Amplitube 5 Live Guitar Rig with Apple Mac Mini

[@joesalyers]

I've been doing this same thing since 2013. I have done countless videos on my setup as well. At first I was using an iPad but now I use a macbook pro because I wanted the full power of desktop amplitube. Funny thing is the crowds at our show have commented more on my guitar sound since I switched to a software rig. The big reason I switched was because it's easier for me to have perfect recall every time which saves SOOO much time. I played a Mesa Dual rectifier for years and then Amplitube added the Mesa collection and I was impressed. I'm never going back to real amps.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

I really hope given there's an M1 in the iPad pro that the software is ported intact to iPad OS. With a good dongle and AUM Mixer to manage the summing etc. my rig would shrink! My last real amp caught fire on stage 15 years ago. There's no going back is there?

[@joesalyers]

@@ThomasBrunkard No going back for sure. It simplifies the whole setup. I can carry my entire rig in my guitar case if I need to and cutting down on size and weight, plus it's cheaper. If I want new chorus I can pick up a plugin for pennies compared to pedals and far less cables to go bad at showtime.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@joesalyers Absolutely. And if it all went pear shaped then your iPhone could pick up the slack!

[@joesalyers]

@@ThomasBrunkard Yep!!

[@barryconboy]

Great breakdown of your set up, never gave any thought to this approach before..After watching this, I certainly will, fab sounds and even better playing!! Your attention to detail is off the charts on Brian’s sounds, really inspirational. Thank you 🙏

[@ThomasBrunkard]

That’s very kind of you Barry! Since this, I’ve put it into a little 9.5” rack case with a stereo DI. I did 8 gigs over the last 10 days at festivals and setting it up and soundchecks have been a dream. Only the bass player is quicker 😂

[@mojoeboes]

Just set up a fly rig using the bits & pieces you mentioned in this video. Stellar! This was quite helpful.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Glad it worked! Hoping to get it all working on an ipad some day

[@mojoeboes]

@@ThomasBrunkard Absolutely!

[@yolybuilds3680]

@@ThomasBrunkard did you make that happen yet?

[@JonFrancisMusic]

Excellent breakdown, Thomas! Now you need to figure out how to work in an expression pedal to switch from dark hair to grey

[@benirodriguez9516]

You need to make a t-shirt with that quote: You can't really play Minecraft on your Vox AC30! XD

[@ThomasBrunkard]

🤣

[@AntonovichHicksenbrau]

Tonex ✔️
Axe I/O, arrives next week.
Happy to have found your vid on this !

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Are you bringing it on stage?

[@davidnappyhoose204]

Very informative video! I was trying to find examples of people using Amplitube live on stage and I couldn't find much. I'm using it in my home studio and thought if I ever get back to playing live, I might forego the stage amps and go with Amplitube. Looks like it works great for you! Thanks!

[@ThomasBrunkard]

I’ve moved to a 2u setup and a stereo monitor set up. Plus ToneX. The sound is unreal and the setup is quite fast. Just about to play some Queen in front of a couple of thousand people with it. Best rig. I’ll make an updated video soon.

[@johnpruett6980]

Just built a rig like this in my bedroom recording studio. Mac Mini w/ Scarlett to a Quilter Interblock 45. Quilter has an FR out going to a 1x12 cab loaded with a Celestion F12 x150 Triple Cone Flat Response speaker. Best solution I could think of to get most accurate representation of the models. Thinking of trying a reverb unit in the FX loop of the Quilter for a little more in the room feel.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

If you're using AmpliTube 5 the room simulations are quite good. The only problem with a 1x12 is summing the stereo signals can be a little tricky. What. you've got there is a great gigging solution with the Quilter and FRFR. I'd miss the stereo sound at home myself though but that just takes a pair of monitors.

[@johnpruett6980]

@@ThomasBrunkard All great points, and I completely agree. In fact, the Quilter is just one of the output options I have in the studio. For mixing, recording & practicing, I have a pair of RKT 5 monitors and also a pair of Atomic Reactor 112s (tube powered FRFR monitors). I have the Quilter for high volume & high gain models. The RKTs are too quiet for ripping it up and while the Atomics are great for stereo Fender & Vox clean models, they don't replicate high gain amp models from Amplitube or Helix Native very well. So, when I want to indulge in some Floyd riffs, I use the Atomics and when I want to thrash at gig volume in the bedroom, I use the Quilter.

