AmpliTube 4 User Manual
AmpliTube 4 User Manual
AmpliTube 4 User Manual
USER MANUAL
AmpliTube 4
2
AmpliTube 4
Table of Contents
Contents 3
License Agreement 5
English 9
3 Contents
AmpliTube 4
Chapter 14 – Automation 84
14.1 - Assigning automation within each module 84
14.2 - Managing automation assignments via the Automation panel 86
Chapter 15 – Preferences 92
15.1 - Stomps, Pre and Amp Oversampling 92
15.2 - High Resolution 93
15.3 - Amps Reverb 93
15.4 - Room 93
15.5 - Cabinet Resolution 94
15.6 - Cabinet Global Bypass 94
15.7 - Tempo Source 94
4 Contents
AmpliTube 4
License Agreement
END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR IK MULTIMEDIA PRODUCT
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11) GENERAL
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questions concerning this Agreement shall be directed to:
1.1 - Introduction
AmpliTube 4 is the reigning King of Tone. It is a massive upgrade of the leading guitar and bass tone gear
modeling software that sets the new industry standard of sound variety, hyper-realism, and creative power.
AmpliTube 4 offers over 60 pieces of gear (including models from the most sought-after vintage collections
and modern day workhorses), 10 individual stomp boxes and effects, 9 amplifier preamp & power sections, 10
cabinet models, 29 vintage and modern individual speaker models, 3 high-end stage and studio mics, 2 rack
effect units, and much more… Thanks to Custom Shop integration in AmpliTube 4, you are able to constantly
expand your sonic palette through the addition of an ever expanding list of gear, including officially certified gear
from some of the top names in the industry.
AmpliTube 4 provides perfect integration with IK’s range of audio interfaces such as iRig Pro, iRig Pro Duo, and
iRig HD. AmpliTube 4 allows for instant recording and performing in the studio or on stage with full programming
at the software level.
9 1 - Overview
AmpliTube 4
Other features
• 64-bit Windows and Mac OS X Plug-in and Standalone application
• Supported Plug-in formats (64-bit only): Audio Units, VST 2.4, VST 3, AAX (Mac OSX)
• VST 2.4, VST 3, AAX (Windows)
• 6 separate modules: Tuner, Stomp, Amp, Insert effects, Cabinet + Microphone room, and Rack effects
• 2 High-precision Tuners
• Ultra-accurate analog modeling using IK’s proprietary Dynamic Saturation Modeling (DSM™) technology
• Host/DAW BPM synchronization
• Up to 96 kHz supported sampling rate
Please Note: AmpliTube 4 performs best when used with a hi-Z instrument input or a DI box and XLR
microphone input.
Do not use regular line level inputs, -10 dB or +4 dB inputs, unless you are using an active instrument or have
added an active buffer between the instrument and the line input.
10 1 - Overview
AmpliTube 4
Tuner
11 1 - Overview
AmpliTube 4
Stomp effects
12 1 - Overview
AmpliTube 4
Amp
13 1 - Overview
AmpliTube 4
Insert effects
14 1 - Overview
AmpliTube 4
15 1 - Overview
AmpliTube 4
Rack effects
This “musical layout” allows you to navigate the different rigs’ sections without effort and provides easy access
to each module’s specific controls and features.
The first step is to listen to the included presets. The presets library has been skillfully programmed by the
AmpliTube 4 designers to accurately reproduce each particular tone and to fuel your creativity.
If you want to keep an eye on your CPU usage, you can enable the CPU meter in AmpliTube’s Settings menu by
selecting Show CPU Meter. The CPU meter will appear in the top right side of the AmpliTube 4 interface.
For more information about complex guitar rigs and advanced signal routing, see Chapter 3, “Signal routing in
AmpliTube 4.”
16 1 - Overview
AmpliTube 4
The Standalone Mode of AmpliTube 4 has 7 sections. Below is a brief description of each.
Top Header
It includes Preset Manager, Preset Browser launch button, BPM Tap, and Custom Shop launch button.
17 1 - Overview
AmpliTube 4
Module Interface
Displays the selected module and its related controls. This is the module that you will use most.
AmpliTube Bar
Access the Authorization Manager, Prefs, and Software Info. Configure Automation and MIDI control.
18 1 - Overview
AmpliTube 4
Transport Bar
Controls for the Recorder or Looper can be found here, depending on which is in use. The Recorder Transport
has controls for Record, Play, Rewind, Loop on/off, Metronome on/off, BPM and playback pitch/speed. There is
also an icon to open and close the AmpliTube 4 DAW waveform display section.
The Looper Transport has controls for Play, Auto on/off, Metronome on/off and BPM.
