I’ve always been quite open to guitar modelers. The first VST VSTVirtual Studio Technology – plugin standard by Steinberg for virtual instruments and effects. VST3 is the current standard. Enables synthesizers, compressors, EQs as software within a DAW plugin for guitar was probably ReValver, sometime around 2000. Back then, the ability to simulate guitar sounds on the computer, completely without an amp, speakers, microphones, was fascinating, but still far from what is possible today.
Overloud has been involved in this topic for a long time, but never had the attention that NI’s Guitar Rig or IK Multimedia Amplitube had. So I too only became aware of this plugin again after the review of the GEM Comp LA and when testing the Slate Digital All Access Pass (where it is available in a stripped-down version).
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Under the clear user interface, you’ll find no less than 93 guitar amplifiers (including 4 bass amps), 52 cabinets (with 2 bass cabinets), 79 pedals and effect racks as well as 18 microphones. You have the choice of over 1000 presets and new free presets are added every month.
If that’s still not enough for you, the Rig Player additionally provides complete rigs consisting of amplifier, speakers and effects. A total of 241 models are available. But let’s go in order:
Structure and features
TH-U comes with a tidy and clear interface. On the left side are the presets. On the right side, you’ll find all amps, cabinets, effects, etc.
All components can simply be inserted via drag and drop or moved in the signal path. The signal path can be split into two paths, which are mixed together again at the end. This allows very interesting configurations to be created, for example by combining a high gain sound in parallel with a cleaner crunch sound to obtain more definition and assertiveness. As a bassist, you can also very easily choose a clean path for the bass range, put distortion sound and e.g. modulation effects on the other path, without the bass range sounding muddy or thin.
An indicator for the input level shows whether the signal is in the optimal range for TH-U. The built-in tuner works exceptionally well and is nerve-saving - even with basses with a low B string.
Of course, you’ll find the usual suspects like a Marshall, Boogie, Fender, etc. among the models. They may be called something slightly different, but the representation and names leave little mystery as to which representatives they are. In addition, Overloud has authorized official models from Randall, DVmark, Brunetti and THD. You can not only make typical settings on the front of the amps, but also modify the amplifiers themselves. This ranges from tube swapping to reduced power supply to produce a “sag”.
SuperCabinet - the name says it all
Also very pleasing is the ability to use your own impulse responses in addition to the many speaker models. The current version also comes with the new Super Cabinet. You actually almost get an additional and very powerful tool with it to be able to use impulse responses in great detail. Overloud also uses its own technology here, called Overloud Fluid Convolution, which is said to sound significantly more realistic than simple IRs while using less CPU.
With SuperCabinet, you can select speakers, microphones, preamps and power amps. The microphones can be positioned in front of the speakers and in the room. If that’s not enough for you, you can layer 4 different impulse responses on top of each other and distribute them in the stereo image. But that’s not all. There is not only an equalizer - with the multiband mode, you can split the frequency band and assign a different speaker to each frequency range.
What I haven’t discovered in any other plugin yet was a microphone behind the speaker cabinet. This is a technique that is relatively unknown and yet makes a lot of sense because it completes the overall impression of a speaker cabinet.
By the way, all setups that you have created with the SuperCabinet can be exported as their own IRs, which can then be used in other applications. This is also a really impressive feature. Even if you use “real” amplifiers with a loadbox, the SuperCabinet function of TH-U alone is a big argument for TH-U. You go completely quietly from your physical amp into the computer, through TH-U and the SuperCabinet and have a great sound that can still be adjusted afterwards. Additional speakers and cabinets are available for a fee. All of them can be tested directly from the app before purchase.
SuperCabinet is also available as a standalone plugin for 79.00 euros and is thus an affordable alternative to plugins such as TwoNotes Torpedo.
RockGuy - Back to the Eighties
With the Rockguy, Overloud has a completely new model at the start, because they have taken on the legendary Tom Scholz Rockman and I’ve already spent several hours with the demo version. The extension is still available for a short time at an introductory price of 29.90 € instead of the regular 49.90 €. The Rockman was also used by my musician colleagues and Overloud hits the sound 100 percent! I suddenly felt a good 30 years younger!
Rig Player - even more possibilities
In addition to all the amps and cabinets, there is also the Rig Player. As the name suggests, you can play configurations with it that were captured from real complete rigs. Not only the amp, cabinet and microphone were captured, but the entire room and the mic preamp. Overloud calls the technology R2M (Rig to Model). These rigs can be expanded and Overloud offers plenty of Rig Libraries here. I tested the British and American Classics and find these sounds very realistic.
Bassists will be pleased with popular amps like Darkglass Microtubes or Ashdown MAG 300. Old farts like me are thrilled by the Trace Elliot V-Type, which I myself used to have in use and stupidly sold many years ago. Overloud has really impressively captured the sound here.
In practice
Not only the amps and cabinets of the current TH-U version 1.4 are first-class, but also the many effects. Modulations sound dense and very authentic. Reverb effects are based on the famous BREVERB and SpringAge. Here too, I have to say that the spring reverb effects play at the very top. The amps react very dynamically and the variety of different models make TH-U the only solution you probably need. Currently, the virtual amps from Neuraldsp are being very hyped. However, I consider the TH-U amps to be equal in terms of sound and, for my taste, also more lively.
The CPU load is low and practically everything can be learned and controlled via MIDI MIDIMusical Instrument Digital Interface – standard protocol for transmitting musical data (notes, velocity, control commands) between digital instruments, controllers and DAWs. Not audio, but control data controllers. It takes quite some time to work through even just approximately all amps, cabinets, effects and presets. And then you haven’t even looked at the many Rig Libraries that you can simply download and test before buying. That is perhaps also the only disadvantage of TH-U, namely that you have endless possibilities. With the built-in looper, which is suitable for ideas or simple jamming, you have even more fun.
In addition, you should bear in mind that you can use TH-U not only for guitar and bass. Many amps, cabinets and effects are just as suitable for Hammond sounds, synthesizers or even vocal effects, so you have a universal effect construction kit at your disposal here.
Hi! I'm Markus – the Fricklr. ⚡ Electrical engineer, 🎵 musician (bass, guitar, keys) and professionally 'something with the internet' 🌐 for over 30 years – nowadays with AI too 🤖 – a 55-year-old generalist from Bavaria, Germany.
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