Introducing SHB-1 by Ignite Amps – a true bass guitar monster in plugin format! This isn’t just another amplifier emulation, but a precise digital reproduction of a real custom-made tube head created for Subhuman band bassist, Federico Fulceri, back in 2012. Developed with meticulous attention to detail, SHB-1 brings all the power and versatility of its hardware prototype to your DAW.
If you’re looking for a bass guitar tone that can adapt to any style – from smooth and warm blues to tight and focused funk, to the crushing, jackhammer-like distortion for modern metal – SHB-1 will become your indispensable tool. Combined with a carefully selected cabinet, this plugin is capable of far more than you can imagine.
The developers at Ignite Amps set out to replicate the real analog circuit’s every link in the signal chain as accurately as possible. The result is a model that not only perfectly matches the sound of the original but also demonstrates impressive efficiency in CPU usage, while also providing the possibility of real-time playing with zero latency.
Key Features and Sound Characteristics
SHB-1 is not just an imitation; it is a complete tool for shaping your unique bass guitar tone. Thanks to meticulous analog modeling of dynamic stages with a 12AX7 / ECC83 tube, the plugin conveys the characteristic features of real tubes’ behavior, from their sensitivity to playing dynamics to the rich harmonic spectrum when overdriven.
You can easily switch from a clean but rich tone, perfect for funk slap parts or jazz improvisations, to a slight overdrive, adding aggression and clarity to rock, and up to a frenzied distortion for the heaviest metal subgenres. The flexibility of the settings allows you to find the right balance between compression, sustain, and distortion level.
The plugin responds perfectly to different types of bass guitars and playing techniques, allowing musicians to fully unleash their potential. Whether you play with fingers, a pick, or slap, SHB-1 will highlight the nuances of your performance.
Technical Specifications
In addition to its impressive sound, SHB-1 offers a number of technical advantages that make it a convenient and powerful tool in your studio:
- Dynamic analog modeling of paired triode stages with a 12AX7 / ECC83 tube. This technology provides a realistic response to the input signal and authentic tube saturation.
- Support for mono and stereo processing. Allows you to use the plugin for standard mono bass parts, as well as for experiments with stereo effects or processing stereo signals.
- Selectable oversampling frequency (up to 8x). Oversampling helps reduce aliasing that may occur during nonlinear signal processing, providing a cleaner and more natural sound, especially at high overdrive levels.
- Global input and output level controls. Allow you to precisely adjust the level of the signal entering and exiting the plugin, optimizing processing and avoiding clipping.
- Double-precision mathematical model (64 bits). Provides maximum calculation accuracy and preserves sound quality throughout the processing.
- Fully automated controls. All plugin parameters can be automated in your DAW, giving you full control over the dynamics and tone changes throughout the track.
- Zero latency. A critically important feature for recording and live performance, which allows you to play through the plugin without noticeable delay.
SHB-1 by Ignite Amps is more than just a plugin. It’s a tool that embodies the spirit of classic tube bass guitar amplifiers, offering unprecedented flexibility and sound quality in the digital world. Regardless of your musical genre or skill level, SHB-1 will be a valuable addition to your plugin arsenal, helping you create powerful and expressive bass guitar parts.
Discover the authentic sound of tube bass with SHB-1!