19 1 - Overview
AmpliTube 4
20 1 - Overview
AmpliTube 4
Mac OS X
Input device
Select the audio device your guitar or bass is plugged into.
Output device
Select the audio device your speakers or headphones are plugged into.
Buffer size
The smaller the buffer size, the lower your audio latency will be. Set it as low as you can while still getting
smooth audio performance. Because lower buffer sizes result in higher CPU usage, increasing your buffer size
will often resolve audio performance issues.
MIDI input
If you are using a MIDI pedalboard to control AmpliTube, select it here.
Windows
In addition to the previously listed options, the Windows version has the following options:
Technology
Options are ASIO or DirectSound. It is highly recommended that you select ASIO and use your audio device’s
ASIO driver. If your audio device does not have an ASIO driver, you may choose to install the universal ASIO
driver, ASIO4ALL. DirectSound is never recommended.
When using ASIO, you must select the same audio device for both the Input device and Output device. Select
your audio device as the Output device first, then select the same device as your Input device.
Panel…
Open your audio device’s control panel from here to set your buffer size.
To use an iRig HD, iRig PRO, or similar 24-bit iRig USB audio device from IK Multimedia in Windows, ASIO4ALL
is required. To setup ASIO4ALL, first download and install the latest version from www.asio4all.com.
Once installed, open the Audio MIDI Setup and select ASIO for your Technology, and ASIO4ALL v2 for your
Input and Output device.
Click the wrench icon to enter advanced mode, then activate your iRig and your primary audio device’s audio
output. For additional ASIO4ALL settings, please consult the ASIO4ALL v2 Instruction Manual.
If you are using AmpliTube 4 as a plugin in a DAW, activate live monitoring on the mixer channel where you have
AmpliTube inserted. Consult your DAW’s user manual for more information on monitoring plugins live.
Set your audio device’s input gain so that AmpliTube’s INPUT LEVEL meter is starting to go into the red, then
back off just a touch.
The AmpliTube 4 OUTPUT LEVEL is controlled by the MASTER knob. Try to keep the OUTPUT LEVEL just
below the point of clipping. If possible, try to accomplish this in AmpliTube’s signal path by using proper gain
staging and the Cab Room mixer. As a last resort, the MASTER knob provides a quick fix for output level woes.
Pro Tip: if you find that clean tones are too quiet and lead tones are too loud across the board, this probably
means that the input gain on your audio device is set too low. Some presets may still have too much or too little
bite for your particular instrument. Adjust the INPUT knob on these presets for your guitar, then resave them.
Tuning
First things first, so let’s take a moment to tune up, using AmpliTube’s standard Tuner.
3. Play one string at a time and check that the Cents indicator is as close to 0 as possible, both in the graphic
Tuner Interface and in the Cents display.
Loading a preset
Now you are finally ready to rock. Peruse the Presets for instant gratification. If you don’t own any additional
Custom Shop Gear Collections yet, stick to the presets for the Classic Brit Collection and AmpliTube Free.
If you want to search presets by keywords, attributes, or apply filters to your search, click Preset Browser and
enjoy its smart engine. Also, be sure to check out the IK Preset Exchange, where you can share your presets
with the AmpliTube user community, and download presets that other users have created. To get there, click the
PRESET EXCHANGE button from the Preset Browser, or login from your User Area at
www.ikmultimedia.com/userarea/preset-xchange.
can browse the AMP MODEL section (labeled “PRE MODEL” on some models) with the previous/next arrow
buttons, or by clicking the model name and selecting a model from the pop-up menu. Use the control knobs on
the amp interface to dial in the ultimate tone.
Click the top tab in the column of 5 vertical tabs on the right side to open the Cabs browser. The other tabs
open the Speakers browser, the Mics browser, the Rooms browser, and the Mixer, which we will cover later.
Use the scroll bar below the cabs gallery to browse the available cab models, then click on a cab to select it.
You can also browse the cab models through the traditional pop-up menu by clicking the cab name next to the
MATCH button, or with the previous/next arrow buttons.
Use the previous/next arrow buttons or click an “Empty” slot to select one of the many available effects models
from the stompbox menu.
To add an Insert or Rack effect, click Insert A or Rack A in the Module/Rig Selector for the chosen effects page.
Use the previous/next arrow buttons or click an “Empty” slot to select an effect model from the menu.
Stomp and rack effects can be rearranged with drag and drop. To change the order of your effects, grab a
model and move it to where you want it, then drop it in place. The other effects will move over accordingly.
The Custom Shop is a separate application where you can browse all available gear for AmpliTube 4, and
purchase Gear Collections, or just the individual models you want. For more information on using the Custom
Shop, please see the separate AmpliTube Custom Shop User Manual.
