Final Rationale

There is a current trend amongst not only guitarists but general audiophiles to use older vacuum tube technology for amplifiers rather than more modern 'solid state' transistor amplifiers.  Often their argument is that although more expensive and far less reliable than transistor amplifiers they supply a 'warmth' that only analogue circuitry can provide.

Digital modelling of guitar amplifiers, an alternative to more traditional guitar amplification, has in the past decade become more realisable with advancements in DSP technology both on custom chip sets and on personal computers.  The major advantage of using a modelling program for amplification is the range of different amplifiers, cabinets, effects and studio conditions that can be recreated from a click of a button.  The other major advantage of using such software is also cost, with amplification modellers costing much less than a single tube amplifier it is no surprise that modelling programs are becoming so popular, especially with the newer generation of guitarists.  Currently there are several major guitar amplifier modelling programs, major names worth mentioning include Native instruments Guitar rig, IK Multimedia Amplitube and Line 6's POD/Gear box range.  With average prices of the major brands exceeding the £250 mark it is clear that the current range of amplifier modelling solutions is aimed at the professional end user.  Although some ‘lighter’ options are available offering a small range of the full packages these are still a considerable cost especially at an entry level price point.  It is proposed that there is a gap in the current market for a basic entry level vacuum tube amplifier emulator.   

The argument against the current range of modelling options is that they do not reproduce the same 'warmth' that a physical tube circuit creates.  This perception of 'warmth' cannot be scientifically calculated.  In theory reproducing the exact output waveform of a tube amplifier should create an exact model of the physical amplification system.  It is proposed that a VST plug-in is to be created, digitally modelling a physical tube guitar amplifier.  More specifically a Laney Cub 10, a small 10 watt class A/B tube amplifier.  The project aims to gain a deeper insight into the characteristics of tube amplifiers and the different ways in which digital modelling can be achieved.

Anthony Evans