Plugin Alliance AMPEG SVT VR-cl model vs. VT BASS [BLIND TEST]

Which one is the VST plugin and NOT the VT bass?

  • 01 - Clip A

  • 02 - Clip B


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I was pretty sure that number 2 was the VT... until I saw the settings you posted. That mid was set really low for what I was hearing In that 2nd clip.

Unfortunately there's no mid control in the plug-in, being it the stripped down version with only the second VR channel.

However, you control the mids (in a broader sense) according to the other parameters: the bright channel has the low mids a bit more scooped itself, then both the ultra hi/low switches were on, and that affects the mids. Finally, the tube drive too affects the mids, as harmonics get very lively there when pushed: it's a (sort of) balancing act, keep that scoop while clean and you're buried, lol. Likewise for the VT BASS.

There are also only two internal IRs as well.

Fewer but better than other stuff around, anyway.
 
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I accidentally had the AmpliTube 5 Aguilar 750/DB115 on while I installed and loaded up the Brainworx SVT-VR. I was playing through the two together thinking this SVT sounds a bit like an Aguilar :). It's a nice combination.

Did AT5 manage to load by the time you finished the installation and fired up the PA/Brainworx or did you wait a couple of minutes on top of that?
 
I use Cantabile as a VST host that can load up with different configurations. One I use for practice has Hammond B-3X, Superior Drummer, AT5 for bass, Air Velvet (Rhodes and Wurli), True Pianos, Minimoog, Mellotron and ARP Solina plugins. So AT 5 was up and running already.

I installed the PA/Brainworx, scanned for new VST's and added SVT-VR forgetting I hadn't disabled AT5 which was running the Aguilar 750/DB115 which has been my go to bass amp sim since AT5 came out.

I really like the PA/Brainworx SVT-VR but the AT5 Aguilar 750/DB115 is still my favorite. I'm mostly using a 91 MiK Squier with an Aguilar AG 4P-60 pickup, Emerson pots and D'Addario Chromes with it.
 
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I use Cantabile as a VST host that can load up with different configurations. One I use for practice has Hammond B-3X, Superior Drummer, AT5 for bass, Air Velvet (Rhodes and Wurli), True Pianos, Minimoog, Mellotron and ARP Solina plugins. So AT 5 was up and running already.

I installed the PA/Brainworx, scanned for new VST's and added SVT-VR forgetting I hadn't disabled AT5 which was running the Aguilar 750/DB115 which has been my go to bass amp sim since AT5 came out.

I really like the PA/Brainworx SVT-VR but the AT5 Aguilar 750/DB115 is still my favorite. I'm mostly using a 91 MiK Squier with an Aguilar AG 4P-60 pickup, Emerson pots and D'Addario Chromes with it.

Don't worry, it was a joke from my side: I found AT5 loading times a bit frustrating compared to the previous version, especially when stand alone, therefore my joke.

I have the "Custom Shop" version of AT5 with buys like Ampeg SVX suite and a few bespoke ones (like the Acoustic 18" cab) and I don't really feel like going for the "full" AT5 to unlock the editing features (I use my DAWs for that) or extra goodies like extra cab/mic placements: I came to the conclusion that even in AT4, as long as I spent positioning the virtual mics, setting levels, phase, etc, my tonal results were more anemic than loading my third-party IRs of choice. Some of them are pre-made mic blends optimised and aligned by engineers with "real" stuff and then captured in a single .wav, rather than blending software output afterwards.

Many plugins such as JST Bassforge/Toneforge and the aforementioned Brainworx have this simple IR approach which for me and I think others is often more effective and less distracting than IK Multimedia's choices. And I might be wrong, but nimbler, faster and more streamlined approaches for plugins and software are on the up in popularity nowadays.

Do you own any gear from AT's SVX suite, besides the Aguilar? If so, how would you compare them to Brainworx's counterpart? Funny that when I bought some AT SVX models around 2015, they were officially endorsed (™) by Ampeg itself, now it's Brainworx's case and IK Multimedia's stuff has been reskinned without official logos.

Re. lightweight VST host, I use Pedalboard2, a one-man, very simple program which works for my "live-in-studio" uses when a stand alone is not provided, and has no in-app things or add-ons like (IIRC) Cantabile.
 
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Funny, now when I go back and read your post I see you were kidding about AT5's slow load :) The SVT-VR loads up much quicker - pretty much instantly. My AT5 history is similar to yours, I bought SVX from the Custom shop and it's worked well for recording. I ended up buying the Total Studio Max bundle for under $100 and then bought an Axe I/O which came with AT5. I haven't check out the "VIR" feature much but have been loading third party IR's.

My Cantabile thing started because I've been using it for live keyboards. Pedalboard2 looks very good.
 
Looking for advice - I currently use the B15-N, GK800 and SVT-VR Classic. I'm trying to decide if I would use the SVT-VR channel 1 features (ie buy the full version). I tend to keep it pretty simple as far as amp controls go. Turn on amp, set input gain to where notes break up if I play hard, bass and treble at noon and master at level to match how loud band is playing.

I know its free with code today but thinking about using sale purchase for one of the Suhr amps
 
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Looking for advice - I currently use the B15-N, GK800 and SVT-VR Classic. I'm trying to decide if I would use the SVT-VR channel 1 features (ie buy the full version). I tend to keep it pretty simple as far as amp controls go. Turn on amp, set input gain to where notes break up if I play hard, bass and treble at noon and master at level to match how loud band is playing.

I know its free with code today but thinking about using sale purchase for one of the Suhr amps

Thx for the heads up! I went the "Swiss army knife" way and just got their Rocktrack V3 amp collection trusting their description, as I have no time nor means to try it at the moment. Hopefully they'll be as good as they're versatile, in the end I have the Amplitude SVX suite for a B15 model - I usually end up using their complete SVT-VR plugin anyway.
The VR-Classic is great, but channel 1 has way more meat in the midrange and the IRs are good.
 
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Just to follow up - I fell in love with playing the Plugin Alliance Ampeg B-15N VST emulation while practicing for a gig. After two weeks of learning new songs I got to the gig and SIR, who usually provide a BA-115 instead had a B15N in the backline for us!
 
Just to follow up - I fell in love with playing the Plugin Alliance Ampeg B-15N VST emulation while practicing for a gig. After two weeks of learning new songs I got to the gig and SIR, who usually provide a BA-115 instead had a B15N in the backline for us!

How did it sounds compared to what you were used to in the headphones/monitoring speakers?
I saw that the PA model is the "vintage" one with low-wattage 64/66 channels, without midrange. I have recently been using Amplitube's one which is modelled after the more modern B15R, with midrange and 60/100 watts by design. Unfortunately I've already used my trial for Brainworx and can't A/B them ATM.
I've actually quite enjoyed Amplitube's model of the SVT-CL as of lately, even if I have the great SVT-VR captured by Brainworx: with controls set similarly, it seems to retain a darker and more scooped tone that works well for heavy, detuned settings with the gain cranked up. The VR send to retain more presence in the upper midrange, which my P has in spades. I guess the IRs have a huge impact on that too (and Brainworx's are usually livelier), I should probably A/B them defeating the cab sim and using a third party IR loaded afterwards.

To follow up as well: the Rocktrack V3 I ended up getting for free instead of the B15N for redundancy's sake is actually what I thought: a good swiss army knife with a broad variety of tones and little CPU use, great for reamping stuff. I quite like the Mesa model. It's mainly a guitar plugin, but the Clean Engl model gives nice, solid-state sounding results on bass. The rest can spice up the upper spectrum when blended in with a clean low end.