I didn't test the power amp section, so I'll just review the cab/fx part.
Ease of Use :
Well it's a tricky question. If you know exactly what cab sound you want, and how it's structured, you'll get it in a matter of hours. Just something to know before getting started, the input level has a huge impact on what (I guess) the mics capture. The more the better .. Start with max level and no overload, find your tone, then lower the input if you want to use the overload.
Features :
Enough cabs and mics to get pretty much everything, without modifying your amp settings. The post EQ and exciter are also very flexible, the exciter reacts to EQ variations, every part of the chain is connected in a realistic way. The only thing I regret is the absence of room reverb to spatialize the sound in a natural way, though it sounds less monodimentional than normal IRs. Also, I'm not convinced by some mics .. the R121 is pretty boring and dull. Fortunately, some others are fantastic, especially in pair, just try the U87 and Knightfall together.
Reliability :
No problem with the Ilok so far, but the plug-in is not 100% stable on my computer, sometimes it closes Logic when I load a cab setting.
Value :
No contest, best cab simulator I ever tried, nothing else made my axe-fx sound so natural.
Expressiveness/Sounds
Nothing to add but samples .. So here's a very basic setting, full & flat tone, single track.
https://soundcloud.com/humanseeming/pi-101-sso-review
The amp is the axe-fx (ultra), simple drive/amp patch to play with my real cab, and here's the interesting part :
Now, let's try something different, a little more airy.
https://soundcloud.com/humanseeming/pi-101-sso-review-2
And then, let's mix both together !
https://soundcloud.com/humanseeming/pi-101-sso-review-3
Not bad at all
Overall Rating :
Ease of Use :
Well it's a tricky question. If you know exactly what cab sound you want, and how it's structured, you'll get it in a matter of hours. Just something to know before getting started, the input level has a huge impact on what (I guess) the mics capture. The more the better .. Start with max level and no overload, find your tone, then lower the input if you want to use the overload.
Features :
Enough cabs and mics to get pretty much everything, without modifying your amp settings. The post EQ and exciter are also very flexible, the exciter reacts to EQ variations, every part of the chain is connected in a realistic way. The only thing I regret is the absence of room reverb to spatialize the sound in a natural way, though it sounds less monodimentional than normal IRs. Also, I'm not convinced by some mics .. the R121 is pretty boring and dull. Fortunately, some others are fantastic, especially in pair, just try the U87 and Knightfall together.
Reliability :
No problem with the Ilok so far, but the plug-in is not 100% stable on my computer, sometimes it closes Logic when I load a cab setting.
Value :
No contest, best cab simulator I ever tried, nothing else made my axe-fx sound so natural.
Expressiveness/Sounds
Nothing to add but samples .. So here's a very basic setting, full & flat tone, single track.
https://soundcloud.com/humanseeming/pi-101-sso-review
The amp is the axe-fx (ultra), simple drive/amp patch to play with my real cab, and here's the interesting part :
Now, let's try something different, a little more airy.
https://soundcloud.com/humanseeming/pi-101-sso-review-2
And then, let's mix both together !
https://soundcloud.com/humanseeming/pi-101-sso-review-3
Not bad at all
Overall Rating :