Select routing configuration #2 or #6, and click the Input Type button to change from MONO to STEREO IN.
The signal path flows according to the routing diagram display in the Module/Rig Selector from there. The new
Insert effects come in between the preamp and power amp sections of the Amp module.
Any module can be bypassed by clicking the power button in the top right corner of the Module/Rig Selector.
The Noise Gate allows you to minimize the amount of unnecessary noise, especially if you are using high gain.
Threshold
This sets the threshold level for the signal. When the signal drops below the set threshold level, the noise gate
silences the signal. Usually, keep the threshold level at the lowest possible value (fully counterclockwise) and set
it higher only when you need to activate the gate.
Release
It sets the gate release time. Higher values will result in a gate that takes a longer amount of time to close again,
when the input signal drops below the threshold.
Depth
This control determines how much the signal is attenuated when the gate closes, from -20 dB to -100 dB.
Default is -60 dB, which is a strong attenuation that usually works fine in most cases. If you need to add more
attenuation, increase this parameter.
Following the mini-Tuner and data displays are controls for the individual volume and pan settings for each
module. Adjusting these controls will only affect the volume and pan for the currently selected module.
Next, you will find controls for phase and D.I. The D.I. injects a direct input into the mixer from the Stomps
output, bypassing the Amp, Insert and Cab sections. A common use for the D.I. is to inject some direct bass
guitar into your bass signal. The D.I. controls are linked to the phase and D.I. level in the Cab Room mixer, which
is covered in Chapter 9 – The cab and mic room.
At the tail end of the Input/Output Bar is the Master volume. This is the very final component in AmpliTube’s
signal path.
AmpliTube 4 provides you with great sounding presets of many instantly recognizable classic guitar tones. There
are two ways to explore presets in AmpliTube 4 – either through the preset menu, or the Preset Browser.
Click the Preset name to open the pop-up menu. You can browse presets from AmpliTube or any of the many
Custom Shop collections, or by officially certified brand partner in the Custom Shop sub-menu.
The DELETE button will delete the currently loaded preset.
When you alter an existing preset, you can click SAVE AS to save it as a new preset. The “save as” dialog
provides you with fields to fill in identifying information which you can later search in the Preset Browser.
33 4 - Presets
AmpliTube 4
Pro Tip: you can search for AmpliTube Free presets by typing “CS Free” into the search field. Search for all IK
Multimedia Factory Presets that contain the free Delay, Chorus, Flanger, Compressor, Volume, or Wah by typing
“CS” before the generic effect name.
34 4 - Presets
AmpliTube 4
35 4 - Presets
AmpliTube 4
The Tuner is the first module. On the Module/Rig Selector, click Tuner to open its interface
On / Off switch
This switch turns the Tuner module on and off. It is linked to the bypass button in the Module/Rig Selector.
Mute
The Mute switch allows you to silence the guitar signal while tuning, a very useful feature for live performance. It
is linked to the mute button in the Module/Rig Selector.
Tune
The Tune Display shows the tuning reference being used. The default reference is 440 Hz, but it can be changed
to a different value (from 425 Hz to 455 Hz) by clicking on the display. When the pointer appears, use the
backspace key and cursor control keys on your computer keyboard to edit the value.
Tune display
This shows the detected note name (e.g., C, C#, D etc.) A mini-Tuner is also visible from the Input/Output bar.
Cents display
This shows how many cents sharp (+) or flat (-) you are in relation to the note that you are tuning.
5.2 - UltraTuner
UltraTuner™ utilizes a highly responsive patented tuner engine that makes it the most accurate instrument tuner
and calibration tool available and is precise to 1/100th of a cent — far beyond human perception of pitch. This
fast response makes tuning a mechanical instrument like guitar or bass a breeze. UltraTuner’s precision also
makes it the perfect software tuner for calibrating electronic instruments like vintage synths. It can also be a
useful tool for luthiers and guitar techs, helping them to perfectly set up an instrument.
To access UltraTuner, click the Tuner selector below the Tuner to switch to the UltraTuner interface.
On / Off switch
This switch turns the Tuner module on and off. It is linked to the bypass button in the Module/Rig Selector.
Mute
The Mute switch allows you to silence the guitar signal while tuning, a very useful feature for live performance. It
is linked to the mute button in the Module/Rig Selector.
UltraTuner offers three types of visualization to help you get your instrument tuned pitch-perfect.
Stage display
The Stage display offers a unique, simple interface that’s very easy to see in low-light conditions. It features a
graduated flat and sharp display to indicate degrees from pitch.
The letter in the center shows the detected note. When the note is in tune, the central, large LED turns green.