[@BlackStratCat]

Very geeky, babee. Well done.

[@craigfarleymusician8481]

Brilliant video Thomas. Very well explained 😊👍🏻

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Thanks Craig!

[@Terrible_Peril]

very cool rig.

[@eoinlundy]

Great Video. Very informative. Appreciated

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Thanks Eoin!

[@danielcotton7707]

Such a good insight into how you use Amplitube live 👌. Not as scary as I thought it would be. Need to get myself one of those Morning Star midi pedal though 🙌

[@ThomasBrunkard]

They make really great stuff and it's a nive way of controlling things as you have some information on screen.

[@KevinSmith-jp3vn]

EXCELLENT ! Job well done.

[@brandonanderson9262]

Are you using only one iPad or a second one on stage with you and do you need wifi to run Luna. I'm running ableton with helix native but having trouble figuring out how to get my MacBook display to the ipad

[@ThomasBrunkard]

I connect the Mac Mini to the iPad via cable and I use AstroPad Studio to supply the visual to it. As there's no monitor with the Mac Mini I wouldn't rely on Wifi for the connection. Here's the app I use: astropad.com/

[@predigr]

This is a great video!!

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Thank you!! I need to do an update. I’ve learned a lot since.

[@predigr]

@@ThomasBrunkard yes, would be glad to see an update of your setup. It seemed simple at the beginning but as you see the video you realize it involves a number of things.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@predigr A lot of this is down to me wanting a lot of control. Once I had it set up I don't have to do anything with it and I can set it up very quickly. Sound check is very fast now.

[@thahoustonbassrunnaz4389]

Thanks for this information! Really was needed!

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Just in the process of trying to shrink it further so watch out for the sequel! Best of luck building a rig.

[@thahoustonbassrunnaz4389]

@@ThomasBrunkard you've definitely given me a confidence boost! I can do pretty much the same you're doing with the Tone X pedal and my Mac mini correct?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@thahoustonbassrunnaz4389 not really the same tool for the job. The bit about EQ and separate volumes for front of house and monitoring is the key difference. If I to try do this with the ToneX pedal I’d two for starters, some delays, pitch shifters, chorus and phaser. Then I’d need some way to control pedal
In off, pitch shifter keys and delay times. I’d need some EQ splitters and two stereo DI boxes.
The ToneX pedal is great but it’s a different solution for a different problem.

[@EasyHeat]

OMG! Where in the bloody hell did you find that Freddy Mercury doppelganger?!!!
That was just absolutely brilliant!

[@JJR3991]

Hi Thomas, great video. Very informative. How comes you don't use amplitube on the ipad as your primary rig? I know you can get the irig stomp floor board. Is amplitube on a pc/desktop/mac device better to use or better quality?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

This is a very good question. Nowadays (and I will update this video soon) I use AmpliTube 5 and it is much better than the version of AmpliTube that has been languishing on the iPad for years now. AmpliTube 5 can run ToneX natively in the chain and ToneX is the core of my live sound and recordings now.
When/if @IKmultimedia bring AmpliTube 5 to iPad and it can in something like AUM Mixer (to manage the separate outputs) I'll ditch the computer. iPads are extremely powerful now and more powerful than the Mac in this film was. The software isn't there to match that power just yet.

[@JJR3991]

@@ThomasBrunkard oh right so there isn't amplitube 5 for ipad at the moment? My bad, that would make sense as haven't found demos on RUclips. I think just amplitube 4. Also what model is the mac mini? I know you said processing speed is more important than ram. Many thanks!

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@JJR3991 This one is a 2018 Intel i7 one. The newer Apple silicone ones are much more efficient and a little lighter. I have the latest one at the moment and I'm running it at 192Khz which seems daft but it helps with all the pitch shifting and has more believable high end up loud to my ears. You could also use a laptop and I'm making a film on how this can be done safely (spoiler - clamshell mode, still using the ipad as the screen). On stage I'm never looking at the screen anymore anyway. My wireless receiver is my tuner now so it's only for when I turn it on or off or if I'm in a difficult venue soundwise (or a festival where I had no soundcheck) and I need to tweak the EQ which is still rare.

[@murlyn2]

You sound fabulous!

