I don’t think you can compare these to what an amp sounds like when you’re standing next to it. You have to compare these to what the amps sound like mic’d with and SM57, since that is what they are modeled after. That said, I think the conclusion you arrived at is a fair one and the one that most would arrive at. Great video!
this is exactly right. If you mike a Deluxe Reverb into your DAW its probably pretty close. This is the thing that I realised when using Torpedo's etc its not the same as sitting in the room with the amp but neither is a recorded amp. In addition, getting an amp to sound good recorded is a bunch of work too which these tools make quicker and easier without having to have a sound proof box for the amp.
I couldn’t agree more, I enjoy my ruby because it allows me to quickly and consistently get great sounds at home when I’m recording! Super easy for stereo use as well!
I have never played the real Deluxe Reverb amp myself, but my cousin owned one and as a kid I found the volume on it terrifying. Amp modellers and digital effects vary in quality. While in general they've gotten pretty good, there are some that are better than others. But I do own the Dream '65 pedal (as well as the others), also solid state amps, valve pedals, analogue gear and other digital modellers and yes, the interaction of real valve amp with guitar is different for the feel of the air it pushes, but the UAFX pedal audio fidelity is simply incredible to my ear. I'm not a gigging musician but I do like to record songs and guitar and I think the UAFX is more than sufficient for me when I run it direct into a recording interface with a decent pair of studio monitors.
The emulations keep getting better and better. Personally, I prefer the real deal, but I get the portability and reliability these bring to the table. Great presentation. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for taking the time to review the UAD amp pedals. I have been using all three of them since they were introduced, in a small recording studio environment. You are correct in that recording a live amp vs a UAD pedal can be extremely similar, but ... playing live, you can "feel" the difference with a live amp, and that affects creativity and emotion of the performance. The best advantage of the pedals is to audition each pedal for any given guitar. As I cycle through various guitars, some pedals are amazing with some guitars, but not others. I find the Dream most useful, then the Woodrow, and finally the Ruby. In a limited space recording studio, these pedals provide a lot of options, especially featuring amp like knobs, instead of mouse controls. In a live environment, I'm looking forward to an Excalibre and not a Ruby.
If you watch the Rhett Shull, Tim pierce demo of these, volume matched to the real mic’ed up counterparts, you realize how intimate knowledge on how to get good sounds & ‘the fingers’ make the biggest difference.
Great to hear your perspective. Yet I find it fascinating, in contrast to your opinion, I watched a demo where Tim Pierce and Mateus Asato struggled and very often failed to tell the difference between these pedals and the "real thing".
Glad you got your hands on some to try. I split my Super reverb cab and run the dream 65 (with cab sim off) and a Duncan power stage off the left two speakers and the super reverb on the right two speakers. The dream sound very nice and has a very similar dynamics and feel to the super reverb. Thanks for your thoughts. Would love to see you play through a power section on an amp to get the amp in the room feel.
I own both pedals and they sound phenomenal. From what I’ve read about the development of those pedals a ton of tone capturing was done recording the actual perfectly working vintage examples in the studio with the amp at all levels and even trying to perfect the pedal’s ability to respond when rolling down the guitars volume knob. The tones that I can get out of these pedals plugged straight into my Presonus Studio 2/6 interface and into my iMac sound wonderful. They sound much more strident and cold here. I’m not bashing this channel because I LOVE this channel so please understand that. From a guy who definitely knows his amps I’m sure this video is a representation of the pedal’s ability to respond to the same settings as the real vintage amps do. Again…I love this channel. Keep up the great work. I can almost smell those amps when you work on them! Lol. Cheers!
I've had the dream pedal since Christmas and have tried so hard to work it in for my use case, just could not crack it... But after watching this video I did crack it. I use three basic sounds, and because you explained that the 'bright cap' turns off when you run the boost in 'Lead' mode, that was the missing piece I needed. Sound number one is scooped with sparkle (presence on an amp that has it), sound two is scooped without sparkle, and sound three is mids-forward. I set the tone stack booth to 10:30 and the boost on stock to 10:00 for the scoop sparkle. Then I just switch to lead boost to turn off the bright cap and get scooped no sparkle. Then to get the mids I just turn the boost down to SRV, because I know from the manual that the tone stack gets phased out the more SRV boost you use (nullifying the scoop). I finally feel like I can use this thing where I play and get the sounds I need to get. Thanks!!
Thanks so much for taking the time to demo these, Lyle. They have been on my radar for silent use case for a while, specifically the Ruby since my amps are Fender and Marshall circuits. Alas, the Ruby leaves much to be desired. Will probably just take the plunge on a Nolatone and run it through my OX.
I’m in on these amp sims…dragging around my tube amps for years waiting for failure - i gigged with the Ruby and it was great - my tube amps make plenty of noise.
I have both the Dream and the Ruby and run them through a Roland JC-40. That amp is set to clean and IS the amp in the room. It’ll flap your pants legs for sure and is indistinguishable from the real thing when used this way.
I've been using the Dream for 3 months now in open mics. I was using a HX STOMP, which i love. But the dream hits that one sound i need for open mic. Direct to house. What can i say. This thing to me is Amazing. I still love and prefer my amps. But solo open mic stuff. This thing is perfect. Turn it on... And it turns on every time. Reliability. Its key when needing a sound. Stomp turns on every time as well. But having a more tactile pedal... for me, hits the boxes. I think the Dream pedal sounds amazing. All and all i could be tone deaf and that could also be a problem. To add, I dont think any pedal is coming for your job. Jokes aside.
I am baffled by people who like this device. I had it for a few months but just was not satisfied with the sounds I was getting. It sounded flat and brittle. Very two dimensional. It sounded okay in the loop of my Helix after some major tweaking, but I get better sounds with the built in modelling... and with way more flexibility. The whole point of this pedal is to just be able to plug in and get a good sound. Perhaps it works better live. I never got that far before I sold it. Still, I just don't get all the hype. I think this pedal is very disappointing. Perhaps there is something wrong with my ears?
@@probusexcogitatoris736 That was a very long winded answer for not liking something. I love it. Havent used my HX for a few months now. No need to be baffled. You just sound like someone whos angry that you dont like something but others do. Thats old man energy.
Re: Power Supply, I use Cioks power gear and they have been quiet, convenient, and reliable thus far. Sleek, durable, and versatile. As for these UA products, I get the appeal. They sound alright, have some cool features, and may be useful in certain situations. Still, I’d prefer my amps whenever possible. Thanks for the demo/test. It was helpful. 🤙
Amp sims have their place. They cannot replace the physics and associated effects of a speaker. Especially a speaker in a combo amp 5 feet away from you, cranked to earsplitting levels. They do record very well though. Much better than the Tomemaster amps imo.
Even though its not perfect, is a Ruby the best bet for Vox tones at home? If the AC4 and AC10 are 'garbage', and the AC15 is missing low volume usability features - is a Ruby and Studio Monitors or a FRFR the best home solution?
I like my Quilters. Not tube, but not modeling either. They sound fantastic and weigh nothing. They play sweet like a fender just a little quicker response. Fun!
I’m impressed by the amp/spkr emulations of both pedals. They are just a tad conservative and I don’t mind that, a good basis for a sound. I think they’ll sell to private studios as well as guitarists.
I have both of these, and they are great for my weekly silent stage gig. I think they are great in their class. They are both much better than the iridium or ACS-1, but you’re totally right about missing the interaction between pickup and speaker. It’s not a big deal, until you need it
@@theflamerising1767 sound wise yes. I do prefer the functionality of the iridium’s headphone jack, and the strymon multiswitch plus allowing you to have 4 presets is much better for live use. Reverb is leagues ahead on the UA stuff
The gear is sounding better and better, but for me all of these types of devices take away the joy I get from playing a real tube amp. There's always something missing.