UltraTuner utilizes a large display for tuning, so it is easily visible from a distance on stage.
Click MUTE to silence the guitar or bass signal while tuning.
Studio display
The Studio display provides a wave visualization that gives qualitative feedback of the pitch deviation as a
simple right/left motion of the real waveform of your instrument. A flat note will move the waveform to the left,
while a sharp note will move it to the right. A dead-center-pitched note is represented by a still waveform.
Pitch-tracking display
The pitch-tracking visualization allows players to monitor pitch over time. This is especially useful in the studio
for monitoring pitch of non-chromatic instruments like vocals, violin and brass etc., on recordings over time, and
very useful for vocal and instrument pitch training.
The engine of UltraTuner allows it to detect the “beating effect,” which often happens on guitars with single-coil
pickups. Such pickups have a strong magnetic pull that interferes with the string vibration, generating a parasitic
frequency that mixes with the string’s natural frequency and creates a warbling effect, also known as “stratitis”
among guitar techs.
If you are going to tune a stringed instrument like a guitar, we strongly recommend you exclusively play the
string to be tuned and stop all the others, because they too can introduce beating effects.
Reference A4
The reference note A4 is traditionally set to 440 Hz, but is possible to set it to another frequency. Click the value
to edit it. Frequencies ranging from 425 to 455 are valid.
Transposition
This offsets the detected note by a given number of semitones.
Temperament type
Western fretted instruments such as guitar and bass usually follow Equal temperament. Other instruments
require different temperaments.
To access the Stomp module, click the Stomp button located on the Module/Rig Selector.
The Stomp module flexibility allows you to freely configure six stomp pedal effects at a time. In fact, you can use
the Stomp module as two independent six pedal stomp setups or as one twelve pedal stomp setup. Just select
one of the eight signal path presets located on the Module/Rig Selector.
The six stomp effect slots are displayed in the module interface as “empty” slots on a wooden pedal board.
To select a stomp unit, click on one of the six stomp slots (where it says “Empty”), navigate through each
category (Modulation, Delay, etc.), and choose one of the stomp models.
Another navigation option is to scroll through the different stomp boxes using the previous/next arrows.
When you adjust a rotary or slide control on the stomp box, that control’s value is displayed in the Selected
Parameter Display.
AmpliTube 4 comes with several different amp types and can be expanded by a great many more amp models
from the Custom Shop.
To access the Amp module, click the Amp button located on the Module/Rig Selector. There are two separate
Amp modules that can be accessed independently. Configurations consist of either Amp A, or both Amp A and
Amp B in parallel for dual amp setups. Select one of the eight routing configurations located on the Module/Rig
Selector for different rig combinations.
On / Bypass
This switch enables and disable the Amp module from AmpliTube’s signal chain. The indicator light will indicate
if the Amp model is on or bypassed.
Amp model
This is the menu where you select your amp model. On legacy models, this will be labeled PRE MODEL instead,
and will select only the preamp stage of the amplifier. On newer amp models, AMP MODEL selects the entire
amplifier topology.
Officially certified amps are categorized according to brand, while AmpliTube branded models fall into one of
four categories: Clean, Crunch, Lead, and Bass.
EQ model
This is where you select the EQ model in legacy amps.
EQ match
When EQ match is active, EQ models will automatically be matched to their Pre model counterparts by default
when a new preamp model is loaded. Switching EQ match off defeats this, and the EQ model will not change
when a new legacy Pre model is loaded.
Amp model
The final stage is the Amp model. Power amps from a variety of amp styles are available and are identified by
their power tube type.
Amp match
When Amp match is active, power amp models will automatically be matched to their Pre model counterparts
by default when a new preamp model is loaded. Switching Amp match off defeats this, and the power amp
model will not change when a new legacy Pre model is loaded.
New in AmpliTube 4 is an additional slot in the signal chain right after the amplifier pre-amp section but before
the power stage. You may recognize this slot as the effects loop or insert, and it allows you to add in up to 4
daisy chained effects for signal processing before hitting the power section.
Rack effects will be mono when used in the insert effects loop. Otherwise, insert effects function the same as
rack effect. Please see the section on Rack effects for more information.
AmpliTube has always been about realism. And now, that extreme commitment to accuracy is a part of its
completely redesigned cabinet section. Individual 12” speakers can now be swapped, and the harmonic and
physical interaction that occurs naturally between the speakers is fully replicated.
The new Cab Room feature is the most advanced cabinet section ever made, giving you a new level of
customization and flexibility never before seen in software.
Mics can be moved around in 3-dimensional space to find the perfect spot. From the main cab room scene,
grab the mic stand to move it closer or further from the cab. Grab the boom arm to change the height.