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Very kind of you to say.

[@JeffreyRutland]

what is the display software again? you said ‘Luna’ I believe, but the internet makes that look like it’s some wireless tech… when you clearly have a USB-C cable plugged in to your ipad.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

This video is due an update as there are new options to consider. USB C iPads can now ingest a signal from a cheap capture card so that's a good option (but no touch screen control). I'm currently using Astropad from Luna which works wirelessly (peer to peer) or cabled (best!) and this allows for touch screen control and an on-screen keyboard.
The Luna dongle forces the app to be the main display as though a physical display is in place. This uses two USB C ports which is not ideal but with the aforementioned video capture card method might be a cheaper way forward if I can figure out controlling the Mac from the iPad at the same time.

[@beav15]

Very cool setup! At the end of the day, it's more complicated than I would want to do. My setup for live playing is to run my board into a head unit on stage, the head unit runs into a Two Notes Torpedo Captor which acts as a virtual cab, and then feeds into the board, where the sound guy can control house volume and stage volume (monitors). So I don't have to lug around a heavy cab, BUT I can still tamper with my amp and effects on stage if needed. And I can carry around a pocket amp or pedal amp as a backup in the case where the tube amp head goes out.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

It’s built for a very specific requirement I think. A head unit and board wouldn’t work for my use case. I’d need three heads for a start then the complexity really kicks off again 🤣
But yes, it’s always best to use the simplest solution to do the job.

[@tomnowlin7396]

sounds complicated haha

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@tomnowlin7396 once you get it up and running it’s very handy. But yeah, the journey was an adventure

[@lukather1]

Too complicated ! Lol

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@lukather1 Last weekend I went to see Queen and Adam Lambert in Belfast and we were quite late getting back and of course we had a gig in the afternoon and I was in pieces! It was a festival, line check, quick set up then play.
I was able to throw this box on the stage, plug in the wireless, speaker and PA, turn it on then I was ready to go. Complicated to build, easy to set up on stage. It's worth the effort building the thing because once it's built, it's done.

[@FatBottomedBoysMusic]

Well done! Maybe I will also give it a try live... I just like how the amps react and feedback. I'm using Amplitube in the studio, it's really great, but I can't get a proper feedback, or at least like with an amp, even not that loud.
With Amplitube I can be sure the FOH sound will be as it should be.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

I use a single powered monitor onstage and it's up very loud and facing me - feedback is very easily got this way. And yes, your front of house sound is set in stone and soundchecking the guitar is very fast too!

[@Dirtyshamable]

@@ThomasBrunkardto confirm, you’re able to get feedback using this software rig like you would using a real amp?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@Dirtyshamable absolutely. Feedback is the a property of volume and pickups not tubes versus silicon so once it’s loud enough and you can position yourself in the sweet spot it will feedback.

[@Dirtyshamable]

@@ThomasBrunkard For the volume, are you using a floor monitor or the front-of-house speakers to create the feedback?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@Dirtyshamable I monitor through a pair of QSC CP8 speakers. They're light but they're loud. If I had space and time I'd have a slider bigger size, maybe a pair of 10" ones.
Feedback is easy from them as they're pointed right at me. The guitar can decay into harmonic feedback through the front of house too but it depends where the speakers are in the venue.

[@EasyHeat]

I've been after something sort of like this, but using an iOS device, Orange OMEC Teleport, BaisFX, and a MidiCommander footswitch.
My current conundrum is deciding on amplification, as I rather fancy the dual amp/wet dry potential Biasfx is capable of.
FOH & IEM is not a practical option currently.
I've thought of possibly two MKII Katana 100 combos via "power amp in"?
I'm unconventionally attempting to utilize digital within a "Stoner/Doom" outfit, soo...
Volume is obviously going to be a priority. Swapping my current weeny little OMEC interface for something substantial like that IK AXE I/O
may be the way to go, as I'd prefer to utilize a more traditional analog amp input chain of Tuner>Gate>Octave>Fuzz>EQ>Boost>OD ect...
I was also completely unaware that the IK AXE I/O had a JFet input option?! That just about sells it for me personally.
Thanks soo much for this content mate.
It's genuinely helped me suss out and productively brainstorm what I'm trying to accomplish!
Cheers!

