AmpliTube 4 User Manual

AmpliTube 4 USER MANUAL

AmpliTube 4

AmpliTube 4 is available in different versions. The difference between the different versions is in the number of gear models included and in the features available. While consulting this manual, please refer to the specific gear models and features available in the AmpliTube 4 version you are using.

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AmpliTube 4 Table of Contents Contents

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License Agreement

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English Chapter 1 – AmpliTube 4 overview 1.1 - Introduction 1.2 - What’s new in AmpliTube 4 1.3 - Plug-in architecture 1.4 - Using the interface 1.4.1 - Standalone interface 1.4.2 - Plug-in interface Chapter 2 – Getting started with AmpliTube 4 2.1 - Using AmpliTube 4 as a standalone application 2.1.1 - Audio MIDI Setup 2.2 - Tune up, turn on… rock out 2.3 - Building your rig 2.4 - Getting more gear in the Custom Shop Chapter 3 – Signal routing 3.1 - The Module / Rig selector 3.2 - The Input / Output bar Chapter 4 – Presets and the Preset Browser 4.1 - The Preset Menu 4.2 - The Preset Browser 4.3 - The Preset Exchange 4.4 - Importing legacy presets Chapter 5 – The Tuner module 5.1 - The standard Tuner 5.2 - UltraTuner Chapter 6 – The Stomp module 6.1 - Universal controls 6.2 - Drag & Drop 6.3 - Rack effects in the pedal chain Chapter 7 – The Amp module 7.1 - Universal controls 7.2 - Legacy model controls Chapter 8 – The Insert effects module 8.1 - Stomp effects in the insert effects chain Chapter 9 – The Cab and Mic room 9.1 - Cab room sections 9.1.1 - Cabinet browser 9.1.2 - Speaker browser 9.1.3 - Microphone browser 9.1.4 - Room browser

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AmpliTube 4 9.1.5 - The mixer section 9.2 - The legacy cab interface Chapter 10 – The Rack effects module 10.1 - Universal controls 10.2 - Drag & Drop 10.3 - Stomp effects in the effects rack Chapter 11 – The Multitrack Recorder 11.1 - Creating a project 11.2 - Importing audio 11.3 - Track controls 11.4 - Transport and global controls 11.5 - Time and navigation bar 11.6 - Editing and arranging in the waveform display 11.7 - Exporting Audio Chapter 12 – The Looper 12.1 - Recording loops 12.2 - Loop management 12.3 - Exporting loops Chapter 13 – MIDI control 13.1 - MIDI configuration 13.2 - Assigning Controllers 13.3 - Additional Parameters on MIDI Control Window Chapter 14 – Automation 14.1 - Assigning automation within each module 14.2 - Managing automation assignments via the Automation panel Chapter 15 – Preferences 15.1 - Stomps, Pre and Amp Oversampling 15.2 - High Resolution 15.3 - Amps Reverb 15.4 - Room 15.5 - Cabinet Resolution 15.6 - Cabinet Global Bypass 15.7 - Tempo Source

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AmpliTube 4 License Agreement END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR IK MULTIMEDIA PRODUCT Please read this document carefully before breaking the seal on the media package. This agreement licenses the enclosed software to you and contains warranty and liability disclaimers. By breaking the seal on the media envelope, you are confirming to have taken notice of terms and conditions of this agreement and you acknowledge your acceptance of the software as well as your acceptance of the terms of this agreement. If you do not wish to do so, do not break the seal. Instead, promptly return the entire package, including the unopened media package, to the dealer from whom you have obtained it, for a full refund. 1) DEFINITIONS “EULA” means this end user license agreement. “IK Multimedia Product” means the software program included in the enclosed package, and all related updates supplied by IK Multimedia. “IK Multimedia Product” means the software program and hardware (if any) included in the enclosed package, the related documentation, models, multimedia content (such as animation, sound and graphics) and all related updates supplied by IK Multimedia. “Not for resale (NFR) Version” means a version of IK Multimedia Product, so identified, is intended for review and evaluation purposes, only. 2) LICENSE The “IK Multimedia Product” is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. The “IK Multimedia Product” is licensed, not sold. This EULA grants you the rights as specified here below. All other actions and means of usage are reserved to the written permission of the right holder IK Multimedia Production Srl: Applications Software. The “IK Multimedia Product” may be used only by you. You may install and use the “IK Multimedia Product”, or any prior version thereof for the same operating system, on up to three (3) computers, provided that (a) each computer is owned by (or leased to) and under the exclusive control of the licensee; (b) the program(s) shall NOT be used simultaneously on more than one machine, and (c) any computer(s) with IK Multimedia software installed shall not be sold, rented, leased, loaned or otherwise be removed from the licensee’s possession without first removing (uninstalling) the licensed software, except as provided in Paragraph 4 (below) pertaining to “Software Transfer”. 5

