Topic: T-Racks Classic Equalizer & Metering Suite – freeware

Hey, alex,

Well, certainly, this is one valid way to go with building one’s amp sound. I’d say perhaps as many as 50% of guitarists are using this one or that other major competitor that is using this ‘amp store’ setup to sell their goodies.

But I’ve gone about it the other way. I simply auditioned practically all, including a couple of these, and then I chose the best company in my opinion and best price, Scuffham Amps, maker of the very highly rated S-Gear bundle of three boutique-structured amps and deluxe effects. To add to those, while Mike at Scuffham is designing a nice OD device and other free additions to his ‘package’, I’ve built up a collection of ‘pedals’, or I should say the software clones thereof, that are offered as freeware around the Net. Some of them are actually much better than what you’ll find at these amp shop places, some due to patent issues.

I don’t have the sites to link, but they are easily searched and downloaded. In fact, I’ll be very honest to say that I WON’T post some of these lessor-known among them on other forums. Why give away the hot sounds you’ve searched so hard and then demoed thoroughly to acquire to forum members who are sometimes even adversarial types? Well, I hope it is obvious that this forum and its dedicated followers hold a special place to my thinking. I’ve posted yet-unreleased and little-known facts and news items here and nowhere else — and often. Not my problem if non-Podium users aren’t clever enough to hunt tips and info at other forums that are outside the tunnel vision of the mainstream.

I’m not knocking the validity of the IK group, except to say I don’t like the way I was constantly junk mailed with yet another amp or item to buy, and I didn’t care for the whole registration and download structure. The amp shop setup appeared cute to me . . . until I had to use it. This is merely my personal choice and opinion. Others, obviously, it may suit better. [Edit} I want to add that some of the amps in amp shop didn’t sound very good to me, didn’t sound like the amp they claimed to model sometimes. Finally, I’d rather pay for my amps at a very good price once and get it over with permanently.

Here are the very best of freeware pedals that I have found and now have at my disposal, again, easily searched and acquired (search under these names):

Very obvious Tube Screamer clones: TSE808 and TS-999;
More than obvious Fuzz Face and Fender Blender clones: Face Bender (two plugs in one window);
the rare Rangemaster in clone form: Rangebastard
the new ProCo Rat pedal clone: TSE_R47_1.0

I’d be very interested in hearing back from any of our Podium guitarists as regards their opinions on any/all of these! Happy downloading!

Cheers!
Tele