A huge upgrade to version 1.0, AmpliTube 2 has two complete guitar rigs made from two separate sets of stomp boxes, amp heads, cabinets/microphone arrangements and rack effects. These two separate rigs can be played simultaneously (in series or parallel) to create one giant-normous setup with up to 20 different effects.

Made possible by a completely redesigned interface and enhanced DSP engine using DSM technology, AmpliTube is arranged in five separate modules: Tuner, Stomp, Amp-head, Miked Cabinet and Rack effects with over 80 guitar-gear emulations included. This open-ended design allows you to build your own dream rig/amp by combining separate pre-amp, EQ, power amp, cabinet/microphone modeling for more than 20,000 possible combinations.

After amp design you'll choose between 21 different stomp boxes accurately modeled from rare vintage effects pedals. If that is not enough, add up to eleven different rack effects like parametric EQ, reverb, delay, chorus, compressor, pitch-shifter, harmonizer, stereo-widener, and rotary speaker.

I installed Amp2 in my Pro Tools rig since it comes in VST, AU and RTAS for both PC and Macs. I liked the photorealistic pictures of the modeled amps and effect--it was immediately friendly to use--just start twisting knobs using the mouse. Any parameter is no more than two clicks away (no multiple layers to dive into) and there is an A/B comparison mode for going between two presets. The sound is great--very analog sounding and very responsive to guitar playing dynamics. I liked the built-in tuner page and the 14 pre-amp models, 14 EQs, 7 power amps, 16 cabinets and 6 different microphones.

For much more about it and the StompIO system that passes the mouse/screen controls over to a conventional, floor guitar controller using a USB cable, go to www.ikmultimedia.com or www.amplitube.com