License Agreement

AmpliTube 4 Storage/Network use. You may also store or install a copy of the “IK Multimedia Product” on a storage device, such as a network server, used only to install or run the “IK Multimedia Product” on your other computers over an internal network; however, you must acquire and dedicate a distinct license for each user of the “IK Multimedia Product” from the storage device. Any given license for the “IK Multimedia Product” may not be shared or used concurrently or otherwise on different computers or by different developers in a given organization. 3) AUTHORIZATION CODE The “IK Multimedia Product” only functions when you have authorized it. The “IK Multimedia Product” will be authorized upon completing the authorization procedure. Once your product is authorized, you may use it. You agree to follow the authorization procedure and will provide true, accurate and complete information about yourself. If you provide any information that is untrue, inaccurate, not correct or incomplete, or IK Multimedia has reasonable grounds to suspect that such information is untrue, inaccurate, not correct or incomplete, IK Multimedia has the right to suspend or to revoke the license. The termination of the license shall be without prejudice to any rights, whatsoever, of IK Multimedia. 4) DESCRIPTION OF OTHER RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS Limitations on Reverse Engineering, Decompilation, and Disassembly. You may not reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the “IK Multimedia Product”, except and only to the extent that such activity is expressly permitted by applicable law notwithstanding this limitation of components. The “IK Multimedia Product” is licensed as a single product. Its component parts may not be separated for use on more than one computer. Not for Resale Version. If the “IK Multimedia Product” is labeled “Not for Resale” or “NFR” or “Evaluation Copy”, then, notwithstanding other sections of this EULA, you may not sell, or otherwise transfer the “IK Multimedia Product”. Rental. You may not rent, lease, or lend the “IK Multimedia Product” to any party. Software Transfer. You may not transfer, license or sublicense your rights as Licensee of the software or any IK Multimedia product, as licensed to you under this agreement without prior written consent of the rights owner. The carrier on which the IK Multimedia product has been distributed may be transferred or otherwise made available to any third party only with the prior written consent of the rights owner and provided that (a) the original media and license(s) accompany the carrier and (b) the party transferring the media does not retain a copy of the media. Online Purchase Withdrawal Right. If you purchase an “IK Multimedia Product” from the IK Multimedia Production srl Online Shop, you have fourteen (14) days to withdraw your purchase from the date you receive it. We will give you a full refund within 14 days of you exercising this right of withdrawal. You must however do 6

License Agreement

AmpliTube 4 this within the fourteen (14) day period. The “IK Multimedia Product” must be returned in ‘as new’ condition. This includes all contents and packaging, which must not be damaged in any way. Once you break the seal, you lose your right of withdrawal. Right of withdrawal does not apply to IK Multimedia Products purchased as downloadable versions (Digital Delivery). To exercise the withdrawal right, you must contact IK Multimedia at www.ikmultimedia.com/contact-us and confirm your wish to a refund within the fourteen (14) day period. 5) UPGRADES If the “IK Multimedia Product” is labeled or otherwise identified by IK Multimedia as an “upgrade”, you must be properly licensed to use a product identified by IK Multimedia as being eligible for the upgrade in order to use the “IK Multimedia Product”. An “IK Multimedia Product” labeled or otherwise identified by IK Multimedia as an upgrade replaces and/or supplements the product that formed the basis for your eligibility for such upgrade. You may use the resulting upgraded product only in accordance with the terms of this EULA. If the “IK Multimedia Product” is an upgrade of a component of a package of software programs that you licensed as a single product, the “IK Multimedia Product” may be used and transferred only as part of that single product package and may not be separated for use on more than one computer. 6) DUAL-MEDIA SOFTWARE You may receive the “IK Multimedia Product” in more than one medium. You may not loan, rent, lease, or otherwise transfer the other medium to another user, except as part of the permanent transfer (as provided above) of the “IK Multimedia Product”. 7) LIMITED WARRANTY IK Multimedia warrants to the original purchaser of the computer software product, for a period of ninety (90) days following the date of original purchase, that under normal use, the software program and the user documentation are free from defects that will materially interfere with the operation of the program as described in the enclosed user documentation. 8) WARRANTY CLAIMS To make a warranty claim under the above limited warranty, please return the product to the point of purchase, accompanied by proof of purchase, your name, your return address and a statement of the defect, or send the CD(s) to us at the below address within ninety (90) days of purchase. Include a copy of the dated purchase receipt, your name, your return address and a statement of the defect. IK Multimedia or its authorized dealer will use reasonable commercial efforts to repair or replace the product and return it to you (postage prepaid) or issue to you a credit equal to the purchase price, at its option.

