Re-amping - a beginner’s guide, part two
by Marc Noel-Johnson, in Guitars,
In part one, we looked at the concept and the process of re-amping. Now, let’s look at the gear. First up is the Radial Re-amping Kit comprising the Radial X Amp and Radial J48. The X-Amp is an active re-amping device that allows you to take a pre-recorded track and drive two separate amps or pedals simultaneously. It features an essential ground lift and output level as well as an 180 degree polarity reverse to ensure both amps are in phase. The kit also includes a J48 active DI box. The two boxes are presented in a handy Zebra Case.
If you don’t need the J48 or are on a limited budget, the Radial ProRMP passive re-amper will do the job. It has ground lift, level control and an isolating transformer. If it’s a software solution that’s more convenient, and it will be in many cases where it’s simply not practical to run guitar amps at any usable volume, Peavey may be the answer. Although the manufacturer may seem an unlikely brand when it comes to software, the ReValver Mk III features 15 amp models and 19 stomp boxes. There’s a cheaper version too, the Peavey Revalver HP which has six amp models. With only Peavey amp modules on offer, these solutions are geared firmly in the rock and metal zones. Of course, you could use any version of the Line 6 Pod Farm, like the Pod Farm Platinum which offers an incredible 78 amp models and 97 stomp boxes.
Ultimately, any multi-effects processor can be used as a re-amper, but you’ll have to split the signal so you get the untreated dry track to work on. In a way, using software isn’t re-amping in the true sense. Indeed, it’s generally considered that no software plug-in or modeling device is as good as a properly mic’d amp. If you use the method described in part one and give yourself the time to find the sweet spot in front of your speaker and the microphone that gets great results, your engineering skills will take a giant leap forward.