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Hi Jason! Glad it helped. There's a bit to unpack here. Firstly, the Katana doesn't have a full range speaker so that might not be the best route. I have another film I had to shoot during the plague in my daughter's room here: ruclips.net/video/Wmcjy3hZQtw/видео.html
Monitoring stereo on stage is not always as good as you might think with everything else going on. I use a Yamaha powered speaker. I could use two but it's a lot of weight for not a whole lot of gain and may actually cause problems.
I have the OMEC and it's great. The Full sized AXE I/O has a big benefit - two separate outs. I run them with different parameters and it also means I can have control of my own volume on stage without upsetting the main mix.
I also have a pedal in front of it as I prefer a real treble booster to the software one.
If you need a bunt, look me up on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or TikTok. Happy to talk shop there as I learned a lot over the last while doing this and I'm happy to share!

[@EasyHeat]

@@ThomasBrunkard Thanks a lot man!
With the Katana idea? I'm not after using cab IR's like one would with an FRFR setup.
My logic is that with using two Katana 100 combo's "power amp in" jacks would basically just slave them as two class A/B 100 watt 1x12 powered cabs. Side by side or stacked for a "poor mans" wet/dry" style rig rather that true stereo. Ya follow?
Imagine say half of Dave Grohl's old Hydra split 4 amp "Color and the Shape "
2 x Mesa Recto/2 x Vox AC30 rig?!
Only digital and Sedan Boot friendly?🙃
Maybe still utilizing the digitally modeled amp's power sections, but definitely NOT using cab IR's within this particular instance? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The IK AX I/O has most definitely just sparked my attention tho mate! I honestly just scantly glanced over it carelessly and forgot about it after it originally debuted. Thanks for that!
Also, dammit man! That Freddie clone you got yourself there is an F'n KEEPER IMO! Ha!
You can tell he's put in some serious work. Not just vocally, but the whole movements and vibe!
Good show my dude!
Cheers!

[@MotoRiff77]

I did a video using Irig stomp in my Helix FX loop with an Ipad

[@bitethebullet6299]

brillaint video....subbed

[@DeanSoloGuitarist]

Just formed a cover band and similarly, wanting to do some Boston songs and amplitude has that sound. What speakers are powerful enough to perform like basic in house parties where drums aren’t micd? I assume you are running everything through a major PA system? I guess I am wondering a bit in the output side and can you even output to a guitar amp?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

A guitar amp won’t do as guitar speakers act like a combined eq and compressor. The magic term used in guitar circles is FRFR (Full Frequency Flat Response) which is basically a PA speaker.
On stage I plug into the PA but I have speakers for myself. My sound is stereo so if I used just one speaker I’d be summing the sound to mono which is not ideal as it makes things a bit dull as you get phase cancellation.
I’m not sure how big the houses are but ideally you would run this into a PA and have a wedge shaped powered PA for yourself (two is best but size of gigs and cost/benefit factors kick in here!).

[@RogerPerkin]

Great Video Thomas, what age Mac Mini do you use? Or actually what would be a minimum spec to purchase?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

The one I use is a 2018 i7 with 16GB of RAM - I talk a bit about it here: ruclips.net/video/aOZBkt5s51U/видео.html
I'm not too comfortable making recommendations on what the base model could be. I'd be nervous using an older model or the 2017 i3 without having thoroughly tested it. Theoretically, it should be fine but when using processing live on stage always go for the best possible processor you can afford that overshoots the minimum spec outlined by IK Multimedia.
They're quite optimistic in their specs so, by their reckoning, you could get away with an older 2014 i5:
Mac (64-bits)
Minimal: Intel Core 2 Duo (Intel Core i5 suggested), 4 GB of RAM (8 GB suggested), macOS 10.10 or later. 3 GB of hard drive space.
Requires an OpenGL 2 compatible graphics adapter.

[@Undercoverstheband]

Great video! Is your guitar sound output from the mac mini or from the interface?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

From the interface

[@bobbymaestas1162]

Great video! I’m in the process of putting a similar system together. Have you put the system in a rack yet? If so, how did you rack the Axe? Do you know how to remove the wings? It would be very straightforward without those!