I have 1 of those Dream 65 pedals and it reacts to touch . If you hook it up to a computer you will get more cab. Sims and artist presets downloaded to the pedal which you can then use via blue tooth from your phone or computer.
Enjoy the channel and your comments on topics. So if your situation requires a silent stage would you rather use a load box speaker replacement with an actual amp? Thanks
Thanks. I don’t know as I haven’t tried all the digital options on the market or all the various load boxes. The digital stuff I have played does not have the dynamic response of a good tube amp but I haven’t tried the new Fractal stuff or other highest tier stuff. Zero stage volume is the real killer as you will have no speaker/pickup interaction. So that is a compromise that will affect real amps too. If you look at how Def Leppard does it for instance they have very low stage volume but the guitarists have monitors up just loud enough to get that interaction (scattered across the stage beneath the floor).
When you not the lack of bass on the ruby's normal channel, you have to remember that you're not playing an emulation of just the AC30. You're really playing an emulation of the entire signal chain, and monitoring the amp from a mic'ed position in the control room. The blue speaker you played here is paired with a 57, a mic with a pronounced bass roll off.
Btw - anyone who’s fiddles with Logic pro’s amp sounds can get some very decent tone if you care to deal w the architecture of their amp thing. . A world unto itself. I think the apple techs know their stuff.
I use mine through nearfields for bedrooom practice, headphones for late night practice, and have used it at open mics. Great tool, real amps are better, but this thing is pretty slick for rolling with a gig bag and little else.
Great video. I've been considering the Dream 65. I still have and use my old tube amps and often use ampsims in my studio. Prior to these I was considering the Strymon Iridium, which still may be a good choice if I need to go to other studios.
If it makes you want to pick up the guitar then it's a winner. Build quality is obviously good. Good base to build on for quiet stage/home use. I've got their effects pedals and love them.
Nice video. I was hoping you'd tackle these. I own a Dream, and have had serious noise issues with it (running CIOKS power in a pro studio with lots of noiseless analog gear). The noise was significant enough that I sent it back to UA for a fix. They could find nothing wrong with it, said it was within spec and returned it to me. In particular, I get an audible hum when the volume is set to 0. The hum decreases if the volume is raised, which makes the Dream challenging to use for clean tones with hot pickups. So I use it for sketching ideas and quiet practice. I actually am not bullish on perfect digital simulations of analog gear, and think there will be a contraction at some point. The experience of being in a space with air being pushed while the sound interacts with a pickup...unless you build a tube amp holodeck....is simply not possible. So many folks have sang the praises of this line of pedals, my expectations were extremely high. When I got mine, I did a double take: is this really what folks are going on about?! Buried in a mix is another story, and I do believe that no one would be the wiser if you tracked with any of these pedals. So maybe the point is moot at the end of the day! Still....give me real tubes and transformers all day long!!!
I completely agree with you. I haven't played one but heard many demos of most of the recent contenders in this space. Frankly, if not playing live, I know a few plugins that sound way more convincing than this and feel good for what they are. Top of my list is Scuffham S-Gear. With that said, in all similar pedals demos I heard, the Walrus Audio ACS1 is the one that stood out to me multiple times as sounding the best. But even at low volumes, a tube amp feel is a completely different experience and at moderate volumes, when the pickups/speakers interaction really kick in, I know of no modelling tech that can approach it. I couldn't live without my Revv Dynamis 7-40 (great clean channel with a thick and chewy distortion channel). Very different animal from Revv's more "metal" offerings. But as I said, tone-wise, plugins are really getting close. Other than the aforementioned S-Gear, the Helix Native software is really good. I do not have a Helix hardware unit, just an HX Effects which has no amp modelling but the Line 6 tech is really impressive now... and I hated it a few years back. Other than a couple models, my PodXT sounded like crap to me. But Helix is amazing. These pedals here? Not so much to me.
I tried the Dream and Ruby and sold them last month.There is more noise with the units compared to the Strymon Iridium with all of the pedals powered by Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 3. For clean, the UA pedals are great but couldn't deal with the lack of headroom when using boost/OD pedals.
"The experience of being in a space with air being pushed while the sound interacts with a pickup...unless you build a tube amp holodeck....is simply not possible." - why wouldn't this be possible? It's simply a matter of volume. Operating at an equivalent dB level, your speaker system is pushing air exactly as much as a tube amplifier.
@@boshi9 But if playing at volume through some other kind of speaker (FRFR?), what's the point of these devices live where you would want to use them mostly on silent stages I would guess? In a recording process where you can't push much or any volume, it makes perfect sense but again, many plugins would do the job better than what I'm hearing here (all IMO of course). Live is another story to me. My amp is 40 watts and I don't push it and our drummer is as loud if not louder than me so I get the feel I'M used to and no one has complained in the last 5-6 years ;)
@@StephaneBergeronPixelyzed There could be many reasons one might prefer to use such device in place of tube amps: portability, the ability to have many amp tones in one pedal, presets, etc. But that's besides the point because I'm not making an argument on what technology is preferable. All I'm saying is that the claim that digital modelers will never match tube amps because they can't push the air or create interactions between the speaker and the strings/pickup is very puzzling to me. These effects are simply a by-product of volume, it's irrelevant if there are tubes in the circuit or not.
Would love to see your thoughts on the other way to go direct (with a tube amp): Captor X or OxBox. I think it's maybe a more satisfying way forward if you can carry a small head or whatever. I've used a 1W tube amp with the Captor X with good results and is pedal board sized.
If plugging these pedals into a powered monitor first connect the UA pedal to a DI box such as a Radial Pro DI and then into the XLR input of the monitor. The pedals will sound nothing like an amp if just plugging direct from pedal to the powered monitor.
My struggle with the UA dream is that the speaker emulations can distort on me and I don't like it. It's this fizzy thing. Other platforms don't have real speaker emulation, they just have impulse responses, which don't have any nonlinearities... So they have unlimited clean headroom. It makes it harder for me to use the UA drain pedal live. But my main rake is a modeler anyway so I don't have the same scruples as you relative to a real amp.
Putting the mini toggles between the pots is a good piece of design. Drives me mad when they’re below the pots where they can get stomped on. I’ve smushed a toggle switch to death before and it wasn’t an easy repair.
Yeah, I gots big feets. So many pedals out there I would crush just because of poor layout. These are well laid out though I don’t like the UI. Would be very tricky to adjust tremolo settings on the fly without accidentally changing the Treble or Boost settings.
Sounds great 🤷♂️ obviously not a good choice if you're playing at a typical bar gig, but if you're on in ears I get the appeal. Way more consistent then a mic'd amp, and probably sounds better unless the sound tech is great at mic'ing and has good equipment to do it with. Plus no worries of it going out mid gig. Personally I've got direct options (quad Cortex) as well as vintage and modern amps. I use them all, just depends on the gig. Amps all day if I can, but if the amp has to be stuck in a different room mic'd up you lose all connection to the amp so might as well go direct. Ymmv
For a mid control-use the lead boost setting, all the way up has the most mids. It sounds much better! Also I find the IR of the G12-65 sounds best with a strat. The problem with these is that it should be compared to the micd sound of a real deluxe, not how it sounds in a room. I did a lot of testing and found that I’m able to get really close..like you say it’s still not as good as the real deal, but it’s closer than any modeler to date. I can plug in directly to a qsc speaker and compare it to a real deluxe that’s micd up and it definitely sounds and feels great!