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License Agreement

AmpliTube 4 9) LIMITATIONS ON WARRANTY IK Multimedia warrants only that the program will perform as described in the user documentation. No other advertising, description or representation, whether made by a IK Multimedia dealer, distributor, agent or employee, shall be binding upon IK Multimedia or shall change the terms of this warranty. EXCEPT AS STATED ABOVE, IK MULTIMEDIA MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THIS PRODUCT. IK MULTIMEDIA DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY THAT THE SOFTWARE IS FIT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO A NINETY (90) DAY DURATION OF THIS LIMITED EXPRESS WARRANTY AND IS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMED. IK MULTIMEDIA SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES, EVEN IF IK MULTIMEDIA IS ADVISED OF OR AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THIS MEANS THAT IK MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION SRL SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR THE LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, OR FOR DAMAGES OR COSTS AS A RESULT OF LOSS OF TIME, DATA OR USE OF THE SOFTWARE, OR FROM ANY OTHER CAUSE EXCEPT THE ACTUAL COST OF THE PRODUCT. IN NO EVENT SHALL IK MULTIMEDIA LIABILITY EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THIS PRODUCT. 10) CHOICE OF LAW You agree that any and all claims, suits or other disputes arising from your use of the software shall be determined in accordance with the laws of Italy, in the event IK Multimedia, is made a party thereto. You agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the court in Modena, Italy for all actions, whether in contract or in tort, arising from your use or purchase of the software. 11) GENERAL This Agreement contains the complete agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements or understandings, whether oral or written. All questions concerning this Agreement shall be directed to: IK Multimedia Production Srl Via dell’Industria 46 41122 Modena Italy

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License Agreement

AmpliTube 4 Chapter 1 – AmpliTube 4 overview 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.

1.2 - What’s new in AmpliTube 4 •

5 section “Cab Room” with cabinet model selection, speaker selection, mic placement, room selection, selectable room mics, and a full audio signal mixer for all mics and DI

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New 3D visualization with two movable microphones that allow you to mic the cabinet exactly as you would in a real world studio and live environment

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Replace individual speakers in cabinets (12” speaker models) with 29 individual speaker models available, and more available through the Custom Shop

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Hyper-Realistic tone — Dynamic Response Modeling provides real amp response and feel — models dynamic relationship and interaction between power amp and speakers, plus physical and harmonic interaction between individual speakers, cabinet and room construction and mics

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New “Garage” acoustic space

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New Effects Loop between preamp and power amp

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Rack effects can be used as stomp effects and stomp effects can be used in rack section

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UltraTuner – the world’s most precise digital tuner accurate to 1/100th cent

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Hyper-Realistic Acoustic Guitar Sim Pedal converts electric guitar signal into multiple styles of acoustic guitars

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5 new British Amp models and matching cabs based on classic British tones from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, & ‘90s

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8-track built-in multitrack recorder and DAW enables you to quickly capture ideas or even record a full 8-track composition in the standalone application without the need to open a DAW and with the convenience of AmpliTube superior quality audio processing*

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4-Track Looper for capturing and layering ideas quickly and easily (Standalone version).

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1 - Overview

AmpliTube 4 Other features •

64-bit Windows and Mac OS X Plug-in and Standalone application

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Supported Plug-in formats (64-bit only): Audio Units, VST 2.4, VST 3, AAX (Mac OSX)

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VST 2.4, VST 3, AAX (Windows)

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6 separate modules: Tuner, Stomp, Amp, Insert effects, Cabinet + Microphone room, and Rack effects

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2 High-precision Tuners

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Ultra-accurate analog modeling using IK’s proprietary Dynamic Saturation Modeling (DSM™) technology

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Host/DAW BPM synchronization

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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.

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1 - Overview

AmpliTube 4

1.3 - Plug-in architecture AmpliTube 4 is set up as a traditional guitar rig to ensure predictable results and real world flexibility. The user interface is simple and easy to navigate but also allows you to set up complex guitar rigs and advanced signal paths. The interface is divided into 6 modules: Tuner

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AmpliTube 4 Stomp effects

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AmpliTube 4 Amp

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AmpliTube 4 Insert effects

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AmpliTube 4 Cab and mic room

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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.”

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1 - Overview

AmpliTube 4 1.4 - Using the interface AmpliTube 4 works as a 64-bit Plug-in or Standalone application.

1.4.1 - Standalone interface

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.

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AmpliTube 4 Module / Rig Selector Select the module that you want to display, mono or stereo input, and the signal path routing configuration.