Size matters
There is a slider that will alter the perceived size of the cabinet, from 75% to 125%.
There are 4 room mics to choose from. Click a room mic icon to change your room mic. There is a slider that
lets you adjust the width of your room mics.
Each microphone channel has volume, pan, and a phase inversion switch. The D.I. channel has volume and
phase.
The D.I. signal is a direct side-chain input from the stompbox section. It bypasses the amp and cab, and
therefore does not use a microphone.
The phase knob on the D.I. channel allows you to introduce up to 20 milliseconds of delay on either the D.I. or
main signal coming from your amp. A negative setting (counterclockwise) on the phase knob will delay the D.I.
signal by up to 20 milliseconds. A positive setting (clockwise) on the phase knob will delay the main signal by up
to 20 milliseconds.
There is a main volume and pan on the mixer to help keep your levels and balance in check.
The legacy Cab interface operates similarly to the Cabinet, Microphone and Room browsers, but with a
simplified interface. Please see sections 9.1.1, 9.1.3 and 9.1.4 for more information, or consult the AmpliTube 3
User Manual.
To access the Rack module, click the Rack button located on the Module/Rig Selector.
There are two independent Rack modules featuring 4 stereo rack effects each. They can be used independently
or together for a total of 8 rack effects.
On / Bypass
This control enables/disables the Rack module from the plug-in’s signal. When the effect is on, the switch looks
red.
AmpliTube 4 operates as a standalone guitar & bass tone studio and 8-track recorder and DAW.
The recording and track controls are always accessible in the AmpliTube 4 standalone software for quick access
to recording, playback, mute, solo and more.
The DAW-style multi-track waveform display section can be accessed by clicking the multi-track icon in the
recorder bottom control bar.
Each track has an independent 3-band EQ section that allows you to fine tune the EQ on each individual track,
a pan knob for setting the track’s placement in the stereo field, and a long-throw volume fader for fine tuning the
track level, just as you would expect to find on your mixing console.
Just to the right is another track control strip that shows the various chain sections of the current track. Tap the
related icons to quickly access these sections. Just below, there is a console-style fader with a level meter for
fine tuning the volume level of the track.
Each track includes controls for FX and Record enable, Mute and Solo – identified by FX, R, M, and S. The
Record button must be enabled on your active track to be able to hear your guitar or bass live, even if you aren’t
recording. Likewise, the FX button must be active to hear your amp and effects on the track.
You can set the 8-track to automatically return to the beginning of the song when you hit stop by selecting
“Return to start on stop” in the Settings menu.
Metronome
The metronome lets you set the tempo in BPM (beats per minute) for your song, and record while monitoring the
metronome click.
To change the tempo, click the BPM value, then enter a new value from 60.0 to 240.0 BPM.
External control
You can assign play, record, and rewind via MIDI CC. To assign a transport control to a MIDI controller, open the
MIDI Control dialog by clicking MIDI on the right side of the AmpliTube bar. In the MIDI Control panel, click the
Control Change tab, then click the Global tab. Use MIDI learn to assign Play, Rec, and Rewind, or set the MIDI
CC# manually.
The play-head counter can show Measures or Time. Click the counter to switch between the two modes.
Loop
You can define loop start and end points by clicking and dragging the left and right markers on the Time Bar
to the start and end positions of the region you want to loop. You’ll notice a green area shows up when you do
this. Drag the left triangle to the beginning of your desired loop, and the right triangle to the end. Once defined,
double-click the green area to activate it, or click the loop button on the transport. Hit PLAY on the transport to
begin playback of the loop. You can de-activate the loop region by double-clicking again, or disengaging the
loop button.
As a learning tool, you can import any audio tracks into the DAW section, define loop points and use the built-
in Speed control to slow down difficult passages without affecting pitch, and use the Pitch control to change
keys without affecting speed. This feature is perfect for working out difficult solos or practicing different leads
or melodies over a series of chord changes in a backing track. Want to hear a passage at a different tempo or
pitch? Simply use the speed & pitch controls to adjust.
Punch In / Out
Punch in/out regions are defined the same way as loop regions, except the left and right markers are reversed.
Drag the left triangle past the right triangle, and the region between the markers will now turn red, indicating a
punch in/out region.
Adjust the start and end points with the triangle handles, then activate the punch in/out region with a double-
click, or by engaging the loop button in the transport, which serves an alternate purpose in punch in/out mode.
You can de-activate the punch in/out region by double-clicking the red region again, or disengaging the loop
button. Red punch in/out regions do not loop.
