Ampeg SVT Suite

Ampeg’s first official plug‑in offers a range of classic heads, cabs and effects.

Various companies have offered plug‑in models of revered Ampeg bass amps, but this one is the first to come from Ampeg themselves, and as well as offering a selection of modelled amps and cabinets, it boasts a range of useful effects. Currently at version 1.1, the company’s SVT Suite supports AU, AAX and VST plug‑in hosts on Mac/Windows operating systems; I tested the plug‑in in Logic Pro running on a Mac.

Overview

The plug‑in offers the user a choice of three classic Ampeg bass amp heads: the Heritage 50th Anniversary SVT, the Heritage SVT‑CL, and the SVT‑4PRO. Any of these heads can be paired with any of eight included Ampeg speaker cabinet models, and these include the classic Heritage SVT‑810AV, complete with flexible miking options. Other cabinets include the SVT‑610HLF, the SVT‑15E, the SVT‑210AV, the SVT‑212AV, the SVT‑112AV and the SVT‑810 Squareback.

In the virtual mic locker we find a Neumann U47, a Sennheiser MD421, an AKG D112, a Coles 4038, an Electro‑Voice RE20 and a Royer R121 ribbon.

The SVT‑4PRO head, with its in‑built graphic equaliser and compressor.

Dual‑cab and dual‑IR modes enable two speaker cabs or speaker impulse responses to be used at the same time, and should you want to experiment further, there’s a facility to load your own IRs. Each cabinet can be miked using any of six virtual microphones, with adjustable positioning across the speaker and a choice of straight or angled orientation. There are also three fixed room mics that can be mixed in. To add to the range of sounds available, the suite also includes models of five Ampeg effects pedals, including two new ones — the Rocktaver octave pedal and the Phasifier. These join the Opto Comp, the Scrambler and the Liquifier chorus.

There are 50 artist presets included, and these cover most bass styles. That’s great if you like to use presets, but it’s important to note that setting up your own is just as easy as using an actual amp head. Separate tabs access the pedals (which are arranged as a pedalboard), the amp heads and the speaker/miking setups.

Photorealistic amp panels would mean little if the plug‑in didn’t deliver on the sound front — so I’m pleased to say that this one does!

The Bottom Line

Photorealistic amp panels would mean little if the plug‑in didn’t deliver on the sound front — so I’m pleased to say that this one does! I tried a few instruments and styles and permutations of the three amp heads and the cabs or cabinet pairs, and discovered a vast range of bass voicings which could fit any style, from warm and fat to aggressive rock. I have to confess, though, that my personal favourite is the SVT‑4PRO head, with its in‑built graphic equaliser and compressor. Most of my bass playing these days is done on my fretless bass, which I’ve long thought sounded good being DI’ed — but it sounds so much bigger and somehow more solid through these virtual amps!

Tthe SVT Suite also includes models of five Ampeg effects pedals.

All the pedals do their job well too. A combination of the Opto Comp and Liquifier chorus worked particularly well on my fretless bass. That Rocktaver also works smoothly, though of course you’ll need good speakers to handle some of the lowest notes! As with most similar octave pedals, it only works with a monophonic input, but it’s also capable of producing a passable bass sound from a standard guitar. Having a selection of effects pedals on board is great; it hasn’t made the GUI at all cluttered, and it makes it easy to save your pedal setup with your amp settings. So even if you already have other plug‑ins that do a similar job on the amp‑modelling front, this might make the plug‑in appeal: it’s great to be able to save the whole setup in a single plug‑in.

The bottom line is that if you wish to record bass guitar without using an amp or modelling pedal, the SVT Suite will get the job done in style and with the minimum of fuss. But you don’t have to take my word for it: there’s a free 14‑day trial, so it’s easy to decide for yourself.