Module Interface Displays the selected module and its related controls. This is the module that you will use most.

Input / Output Bar Manage the Input and Output levels, the Noise Gate, and several module related controls from here.

AmpliTube Bar Access the Authorization Manager, Prefs, and Software Info. Configure Automation and MIDI control.

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AmpliTube 4 Eight Track Recorder Panel / 4 Track Looper Toggles between the Recorder and Looper to record up to eight tracks with full DAW editing and mixing, or stack up to 4 perfectly synced loops for jamming. Recorder tracks have buttons to enable FX, record, mute and solo, plus EQ, pan and level controls. Looper has 4 synced loop reels, each with independent pan and volume.

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.

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AmpliTube 4 1.4.2 - Plug-in interface

When using AmpliTube 4 as a Plug-in, the interface has 5 modules: •

Top Header

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Module / Rig Selector

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Module Interface

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Input / Output Bar

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AmpliTube Bar

See section 1.4.1 for a brief description of each.

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AmpliTube 4 Chapter 2 – Getting started with AmpliTube 4 2.1 - Using AmpliTube 4 as a standalone application As a standalone application, AmpliTube 4 allows you to have all the functionality and flexibility of the plug-in in a self-contained software processor. For example, you can use AmpliTube 4 for live performances when there is no need for a complex sequencer setup or in a second computer dedicated to virtual effects. On Windows, launch AmpliTube 4 from the application folder in C:\Program Files\IK Multimedia\AmpliTube 4 or from Start menu > All apps > IK Multimedia > AmpliTube 4. On Mac OS X, launch AmpliTube 4 from your Applications folder or from Launchpad. When launching AmpliTube 4 standalone for the first time, you need to set the audio input and output, and MIDI input if you are using a MIDI pedalboard. This is accomplished in Settings > Audio MIDI Setup... in the menu bar.

2.1.1 - Audio MIDI Setup Open Audio MIDI Setup from the Settings menu in the AmpliTube 4 menu bar. Mac OS X

Input device Select the audio device your guitar or bass is plugged into.

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AmpliTube 4 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.

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AmpliTube 4 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 Panel… to open the ASIO4ALL control panel.

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.

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AmpliTube 4 2.2 - Tune up, turn on… rock out Plug your guitar or bass into your audio device’s hi-Z instrument input. Make sure your instrument’s volume is turned up. If you are using AmpliTube 4 as a standalone application, activate the record button on channel 1 so that it turns red. Make sure the FX button is also engaged.

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. 1. Click the Tuner button located in the Module / Rig Selector.

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AmpliTube 4 2. Turn on the 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.

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AmpliTube 4 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.

2.3 - Building your rig Selecting your amp To explore different Amp models, go to the Amp page by clicking Amp A in the Module/Rig Selector. You

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AmpliTube 4 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.

Choosing your cab To explore different Cab models, click Cab A in the Module/Rig Selector to enter the Cab Room.

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AmpliTube 4 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.

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AmpliTube 4 Adding Stomp, Insert, and Rack effects You can easily add Stomp, Insert and Rack effects to your rig. To add a stompbox, click Stomp A in the Module/ Rig Selector to view the stompbox floor.

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. Selecting the Insert effect

Selecting the Rack effect

Use the previous/next arrow buttons or click an “Empty” slot to select an effect model from the menu.

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AmpliTube 4 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.

2.4 - Getting more gear in the Custom Shop You can purchase more amps, cabs, and effects in the Custom Shop. To access the Custom Shop, click the shopping cart icon in the upper-right corner of AmpliTube.

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.

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AmpliTube 4 Chapter 3 – Signal routing 3.1 - The Module / Rig selector AmpliTube 4 is capable of mono or stereo input. We implemented a full stereo signal path that allows you to: •

Use AmpliTube 4 on two instruments simultaneously, each one with their own rig.

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Use AmpliTube 4 as a true stereo multi-effects unit on every instrument in your DAW session.

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Add AmpliTube 4 effects to your stereo recording of drums, keyboards and more.

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.

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AmpliTube 4 3.2 - The Input / Output bar The Input/Output bar includes an input level control and a noise gate. These are the first components that the incoming signal passes through, before going to the Tuner and then the Stomps.

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.

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AmpliTube 4 Chapter 4 – Presets and the Preset Browser 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.

4.1 - The Preset Menu Presets can be browser through the preset menu, found in the top header bar.

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.

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AmpliTube 4 4.2 - The Preset Browser The Preset Browser offers several intuitive categories to organize presets. Instantly reorganizing presets by category is easily accomplished by clicking the category header. Organize by name, description, instrument, sound character, artist, style, and more. There is also a search box where you can search for presets by keyword. All IK Multimedia Factory Presets can be searched by gear model. Just type in the gear model’s name you are looking for, and see what comes up!

