Positive Grid Bias for desktop now available, along with it comes the much anticipated “Amp Matching” technology.
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Positive Grid Bias for iPhone
The company unveiled two versions, the top of the line “Bias Professional” which features Amp Matching Technology and 3 amp design expansion packs, and the stripped down “Bias Desktop” version, which surprisingly does not come with Amp Matching.
With the success of the iPad and iPhone versions of Bias, many guitarists have been looking forward to the desktop-friendly plug-in version of Bias. And with the promise of making “Amp Matching” technology more affordable and accessible, this makes the anticipation even greater.
Bias’ amp modeling and amp designing capabilities are good enough by themselves, as evidenced by the numerous positive feedbacks that the iOS app versions are getting from their users. But the ability to digitally clone actual tube amps is a welcome bonus, especially since the app can do it at a much lower price point when compared to current hardware guitar processors.
Finally after 2 years of development and half a million lines of new code, the plug-in version of Bias is now available. Although there is a minor plot twist as I mentioned above, you will have to get the more expensive Bias Professional to enjoy the company’s new amp matching features.
Amp Matching is basically a technology that will let you capture the tone and feel of tube amps and reproduce them in plugin (AAX/RTAS/AU/VST) format. The company boasts that the app has “the most accurate, thorough and versatile guitar-amp modeler and designer engine, and it can accurately capture the tone of any tube amplifier“. Although it uses a different name and presumably different codes, the goal of this technology is the same as the Profiling technology found in the much more expensive Kemper Profiler.
Bias Product Manager Calvin Abel says, “Instead of providing a fixed number of amp models, BIAS Desktop represents an entire new concept on guitar sound: guitar players can now virtually design their own amps, using Amp Matching Technology to capture their golden tube amplifiers and finally they can share or download thousands of amp models on ToneCloud, also we are currently working with worldwide artists and studios to expand this platform.“
The company adds, “The Amp Matching in BIAS Desktop utilizes a collection of underlying technologies that analyze and compare a currently designed BIAS amp model with the sound of any tube amp, the corresponding cabinet and microphone. It then executes the tonal compensation and enhancement needed to make this current amp model accurately match the target amplifier. For the first time in history, guitar players are free to design, modify and capture the most unique and individual soul of tone, into the digital domain and keep it ready for studio recording applications.“.
On top of the built-in amp designer and amp models, Positive Grid has setup an online tone sharing platform called ToneCloud. Through this cloud-based system, you can share your custom amp models and download thousands of user-created custom amps, including those that are created by professional guitar players. Amp Matching is also connected to ToneCloud, which means that a wide selection presets that are based on actual tube amps will be made available to the users, by the users themselves. The company is also working with artists and engineers to create custom amp models that are based on actual amps that are used in live performances and in the studio.
Features:
- 36 HD amp models included with the introductory release
- Amp Matching captures any miced amp or recorded track and creates a matched model
- Share and download thousands of artist- and user-created and matched amp models on ToneCloud
- Fully customizable preamps, tone stacks, power amps, transformers, cabinets and mic selection and placement—mix and match!
- Customize the look and feel of your own amp panel; change the name, tolex, panel and knobs.
- Works the way guitarists think: tweak gain and overdrive, swap out tubes and transformers, change the cabinet and mic position, and shape the tone with different tone stacks and two 8-band equalizers
- Included noise gate and room simulator
- Create a virtually unlimited number of custom amps
- Quick preset facility recalls each of your 8 favorite settings in turn with just one tap
Requirements for Windows
- Windows 7 (SP1), Windows 8.
- Supported Plug-in formats: VST, RTAS, AAX (32- and 64-bit).
Requirements for Mac:
- Mac OS X 10.7 or later.
- Supported Plug-in formats: Audio Units, VST, RTAS, AAX (32- and 64-bit).
Bias Desktop is now available for $99.00 and includes all amp design modules and access to ToneCloud. If you want the Amp Matching feature, you should download the Bias Professional version which is priced at $199. You can head over to Positive Grid for further details.
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