To record a punch in/out, set the punch in/out region and then start recording from a point prior to the punch
in/out region. During punch-in/out recording, audio will not be written to the track until the record head has
reached the punch in marker.
Punch In
Punch Out
Once the record head reaches the punch out marker, recording will stop, and normal playback will resume.
Creating a fade is done in a similar fashion: grab the triangle at the top-left of the clip. The farther from the
beginning of the region you drag the triangle, the longer the fade-in becomes. Creating a fade-out is done the
same way, only go to the top-right corner of the audio region and drag the triangle to the left.
You can access the editing commands by right-clicking the audio clip you want to edit, to open the edit menu.
These functions provide all the basic tools you need for working with audio regions.
Copy
Select Copy, and the clip will be copied to your clipboard, to be pasted in another Track and/or position.
Paste
Set the play-head in the desired position, click in the empty space in the target track and select Paste. The
audio clip in your clipboard will be pasted at the play-head position.
Split
Set the play-head in the desired split position, then select Split from the edit menu to split the selected clip.
Delete
Select Delete, and the selected audio clip will be removed from the arrangement.
Cut
From the edit menu, select Cut, and the audio clip will be deleted and stored in your clipboard, to be pasted in
another track and/or position.
AmpliTube’s Looper gives you a convenient way to record and play up to 4 loops at a time. It’s the perfect
thing for when you want to experiment and come up with cool new ideas. Now you can create your own
accompaniment and play with all sorts of different melodies, leads and chord progressions on the fly, and at the
touch of a button.
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Free mode
Click the record icon on the first loop to immediately start recording. Click the red STOP icon to close the loop, it
will seamlessly start looping.
Metronome mode
Enable the metronome by clicking the metronome icon in the transport.
Set the BPM you want by clicking on the BPM display on the right of the bottom bar. Click the record icon on
the first loop. A four beat countdown will occur before the recording starts.
Click the red STOP icon to close the loop. The loop length will be rounded to the nearest beat for a perfectly
synced loop, and it will seamlessly start looping.
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Loops 2-3-4
Loops 2-3-4 will follow the length of loop 1. Click the record icon on the available loop to start recording on next
first beat of loop 1. The recording automatically stops when loop 1 does and starts looping with it.
AUTO feature
When Auto is enabled, the loops record consecutively without the need to start the recording manually, except
for loop 1.
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The play button in the transport starts and stops playback of all the loops at the same time. You can remove
a recorded loop by right-clicking and selecting Clear, or from the Edit menu. Selecting Clear All will remove all
recorded loops at once.
External control
You can assign each loop to be muted/unmuted via MIDI CC. To assign a loop to a MIDI controller, open the
MIDI Control dialog by clicking MIDI on the right side of the AmpliTube bar. In the MIDI Control panel, click the
Control Change tab, then click the Global tab. Use MIDI Learn to assign LOOP1, LOOP2, LOOP3, and LOOP4
with just the touch of a button, or set the MIDI CC# manually.
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AmpliTube 4
AmpliTube 4 MIDI control allows you to assign MIDI control changes to parameters or commands, so you can
control AmpliTube 4 with any kind of hardware or software device able to generate MIDI Control Changes.
AmpliTube 4 responds to MIDI Control Change and Program Changes messages only. MIDI note numbers,
aftertouch, pitch bend and other types of messages are not recognized or supported.
Global MIDI control allows you to specify MIDI Control Changes that will control the selected parameter for all
presets. The parameters or commands that can be specified for Global MIDI control are:
Preset MIDI control allows you to specify MIDI Controls Changes that will control the selected parameter
specifically for the current preset.
To check that you’ve correctly setup MIDI Input, try sending MIDI Control Changes or Program Changes from
your controller while watching the MIDI message indicator in the bottom right corner of AmpliTube.
If the MIDI In has been set properly, this indicator will light up when a MIDI command is received.
1. Right-click on top of the AmpliTube 4 parameter that you want to control via MIDI and click Assign MIDI >
Learn [parameter name]…
2. Move the knob, slider, switch or pedal you want to use to control this parameter on your MIDI device and
the assignment will automatically be applied.
You can do this for all the parameters that you want to control on this preset. Remember that this assignment
is per preset and it needs be done on all the presets that you want to control. This allows you to apply different
MIDI control schemes for all your presets.
1. Click the MIDI button located on the Input/Output bar to open the MIDI Control assignment window.
3. Click on the parameter that you want to control on the left pane.
4. Click Learn.
The control assignment that you’ve created in this way (Global) is valid for all presets, and will apply any preset
loaded or newly created.