I'd love to see what your take is on the origin effects. They are analog creations and would be interesting how they compare to the real amp and the digital simulations. They have very specific amps like Magma57 and Deluxe 61 and the Revival Drive (and compact) which are more general purpose.
@Mr Nobody wow!! Thank you, that is an unbelievably well articulated review. I have an amp currently that's amazing in the current iteration of tubes and v30/creamback... But the prs Mt15 was far to affordable to expect an overdrive channel(lol).... Origin effects should give you a commission!!
Thx for your view on this. As always very interesting. I think this might be useful in a live situation, where the music is not under a looking class like in a studio situation
I agree: the Dream doesn’t sound like a Deluxe Reverb to me. The Ruby, which I own, can get a Vox-like sound if you get the cuts in the right positions. I’ve owned multiples of the real things since the 1970s too, and the real thing is still much better sounding to me.
When set up and played into properly, which I did not see or hear in this vid, these pedals sound virtually indistinguishable from the real amps. "Quite a bold statement," you might say. Well, it's not so much bold as accurate. The capability of these pedals was amply demonstrated on this You Tube site: "Rhett Shull, The BIGGEST Amp Shootout I've Ever Tried (UA FX Vs. Real Vintage Amps)." I think it may be interesting to you, and I'd be interested in your comments about it. I have a Ruby and, coincidentally, I too play it mono into a Focusrite Scarlett 212 and listen with headphones (Sennheiser 600). My Ruby sounds so much better than the one on your vid it's as if it was an entirely different pedal. I have a lot of respect for you, and I enjoy your other vids very much. Your deep knowledge and easy conversational way of explaining complex electronic things is excellent. Please do not take this comment as a dig at you. I just don't think that you did these extraordinary pedals justice.
It seems you're having about the same results/experience as I find when using the simulators - namely that they have similarities - but the interaction between player and amp just isn't the same as the real deal. I find I have to change my playing style to overcome the shortcomings, which then changes the whole performance. On the whole though it's amazing how far this technology has progressed over the years and it will only get better.
Play louder Use compression and eq as well as lpf/hpf If you matched the db as well as perception in loudness I think you’ll find it’s closer than you think
@@kodykindhart5644 Thanks! Yeah, I've been using the amp sims since the days of the Line 6 Pod and now use computer plugin versions. It is all about how you dial them up and taking that time to work on the sound and playing interaction. It is possible to get a sound that is pretty good and works in context - however I've still yet to play and experience an amp sim that truly captures the amp it's modelling. As someone who understands enough of both the science and electronics of sound, as well as enough about the maths behind modelling - I can see why it is such a difficult thing to nail. What Lyle can achieve sonically by simply changing a capacitor or the way leads are dressed, would take an insane amount of programming to come close to replicating. I think though that with the rapid advances in AI technology and ever more powerful computers - we're on that cusp of getting within a hair's breadth of the real deal on a really powerful computer. That will however take time to filter down to consumer grade processor chips that are cheap enough to slap in a pedal. Exciting time to be alive though with the possibilities of having the best of valve tech and the new horizons of modelling tech!
Hey UA, just so you know, the only difference between the Blue (T.530) and the Silver (T.1088) is the paint job. They did change the frame design on the T.1088 MKII, but this has nothing to do with how it sounds. The voice coil, cone, and magnet are the same as the T.530.
The reality is that different speakers of the same type will already sound different. Therefore they might have picked specific blue and silver speakers they captured the sound of, because they liked them. As long as we don't ask someone who's been developing the Ruby we won't know. Maybe the paint does similar magic like the opamp in a green overdrive pedal. 😂
No one seems to mention if you can use this with a cabinet like a real amp or do you need a power amp and other crap? Or is it just for direct recording and listening through monitors?
yes, I actually run these through a tweaked Katana Artist and it sounds and feels amazing! You have to get a clean channel set up just right to get the best sound. It actually makes the Katana sound like a tube amp .
It’s a preamp. Won’t directly power a speaker. I decided to demo it direct in to the Focusrite so people could hear it without any coloration added from another amp’s power section or speaker. One of the big selling points of the pedals are the direct sounds with speaker emulation. And they are good enough for their intended purposes.
Nice video Lyle, I like honest opinions. I bought the Dream when it first came out because it said you could use it through an effects loop or a Power Amp input. I tried several methods to run it through a Boss Katana 100 MKII head. Through the Power Amp In, the Effects loop and the front, and while it did certainly work, I was not at all pleased with how it sounded. Nothing at all like what your results were, but as they say "your results may vary".
I had the same experience. I think this device is super over hyped. A good example of why I don't trust most RUclips reviewers anymore. Most of them are ads in disguise.
@@probusexcogitatoris736I totally agree. I have a boatload of amps tube and solid state. They all sound great on their own but are super heavy. I have tried many different types of pedals that promote Fender tones and none are ideal through the effects loop, front or any other configuration. Best result is with a power amp and cabinet but it still has less than ideal tones they attempt to emulate. Even the PA or front of house are lacking. Conclusions are it's a decent direct recording device and not much more.
Most appreciative of your knowledge and candor re these products . I have some terrific old amps (fenders, ampeg, epiphone) from 60’s -70’s. But it’s not easy to enjoy them in a nyc apt.. with neighbors, a wife and daughter . I got the Dream in hopes of capturing the feel of an amp - primarily for recording into a scarlet and Logic Pro or GarageBand. I have yet to get a decent sound out of the thing.. isounds like a 1000 miles away , or noisy as heck. The online hype re this stuff is not to be believed . And demonstrations often are benefited by a soundboard, too notch equipment, interfaces etc. maybe a guy at home w a laptop and scarlet can’t duplicate it. I’ve had some success w real amps and close micing w a shure 57 . But even at low volume- not so easy here Quilter has these pedals - superblock uk and us. I have the uk which does a decent job re vox and a Marshall. It’s a solid state amp w a couple of speaker emulations. I’ve had a little more success w that one. I need a recoding studio and a good engineer.. is what I need, ha!
Great video. Obviously the real amps are better. I think coming from a pro, if he gives it an okay, it’s pretty close or good enough. These a great for players like me. I play for church and most churches will not even allow real amps anymore 😂. It’s a shame and I hate the control aspect of what gear I’m allowed to use, but these work great for that!
I bought the dream and the ruby a week ago. They aren't supposed to sound like an amplifier in the room, they sound like an amp that's been mic'd up and sent to an engineer for processing. At this point I've only sent the audio to my nearfield monitors. When I find enough energy, I'll try them through a power amp into a bunch of 2x12 cabinets. I'm happier with the feel of these than I was with the Fractal Audio axe FX three.
These are really not bad at all for pedals replicating amps. Not nearly as fun to play but great for simple/silent recording set ups.Probably expensive as ALL heck. Tremolos are great though my phones. UA makes an exacting replica of the Teletronix LA2A. I’ve been seriously thinking about starting the process of collecting the transformers needed to build one. There’s a DIY parts list online which is handy!
William Bock,, if you watch the Adrian Legg interview on Premier Guitar Jams, he's using a pedal-sized tube-based compressor which he claims is a miniature LA-2A (I don't remember who makes it, and the video shows the pedalboard upside down abd at an angle, from several feet away). I'll link it here if I can.
Here is the link, Adrien talks about the PC-2A compressor at about 36 minutes and 38 seconds. ruclips.net/video/XHunj-_y_C4/видео.html. I've seen him play a bunch of times; the opening tune here, "Midwest Sunday", is one of the loveliest guitar instrumentals you will ever hear.
@@sixslinger9951 , Straight through a clean amp----- at what input and output levels and ideal impedance loads? This is the kind of information that would perhaps be helpful to know. How much input signal it can take before hard clipping sets, in and how much voltage it can put out as well into a given load.
