[Mind Riot]

Every now and then I still see someone refer to modeling technology as being solid state. But this is incorrect. In Line 6's own manual they state that it isn't. I think there may be some confusion as to what actually defines a solid state guitar amp.

Tube amps get their tone from tubes and other components.

Solid state amps get their tone from clipping diodes and such, using solid state components.

Modeling amps get their tone from software models of guitar amps, and then this is amplified using a solid state power source. But they DO NOT GET THEIR TONE FROM SOLID STATE TECHNOLOGY.

While they do use a clean solid state amplifier to power the speaker, the tone of the amp is not derived from solid state components. It's similar to running a POD through a PA power amp into a guitar cab. The tone is already there from the software, the solid state power amp only comes into it to drive the speaker, not to make the tone.

Sometimes it seems like some folks only see guitar amps in two categories:

1) Tube (Marshall, Mesa, Soldano)

2) Solid state (Everything else that isn't tube)

But there is more to it than that. A Randall solid state amp gets it's tone from solid state technology and components (though I hear they use preamp tubes on some of their stuff), but a Line 6 amp gets it's tone from modeling software. How they are amplified to drive the speaker is another matter. But the TONE of modeling amps IS NOT SOLID STATE, IT IS SOFTWARE.


Sorry for the rant, but I still see this from time to time (not necessarily on here) and it bugs me. Maybe it's because some people then just dismiss modelers as just 'another solid state amp' when the technology of modelers is in truth different and unique.

Okay, rant mode off.

[Drew]

I wouldn't go so far as to say it bugs me, but yeah, techinally a Line6 amp is a digital preamp driving a solid state poweramp.

Of course, from a sheerly logistical perspective, "digital" is more of a can of worms than "solid state" in terms of waveform response and so forth... Writing modelers off as "solid state" could actually concievably be seen as doing them a kindness, in certian quarters.

[darren]

Digital and solid state describe two different things, and i've never heard anyone describe a modeling processor as "solid state".

Solid state = transistors (vs. tubes)

Digital = numerical computation (vs. analog processing)

In one sense, "digital" is still "solid state" because it uses transistors... just millions of very tiny ones on an integrated chip. But it relies on converting a waveform into a numeric representation, where the processor performs mathematical transformations on it, and then transforms it back into an audio waveform.

Where people are perhaps confusing things is with the word "analog". "Solid state" is transistors vs. tubes, but both are analog technologies, because no computation is involved. A "digital" processor is technically still "solid state" but it's not "analog" because instead of electrically modifying the input waveform, it's capturing it and mathematically transforming it.

[Mind Riot]

DON'T MAKE THINGS MORE COMPLICATED!!

I'm getting a headache now.


I guess it just bugs me when people dismiss modeling technology as just another solid state amp, been there done that, when in fact modeling is a pretty revolutionary process (or at least it was when it first came out).

[darren]

I'm not trying to make things more complicated... i'm just trying to explain where some of the confusion might come from.

If you really want to screw with people's minds, ask them how they accound for digital/tube hybrids (like the Vox Tonelab series) or a modeling processor put in front of a tube power amp. Solid state? Digital? Tube?

[eaeolian]

Uh, yeah, what Darren said, since his is MUCH better than mine.

[eaeolian]

Originally Posted by darren

I'm not trying to make things more complicated... i'm just trying to explain where some of the confusion might come from.

If you really want to screw with people's minds, ask them how they accound for digital/tube hybrids (like the Vox Tonelab series) or a modeling processor put in front of a tube power amp. Solid state? Digital? Tube?

Actually, I believe "hybrid" is the correct term. It's been used since the '70s, for things like the Peavey Classics that had tube power sections and transistor preamps.

Modelers aren't all digital, either - even the POD uses op-amps to handle signal volume, which is an analog process...

[Rev2010]

Darren, excellent response!

I think most people just call them solid state cause of the power amp section rather than the modeling components. Of course the models are designed to act like their supposed copy which makes them react different than a plain solid state amp. Some modelers claim things like "Dynamic Tube Response" or whatever that's supposed to make the amp change sounds dynamically like tube amps. Regardless though... if it's not real tubes people will still think of digital modeling as solid state. Don't let it bother you. Eventually as time goes on digital modeling will become a new industry commonplace right in with tube and solid state and at that point people will probably sway from calling them straight up solid state.

Just wait till we see the modeling amps with full tubes in them. Randall already has the MTS series heads that are all tube and have modular preamp bays that are supposed to mimic other brands of amps. Don't know how good it is though.


Rev.

[The Dark Wolf]

Thanks for pointing that out, Mind Riot. I've made the same point myself on some forums. The solid-sate appelation is really a misnomer when applied to digital modelling. The whole SS vs. tube debate really goes back to the old transistor amps, and I think that's where alot of the tube bias comes from. Because, basically, before modelling, non-tube amps generally had a VERY hard time competing with tube amps, with some exceptions. But those old points are often irrelevant anymore, when applied to digital modelling.

Good looking out!

[Ken]

Originally Posted by The Dark Wolf

The solid-sate appelation is really a misnomer when applied to digital modelling.

Uh, I think you need more man-meat back in your diet. uh, huh huh.