited mesa comparison on you tube. Thanks mate!
Excelent video, on the fast comparison when play chords all modelers fails
Recto sounds GREAT! Fractal, Helix and Brainworx sounded closest to me. Nice vid.
Great video man- keep 'em coming!
Great stuff mate! It would have been interesting to see the difference from a mic'ed cab (a 4x12 for example) other than that, like you said great fun watching these types of vids! :D
I've always wanted this amp as well. Just never had the funds. I do own an EVH 5150III 6L6 with matching 212 cab. But for some reason this amp always has that sound I've been chasing. Love my EVH but it different. Great vid!
Outstanding vid!! As others have stated the real amp wins on clarity. The modelers could be EQ matched to get closer, but to nail that clarity one might need to put a clean boost like a TC Spark up front in the chain when using them. Thanks for this!
Excellent comparison! I wasn't aware that Ownhammer Recto combined so well with TH3, have them both but never tried them together. I'll join the crew that prefers the TH3 and Lecto but I want to say that you should have Vadim Taranov's Megafuzzie there it's really good and would be very interesting to see you cover it.
Hey this is the best comparison video i have seen in while it would have been real great if Kemper was in the group but oh well. Axe FX and TH3 sounded the closest to my ears, but nothing beats the real thing in terms of the definition and body of the tone. Thanks again!
Amazing. Very good comparison video for people who a searching for the right modeler plugin. The only one I am missing is the Fortin Nameless Suite. I really would love to see what you can get ou of this baby.
Fractal, TH3 and the oldy LePou sounded the more similar to the real thing to me
Bias as usual is a Fizz fest
agreed 100%
mpexus he was using the old version of bias amp, bias fx shits all over bias amp anyway.
yeah Bias amp 2 is a lot better than the old version but you're actually wrong about bias fx. Bias FX is basically Bias amp with more features. Bias amp is integrated into Bias fx
It is? Because when I tried it using other IRs on a DAW I couldnt find the slightest diference...
@@jj45455 I tried Bias FX too as I also own that but it sounded the same. The demo's I heard of bias amp 2 showed me that it definitely isn't worth the upgrade. That's all my own opinion though...
Great Job as always my friend !
Gonna ignore the Axe FX for now since it's a hardware solution
Helix: Really good! The top end harmonics are a bit different and the mid range has less honk to it, but the overall tone is very close. 8.5/10
Amplitube: Not even close. No bass or treble to speak of. All mid range. Sounds like a Rectifier going through a 1x8. 3.5/10
Thermionik: Very strange sounding. Not as much bass and much more low mid than a real rectifier. Obviously digital sounding. 4.5/10
TH-3: Excellent. Quite close to the real rectifier. Nothing really stands out as poor or even mediocre here. 9/10
Guitar Rig 5: 5 iterations to sound this bad? Weak bass, too forward mids and really fizzy top end. Might even be worse than Amplitube. 3/10
Revalver: Not horrible, but not great. Sounds kind of lifeless. Sort of has the pushed mids of GR5 and Amplitube but less extreme. Peavey should stick to the 5150. 5/10
Amp Modeler Pro: Actually not too bad here. Not quite as full as the real Rectifier and the top end has a bit of fizz, but it's in the ballpark. 7/10
Bias Amp: KKKKKKKKKKKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH goes the 3k mid range spike. If it wasn't for that it would be pretty good. 4.5/10
Pod Farm 2: Again, mids are kinda forward compared to the real thing. Also has a weird top end growl that I'm not sure I like. Not as bad as some of the others though. 4.5/10
Mega Dual: Kind of the opposite here and is somewhat scooped compared to some of these. Really good presence, although higher frequencies than that become fizz. 7.5/10
Amplion Pro: One of the trickier ones to judge. Bass and mids are pretty decent but the top end is a bit lacking. 6.5/10
Lecto: I'm amazed that a free plugin sounds better than the majority of the paid plugins here. This is honestly a more than usable rectifier sound. 8/10
None of the plugins could really handle the tube chime that the real one had, especially in the second part of the A/B test. I think this should be where amp modelers need to improve. Many of these plugins showed that they could get a lot of the rest of the characteristics down, but that tube chime is something I've yet to see recreated with modelling.
Overall, my favourites were TH-3 for its accuracy to the original rectifier, Helix for sort of adding its own flavour to the rectifier sound, and Lecto for offering a great tone at an unbeatable value. Mega Dual and Amp Modeler Pro weren't bad either, and Amplion Pro was getting there. The rest were either meh or awful. Bias Amp would've been up there if not for that awful spike around 3k.
