Ugly Guitar Truth: NUX Solid Studio I.R. & Power Amp Simulator

So, NUX has a few new pedals that they've announced ahead of NAMM and the Solid Studio IR and Power amp simulator is one of them. This does not appeal to me directly, but there is a trend in guitar where you forgo amps and speaker altogether. On occasion, I've played a gig where I have in-ear monitors and I don't have the benefit on an on-stage amp. So I understand the usefulness of this pedal. However, this pedal is amazingly boring to me. Regardless, here are the details...

NUX Solid Studio was created and designed to address: limited gear availability, and the cumbersome transport reality of physical amp/speaker cabinets.

NUX is proud to introduce the new Verdugo series Solid Studio IR & Power Amp simulator, a pedal version of the most classic amp/cabinet scenarios including microphones and power amp tubes. Over many years of research, Solid Studio was specifically developed to fill the essential needs of discerning musicians and sound technicians, including the art of mic-ing instrument amplifiers on stage or in the studio. Solid Studio provides ease-of-use, reliability, versatility, and, above all, incredible audio quality.

Virtual mic-ing is achieved by choosing 1 cabinet and 1 microphone, and fine-tuning the position of the microphone using the mic position switch.  Plus, you can add the tube sound by engaging the power amp simulation.


What's Inside?
Solid Studio comes with 8 speaker cabinet simulations. All the cabinet models inside the Solid Studio are sounds great as original as the way it feels.
And there are 8 microphone models you can combine with any cabinets. Also, you can adjust microphone position for fine tuning.
Solid Studio Power Amp Simulation produces a warm tube-like sound and you can choose one of three power tubes for your essential sound needs.
Input/Outputs
NUX Solid Studio has 6.35mm mono input with input signal level toggle switch (-10dB / +4dB). And it has 3 outputs; simulation dedicated STEREO OUTPUT and DI OUT, and a bypass "THRU" output.
Connection Tips

Solid Studio offers a variety of connection ways and it can fit any desired spot on your signal chain to use all the cabinet/mic simulations efficient.

Gig Saver

- You can place the Solid Studio at the end of your pedal board, and you can send the simulated sound to the mixer while you can send your original signal to the amp. This connection is very useful if the stage (or studio) and cabinet mic-ing conditions are not good enough.
Advanced Connection

- You can place the Solid Studio between the amp and the cabinet. You can send the loud signal from the amp's cabinet output to the Solid Studio, and you can send the original signal to the cabinet, simulated signal to the mixer/audio interface.

IR file support

You can easily emulate the sound of any guitar cabinet by loading different IRs (Impulse responses) to NUX Solid Studio. The internet is a huge library and you can find many different IR's (both paid and free). And you can add into Solid Studio to use it whenever you want. (Currently, we are developing a software for Solid Studio and there will be more information soon)

Conclusion

This is a tool much more than it is an effect. It could be a great tool. It seems to use the same idea as Kemper where you can use Impulse Responses to model different effects. IR is not something that I know a lot about, but I'm learning. The tech is very interesting and if this unit works, then this could be very useful. Those that like IR and have experience with it may want to check this out. I am skeptical of most everything NUX puts out, so I can't recommend this particular pedal. If you absolutely want this pedal, then let me know if it works.

Ugly Guitar Truth: Marshall CODE Digital Modeling Amps

Marshall is one of the biggest name in guitar amplifiers. They are preferred by professional around the world. JCM 800 is so iconic among guitarist that without it, we wouldn't have the same music that we enjoy today. Punk and grunge music almost exclusively used these amps, so its no wonder that the Marshall name has garnered a lot of weight with the guitar playing public. Almost as strong as Marshall's legacy of tone is the disdain that guitarist have for modeling digital amps. It is not a secret that guitarist love there old school gear. The more vintage something is, the more a guitarist wants it. Guitars from the 50's and 60's are some of the most coveted pieces of kit one could want. And yet, every time a new product comes out, we get excited to see if it stands up to the standards we have set. Does the Marshall CODE line of amps uphold the standards set by its tubey-big brothers? It's about to get ugly...

It's Expansive

So, the first thing you notice about these amps is that the list of features is long. 14 preamp models, 4 power amps, 8 speaker cab models, 24 fx (5 at-a-time), Bluetooth integration and USB connectivity top the list. Looking at the list of models, it looks like a list of classic Marshall amps. Plexi, Silver Jubilee, JCM800 make it seem worth it alone. Not to mention you can have your pick of 8 speaker sims to craft your model. So there are options. If that sounds like a lot, it's because it is. But don't worry, connecting a mobile device with help sort through the huge list of options and help visualize your settings. That's really what is setting this new generation of modeling amp apart. The fact that you can connect your tablet or phone with your amp and make real time changes is a game changer. Of course your have to make good sounds with those settings...

The Hardware Is Getting Overlooked

With an overwhelming list of features and a whole lot of new tech under the hood, the CODE amps come a long way from the dark ages of modeling amplifiers. Or have they? There is just some things that you can't do with your fancy 1s and 0s. The speakers and amps in these type amps have to be flexible. The have to sound like dark, deep amp one second and then a bright, middy amp the next. There is a classic problem with this that gets crowded out by all these features. You are physically limited by the hardware (speaker, amp, enclosure). You can simulate the affect that a 4x12 has on a sound wave, but you can make a single speaker sound like a 4x12 cab. If you could produce a solid state amp that replicated a Silver Jubilee faithfully, then you can retire and enjoy all of the money that guitarist will throw at you, but you are limited. Has Marshall stunted their amp with sub performing  hardware? No, but they asking a great deal from their hardware. No doubt Marshall chose the amp/speaker combo to best suit their need, but lets be real. The best digital model is only as good as the analog parts it's put through.

Just Look At It

So, if I'm being honest. This is, in my opinion, the best looking modeling amp. Classic black on black with the Marshall script logo is super solid. I would be proud to have this on stage behind me on looks alone. The controls have a classic Marshall look as well. There is one aspect of this amp that is a bit of an eyesore though. The app and not the easiest to navigate and easily the weakest link in it's chain. Line6 probably saw the CODE app and then poured a lot more assets into the app design.

Conclusion


The CODE line was actually one of the earliest lines to include Bluetooth and app integration and control. Marshall was on the forefront of the next generation of modeling amplifiers. For being the front runners, Marshall got a lot thing right. Others have been playing catch up (*cough Line6 cough*) and others have put out very comparable offerings (Black Star and BOSS). We readily await other entries into the next generation of modeling amps (VOX and Fender). There is a lot to praise on these amp such as price, size, features, and power. But it's important to remember that, despite the fact that is both new and shiny (two things that excite all guitarist), it has limits. Yes, we can push a button that says PLEXI, but what we receive is a digital approximation of what that sounds like. We will get close, and that's about it.

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