I have to say, my reaction was "asi asi"... Just ok. Then again, I got to play a friend's amazing condition 1966 AB165 Bassman head the other day so my ears are biased as hell right now. Not as well biased as that Bassman, but still....
They stuffed up too many things i don't need while leaving out essential features like an IR loader. You can buy all three of them and you still don't have a marshall model.
The Ruby just doesn't sound like the real thing.I've owned a number of old JMI-era Vox Amps. I really wanted to like this, but just isn't there. Too bad!
For Fender and Vox sounds in the digital world, I really enjoy my Strymon Iridium with a Celestion Blue speaker IR and the Neural Tone King Imperial MKII software.
I've got a Boss 65 reverb deluxe amp pedal from years ago. I use it with whatever amp I have at the moment. I really like it and would not replace it with any of those.
No pedal will ever re-create the physical sensation of playing in a room with the amp, and these aren't really trying to. They're trying to match what an amp recorded sounds like, and at that they have a bit more success. They're no substitute for the real thing, but they can be a useful solution to some setups. I personally think the Dream is the best of the bunch. Pretty silly that they sell these as three different pedals, it would be a far better value if they let you have the blackface, tweed, and vox all in one like the Iridum and ACS.
Exactly, the true test is to mic up a Deluxe or AC30 and listen the pedal and amp through headphones or monitors. They're simulations of recorded amps. That's why studio guys and in-ear guys love them and other people say they're garage.
@@sixslinger9951 Yep. I've got some great handwired amps but I can't crank them up where I am. I'm running a Strymon Irridium stereo through Neve and API channel strips and it sounds pretty darn good. I might even prefer amps sims to a cranked amp these days. It's a very controlled sound and my ears already have damage from loud amps and stage volume.
Well, I record a lot of very nice real amps here. I know the differences between “in the room” and “on playback.” I didn’t have time to set up a direct comparison but I didn’t need to. These are close but no cigar. For many they are close enough. And I’m impressed with the technology. It’s definitely getting there. Just a ways to go yet.
Just fyi, the pedal asks for 400ma which may be part of the reason you’re getting a little noise. Good video but as a long time 65 reissue owner, I ran the Dream 65 into the efx in of my Monoprice 15W tube amp and they very very, very close.
I tried to listen with an open mind or ears. While they sound fine I tend to steer clear of pedals like these. I would not use a pedal to make my amp sound like another amp. I want my amp to sound like my amp and I use pedals to enhance that sound. If I am going to record I pick an amp plugin and record a dry signal so I can modify the amp sound with plugins later to fit the song.
I wonder if these pedals would sound better through higher-quality audio interfaces. Scarlett is limited compared to UA Apollo with Thunderbolt. Sure, tube amps are better. But probably more practical in fixed settings like homes and studios. Gig logistics would be much easier due to lighter loads and less gear.
And one observation - of course it can’t compete with a Deluxe (or Vox) if you’re running it through the Focusrite interface. It’s apples to oranges. Either run the Deluxe with a mic in a sound booth and send the mic to the Focusrite and then see how they compare. Or, run the Dream into a clean amp (like I mentioned in another comment - I run a JC-40) and then compare those. But comparing the sound into a computer interface versus the real amp is not an equal comparison IMO.
Dude. This is one of the main selling points of these pedals. And if I had run into an amp or an fx return etc there would be tons of comments saying “you’re getting coloration from that” or saying I used the “wrong mic” etc. If I had found the direct sounds more promising I might have made the time to ALSO record them through a power amp/speaker. But I wasn’t that interested. I found that while UA (and most reviews) over promise on what they deliver, they do make good sounds that a lot of musicians could find useful. I think that’s fair and realistic.
Fair point, but don’t you think that mic’ing a Deluxe in another room and going into the Focusrite would be very similar? I respect your work and opinion, and I’m not dismissing your opinion here. I own both of these pedals, and oddly enough, I also have the Focusrite 2i2 and run them into JBL 305P’s. I also agree with all that you said about the controls and behavior of the pedals, but think that in order to compare the _experience_ of the pedals, they need to go into an amp.
Well, if you’re tracking with a Deluxe in a different sound proofed room you also won’t get the speaker/pickup interaction which is so important to a great sound/performance. I do agree that these pedals would sound “better” into a real power amp/speaker, because our ears love louder sounds. More exciting = better. But that makes it hard to know what what the pedal and what was the speaker or the mic or the room. And again, these pedals were designed to be used straight into an audio interface like this. I wouldn’t demo an overdrive pedal straight into a mic pre. But this ain’t that.
Rereading your comment, yes, recording a Deluxe in a different room would be *similar* but very much not the same. The Dream does not respond like a good Deluxe Reverb. And the Ruby is way different than a good AC30 in sound and feel. It’s kind of tame and lifeless in comparison. All that said, you can make good music with these and they are very convenient.
This guy is the Yoda of tube amp repair. I really appreciate the fact that his shop is in our area. Such a wealth of knowledge.
I don’t think you can compare these to what an amp sounds like when you’re standing next to it. You have to compare these to what the amps sound like mic’d with and SM57, since that is what they are modeled after. That said, I think the conclusion you arrived at is a fair one and the one that most would arrive at. Great video!
this is exactly right. If you mike a Deluxe Reverb into your DAW its probably pretty close. This is the thing that I realised when using Torpedo's etc its not the same as sitting in the room with the amp but neither is a recorded amp. In addition, getting an amp to sound good recorded is a bunch of work too which these tools make quicker and easier without having to have a sound proof box for the amp.
I couldn’t agree more, I enjoy my ruby because it allows me to quickly and consistently get great sounds at home when I’m recording! Super easy for stereo use as well!
I have never played the real Deluxe Reverb amp myself, but my cousin owned one and as a kid I found the volume on it terrifying. Amp modellers and digital effects vary in quality. While in general they've gotten pretty good, there are some that are better than others. But I do own the Dream '65 pedal (as well as the others), also solid state amps, valve pedals, analogue gear and other digital modellers and yes, the interaction of real valve amp with guitar is different for the feel of the air it pushes, but the UAFX pedal audio fidelity is simply incredible to my ear. I'm not a gigging musician but I do like to record songs and guitar and I think the UAFX is more than sufficient for me when I run it direct into a recording interface with a decent pair of studio monitors.
The emulations keep getting better and better. Personally, I prefer the real deal, but I get the portability and reliability these bring to the table. Great presentation. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for taking the time to review the UAD amp pedals. I have been using all three of them since they were introduced, in a small recording studio environment. You are correct in that recording a live amp vs a UAD pedal can be extremely similar, but ... playing live, you can "feel" the difference with a live amp, and that affects creativity and emotion of the performance.
The best advantage of the pedals is to audition each pedal for any given guitar. As I cycle through various guitars, some pedals are amazing with some guitars, but not others. I find the Dream most useful, then the Woodrow, and finally the Ruby. In a limited space recording studio, these pedals provide a lot of options, especially featuring amp like knobs, instead of mouse controls.
In a live environment, I'm looking forward to an Excalibre and not a Ruby.
If you watch the Rhett Shull, Tim pierce demo of these, volume matched to the real mic’ed up counterparts, you realize how intimate knowledge on how to get good sounds & ‘the fingers’ make the biggest difference.
Great to hear your perspective. Yet I find it fascinating, in contrast to your opinion, I watched a demo where Tim Pierce and Mateus Asato struggled and very often failed to tell the difference between these pedals and the "real thing".