Have u heard Nalex Pectifier? Also free. I wonder what are u thoughts on that compared to these? :P
Very thorough and helpful write-up. Much appreciated!
Agreed on all points. I honestly thought the Lecto was solidly in the middle of the pack. The LePou amps STILL hold up to this day as VERY usable plugins. If you told me 20 years ago you could get that tone in your bedroom for $0 and zero torrenting, I wouldn't have believed you.
Very useful, ty for the AB comparison it's really well made.
I can't believe how close some sims are (kemper). But talking about plugins the most expensive they are the most crappy they sound ^^
Very cool A/B at the end. I love the sound of that amp with the IR. It makes me want a load box. Listening to some of the amp sims was like a kick in the gut when hearing them switch on. Lol. Others did a fair job though. I just replaced my BIAS and I’m happy I did so now. I’m happy I have the Heavy Hitters Vol 1. I really enjoy that Red Coat.
Love that THU - been very impressed with it. I have the Randall, Mark, and Suhr packages and love how great they sound. I have a Rectifier amp and Mesa cab, and its been kind of crazy just how close I can get the THU to sound like the real thing. Forget about in a mix - they are identical. So, I've been skipping the temperamental hiccups of power fluctuation in the real thing, along with tube replacement cost, mic placement, etc... and just running the THU for recordings. I can actually get more variations with the THU due to the options of IRs and mics!! I have been going back and forth about getting a Fractal, but damn, with amp sims coming SO far along, I think I can bypass the cost!
I did a look away until I heard one that sounded close. The Fractal and TH3 were the ones that made me look back. They were almost dead on. The Lepou was very acceptable.
Great review man. I was a Line6 owner and modeler addicted, and I can say: none modelers nailed it. The closest and the winner (IMHO) was Fractal, second place and very close, Line6. The others were very far from the Dual Rec original sound. After more than 15 years using modelers I'm done with them. 2 months ago I sold my Line 6 POD HD500x. I've tweaked it a lot but the modelers are getting more and more complex on which you can achieve very good sounds, but it takes ages to get there. I got sick of the HD500x because of that. Very complex and exhausting to achieve great results. From Line6 specially I had XT Live, X3 Live, HD500 and HD500x. From series to series, the sound improvement is noticeable, but the complexity increased as well. For the HD500x I was spending too much time (days, weeks, even months) to dial the sound I wanted. It sounded amazing, very close to real amps... but as I said: it was painful to get "there". I sold it and started an analog pedalboard for the first time in my life. I have an amazing clean sound from my Fender Princeton and while I can't afford a Dual Rec (my dream!), I'll go through pedals to get the sound I want. Modelers are great for people who can't afford their "dream-come-true" amps. But I've spent too much money and time with them. I still recommend modelers for people without cash to spend on good gear, but nothing like a real amp. If you can afford, buy one. If not, model them, but ONLY if you can't afford a real one. Cheers man!
Great great video! The isolated A/B rocks!
We're on the same track. I just got the LB-2 reactive load box, but I'm using Celestion IRs which are really good. Instead of hosting the IRs on my DAW, I host them in an Atomic Amps Ampli-Firebox. From there I can run out to Hi-Z or Low-Z. Cool technology, and yeah, things are getting really close. Great video.
Excellent comparison video.
TH3 and Lecto were very surprisingly good. The Axe III and Helix were the two best non-amp options. That said, the actual Recto had more clarity and deeper tone. Real amps are still king of the hill, but the modelers and emulators are gaining ground every year and it's just so damn close in many cases now.
I know I'm responding to a very old post, but yeah, IMO a well-mic'd Recto setup would put it even further above the cab sims modeled after it. But agreed on modelers and emulators improving all the time.
Very nice video ! Really helped me ! Thanks !
The cab room in Amplitube is EVERYTHING. Would have been interesting to see how he had it setup. I have an Axe8 but have been using A4 lately.
@Jeff T He bypassed it and used the same cab impulse for everything, including the real head. I admit that Cab Room is real awesome and can be a blessing in the right hands. That said, I am kinda disappointed with Amplitube's Dual/Triple Rec models, considering how great their Mark Series models are.
WOW! What a great way to compare all this modelers! Definitely the Mesa Dual Rectifier is a BEAST! It is a Must have... As for the Amp Modelers I will have to say the MOST Real To real sound is the Fractal Audio AXE III.. I wish there was a Kemper in it! But for this video presentation I will go the Fractal Audio Axe Fx III. :-) Great Job!!