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.

4.3 - The Preset Exchange You can download more presets and upload your own through the Preset Exchange. Access it through the PRESET EXCHANGE button in the Preset Browser, from the Preset menu, or through the IK Multimedia User Area.

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AmpliTube 4 4.4 - Importing legacy presets You can import your legacy presets from AmpliTube 3 from the Preset menu. To import you AmpliTube 3 presets, click the Preset menu, and select “Import Legacy Presets…” from the pop-up menu. Browse to your AmpliTube 3 presets folder, then click next. Give your presets folder a name, then click next to import the presets. Your imported presets folder can now be found under “Legacy Presets” in the Preset menu.

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AmpliTube 4 Chapter 5 – The Tuner module The Tuner is the first module. On the Module/Rig Selector, click Tuner to open its interface

5.1 - The standard Tuner AmpliTube 4’s Graphical Tuner Interface is based on a high-end rackmount tuner that provides instant visual feedback so you can tune your instrument quickly and get on with the show. Considering that this is a fully automatic chromatic tuner, there is no need to manually select the note you are going to tune. The tuner will automatically detect and show which note you’re playing.

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.

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5 - Tuner module

AmpliTube 4 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.

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5 - Tuner module

AmpliTube 4 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.

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5 - Tuner module

AmpliTube 4 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.

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5 - Tuner module

AmpliTube 4 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.

UltraTuner offers the following types: •

Equal

•

Pythagorean

•

Just Major

•

1/4 Comma Mean Tone

•

Kirnberger III

•

Werckmeister III

•

Young

•

Kellner

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5 - Tuner module

AmpliTube 4 Temperament root key In equal temperament no root key is necessary. For any other temperament (“Just Major” is shown here) you should choose a root key. Click the Root Key value to edit it.

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5 - Tuner module

AmpliTube 4 Chapter 6 – The Stomp module 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.

6.1 - Universal controls Like the actual gear itself, each stomp effect’s controls are displayed on the stomp box. Enable/Disable each stomp through the On/Off switch. When the effect is on, the red LED is lit.

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AmpliTube 4 When you adjust a rotary or slide control on the stomp box, that control’s value is displayed in the Selected Parameter Display.

6.2 - Drag & Drop You can re-arrange the order of the stomps using the drag and drop feature. This option allows you to experiment with different configurations and explore new sonic territories on the fly without missing a beat… something not possible in the real world.

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AmpliTube 4 6.3 - Rack effects in the pedal chain You can now open many of the rack effects in the stomps module. Rack effects will be mono when used in the pedal board. They are accessed through a special pedal interface which opens the rack effect when the edit button is clicked. Click the screen to exit the Rack effect editor.

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AmpliTube 4 Chapter 7 – The Amp module 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.

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AmpliTube 4 7.1 - Universal controls The following controls are found on all amp models. 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.

7.2 - Legacy model controls Legacy AmpliTube amp models contain separate stages that can be individually selected. For these amps, the Amp module is divided into three separate models: Pre, EQ, and (Power) Amp. This allows you to design custom amps by choosing different components from a variety of amp models. The following controls are for that purpose, and are thus found only on the legacy amp models. 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. 46

7 - Amp module

AmpliTube 4 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.

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AmpliTube 4 Chapter 8 – The Insert effects module 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.

8.1 - Stomp effects in the insert effects chain You can now open many of the stomp effects in the effects racks. They are accessed through a special pedal interface which opens the stomp effect when the edit button is clicked.

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.

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AmpliTube 4 Chapter 9 – The Cab and Mic room 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.

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AmpliTube 4 9.1 - Cab room sections The cab room now has 5 distinct customization sections. Each section can be accessed by clicking the associated tab on the right side of the screen.

The tabs open the following sections, from top to bottom:

Cabinet browser – Choose the speaker cabinet you’d like to match to the amplifier from here Speaker browser – Swap out individual speakers in this panel

Microphone browser – Choose your mics and adjust their placement until you find the “sweet spot”

Room browser – Audition six different recording environments – everything from an isolation booth to a garage Mixer section – Mix your close mics, room mics, and D.I. signal

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AmpliTube 4 9.1.1 - Cabinet browser Click the top tab to enter the cabinet browser. Scroll through the Cab Gallery and click a cab to select it.

A match made in heaven You can match the cab with its matching amp by engaging the MATCH button. Turn off The MATCH button to keep the same cab selected when changing amp models. Size matters There is a slider that will alter the perceived size of the cabinet, from 75% to 125%.

