Universal Audio direct developer Brainworx has released ENGL Amp Plug-Ins for the UAD Powered Plug-Ins platform and Apollo Audio Interface.
The ENGL Amps Bundle features the E765 RT and the E646 VS amplifiers as well as the Brainworx bxz-tuner, and allows owners of UAD-2 DSP Accelerator hardware to re-amp their tracks with these amplifier models. Apollo Audio Interface users can re-amp and track in real time with near-zero latency.
Both the E765 RT and the E646 VS amp models contain an onboard FX Rack with a noise gate, EQ filter controls, and host-syncable lo-fi delay. Also included is a Recording Chains feature that allows the user to preview their tones through 64 different high-end mics, ENGL cabinets, and outboard gear, including hardware emulations from Millennia, SPL, and elysia.
Available as UAD Software v7.2, the following plug–ns and bundles will be available for purchase via UA’s Online Store:
ENGL E765 RT Plug-In
- Emulation of a two-channel, EL34-powered, 100-watt tube amp for UAD-2 or Apollo
- Craft “old school clean tones, gritty chunk textures, and aggressive distortions” with extensive EQ functionality, before or after mixdown
- Audition 64 different Recording Chains
- Fine-tune sounds with an onboard FX Rack that includes a noise gate, EQ filter controls, and host-syncable lo-fi delay
ENGL E646 VS Plug-In
- Emulation of a four-channel, 100-watt, 6L6-powered, high-gain tube amp
- Create clean tones, “muscular” chunk, and high-gain textures with string-to-string definition
- Audition 64 different high-end Recording Chains when tracking or mixing
- Fine-tune sounds with an onboard FX Rack that includes a noise gate, EQ filter controls, and host-syncable lo-fi delay
Brainworx bx_tuner
- Tune guitar or bass inside the UAD-2 or Apollo-equipped workstation
- Customize the tuning LED’s tracking with the Ballistics feature
- Tune with reduced volume using the Output Dim feature
- Instantiate on multiple inputs to avoid plugging and unplugging of instruments
Pricing and Availability. Universal Audio and Brainworkx’ ENGL Amp Plug-Ins bundle for the UAD Platform are currently available for $249 US. Purchased separately, the ENGL E765 RT Plug-In retails for $149 US, the ENGL E646 VS Plug-In for $149, and Brainworx bx_tuner is $19 US. More information can be found here.
I’d really like to hear more about how they actually “emulate” the amp, tone stack, cabinet and microphone/room combination. From the video it seems like that at least for the last two parts of the signal chain they used recordings of the real thing. But what did they do with the recordings? Did they create impulse responses (would that make any sense at all for a high-end guitar amp modelling plugin considering the highly non-linear nature of the whole affair?) or did they fit parameteres of some hand-crafted models? If so: How do these models look in broad terms and how did the fitting work exactly? The techniques are surely no secret (there are many research papers even by people working in the industry). The secret sauce is as always the hard work and attention to detail on top of access to the real hardware.