I think the OX is UAs masterpiece. I am constantly amazed at how good the speaker presets and effects sound with my Bluesbreaker plugged in.
Glad you got your hands on some to try. I split my Super reverb cab and run the dream 65 (with cab sim off) and a Duncan power stage off the left two speakers and the super reverb on the right two speakers. The dream sound very nice and has a very similar dynamics and feel to the super reverb. Thanks for your thoughts. Would love to see you play through a power section on an amp to get the amp in the room feel.
Apparently the Edge has been using the Ruby on his tours
I own both pedals and they sound phenomenal. From what I’ve read about the development of those pedals a ton of tone capturing was done recording the actual perfectly working vintage examples in the studio with the amp at all levels and even trying to perfect the pedal’s ability to respond when rolling down the guitars volume knob.
The tones that I can get out of these pedals plugged straight into my Presonus Studio 2/6 interface and into my iMac sound wonderful. They sound much more strident and cold here. I’m not bashing this channel because I LOVE this channel so please understand that. From a guy who definitely knows his amps I’m sure this video is a representation of the pedal’s ability to respond to the same settings as the real vintage amps do.
Again…I love this channel. Keep up the great work. I can almost smell those amps when you work on them! Lol. Cheers!
I've had the dream pedal since Christmas and have tried so hard to work it in for my use case, just could not crack it... But after watching this video I did crack it. I use three basic sounds, and because you explained that the 'bright cap' turns off when you run the boost in 'Lead' mode, that was the missing piece I needed.
Sound number one is scooped with sparkle (presence on an amp that has it), sound two is scooped without sparkle, and sound three is mids-forward. I set the tone stack booth to 10:30 and the boost on stock to 10:00 for the scoop sparkle. Then I just switch to lead boost to turn off the bright cap and get scooped no sparkle. Then to get the mids I just turn the boost down to SRV, because I know from the manual that the tone stack gets phased out the more SRV boost you use (nullifying the scoop). I finally feel like I can use this thing where I play and get the sounds I need to get. Thanks!!
Your brilliant channel sounds quiet. Mine is very hissy. Which power supply are you using?
Thanks so much for taking the time to demo these, Lyle. They have been on my radar for silent use case for a while, specifically the Ruby since my amps are Fender and Marshall circuits. Alas, the Ruby leaves much to be desired. Will probably just take the plunge on a Nolatone and run it through my OX.
I’m in on these amp sims…dragging around my tube amps for years waiting for failure - i gigged with the Ruby and it was great - my tube amps make plenty of noise.
I loooooove that room sound on the ruby. Incredibly realistic and subtle, adds a lot of dimensionality to the tone. What dont you like about it?
He doesn’t want to put himself out of business as a guitar tech!
I have both the Dream and the Ruby and run them through a Roland JC-40. That amp is set to clean and IS the amp in the room. It’ll flap your pants legs for sure and is indistinguishable from the real thing when used this way.
Dude I’m searching for what that would sound like, any chance you could take some clips of the ruby through the jc 40 ?
You're basically using a FRFR speaker setup.
I've been using the Dream for 3 months now in open mics. I was using a HX STOMP, which i love. But the dream hits that one sound i need for open mic. Direct to house. What can i say. This thing to me is Amazing. I still love and prefer my amps. But solo open mic stuff. This thing is perfect. Turn it on... And it turns on every time. Reliability. Its key when needing a sound. Stomp turns on every time as well. But having a more tactile pedal... for me, hits the boxes. I think the Dream pedal sounds amazing. All and all i could be tone deaf and that could also be a problem. To add, I dont think any pedal is coming for your job. Jokes aside.
I am baffled by people who like this device. I had it for a few months but just was not satisfied with the sounds I was getting. It sounded flat and brittle. Very two dimensional. It sounded okay in the loop of my Helix after some major tweaking, but I get better sounds with the built in modelling... and with way more flexibility. The whole point of this pedal is to just be able to plug in and get a good sound. Perhaps it works better live. I never got that far before I sold it. Still, I just don't get all the hype. I think this pedal is very disappointing. Perhaps there is something wrong with my ears?
@@probusexcogitatoris736 That was a very long winded answer for not liking something. I love it. Havent used my HX for a few months now. No need to be baffled. You just sound like someone whos angry that you dont like something but others do. Thats old man energy.
@@joshfreeman7999 That was a curiously long reply to a comment you called long winded... I would call it consumer education, but each to his/her own.
Re: Power Supply, I use Cioks power gear and they have been quiet, convenient, and reliable thus far. Sleek, durable, and versatile. As for these UA products, I get the appeal. They sound alright, have some cool features, and may be useful in certain situations. Still, I’d prefer my amps whenever possible. Thanks for the demo/test. It was helpful. 🤙
I really appreciate this review! Thanks for taking the time to do it.
Amp sims have their place. They cannot replace the physics and associated effects of a speaker. Especially a speaker in a combo amp 5 feet away from you, cranked to earsplitting levels.
They do record very well though. Much better than the Tomemaster amps imo.
Even though its not perfect, is a Ruby the best bet for Vox tones at home? If the AC4 and AC10 are 'garbage', and the AC15 is missing low volume usability features - is a Ruby and Studio Monitors or a FRFR the best home solution?
A good honest review, keep up the good work.
I like my Quilters. Not tube, but not modeling either. They sound fantastic and weigh nothing. They play sweet like a fender just a little quicker response. Fun!
I’m impressed by the amp/spkr emulations of both pedals. They are just a tad conservative and I don’t mind that, a good basis for a sound. I think they’ll sell to private studios as well as guitarists.
This kind of video I need..Very nice!
I have both of these, and they are great for my weekly silent stage gig. I think they are great in their class. They are both much better than the iridium or ACS-1, but you’re totally right about missing the interaction between pickup and speaker. It’s not a big deal, until you need it
@@Mrlz56 I’d prefer not to need one of these type of pedals, but some of us don’t have a choice. If you have a silent stage gig, what would you use?
Mrlz56 I said positive things and I have plenty of content.
But enough with attacking other commenters.
Much better than the iridium? Really?
@@theflamerising1767 sound wise yes. I do prefer the functionality of the iridium’s headphone jack, and the strymon multiswitch plus allowing you to have 4 presets is much better for live use. Reverb is leagues ahead on the UA stuff
Damn, that thing sounds great.
The gear is sounding better and better, but for me all of these types of devices take away the joy I get from playing a real tube amp. There's always something missing.
I have 1 of those Dream 65 pedals and it reacts to touch . If you hook it up to a computer you will get more cab. Sims and artist presets downloaded to the pedal which you can then use via blue tooth from your phone or computer.
"Yeah, I'm not enjoying that." is a phrase that should be much for common in gear reviews. They could have used that position for something else.
"Musically useful" another one!
Enjoy the channel and your comments on topics. So if your situation requires a silent stage would you rather use a load box speaker replacement with an actual amp? Thanks
Thanks.
I don’t know as I haven’t tried all the digital options on the market or all the various load boxes.
The digital stuff I have played does not have the dynamic response of a good tube amp but I haven’t tried the new Fractal stuff or other highest tier stuff.
Zero stage volume is the real killer as you will have no speaker/pickup interaction. So that is a compromise that will affect real amps too.
If you look at how Def Leppard does it for instance they have very low stage volume but the guitarists have monitors up just loud enough to get that interaction (scattered across the stage beneath the floor).
When you not the lack of bass on the ruby's normal channel, you have to remember that you're not playing an emulation of just the AC30. You're really playing an emulation of the entire signal chain, and monitoring the amp from a mic'ed position in the control room. The blue speaker you played here is paired with a 57, a mic with a pronounced bass roll off.