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AmpliTube 4 9.1.2 - Speaker browser Click the second tab to enter the speaker browser. Scroll through the Speaker Gallery and click a speaker to select it. This is only available for cabs loaded with 12” speakers.

One for all, or all for one? In cabs loaded with 12” speakers, each speaker can be selected individually and swapped out by clicking the speaker position on the amp diagram in the upper right. Any combinations of 12” speakers can be assembled. Choose 4 of the same speakers, or go wild and mix it up with 4 different speaker models.

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AmpliTube 4 9.1.3 - Microphone browser Click the third tab to enter the speaker browser. Scroll through the Microphone Gallery and click a mic to select it.

One mic or two? Two microphones can be selected by clicking the buttons labeled 1 and 2. Mic 2 can be removed by selecting “None” from the Mic pop-up menu. Finding the “sweet spot” To change the position of the microphone in relationship to the cone of the speaker, move the microphone (or its identification number located in the spatial graphic) from side to side until you find the sweet spot. In other words, you will be able to change the microphone’s position from off axis (outside edge of the speaker) to on axis (center) and everything in between. On-Axis means that the microphone is positioned in the center of the speaker. Typically, On Axis position delivers a rich tonal balance, with presence and high-frequency content. However, this could be too bright or harsh for some Amp settings. In this case, try the Off Axis position to obtain a sweeter tone.

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AmpliTube 4 9.1.4 - Room browser Click the fourth tab to enter the Room browser. Click on one of the six live spaces to select it.

There are six live spaces to choose from: •

Big Live Room

•

Studio A

•

Studio B

•

Venue

•

Booth

•

Garage

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.

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AmpliTube 4 9.1.5 - The mixer section Click on the fifth tab to open the mixer section. This is where you create the perfect balance between your close mics, room mics, and D.I. signal.

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.

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AmpliTube 4 9.2 - The legacy cab interface For users who have not yet purchased the full version of AmpliTube 4, there is a free version of AmpliTube Custom Shop that contains some stripped down sections. For these users, the new Cab room interface and its enhanced features are not available. When using the free version of AmpliTube Custom Shop, the old Cab interface will be available instead.

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.

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AmpliTube 4 Chapter 10 – The Rack effects module 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.

10.1 - Universal controls To select a rack effect, click the rack model selector and browse its categories, or use the previous/next arrows.

On / Bypass This control enables/disables the Rack module from the plug-in’s signal. When the effect is on, the switch looks red.

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AmpliTube 4 10.2 - Drag & Drop You can re-arrange the order of the rack effects using the drag and drop feature. This option allows you to re-patch your rack effects instantly and explore new sonic territories on the fly without missing a beat… something not possible in the real world.

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AmpliTube 4 10.3 - Stomp effects in the effects rack You can now open many of the stomp effects in the Rack effects module. Stomp effects will remain mono when used in the effects rack. They are accessed through a special pedal interface which opens the stomp effect when the edit button is clicked. Click the screen to exit the Stomp editor.

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AmpliTube 4 Chapter 11 – The Multitrack Recorder 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.

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AmpliTube 4 11.1 - Creating a project To create a new project, select New from the File menu. You will then be asked if you want to save changes to the current project before closing it. Choose whether to save the current project or not to continue. A new project will then be created, at which time the Project Properties dialog will pop up. This is where you choose the sample rate for your project. If you want a different sample rate than the one currently in use, set it now, by clicking on the triangle to see the available sample rates for your audio device.

11.2 - Importing audio To import an audio clip to the 8-track recorder, select Import Audio… from the File menu, then browse to the audio clip and select it, or simply drag and drop the audio file from anywhere in your computer to the waveform display window. All common audio formats are supported. When an audio clip is imported, it is placed at the beginning of the selected audio track.

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AmpliTube 4 11.3 - Track controls The Channel Strip on the left houses the controls you need to adjust and tweak the sound on a selected individual track. You can click any waveform or empty space display on the right to select the track and access its controls on the left. The number in the upper left hand corner of the channel strip indicates which track is currently selected.

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.

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AmpliTube 4 11.4 - Transport and global controls Play and record You can record audio material directly to a track in the 8-track recorder using the record, play, rewind, loop, and metronome controls at the bottom of the screen, respectively.

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. Global pitch and speed AmpliTube 4’s 8-track recorder includes built in global speed & pitch controls for learning material and practicing. You can slow the playback speed down to as little as half, or speed it up to as much as double for a real workout. Global playback pitch can be independently adjusted from one octave down to one octave up.

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.