[@StarbucksEmo]

Do you find the Axe I/O sound and feel is significantly better than the Stomp I/O? I would be interested in a rundown of the MIDI controller. Did you ever extend the Stomp I/O with a two or four button MIDI switch? If so, which one did you use?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

I have no experience in using the Stomp I/O as it's not a good fit for working with a computer and I couldn't bring myself to have an iPad on the stage floor. It's one of the few things IK Multimedia make that just doesn't make sense to me. For my use case (i.e. sending stereo out front and monitoring in mono) it doesn't have enough outputs.
Overall, I think it's a bad idea having the actual interface on the floor and the way I've built this means that everything is safely away from an ambulant lead singer and me running around the place. The only thing in front of me is the Midi Controller which is built like a tank.
You could extend the Stomp I/O with a midi controller pedal but I don't think there would be much benefit unless you're absolutely married to the Stomp I/O as an interface. It would be a lot of stuff in front of you on stage!
I don't know how good of an interface it is compared to the Axe I/O but I do know that there are no interfaces I've owned (Motu, M-Audio, Scarlett, Line 6...) that are as useful for guitar. There is a feel element to it for sure and, in my case, there is plenty of gain headroom for me to use a real treble booster into it which is a massive plus. When I use my backup interface I use one of IK Multimedia's Guitar DI pedals to get the same effect. I have an Apogee Jam+ that I use at home that's also quite good but it's too limited for stage use.
I'll try do something on the Midi implementation some time. The way I have it working is I have program changes on the bottom row (with a tap tempo on the bottom left) and control changes on the top row (for turning on effects etc.). The Morningstar stuff is really great as you can get it to work anyway you want.

[@tooshjr]

After hearing Qween live I'm seriously considering following your setup.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Let me know if you need a bunt. It's pretty handy and the tech gets better faster and faster. Right now I'm going into a studio to use Artificial Intelligence to model the amps! Next I'm hoping to run it all off iPads so it just all fits in my gig bag. No joke!

[@realSeanMcMahon]

@@ThomasBrunkard informative video! Did you ever switch to iPad, and do you recommend it?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@realSeanMcMahon I personally haven't switched completely to iPad. I'm hoping AmpliTube 5 is ported to iOS as that will trigger me doing this. Right now, it's just as a back up and I'd easily get through a gig with good sound on one. I can't recommend it yet as I haven't had to that as the Mac has been rock solid.

[@tomanotoja]

Hi. Does guitar interface make any different in getting sound quality . What guitar interface you recommend. Thanks.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

For this show it absolutely does. The Axe I/O has a very high dynamic range so it’s able to take the level of the treble booster with ease.

[@MrTupeloFlash]

Great info...Thank you :)

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Glad it was useful.

[@cgonzt5636]

Hi, what plugin in MainStage is that stereo you mentioned? Thanks. Nice demo!

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Thanks for checking it out. I use the Gain plugin and a graphic EQ to do the summing. The trick I think is to have one side more dominant and to boost the lower mids and about 4k a little and that makes mono work better.

[@Mcqlfc]

Also, how do you deal with the inherent background noise when using Amplitube? Do you just use the gate pedal?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

I use a real strap mounted treble booster and it’s far less noisy than the software one. I have the gate on but at its lowest setting this way. It’s very quiet

[@Mcqlfc]

Excellent video Thomas. Just a thought, how about using a Behringer fcb1010 for your patches etc?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

You absolutely could use one and I looked at it but it’s too big for me and the display doesn’t have the ability to name pedals and preset which is utterly essential when your memory is like mine! Any pedal will do if it sends midi, I just prefer what this one does.

[@averagemusician4813]

I too have a Helix and have been thinking of moving to a mac mini rig for all the reasons above and the M2x chip dropping soon. The only thing putting me off is latency. Do you experience any and if so how do you
A- get around it
B- Live with it.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

I don't experience any latency. Once you have the processor power to keep a low buffer, everything just works. I do make sure that there is no superfluous processes running and I use just on instance of the AmpliTube plugin. At a gig, the live rig has its own Mac account to keep things bare.

[@EasyHeat]

Hey Thomas?!
What about someone on a budget using say...
A maxed out 2012 i7 Mac mini with 16gb ram and a SSD upgrade with a 3rd gen Scarlett Solo?
Obviously my current old 4th gen iPad wouldn't do the trick to be a touch monitor, but I imagine even that upgraded older spec Mac mini would surely be enough? Right? Especially for just merely a Ramones to Foo Fighters inspired rig?
You are literally THE ONLY link I've seen doing this type setup, and it's brilliant honestly.
I once had an old Fractal AXFX Ultra, but sold it off. I genuinely think what you are on to is a very keen solution to my needs.
Thanks in advance! Love the Queen Tribute BTW!
Cheers mate!