Cool video, good work.
I'd like to hear the comparison with the Boogie through a speaker cab / mic. As half of the sound you're using (the speakers) is simulated.
Would be cool to hear the full rig vs. the plug-ins etc.
My favorites were Lepou Lecto, Axe Fx III, Brainworks. I didn't like Amplitude or Guitar Rig 5. Great comparison!
Agree exactly, and i actually use the Poulin Lecto when i'm not using my actual Triple Rectifier! i tried the demo for Amplitube and wasn't blown away. although i did like it better than my friend's Guitar Rig. another friend bought the helix and i just can't see spending that much money on it. my used Triple rectifier cost half what he paid, and the poulin is free. i generally use the poulin stuff when i do amp sims. but i rarely do amp sims.
Besides the real amp sounding amazinf, The Helix, Fractal and the Brainworkx sounded really good as well. Also loved the Lecto, used that one a lot years ago, but you can really hear technology has improved IMO.
Hopefully it’s not just because I own them but the FAS and Helix to me sounded best and closest. The A/B was very helpful. It’s also interesting how you really heard much more of a difference on the section with the ringing chords opposed to the section with the riff. I’m surprised how most sounded at least decent and usable with just a handful sounding almost like a joke.
Great job!
Fractal sounded the more similar to the real amp but has more low end.tnx for all of your efforts to make this useful comparison.
Wow...that Studio Devil Amp sounded just the same to my ears ...I go and check it out properly...thanks for the neat video.
The tone from the Helix Native here it s amazingly close to the real Mesa amp. Got impressed
very good video, some of those sims work even better then the real thing. well done mate
Cool. Congratulations on your Dual Rectifier!Almost had one but unfortunately couldn't pay because of something else.I'm a fan of all modelers and things as well. All I can say is I played with my cover band with my tubed half stack for 2 years. When I went back to studio and tried models again it just isn't the same. A loud amp just feels better.Anyways....not gonna lie I caved and bought the Marshall Code 50 and I'm loving it.I'm going to have sat The Dual Rectifier sounds the best.
This is why I sold the Helix and run my real tubes into the Ownhammer impulse responses. Great video.
Great work, man. Sick review, My top list so far: 1-original; 2 - Helix; 3 - Axe Fx; 4 - TH3; 5 -Brainworx.
Thank you for such scientific comparison! I liked the most the real amp and Helix due to upper midrange/highs harmonic content, other models almost lack it, excerpt fractal of course
This is a great fucking video!! Not only for the educational part but also for reference tones for each amp sim!!!
Apart from the AxeFx nothing came anywhere close! :D This channel is fucking awesome btw!!
Awesome video! Subscribed!
Very impressed by the Lepou and the TH3!
An amazing review and comparison. I prefer the modelers though for a lot of reasons. Space, money, and usability. The main point for each one should be, choose whatever it serves you best! And most of all, make some music.
Absolutely right, those modelers are wonderful tools. The goal definitely wasn't to show that the real amp is superior in every way. Just to demonstrate that there is still a difference in sound.
well you actually achieved this goal perfectly by setting up all the modelers differently :)
They all sounded great!
None could match the clarity of the real amp. I really liked Lepou, im currently using Bias Amp and it sucked here.
Great video!!! Suscribed for more of these!!!
Yeah, IMHO BIAS was a waste of money. I think Lepou is close, and certanly most bang for your buck.
This was an excellent comparison! Models have come such a long way in the past 15 years. In the end, though, I bought a real Dual Rectifier because it's the one amp who's models I've never really been satisfied with. The A/B comparison highlights this. There's so much depth to the real amp, while the sims just sounded overly focused, like they were willed into existence through the determination of a sound engineer working with the EQ. That being said... 90% of people (including me) would be hard pressed to tell which one was the real amp in a full mix. And I'm damn sure that no one listening to the final mix cares if you're using the real amp or not. :-/ If you must sim, there is zero shame in it.
Thank you. Best comparison video I’ve ever seen. This should be the standard way people compare Analog vs Digital. I’d really be curious how mesa’s mark amps stack up to digital modals as those I feel like tend to be a lot more complex in the way there tone is shaped and the way that gain is applied to the signal.🤔
Wish I had one...
A++ for awesome guitar nerderation!!!! Great video!
Stellar job, bruh.