1. Click the MIDI button located on the Input/Output bar to open the MIDI Control assignment window.
2. Click Preset.
3. Click Add.
4. From the Tree menu select the current AmpliTube 4 preset parameter you’re going to control.
5. Click Learn.
The control assignment that you’ve created in this way (Preset) is valid for the current preset only and will not
apply to the other presets. This allows you to create specific MIDI assignment for each preset.
To delete all AmpliTube 4 parameters/MIDI CC# associations at once, click Clear All.
Curve
This affects the way the controlled parameter will change with the position of the MIDI control knob, slider or
pedal. Curve range is from 0 to 10 with 5 as default.
• When it’s set to 5 the control will be linear, meaning the placing the MIDI controller at one half of its travel will
result in the controlled parameter to also set at 50% of its range.
• Setting lower values on Curve will result in an expanded control curve.
• Setting higher values on Curve will result in a compressed control curve.
Latch
When it is set to off, the selected parameter will temporarily stay to the value imposed by the external MIDI
Control. When it is set to on, the selected parameter will toggle between Min and Max values each time the MIDI
Control arrives. Use this with footswitches or switches in general, to control on/off parameters on AmpliTube 4.
Receive channel
To change the MIDI channel #, click the MIDI Channel display and scroll up to select from 1-16.
Chapter 14 – Automation
AmpliTube 4 has a versatile and flexible Automation engine. It allows you to assign automation within each
module and via the Automation panel.
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Choose which DAW Automation parameter # you are going to use for the selected AmpliTube 4 parameter.
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The Automation Panel has two panes. The left pane is called Plug-in Parameters, and the right pane is called
DAW Automation.
This Panel can also be used to recap the Automation assignment made with the procedure described in 14.1.
Plug-in Parameters
The Plug-in Parameters pane displays AmpliTube 4 Global and Module parameters, as well as all the Stomp,
Amp, Cab, and Rack Modules gear.
Considering that AmpliTube 4 offers dual rig setups, each Module is listed separately as Stomp A, Stomp B,
Amp A, Amp B, Cab A, Cab B, and Rack A, Rack B.
The Plug-in Parameters pane allows you to select which AmpliTube 4 parameter you are going to assign to
Automation.
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DAW Automation
The DAW Automation Pane lists the 16 Automation parameters that are declared to the DAW.
These parameters names (Param 1 to Param 16) are fixed because most DAWs do not support automation
parameter name changes while the plug- in is open.
Through the DAW Automation pane, you will be able to select which DAW Automation parameter # you’re going
to use for the AmpliTube 4 parameter selected on the Plug-in Parameters Pane. For example, if you’ve selected
a Time on the Plug-in Parameters pane and then clicked Add, the DAW Automation Pane will display:
This means:
• Param 1: DAW Automation parameter number (parameter #1 in this example.)
• Wah: the selected Stomp model.
• A: Rig A.
• Wah: the name of the parameter to be automated.
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Assignment procedure
The easiest way to assign automation is within each module, as described in 14.1. However, you can also use
the Automation panel to manage your parameters (move up/down), use the Remove All option, etc.
To assign an AmpliTube 4 parameter to one of the 16 DAW Automation parameters via the Automation Panel,
please follow these steps:
2. On the Plug-in Parameters Pane, select which AmpliTube 4 parameter you are going to assign to
Automation.
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3. On the DAW Automation pane, select which DAW Automation parameter # you are going to use for the
AmpliTube 4 parameter selected on step #2.
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AmpliTube 4
To remove a particular assignment, select it in the DAW Automation pane and click Remove.
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To move an assignment up or down in the parameter list, click the Move Up/Move Down arrows.
This is a very useful feature because it saves you from having to remove the assignment from “Param 1” and
create a new assignment for “Param 2.”
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Chapter 15 – Preferences
AmpliTube’s Preferences can be accessed by clicking the PREFS button on the left side of the AmpliTube bar.
The Preferences menu will provide a number of options for balancing audio quality and CPU performance.
Generally speaking, you should leave the Preferences in their default settings, unless you are experiencing
performance issues.
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Digital: when this is enabled, Amplifiers with built-in reverb will use a digital algorithmic emulation of a spring
reverb. This option, still sounding great, is a less realistic alternative and will also sound the same on all amps.
15.4 - Room
Real Ambience: AmpliTube 4 will use impulse response (based on real rooms and spaces) to achieve maximum
realism and deepness from the ambience you’re adding to your sound. This will take a little bit more CPU
power than the Digital option, but it will allow you to choose between different types of spaces and ambiences
delivering an outstanding sound.
Digital: AmpliTube 4 will use a high-quality digital reverberation algorithm to generate the ambience you’re
adding to your sound. This will take less CPU power than the Real Ambience option, but you will not be able to
select different spaces.