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Hey Jason! I've a suspicion that your iPad is up to that job. Try www.duetdisplay.com/
With regards the i7. I don't know. It's the processor that counts more than the ram and SSD. The best way to check it to try it out. Maybe try the free version of AmpliTube and try and truly dime it with loads of FX etc? See how it holds up?
I got a Microsoft Surface Pro 4 with an i5 for work recently and I put AmpliTube on it and it does struggle a bit but I can just about get by with it. That's an i5 from 2017 running smelly Windows so it's certainly worth a try.
This set up has proven very useful. I ditched a Helix for it. The Helix is great but for Brian May sounds, this is the best, plus I can run lots of different sounds and EQ/processing tricks as I need them.
Let me know if I can help further. I'm all over social media and there's not many people called Thomas Brunkard out there! (literally three people...!)

[@EasyHeat]

@@ThomasBrunkard Thanks a lot man! Definitely will do on the social media invitation. I've learned to pretty much survive on somewhat meager tech specs. My main DAW PC at the mo is a rather old spec'd MB running Windows 10 pro with a Ivy Bridge i5-3470 quad core 3.2Ghz CPU (originally had an older Sandy Bridge i7 2600s) 16gb ram. Two 500gb SSDs, and a 1 TB HHD I use as a "dump" drive.
Amplitube and Biasfx run like a breeze on my PC, and BiasFx 1&2 mobile actually runs solid on my iPhone XR, but my old iPad definitely struggles a bit with Biasfx 1 running more than a basic chain.
I'm finding many 2010-2013 (upgradeable) i5 Mac Minis cheap as chips (under $100) all over ye 'ole Ebay. I reckon an i5 mini maxed to 16gb of ram and an SSD would be up to snuff? Heck, even tho my current board mounted Orange OMEC only does 16bit? It does take "front of amp pedals" well, and I'm pretty sure nobody in an audience would have an ear keen enough to discern and go..
"Hey! He's not playing in 24 bit 92khz!" Ha!
Thanks for all the advice mate!
You've definitely made sussing out something I could possibly work with much less of a potential trial and error disaster!
I'll definitely let you know how it all comes along.
Cheers!

[@dbfisher]

Thank you for sharing such a well thought out rig to use in tributing the great Brian May! I am looking for a set up that is light and simple but still provides a broad color palate. And what you are doing makes sense - even though it is a bit complicated. . I am also working to not have to learn too many systems. I know Aplitube 5 can work within Logic, are you using it the same way in Main Stage? Are you using either the loopers available in Amplitube or MainStage or Logic (the latter with their live loops).?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

And thank you for checking it out! This is complicated but the set up at a show is quite straightforward. The complexity is just down to how picky one is. I'm using AmpliTube within Mainstage as one would use it in Logic. This is mainly because I want to have separate control of my monitor mix without changing the front of house sound. I'll do a film on this sometime soon. If I were monitoring in stereo I'd just use the AmpliTube app actually! But even then, having a separate EQ for monitoring can be quite useful. There is a big difference in how handle 330 HZ with my monitor on a hollow wooden stage versus a solid concrete one so I appreciate having options there.
There's no scope in my work to use live loops but you certainly could if that's a thing. That's something I need to try some time!

[@dbfisher]

@@ThomasBrunkard - Have you compared the Logic effects, amps, with Amplitude’s. I am starting the process now with Amplitude in Logic. I just purchased the BlueBoard but am having a hard time mating it with my MPP’s BT 5 and Big Sur. I might see if i can go via the Logic remote for iPad where the BlueBoard works fine. I am playing off of African drum loops (i lived there as a kid) and I see from the new Radiohead spinoff, there is growing appreciation.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@dbfisher Sorry for the delayed response! I missed this one. The Logic/Mainstage amps are very useful. They're not so good for the Queen stuff though. I don't know the Blueboard but Bluetooth midi is very well supported on Mac except for one annoying thing - you have to reconnect every time the computer boots up.