Axe FX is the closest, TH3 is the best buy, Lecto is GODSEND, because it's so good and FREE!
I use the Lecto when i'm not using my Triple Rectifier and matching 4x12. i'll probably never pay money for an amp sim. i prefer amps that don't need software updates!
This was a very helpful vid!
I would also like to add that the main thing that seems to be missing is the high end content for the amp sims. Or when it is there, it is mostly harsh fizz. An EQ I turn to all the time to liven up guitar tracks when using sims is the Clariphonic EQ from Kush Audio. It is hard to overstate how smooth and pure that EQ sounds, even when at max settings!
GREAT JOB man!!!
This video was extremely helpful! It had an unexpected effect on me. After watching it twice, I preffer my Peavey Ultra head! It's like having a pissed off 5150 without the price tag🤘listening to the axe fx 3 compared to the real head solidified me keeping my axe fx 2 xl, tone wise they're the same IMO
You have the dream AMP of my life! YES One day.. ONE DAY! I will ...
Just in case: I still love modelers a lot and I guess they will always be my 'main thing'.
Not just the sound quality but also the flexibility is very handy in general.
They are great tools to make music with and they can fuel creativity because of the easy workflow.
With a modeler it's super easy to just dial in a recto and combining it with a cab of choice, add some effects and boom, tone done in 1 or 2 minutes.
Working with tube amps is a lot of fun though and I'm happy that I also decided to add some real amps to my arsenal of sounds.
The workflow is different but the tonal results can be very rewarding.
So I would say, both real amps AND modelers should co-exist because I wouldn't want to live in a world without either! :)
Real amps are DEFINITELY more rewarding if you can get an epic tone on tape, especially with close micing SM57s and mic pres. The modelers do such a good job and make it so easy. If ya got the gear and skills to mic a real cab and have it sound perfect...do it. Or use a load box if ya wanna 'cheat a little'...lol
That's what I always say. The tools are all available. Just use them and make the greatest music you can! It's so cool you don't have to spend a fortune to get decent tones. And it's still rewarding and fun to do it the old school way and mic up an amp.
@Ben Kerley
I would prefer to split the signal and send it directly to the amp and at the same time to your interface. This way you don't have to mess with a re-amp box and get sure the amp gets a good signal.
Yes it's the combination of newer and older technology that gets the best sound in the end , really cool video bro!
I tried to just go all digital for ease of use and it works but amps win for tone everyday. So I use a Helix for effects and good old EL34s.
Perfect video!
Wow, awesome video, man
I didn't know the peavey revalver was so bad hahaha
This lepou sounds good to me, I didn't even heard about It before, thank you for this video, bro!
It's Very helpfull
The most close slide riff tone is from:
1- Fractal Audio Axe FX (almost identical) 03:17
2- Line 6 Helix (Native) 4:00
3- Brainworx Mega Dual 10:22
4- Overloud TH3 6:07
Riff 2:
Mesa 02:57
Fractal 3:39
Line 6 Helix 4:21
Brainworx 10:44
Overloud 06:29
Riff 1 (without slide):
2:36 Mesa
3:19 Fractal
4:01 Line 6 Helix
10:24 Brainworx
06:09 Overloud
12:32 - to the end: The only modeler that comes close is the Helix. I bet you could dial the AFX III in a little bit closer, but overall it is a very eye-opening comparison.
Good Mesa test! Thanks!
Sounds great damn
I never realized how bad Amplitube 4 actually is. Even though it's the only one with an official license. Weird.
Their Mark III and Mark IV models are quite good through other IRs (Ownhammer, Rosen, Redwire, etc.), but yeah their Rectifier amp models are nowhere close to the real thing.
Even guitar rig... And a Lil bit the peavey, they sound boxed to me.
Nice jobs man!!!
Man, some time ago I used only Amplitube as my main amp modeler, but I have to say, I was very very wrong and you realize about that when you starts to use a los of another alternatives. In fact, it seems like amplitube applies some filter on the high frequencies on all their models.
Amplitude doesn’t stack high in the grand scheme of the sims over all, but I’ve been able to get a less boxy recto tone than this.
I am blown away by how good Lecto sounds! I had no idea it was this good when I started using it a couple days ago.. most others sound fizzy, muddy or lack clarity..
This was my takeaway as well. It was the best sounding of the bunch (of the modelers).
Helix and AxeFX are great (obviously) but also the lepou is really good, especially if you consider the fact that it won't cost you any money
Great job!