Of course, there are the usual 6V6, 6L6, E元4 and EL84, but Bias Amp 2 adds additional tube models, the 6550 and KT88, which provide the drive for many classic amps. The power amp design is a key component of the sound of a real amp, and the Power Amp section in Bias Amp 2 once again provides a wide range of customization options. The Tone Stack can be selected from a large number of options, all modeled on the tone circuitry from a variety of classic and modern amps, as well as bass and acoustic amps. These tweaks can provide subtle or less-subtle changes in the amp’s response. In the Preamp module, two sets of preamp tubes can be chosen from a list that includes the usual 12AX7 and its brethren the number of preamp stages can be dialed up, anything from 1 to 5-think Mesa Boogie cascading gain stages-and the tube bias can be adjusted. Now, admittedly this might exceed the needs of many players, who require nothing more than a few turns on the main Gain and Tone knobs when searching for “their sound”, but guitarists who gravitate to Bias Amp 2 will be the ones for whom tone is more of an obsession, and they’ll welcome the level of fine-tuning available here with open arms. This is where the virtual amp circuitry of an individual model can be tweaked extensively for a more specific response and tonal character. Each one calls up a view of the relevant componentry including glowing tubes that glow brighter as the Gain is advanced and other internal elements. The next four components make up the heart of the models: Preamp, Tone Stack, Power Amp and Transformer. For users who might want to emulate their favorite tone down to their preferred settings on the real thing, this might require a little extra work, but once those settings are found, they can be saved with the amp as a user preset. But there’s a graphics panel that lets the user customize the appearance of each amp model, specifying just about every detail from the appearance of the tolex (amp covering) and grille cloth to the knobs and panel itself.īias Amp 2 maintains the same full set of knobs for all amps, unlike some amp sims that tailor the layout to the specific amp being emulated. The first component-Custom Panel-is the display of the virtual amp’s control panel, where the player would make tone and distortion settings just as with a real amp. This detail extends even to the amp graphics. This is where you’ll find a level of tweakability that distinguishes this amp sim from most others. The component chain and editing panel are, naturally, the heart of Bias Amp 2. At the very bottom are basic input and output level calibration adjustments-as distinct from the Gain and Master level knobs in the amp sims, which affect the tone and distortion-along with a Noise Gate and Reverb (room simulator). The order of the actual components is fixed, as it would be in an real amp, with the exception of two floating utility EQs. Selecting one calls it up in the edit panel below and this is where the various customizations and design tweaks are made.
Just below that is a signal chain graphic, showing all the editable components of each amp. At the very top are menus for selecting amp presets (both factory and user), saving edited/customized versions, and other settings. The Interfaceīias Amp 2 presents the user with a front panel consisting of several distinct sections. So let’s take a more detailed look at some of the features that Bias Amp 2 brings to the table.
And Elite adds a set of classic Celestion cabinets. Professional includes more amps and cabs than Standard-there’s a handy comparison chart on the Positive Grid website-along with the Amp Match and IR Loader features (see below).
It comes in three versions: Standard, Professional, and Elite. Bias Amp 2 is available both as a standalone application and in all the usual plug-in formats.