[@kevinsturges6957]

Do you have a link to your bands videos on RUclips?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@kevinsturges6957 hi Kevin! Yep. Everything from Dec 2023 is ToneX and Amplitube rather than just amplitube. Also, please pardon the wig! youtube.com/@QweenItsaKindaQueen

[@kevinsturges6957]

@@ThomasBrunkard : thank you for getting back to me. Your Queen cover band looks and sounds fantastic. Looking forward to watching your vids.

[@Timmy111888]

Do you use reamp in your setup at all? I would imagine you need a reamped signal to go to your cab while performing on stage.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Hi Timmy! Reamp would be more a thing for recording and because I'm only ever recording my dry sound, I can change it after the fact easily. Onstage there are no amps or cabs at all. I get a stereo feed into a pair of monitors with a slightly different EQ to the main PA. That way I more or less get what they hear. That's why an interface with independent outputs for me is important.
The stage might be hollow, the room might have a lot of glass etc. So I have to tweak my EQ so my sound is clear. It's also important that these monitors are dedicated to guitar as if you put other things into them you don't get the same lovely interaction with the pickups.

[@Timmy111888]

@@ThomasBrunkard Oh I've thought you used amps / cabs on stage. I guess you really don't need those if you have a good PA system with an amp modeler made by software.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@Timmy111888 it’s a big win because it helps the sound engineer and the rest of the band as AC30s are very loud. It also spares my back! You could do it that way though to save on the inconsistencies of microphone placement but it’s not for me. I live an easy life! 😂

[@Timmy111888]

@@ThomasBrunkard Yes, it's a minimalist setup and I like it. It also allows you to be your own sound engineer and shape your sound how you want to.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@Timmy111888 That's it exactly. Fast set up and quick to soundcheck too.

[@tomnowlin7396]

Check out Overloud by THU! Can run on iOS and sounds awesome!

[@ThomasBrunkard]

The biggest problem I have with AmpliTube is that the iOS version is hobbled. How does the mobile version of Overloud compare to the desktop one?

[@sanjacintoknives]

What kind of speaker do you guys use with this?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

Right now I use a pair of QSC CP8 speakers but you could use any monitors. I like these because they are loud and light. I’m also monitoring in stereo these days. (Mono at the time of filming).

[@kristian7398]

How do you get the iPad as the primary display for Mac Mini?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

I use Luna Display. Check this article out for more details: help.astropad.com/article/218-how-do-i-use-luna-display-in-headless-mode

[@kristian7398]

@@ThomasBrunkard Great, thanks.

[@kristian7398]

@@ThomasBrunkard Also, can you use MainStage to host the different plugins say from Neural DSP or Amplitube?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@kristian7398 I don't personally use anything other than some EQ from Mainstage but the beauty of this is you could use whatever you want. With the newer Apple processors you could build all sorts of crazy virtual rigs using plugins from anyone.
It's the most flexible thing. Buy a Helix and you're limited to what Line 6 offer. Do this, and you can have the Helix stuff, AmpliTube, whatever you want!

[@burnc]

Do you have latency problems when changing presets?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

There is a slight gap so I try and keep as much in one preset as possible. Theoretically I could get away with just one and changing those sounds is instant. The gap isn’t so bad as to be utterly terrible.

[@burnc]

@@ThomasBrunkard Thanks for answering, I'm having some problems, some presets are very different and it ends up giving a gap in some songs, mainly in the input of solos, it ends up getting in the way a little, if you have any tips or videos to recommend, be happy to receive them.

[@ThomasBrunkard]

@@burnc it depends on what you’re aiming to achieve but the best solution to this is to try and get one preset to do it all if possible. If you’re moving from one virtual rig to another and both are using a lot of tech then you’ll inevitably struggle.
If you’re using Mainstage or similar you could theoretically have two instances of Amplitube running and then maybe program the pedal to bring in one or another as required.
In this case the next preset would already be loaded and the midi command would be to just turn its volume on and simultaneously turn the incumbent preet’s volume off.

[@skynashstudios1278]

why not just use a surface pro and save a ton of cash and have half the wires running everywhere?

[@ThomasBrunkard]

I tried one and found it terribly hard work and prone to crashing. I’d still have the same amount of wires (spare one for the iPad). The Mac is rock solid and hasn’t fallen over yet. That’s piece of mind that’s worth the cable!