Can you tell a simulated guitar track from an amp recording?

[midwayfair]

A post on DIYSB reminded me of how difficult it is to tell the difference between different types of distortion, or even whether it's a real amp.

So let's play a game. Say whether you think the track is a sim or real amp, and then post a track or two of your own so the next person can take a guess about those.

Track 1: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/9878279/Midway%20Fair%20-%20demos%20and%20scratch%20tracks/Once%20and%20For%20All.mp3

Track 2: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/9878279/Midway%20Fair%20-%20demos%20and%20scratch%20tracks/Firebird.mp3

[culturejam]

I'm terrible at this kind of thing.

But I guess that Track 1 is the sim. Well, for the guitar parts I focused on. I wasn't expecting multitrack recordings.

[midwayfair]

I wasn't expecting multitrack recordings.

NO ONE expects the multitrack recordings!

Actually, I sort of feel like the multitrack recordings are the point. Listening to an instrument in isolation is often navel gazing. Unless it's a piece meant to be played with a solo instrument.

[culturejam]

Every pedal expert knows that the only tone that matters is the pedal by itself, at conversation level, in your bedroom. That is all. 


On the other hand, if you add some compression, reverb, and mix it in with 10 other tracks, I'll bet you could pass off an early 90s Zoom 9001 as an amp. 

[Vallhagen]

Song 1 is the sim one.

I dont have ears to be sure at all, its just a feeling really. But consider it a serious guess.

**

This one shall be easier:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10190945/Catch%20Me%20Beng%202.mp3

Cheers

[mcallisterra]

A post on DIYSB reminded me of how difficult it is to tell the difference between different types of distortion, or even whether it's a real amp.

So...

[lars]

It's not about hearing amps.
It's not about being without an opinion either.
You just gotta find that balance.
When you play guitar by yourself, you play it for more than, just yourself.
....that's the sim spot.

[peAk]

I wish it was the same track and not two completely different guitar sounds

That said, the first one sounds IMO more like an amp and the second one has that more fizzy high end that amp sims seem to always have

[billstein]

I believe number one is the sim. 

[gordo]

Three totally different scenarios: bedroom, studio, live. Gear can sound radically different in two or more of the above. So sim or real doesn't really matter in any of the above because there are no "real" reference points.

[peAk]

Jon......

How long will this suspense go on for?

"Enquiring minds want to know."

[midwayfair]

#1 was the sim -- but the "amp" parts are almost completely clean. All distortion on both is from a fuzz face variant.

Song 1 is the sim one.

I dont have ears to be sure at all, its just a feeling really. But consider it a serious guess.

**

This one shall be easier:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10190945/Catch%20Me%20Beng%202.mp3

Cheers

Begnt, is that you singing? This track sounds amazing.

I'm going to guess this is a sim, simply because it's VERY high gain but doesn't sound noisy like I'd expect a mic'd setup to sound. But I think there's also at least one pedal involved.

Come on, guys, post more tracks

[Vallhagen]

Begnt, is that you singing? This track sounds amazing.

Yessir, thats me playing everything and singing. Thank you. Reminds me that i should really record some more stuff ... That song is recorded some years back, i had a quite creative period.

Cheers

[Willybomb]

So let's play a game. Say whether you think the track is a sim or real amp, and then post a track or two of your own so the next person can take a guess about those.p

I did this on the n-track forum years ago, based on the idea that in a mix, it really doesn't matter too much.  I recorded/mixed a song and split the guitar using my mixer to get a clean track that got the ampsim later on (analoguesuite jcm800) and the other went to my marshall vs102r which was miced.  One track is hard panned left, and the other hard right.  Actually, this was probably over 10 years ago so they might actually be separately recorded tracks.  Either way, it was the same guitar/interface.

The results were about 50/50 right/wrong.

Even the plugin developers got in and had a go - and they got it wrong.

This is the song here if anyone wants to have a crack.

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/william-phillips-9/lazy-gene-theory-way-you-look[/soundcloud]

[Vallhagen]

So let's play a game. Say whether you think the track is a sim or real amp, and then post a track or two of your own so the next person can take a guess about those.p

I did this on the n-track forum years ago, based on the idea that in a mix, it really doesn't matter too much.  I recorded/mixed a song and split the guitar using my mixer to get a clean track that got the ampsim later on (analoguesuite jcm800) and the other went to my marshall vs102r which was miced.  One track is hard panned left, and the other hard right.  Actually, this was probably over 10 years ago so they might actually be separately recorded tracks.  Either way, it was the same guitar/interface.

The results were about 50/50 right/wrong.

Even the plugin developers got in and had a go - and they got it wrong.

This is the song here if anyone wants to have a crack.

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/william-phillips-9/lazy-gene-theory-way-you-look[/soundcloud]

...gotta put in a serious guess here too:

The right panned guitar is the mik-d amp/cab.

...again, i cant be sure. And the simulator is the simulanalog guitar suite? Good stuff. We made a four-song record with it:)

Cheers