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AmpliTube 4 11.5 - Time and navigation bar At the top of the screen, the Time Bar is divided into bars, beats and divisions so you have a reference point in the composition. You can zoom in with the Zoom slider in the bottom right corner below the waveform display section. As you zoom in, you’ll notice more gridlines showing up. These are handy for precisely aligning audio material to the correct beat. You can also use your mouse’s scroll wheel for fine zoom control when hovering over the Zoom slider, and for incrementally navigating the waveform display section, which is particularly useful when zoomed in.

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 builtin 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.

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AmpliTube 4 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 doubleclick, 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.

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AmpliTube 4 11.6 - Editing and arranging in the waveform display At the core of the Studio module is the waveform display section, where most of your audio editing and arranging will be done. From this section, you can select audio material by right-clicking on an audio clip, then perform various types of edits: delete, copy, cut, and split. Copied audio can then be pasted to an empty section of an audio track by right-clicking in the empty area of a track, then selecting Paste. Audio can be moved on the timeline by clicking on the audio clip, then dragging it to a new position on the track, or to a different audio track in the 8-track recorder.

Crop & Fade Cropping an audio clip is as simple as selecting the clip you want to crop, then dragging the triangle in the bottom of the region (either left or right, depending upon where you want it cropped) and move it either direction for cropping.

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.

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AmpliTube 4 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.

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AmpliTube 4 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.

11.7 - Exporting Audio AmpliTube 4 lets you export your mixes as 16, 24, or 32-bit WAV, or as 16 or 24-bit AIFF. To export your mixdown, go to the File menu, then select Export Audio…

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AmpliTube 4 Chapter 12 – The Looper 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.

Loops are recorded with amp and effects in place.

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AmpliTube 4 12.1 - Recording loops Loop 1: the reference The first loop you record will define the reference length for the other three loops. There are two options to record the first loop: freely or with a metronome. 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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AmpliTube 4 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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AmpliTube 4 12.2 - Loop management Once recording a loop completes, the loop becomes green. Click it to mute/unmute the loop. Use the VOL and PAN controls to set the volume and pan position.

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 12.3 - Exporting loops Loops can be exported as WAV. To export a loop, right-click on the loop and select Export, or select the loop number you want to export from the File menu. The entire mix can be exported as well, by selecting Export Mix.

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AmpliTube 4 Chapter 13 – MIDI control 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. There are two types of MIDI control – Global and Preset. 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 switch (Previous/Next)

•

Volume pedal control

•

Wah pedal control

•

Wharmonator pedal control

•

All 12 stomp slots bypass control

Preset MIDI control allows you to specify MIDI Controls Changes that will control the selected parameter specifically for the current preset.

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AmpliTube 4 13.1 - MIDI configuration When running as a plug-in, AmpliTube 4 will be able to receive MIDI from the host. Refer to your host sequencer or DAW on how to set it up so that it can send MIDI to audio plug-ins. When running as a Standalone, AmpliTube 4 needs to be configured to know from which MIDI port it should read MIDI data from. To do that: 1. Click Audio > Hardware Settings… 2. Select the MIDI interface where your controller is connected from the MIDI Input menu.

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.

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AmpliTube 4 13.2 - Assigning Controllers Direct MIDI Controls Assignment (Stomp, Amp, Cab, and Rack Parameters) This method allows you to quickly assign the MIDI control to a specific AmpliTube parameter without having to setup anything manually. 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.

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AmpliTube 4 Manage MIDI Parameters Assignation via the MIDI Control Panel This method allows you to manually setup, edit, and compare all the MIDI assignments that you have done for Global control or for Preset control in a single panel. To assign Global MIDI control: 1. Click the MIDI button located on the Input/Output bar to open the MIDI Control assignment window.

2. Click Control Change, then click Global.

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AmpliTube 4 3. Click on the parameter that you want to control on the left pane.

4. Click Learn.

5. Move a fader, knob, slider, or switch on your MIDI Controller. 6. The assignment will automatically take place. 7. Click OK to save the association and close the MIDI Control window, or Cancel to erase it. 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.

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AmpliTube 4 To assign Preset MIDI control: 1. Click the MIDI button located on the Input/Output bar to open the MIDI Control assignment window.

2. Click Preset.

3. Click Add.

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AmpliTube 4 4. From the Tree menu select the current AmpliTube 4 preset parameter you’re going to control.

5. Click Learn.

6. Move a fader, knob, slider, or switch on your MIDI Controller. 7. The assignment will automatically take place. 8. Repeat the steps from #1 to here if you want to add more controls on the same preset. 9. Click Remove to remove just one of the assignments you did from the panel. 10. Click OK to save the association and close the MIDI Control window, or click Cancel to erase it. 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.

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AmpliTube 4 Delete MIDI Parameters Assignation To delete a particular AmpliTube 4 parameter/MIDI CC# association, select it, and click Clear.