I play a LOT of real JMI AC30s, and I mic them with a '57 on a Blue. I know what the amps really sound like. This ain't that.
Btw - anyone who’s fiddles with Logic pro’s amp sounds can get some very decent tone if you care to deal w the architecture of their amp thing. . A world unto itself. I think the apple techs know their stuff.
I use mine through nearfields for bedrooom practice, headphones for late night practice, and have used it at open mics. Great tool, real amps are better, but this thing is pretty slick for rolling with a gig bag and little else.
A good honest evaluation of these pedals. Nice job!
Great video. I've been considering the Dream 65. I still have and use my old tube amps and often use ampsims in my studio. Prior to these I was considering the Strymon Iridium, which still may be a good choice if I need to go to other studios.
If it makes you want to pick up the guitar then it's a winner. Build quality is obviously good. Good base to build on for quiet stage/home use. I've got their effects pedals and love them.
Nice video. I was hoping you'd tackle these. I own a Dream, and have had serious noise issues with it (running CIOKS power in a pro studio with lots of noiseless analog gear). The noise was significant enough that I sent it back to UA for a fix. They could find nothing wrong with it, said it was within spec and returned it to me. In particular, I get an audible hum when the volume is set to 0. The hum decreases if the volume is raised, which makes the Dream challenging to use for clean tones with hot pickups. So I use it for sketching ideas and quiet practice. I actually am not bullish on perfect digital simulations of analog gear, and think there will be a contraction at some point. The experience of being in a space with air being pushed while the sound interacts with a pickup...unless you build a tube amp holodeck....is simply not possible. So many folks have sang the praises of this line of pedals, my expectations were extremely high. When I got mine, I did a double take: is this really what folks are going on about?! Buried in a mix is another story, and I do believe that no one would be the wiser if you tracked with any of these pedals. So maybe the point is moot at the end of the day! Still....give me real tubes and transformers all day long!!!
I completely agree with you. I haven't played one but heard many demos of most of the recent contenders in this space. Frankly, if not playing live, I know a few plugins that sound way more convincing than this and feel good for what they are. Top of my list is Scuffham S-Gear.
With that said, in all similar pedals demos I heard, the Walrus Audio ACS1 is the one that stood out to me multiple times as sounding the best.
But even at low volumes, a tube amp feel is a completely different experience and at moderate volumes, when the pickups/speakers interaction really kick in, I know of no modelling tech that can approach it. I couldn't live without my Revv Dynamis 7-40 (great clean channel with a thick and chewy distortion channel). Very different animal from Revv's more "metal" offerings.
But as I said, tone-wise, plugins are really getting close. Other than the aforementioned S-Gear, the Helix Native software is really good. I do not have a Helix hardware unit, just an HX Effects which has no amp modelling but the Line 6 tech is really impressive now... and I hated it a few years back. Other than a couple models, my PodXT sounded like crap to me. But Helix is amazing. These pedals here? Not so much to me.
I tried the Dream and Ruby and sold them last month.There is more noise with the units compared to the Strymon Iridium with all of the pedals powered by Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 3. For clean, the UA pedals are great but couldn't deal with the lack of headroom when using boost/OD pedals.
"The experience of being in a space with air being pushed while the sound interacts with a pickup...unless you build a tube amp holodeck....is simply not possible." - why wouldn't this be possible? It's simply a matter of volume. Operating at an equivalent dB level, your speaker system is pushing air exactly as much as a tube amplifier.
@@boshi9 But if playing at volume through some other kind of speaker (FRFR?), what's the point of these devices live where you would want to use them mostly on silent stages I would guess?
In a recording process where you can't push much or any volume, it makes perfect sense but again, many plugins would do the job better than what I'm hearing here (all IMO of course).
Live is another story to me. My amp is 40 watts and I don't push it and our drummer is as loud if not louder than me so I get the feel I'M used to and no one has complained in the last 5-6 years ;)
@@StephaneBergeronPixelyzed There could be many reasons one might prefer to use such device in place of tube amps: portability, the ability to have many amp tones in one pedal, presets, etc. But that's besides the point because I'm not making an argument on what technology is preferable. All I'm saying is that the claim that digital modelers will never match tube amps because they can't push the air or create interactions between the speaker and the strings/pickup is very puzzling to me. These effects are simply a by-product of volume, it's irrelevant if there are tubes in the circuit or not.
Would love to see your thoughts on the other way to go direct (with a tube amp): Captor X or OxBox.
I think it's maybe a more satisfying way forward if you can carry a small head or whatever. I've used a 1W tube amp with the Captor X with good results and is pedal board sized.
You said the high end didnt sound vintage but were not on the vintage speaker sim
The sound of all the UA pedals, but in a bigger unit with the concept of the NUX Amp Academy...🎉
If plugging these pedals into a powered monitor first connect the UA pedal to a DI box such as a Radial Pro DI and then into the XLR input of the monitor. The pedals will sound nothing like an amp if just plugging direct from pedal to the powered monitor.
My struggle with the UA dream is that the speaker emulations can distort on me and I don't like it. It's this fizzy thing. Other platforms don't have real speaker emulation, they just have impulse responses, which don't have any nonlinearities... So they have unlimited clean headroom. It makes it harder for me to use the UA drain pedal live. But my main rake is a modeler anyway so I don't have the same scruples as you relative to a real amp.
Putting the mini toggles between the pots is a good piece of design. Drives me mad when they’re below the pots where they can get stomped on. I’ve smushed a toggle switch to death before and it wasn’t an easy repair.
Yeah, I gots big feets. So many pedals out there I would crush just because of poor layout.
These are well laid out though I don’t like the UI. Would be very tricky to adjust tremolo settings on the fly without accidentally changing the Treble or Boost settings.
Great video. Thank you. The Dream is very Fendery. But not hearing DR or BM or any non Twin DSR specifically.
Sounds great 🤷♂️ obviously not a good choice if you're playing at a typical bar gig, but if you're on in ears I get the appeal. Way more consistent then a mic'd amp, and probably sounds better unless the sound tech is great at mic'ing and has good equipment to do it with. Plus no worries of it going out mid gig.
Personally I've got direct options (quad Cortex) as well as vintage and modern amps. I use them all, just depends on the gig. Amps all day if I can, but if the amp has to be stuck in a different room mic'd up you lose all connection to the amp so might as well go direct. Ymmv
Ruby's trem changes to be a harmonic trem when the intensity knob is under half. You were so close, just turn the knob down!
I tried that too. Too subtle.
@@PsionicAudio Haha I found it the opposite, wish I could make it more subtle!
Nice work and honest review.
I'm not sure the Dream sounds much like a DR at all?
For a mid control-use the lead boost setting, all the way up has the most mids. It sounds much better! Also I find the IR of the G12-65 sounds best with a strat.
The problem with these is that it should be compared to the micd sound of a real deluxe, not how it sounds in a room. I did a lot of testing and found that I’m able to get really close..like you say it’s still not as good as the real deal, but it’s closer than any modeler to date. I can plug in directly to a qsc speaker and compare it to a real deluxe that’s micd up and it definitely sounds and feels great!
I'd love to see what your take is on the origin effects. They are analog creations and would be interesting how they compare to the real amp and the digital simulations. They have very specific amps like Magma57 and Deluxe 61 and the Revival Drive (and compact) which are more general purpose.
I agree! I have wanted to pull the trigger on the revival drive but........$$$$! But this gentleman coud be the difference in a decision
@Mr Nobody wow!! Thank you, that is an unbelievably well articulated review. I have an amp currently that's amazing in the current iteration of tubes and v30/creamback... But the prs Mt15 was far to affordable to expect an overdrive channel(lol).... Origin effects should give you a commission!!