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Low: offers a good sound quality at a very low CPU usage. This option has to be used only when you really
need to save CPU power as the realism and musicality of the speakers is not really expressed at its maximum
potential under this setting. Also, this setting should not be used on bass cabinets as the low frequency
extension could be excessively limited.
Host/Global: The BPM Sync Tempo source is the Host Application Tempo when AmpliTube 4 is used as a plug-
in inside of a DAW.
When you use AmpliTube 4 as standalone, the default Global tempo is 120 BPM, and it can be set to different
values on the metronome “BPM” value in the Transport.
Preset:
The BPM Sync Tempo source is the value saved with the Preset.
When set to Preset, the BPM value is displayed in the BPM display in orange, as shown below.
To save a BPM value to a particular Preset, click Preferences > enable the Preset option > and click OK. In the
BPM display, click the BPM value, delete it, type a new one, and click Save.
Pro Tip: The tempo can be overridden with the TAP button in Host or Preset mode. Tap at least 4 times.
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iRig Stomp I/O is a brand new type of USB pedalboard controller that integrates a professional, high-resolution,
MFi certified audio interface with MIDI input/output for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and PC. Sturdy and robust, yet
easily transportable, iRig Stomp I/O features four onboard metal stomp switches plus an expression pedal with
a switch, all with LED indicators. To further extend its control possibilities, you can connect up to 2 additional
switches or pedals.
Let’s take a deeper look at how it integrates with AmpliTube for total control over every aspect of your tone.
The Preferences menu will provide a number of options for balancing audio quality and CPU performance.
16.1 - Connection
Connect the iRig Stomp I/O to your computer by using the included USB cable. The Power supply is not
required when the Stomp I/O is used with AmpliTube for Mac/PC as it is bus powered. Note that Stomp I/O
works with AmpliTube standalone version only and will not work with the plug-in version.
Launch AmpliTube standalone (version 4.5.1 or later) by double clicking the AmplTube icon in your application
folder on Mac or in your start menu on Windows, the connection with Stomp I/O will happen automatically. If
you wish to change any setting (e.g. use a different output device or modify the buffer size) access the AUDIO
MIDI SETUP settings from the AmpliTube top bar.
Please note that if you change MIDI input and then you wish to restore connection with Stomp I/O later, you
have to select “iRig Stomp IO Control” if you are on Mac, or “MIDIIN2 (iRig Stomp IO)” if you are on Windows..
Mac Windows
Also, using different combinations of foot switch, you can access several useful AmpliTube functions like:
• Preset Mode
• Stomp Mode
• Tuner
• Tap Tempo
• Looper
Each time you change Mode on Stomp I/O, AmpliTube will reflect this moving to the current module interface.
The 128 presets are divided into banks of four presets each. Recalling presets is done by pressing the
corresponding switches 1 2 3 4 on the Stomp I/O.
To switch bank press and hold either switch 1 (for bank up) or switch 2 (for bank down). In upper left corner of
the AmpliTube interface you can see current bank of four presets.
Presets Banks can be managed and organized from the AmpliTube “MIDI Control” section.
Open the “MIDI Control” section from the MIDI button in the bottom right part of the AmpliTube interface.
From here it is possible to manage the association between presets and program change.
Just click on a slot and select the desired preset from the drop down menu.
To remove an association, select the target slot and click the REMOVE button.
The built-in pedal is automatically assigned to the first pedal stomp model from the left found in the current
preset (like Wah, Volume etc...). If no pedal stomp is found, the built-in pedal will remain unassigned.
Move to the next loop by pressing switch 2 or to the previous loop by pressing the switch 1. The
current loop is indicated by an arrow in AmpliTube.
You can erase the selected loop by pressing and holding switch 4, otherwise a simple press on
switch 4 will activate the Global Play of the Looper.
• Click the START button to start the calibration process. A pop-up will ask you to set the pedal to its
minimum range (heel-down)
• Set the pedal to its minimum range, and click OK to confirm
• Now the pop-up will ask you to set the pedal to its maximum range (toe-down)
• Set the pedal to its maximum range, and click OK to complete the calibration
Check the calibration status making sure that the pedal can easily reach the minimum and maximum values in
the calibration bar.
www.ikmultimedia.com
AmpliTube®, DSM™, are trademarks or registered trademarks property of IK Multimedia Production Srl. All
other product names and images, trademarks and artists names are the property of their respective owners,
which are in no way associated or affiliated with IK Multimedia. Product names are used solely for the purpose
of identifying the specific products that were studied during IK Multimedia’s sound model development and
for describing certain types of tones produced with IK Multimedia’s digital modeling technology. Use of these
names does not imply any cooperation or endorsement.