To delete all AmpliTube 4 parameters/MIDI CC# associations at once, click Clear All.

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AmpliTube 4 13.3 - Additional Parameters on MIDI Control Window Min-Max Range values These two values are expressed as percentages (%), are used to determine the range of the controlled parameter.

To control the parameter across its full range, set: •

Min 0%

•

Max 100%

To control the parameter from min to half of its range, set: •

Min 0%

•

Max 50%

To reverse the function of a controller, set: •

Min 100%

•

Max 0%

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AmpliTube 4 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.

Always start with 5 as a default (linear.)

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.

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AmpliTube 4 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.

14.1 - Assigning automation within each module Select the Stomp, Amp, Cab or Rack module from the Module/Rig Selector. Right-click on top of the AmpliTube 4 parameter that you are going to assign to Automation.

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AmpliTube 4 Choose which DAW Automation parameter # you are going to use for the selected AmpliTube 4 parameter.

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AmpliTube 4 14.2 - Managing automation assignments via the Automation panel AmpliTube 4 has more parameters than audio sequencers (DAWs) can support. For this reason, AmpliTube has its own Automation panel, so that the enormous number of theoretically automatable parameters in AmpliTube 4 can be grouped in a smaller number to allow all DAWs to be able to handle them. To open the Automation panel, click AUTO on the Input/Output bar.

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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AmpliTube 4 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: Param 1: Wah A Wah.

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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AmpliTube 4 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: 1. Click Auto on the Input/Output bar.

2. On the Plug-in Parameters Pane, select which AmpliTube 4 parameter you are going to assign to Automation.

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AmpliTube 4 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.

4. Click Add to establish the actual assignment.

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AmpliTube 4 5. Click OK to save the setup and close the Automation window.

To remove a particular assignment, select it in the DAW Automation pane and click Remove.

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AmpliTube 4 To remove all the assignments, click Remove All.

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.” Assignment Save and Recall Clicking OK will save and close the Automation window. If you are using AmpliTube 4 as a plug-in, the automation assignment map will be stored and restored to and from the session you’re working on. Each AmpliTube 4 instance is independent from the others. This means that saving your DAW session will save each AmpliTube 4 instance with its own Automation assignments setup.

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AmpliTube 4 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.

15.1 - Stomps, Pre and Amp Oversampling Enabling oversampling improves the sound quality significantly when the signal is heavily distorted. However, there will be some increase to your CPU load. If you use high gain sounds, we suggest enabling the Pre Oversampling option. Oversampling is enabled by default on Stomps, Preamps and Power amps.

Pro Tip: you can disable Oversampling when working on a session in real-time and activate it just before bouncing the final mix.

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AmpliTube 4 15.2 - High Resolution Enabling High Resolution will improve the dynamic and musical response of the power amplifiers, but the CPU usage will be somewhat higher. Please disable High Resolution only if your computer does not have sufficient CPU power for the current session. High Resolution makes a deeper and more sophisticated usage of IK Multimedia proprietary DSM technology, which on some amps result in slightly more compression and stronger/more real saturation of various amps stages. This means that in certain cases enabling High Resolution might result in a slight decrease of the audio level, as a real amp does when it starts compressing and saturating, but the realism, musicality, and quality of the amp model will be greatly enhanced. High Resolution is enabled by default.

15.3 - Amps Reverb Real Spring: When this is enabled Amplifiers with built-in reverb will use a real spring reverb model, directly taken from each amplifier model. This is the most realistic option, and each Amplifier will have its own signature reverb. 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. Real Spring is enabled by default.

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. Real Ambience is enabled by default.

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AmpliTube 4 15.5 - Cabinet Resolution High: offers the best sound quality at a slightly higher CPU usage. Always use this setting when it is possible. This will deliver the best quality from the AmpliTube 4 speakers. Mid: offers a very good sound quality at a reasonable CPU usage. 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.

15.6 - Cabinet Global Bypass This bypasses the Cab module globally, on all presets, independently from what each preset has setup on the Cabinet module. This is useful when you play live with AmpliTube 4 but are using an external real guitar cabinet. In this case, it is helpful to be able to disable the Cab module on all your existing presets without having to edit all of them one by one.

15.7 - Tempo Source This option allows you to select the Tempo source. Host/Global: The BPM Sync Tempo source is the Host Application Tempo when AmpliTube 4 is used as a plugin 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. Host/Global is enabled by default. 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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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. All specifications are subject to change without further notice. Document Version: 1.0 Latest Update: 2015/12/01 © 2002-2016 IK Multimedia. All rights reserved.

AmpliTube 4 User Manual

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