Thx for your view on this. As always very interesting. I think this might be useful in a live situation, where the music is not under a looking class like in a studio situation
I agree: the Dream doesn’t sound like a Deluxe Reverb to me. The Ruby, which I own, can get a Vox-like sound if you get the cuts in the right positions. I’ve owned multiples of the real things since the 1970s too, and the real thing is still much better sounding to me.
When set up and played into properly, which I did not see or hear in this vid, these pedals sound virtually indistinguishable from the real amps.
"Quite a bold statement," you might say.
Well, it's not so much bold as accurate. The capability of these pedals was amply demonstrated on this You Tube site:
"Rhett Shull, The BIGGEST Amp Shootout I've Ever Tried (UA FX Vs. Real Vintage Amps)."
I think it may be interesting to you, and I'd be interested in your comments about it.
I have a Ruby and, coincidentally, I too play it mono into a Focusrite Scarlett 212 and listen with headphones (Sennheiser 600). My Ruby sounds so much better than the one on your vid it's as if it was an entirely different pedal.
I have a lot of respect for you, and I enjoy your other vids very much. Your deep knowledge and easy conversational way of explaining complex electronic things is excellent. Please do not take this comment as a dig at you. I just don't think that you did these extraordinary pedals justice.
Good review, it’s exactly what I thought about them .
It seems you're having about the same results/experience as I find when using the simulators - namely that they have similarities - but the interaction between player and amp just isn't the same as the real deal. I find I have to change my playing style to overcome the shortcomings, which then changes the whole performance. On the whole though it's amazing how far this technology has progressed over the years and it will only get better.
one day someone will crack the code.
@@abbacusz haha, that is true but they are getting closer and closer FAKING the real thing.
Play louder
Use compression and eq as well as lpf/hpf
If you matched the db as well as perception in loudness I think you’ll find it’s closer than you think
Same with different speakers and cabinet s
Try em out
@@kodykindhart5644 Thanks! Yeah, I've been using the amp sims since the days of the Line 6 Pod and now use computer plugin versions. It is all about how you dial them up and taking that time to work on the sound and playing interaction. It is possible to get a sound that is pretty good and works in context - however I've still yet to play and experience an amp sim that truly captures the amp it's modelling. As someone who understands enough of both the science and electronics of sound, as well as enough about the maths behind modelling - I can see why it is such a difficult thing to nail. What Lyle can achieve sonically by simply changing a capacitor or the way leads are dressed, would take an insane amount of programming to come close to replicating. I think though that with the rapid advances in AI technology and ever more powerful computers - we're on that cusp of getting within a hair's breadth of the real deal on a really powerful computer. That will however take time to filter down to consumer grade processor chips that are cheap enough to slap in a pedal. Exciting time to be alive though with the possibilities of having the best of valve tech and the new horizons of modelling tech!
Hey UA, just so you know, the only difference between the Blue (T.530) and the Silver (T.1088) is the paint job. They did change the frame design on the T.1088 MKII, but this has nothing to do with how it sounds. The voice coil, cone, and magnet are the same as the T.530.
The reality is that different speakers of the same type will already sound different. Therefore they might have picked specific blue and silver speakers they captured the sound of, because they liked them. As long as we don't ask someone who's been developing the Ruby we won't know. Maybe the paint does similar magic like the opamp in a green overdrive pedal. 😂
No one seems to mention if you can use this with a cabinet like a real amp or do you need a power amp and other crap? Or is it just for direct recording and listening through monitors?
yes, I actually run these through a tweaked Katana Artist and it sounds and feels amazing! You have to get a clean channel set up just right to get the best sound. It actually makes the Katana sound like a tube amp .
It’s a preamp. Won’t directly power a speaker.
I decided to demo it direct in to the Focusrite so people could hear it without any coloration added from another amp’s power section or speaker.
One of the big selling points of the pedals are the direct sounds with speaker emulation. And they are good enough for their intended purposes.
You have to have an isolated power supply and it gets rid of the noise. I use the voo doo labs and it works very well.
Nice video Lyle, I like honest opinions. I bought the Dream when it first came out because it said you could use it through an effects loop or a Power Amp input. I tried several methods to run it through a Boss Katana 100 MKII head. Through the Power Amp In, the Effects loop and the front, and while it did certainly work, I was not at all pleased with how it sounded. Nothing at all like what your results were, but as they say "your results may vary".
I had the same experience. I think this device is super over hyped. A good example of why I don't trust most RUclips reviewers anymore. Most of them are ads in disguise.
@@probusexcogitatoris736I totally agree. I have a boatload of amps tube and solid state. They all sound great on their own but are super heavy. I have tried many different types of pedals that promote Fender tones and none are ideal through the effects loop, front or any other configuration. Best result is with a power amp and cabinet but it still has less than ideal tones they attempt to emulate. Even the PA or front of house are lacking. Conclusions are it's a decent direct recording device and not much more.
Ive never been an AC30 person either, but ive seen plenty others jam and kick ass. Its gotta be i just aint figured em out.
Most appreciative of your knowledge and candor re these products . I have some terrific old amps (fenders, ampeg, epiphone) from 60’s -70’s. But it’s not easy to enjoy them in a nyc apt.. with neighbors, a wife and daughter . I got the Dream in hopes of capturing the feel of an amp - primarily for recording into a scarlet and Logic Pro or GarageBand. I have yet to get a decent sound out of the thing.. isounds like a 1000 miles away , or noisy as heck. The online hype re this stuff is not to be believed . And demonstrations often are benefited by a soundboard, too notch equipment, interfaces etc. maybe a guy at home w a laptop and scarlet can’t duplicate it.
I’ve had some success w real amps and close micing w a shure 57 . But even at low volume- not so easy here
Quilter has these pedals - superblock uk and us. I have the uk which does a decent job re vox and a Marshall. It’s a solid state amp w a couple of speaker emulations. I’ve had a little more success w that one.
I need a recoding studio and a good engineer.. is what I need, ha!
Thank for the great demo personally I have no desire to own either of these
Thank you.
Great video. Obviously the real amps are better. I think coming from a pro, if he gives it an okay, it’s pretty close or good enough. These a great for players like me. I play for church and most churches will not even allow real amps anymore 😂. It’s a shame and I hate the control aspect of what gear I’m allowed to use, but these work great for that!
I've decided that I'm keeping my Mesa TA-15 head until the end of time.
I bought the dream and the ruby a week ago.
They aren't supposed to sound like an amplifier in the room, they sound like an amp that's been mic'd up and sent to an engineer for processing.
At this point I've only sent the audio to my nearfield monitors. When I find enough energy, I'll try them through a power amp into a bunch of 2x12 cabinets.
I'm happier with the feel of these than I was with the Fractal Audio axe FX three.
Decent tools, but pricey considering you can get a digital platform for less than two of these models that will do even more.
These are really not bad at all for pedals replicating amps. Not nearly as fun to play but great for simple/silent recording set ups.Probably expensive as ALL heck. Tremolos are great though my phones. UA makes an exacting replica of the Teletronix LA2A. I’ve been seriously thinking about starting the process of collecting the transformers needed to build one. There’s a DIY parts list online which is handy!
William Bock,, if you watch the Adrian Legg interview on Premier Guitar Jams, he's using a pedal-sized tube-based compressor which he claims is a miniature LA-2A (I don't remember who makes it, and the video shows the pedalboard upside down abd at an angle, from several feet away). I'll link it here if I can.
Here is the link, Adrien talks about the PC-2A compressor at about 36 minutes and 38 seconds. ruclips.net/video/XHunj-_y_C4/видео.html. I've seen him play a bunch of times; the opening tune here, "Midwest Sunday", is one of the loveliest guitar instrumentals you will ever hear.
the way to run these is straight through an clean amp.
@@sixslinger9951 , Straight through a clean amp----- at what input and output levels and ideal impedance loads? This is the kind of information that would perhaps be helpful to know. How much input signal it can take before hard clipping sets, in and how much voltage it can put out as well into a given load.
Do a review of the tc electronic emulators, please. A amp is always sound better.
I have to say, my reaction was "asi asi"... Just ok. Then again, I got to play a friend's amazing condition 1966 AB165 Bassman head the other day so my ears are biased as hell right now. Not as well biased as that Bassman, but still....
hopefully ua will make software updates 👍👍
My dream is so good for recording at home. Much nicer to operate with knobs than mouse.
To my untrained ears, I don’t notice a lot of difference until you started play with the knobs. May I pass.
They stuffed up too many things i don't need while leaving out essential features like an IR loader.
You can buy all three of them and you still don't have a marshall model.
The Ruby just doesn't sound like the real thing.I've owned a number of old JMI-era Vox Amps. I really wanted to like this, but just isn't there. Too bad!
Yeah, it’s kind of reminiscent, but it ain’t the thing.
For Fender and Vox sounds in the digital world, I really enjoy my Strymon Iridium with a Celestion Blue speaker IR and the Neural Tone King Imperial MKII software.
I own all of these. They are only useful for studio use IMO
Ruby starts at about the 12:07 mark. 😀
I plug my dream into the return of my effects loops on a hrd and get good sounds
I've got a Boss 65 reverb deluxe amp pedal from years ago. I use it with whatever amp I have at the moment. I really like it and would not replace it with any of those.
No pedal will ever re-create the physical sensation of playing in a room with the amp, and these aren't really trying to. They're trying to match what an amp recorded sounds like, and at that they have a bit more success. They're no substitute for the real thing, but they can be a useful solution to some setups. I personally think the Dream is the best of the bunch. Pretty silly that they sell these as three different pedals, it would be a far better value if they let you have the blackface, tweed, and vox all in one like the Iridum and ACS.
Exactly, the true test is to mic up a Deluxe or AC30 and listen the pedal and amp through headphones or monitors. They're simulations of recorded amps. That's why studio guys and in-ear guys love them and other people say they're garage.
these are brilliant substitutes though. Not everyone can afford or crank up a amp in their home.
@@sixslinger9951 Yep. I've got some great handwired amps but I can't crank them up where I am. I'm running a Strymon Irridium stereo through Neve and API channel strips and it sounds pretty darn good. I might even prefer amps sims to a cranked amp these days. It's a very controlled sound and my ears already have damage from loud amps and stage volume.
Well, I record a lot of very nice real amps here. I know the differences between “in the room” and “on playback.”
I didn’t have time to set up a direct comparison but I didn’t need to. These are close but no cigar. For many they are close enough. And I’m impressed with the technology. It’s definitely getting there. Just a ways to go yet.
@@mrbuttons1243 I "hear" ya! My left ear is shot after a decade of gigging.
Love your channel, hate pedals. I'll just wait for the next amp vid.
Just fyi, the pedal asks for 400ma which may be part of the reason you’re getting a little noise. Good video but as a long time 65 reissue owner, I ran the Dream 65 into the efx in of my Monoprice 15W tube amp and they very very, very close.
I used a good supply capable of 500mA. That was not an issue.
I tried to listen with an open mind or ears. While they sound fine I tend to steer clear of pedals like these. I would not use a pedal to make my amp sound like another amp. I want my amp to sound like my amp and I use pedals to enhance that sound. If I am going to record I pick an amp plugin and record a dry signal so I can modify the amp sound with plugins later to fit the song.
You had a great sound until you turned that pedal on 😅
Lol, i get embarrassed that when i hear people play that srv intro i always mix it up with pearl Jams (yellow Ledbetter)
Some of it was hit and miss. I could see it to gig with those toys, that still (the 2 pedals) didn't impress me.
Weirdly, this is the only review of the dream where I thought it useable. In others it sounds shrill to my ears.
Digital gain doesn't do it for me
My man, please, for the love of God, tune that guitar before recording anything. Thank you.
Seems like ALOT of fiddling to get something decent. A bit on the clinical side.
Not a very good demo
I wonder if these pedals would sound better through higher-quality audio interfaces. Scarlett is limited compared to UA Apollo with Thunderbolt.
Sure, tube amps are better. But probably more practical in fixed settings like homes and studios. Gig logistics would be much easier due to lighter loads and less gear.
I could be using Avid or Apollo etc. You wouldn’t hear the difference once RUclips crunches it.
Like I said, a real world test.
Sony MDR-7506 phones are painfully bright for serious mixing. Just my $.02
Yeah, but I wouldn’t mix on any headphones. These are good for tracking though.
They don't sound like amps, they sound like very carefully curated EQs
Isn’t that what amps are?
@@scottcorgan amps are dynamic eqs. Pedals aren't
@@0megalul309 , yup, you nailed it. Amps are compressors and resonating tone-generators, as well as equalizers.
@@bxlgotham6369they sniffed too many tubes to actually use their ears 🤣
😂 they don’t sound like amps? Oh yeah, they sound like eq! Or maybe spaceships? Or synths?
Oh come on Lyle! would you not show us your "look at my scales" ego massaging nonsense? instead of how the pedal actual works! lol
i'll stick to my real amps x
ok, you do that
And one observation - of course it can’t compete with a Deluxe (or Vox) if you’re running it through the Focusrite interface. It’s apples to oranges. Either run the Deluxe with a mic in a sound booth and send the mic to the Focusrite and then see how they compare. Or, run the Dream into a clean amp (like I mentioned in another comment - I run a JC-40) and then compare those. But comparing the sound into a computer interface versus the real amp is not an equal comparison IMO.
Dude. This is one of the main selling points of these pedals.
And if I had run into an amp or an fx return etc there would be tons of comments saying “you’re getting coloration from that” or saying I used the “wrong mic” etc.
If I had found the direct sounds more promising I might have made the time to ALSO record them through a power amp/speaker. But I wasn’t that interested.
I found that while UA (and most reviews) over promise on what they deliver, they do make good sounds that a lot of musicians could find useful. I think that’s fair and realistic.
Fair point, but don’t you think that mic’ing a Deluxe in another room and going into the Focusrite would be very similar? I respect your work and opinion, and I’m not dismissing your opinion here. I own both of these pedals, and oddly enough, I also have the Focusrite 2i2 and run them into JBL 305P’s. I also agree with all that you said about the controls and behavior of the pedals, but think that in order to compare the _experience_ of the pedals, they need to go into an amp.
Well, if you’re tracking with a Deluxe in a different sound proofed room you also won’t get the speaker/pickup interaction which is so important to a great sound/performance.
I do agree that these pedals would sound “better” into a real power amp/speaker, because our ears love louder sounds. More exciting = better.
But that makes it hard to know what what the pedal and what was the speaker or the mic or the room.
And again, these pedals were designed to be used straight into an audio interface like this. I wouldn’t demo an overdrive pedal straight into a mic pre. But this ain’t that.
Rereading your comment, yes, recording a Deluxe in a different room would be *similar* but very much not the same.
The Dream does not respond like a good Deluxe Reverb.
And the Ruby is way different than a good AC30 in sound and feel. It’s kind of tame and lifeless in comparison.
All that said, you can make good music with these and they are very convenient.
Ive watched many videos of these.... they both sound like shit. BUT a crowd a a restaurant would never know that.