A weekend special on a nice Twin Reverb VST and desktop app (Recording added)

**Jim Soloway** · 08-18-2023, 02:29 PM

Amped Gemini - ML Sound Lab

ML Sound Lab have a nice Twin model and they're offering a discount for the weekend. The full package includes both a VST plugin and a desktop app. They have a free crippled demo that has periodic pauses but it's enough to get a good idea of what it sounds like. It's a pretty cheap way to get started with modeling on a computer and unlike most modelling software, the focus is on an amp that jazz players actually know and often like.

EDIT:

Here's a short recording that I just completed with the Gemini Twin model. I'm never very good at being objective when I've just completed something but I think it sounds pretty good.

**jorgemg1984** · 08-19-2023, 05:36 AM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

Amped Gemini - ML Sound Lab

ML Sound Lab have a nice Twin model and they're offering a discount for the weekend. The full package includes both a VST plugin and a desktop app. They have a free crippled demo that has periodic pauses but it's enough to get a good idea of what it sounds like. It's a pretty cheap way to get started with modeling on a computer and unlike most modelling software, the focus is on an amp that jazz players actually know and often like.

I've seen the add for this plugin frequently and always thought it was based on an Ampeg Gemini... but it's on Twin, then? Does it have enough clean headroom? That's usually the problem with plugins, even modelling a Twin or a JC120, they always seem to have too much gain.

**Jim Soloway** · 08-19-2023, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

I've seen the add for this plugin frequently and always thought it was based on an Ampeg Gemini... but it's on Twin, then? Does it have enough clean headroom? That's usually the problem with plugins, even modelling a Twin or a JC120, they always seem to have too much gain.

Gemini as in the astrological sign for the Twins. I'm having no problem getting clean tones out of the test version and it sounds really nice. My only complaint is that just like a real Twin, the trem is only usable at the lowest levels. I am planning to buy it in a couple of hours so I'll report back with some records this afternoon.

**jorgemg1984** · 08-19-2023, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

Gemini as in the astrological sign for the Twins. I'm having no problem getting clean tones out of the test version and it sounds really nice. My only complaint is that just like a real Twin, the trem is only usable at the lowest levels. I am planning to buy it in a couple of hours so I'll report back with some records this afternoon.

Ah, it makes sense - I'm not schooled on astrology (and, as a matter if fact, in Portuguese the word for the Gemini sign is actually Twins).

Looking forward on your report, I'm very happy with the HX Native but it's always good to know alternatives.

**Christian Miller** · 08-19-2023, 10:56 AM

Astrology? What a load of old Pollux

**grahambop** · 08-19-2023, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Christian Miller

Astrology? What a load of old Pollux

It’s a good job my Twin has Castors.

**dconeill** · 08-19-2023, 04:27 PM

Jim,
Didn't you experiment for awhile with the Scuffham S-Gear app? How does that compare with this one?

**Jim Soloway** · 08-19-2023, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by dconeill

Jim,
Didn't you experiment for awhile with the Scuffham S-Gear app? How does that compare with this one?

I use S-Gear every day and I like it a lot. This is much simpler and more to the point. S-Gear has multiple amps and the amp which most resembles a Blackface is very complex with a lot of settings. This is just a model of a Twin with few added bells and whistles. So it's a lot simpler to dial in but it many fewer things. Here's recording that I just completed a few minutes ago. I'll put it in the OP as well.

**Jim Soloway** · 08-19-2023, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

Ah, it makes sense - I'm not schooled on astrology (and, as a matter if fact, in Portuguese the word for the Gemini sign is actually Twins).

Looking forward on your report, I'm very happy with the HX Native but it's always good to know alternatives.

I've posted my first recording in the OP.

**jorgemg1984** · 08-19-2023, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Soloway

I've posted my first recording in the OP.

It sounds good, very fendery. I have to try it! Thanks

**Jim Soloway** · 08-21-2023, 10:04 AM

Some thoughts now that I've been playing it for a bit.

First, it is an outstanding recreation/representation of a Blackface Twin both in sound and feel. It is very Fender-like but it also has the clank (for lack of a better word) that I associate with a Twin that is not in the Princeton or Deluxe. There is something different in the 6L6 sound than the 6V6 sound and this has it. The great part though is that it's like having a Twin that's been shrunk down to a microscopic size that allows you to really get the sound at whisper volume levels. The only real negative I can think of is that, just like a real Twin, the verb and trem are both almost overwhelming and are really only usable at the lowest possible levels but that's just part of what playing through a Twin is really like.

There are a two departures from the real Twin design that are both very useful. First it has both in input and output level control so you have much better control of the gain structure. And second both the normal and vibrato channels are able to access both the reverb and tremolo.

There are also some goodies included in a virtual pedal board that are independent of the amp (noise gate; compressor, drive, chorus, delay and reverb). Both the reverb and delay are very usable and give much better control than the on-board reverb, so that might be a god alternative. As a tremolo addict, I wish they had included pedal version of that as well but it's nice having a way to work around the normal Twin reverb.

The package comes with both a stand alone desktop app and a VST plug-in for recording. Using the desktop app and running my speakers at conversational volume levels, this may well be the most rewarding "at home sound" I've ever experienced. I have lots of experimenting to do with the plugin part of the package but the results of my initial experiments have been really pleasing.

I've been upgrading my recording setup for a while and I'm now running a UA Volt 2 interface and a pair of tiny Genelec 8010 monitors but I'm sure it would sound just fine with a lesser setup.

The price of the package is 39 Euros and they had it on-sale for 29 Euros this past weekend. At the sale price that's $42 CDN or $31.50 US. Given the quality of the sound and how faithfully they have recreated the BF Twin, I think it's a great bargain. ML's advertising describes the Gemini as the best clean amp plug in and as someone who only uses clean tones, I have to say it's the best I've ever tried.

**jzucker** · 08-22-2023, 04:00 PM

sounds great Jim.

**Jim Soloway** · 08-22-2023, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by jzucker

sounds great Jim.

Thanks Jack and as I keep getting a bit deeper it keeps getting better. The desktop app sounds great in the room too.

**jads57** · 08-23-2023, 12:36 PM

Jim I’ve never heard a bad tone from any of your audio examples. My feeling is it’s your “Touch” and using fingers.
Sounds really good as per usual, how it feels to you is the most important!

**Jim Soloway** · 08-23-2023, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by jads57

Jim I’ve never heard a bad tone from any of your audio examples. My feeling is it’s your “Touch” and using fingers.
Sounds really good as per usual, how it feels to you is the most important!

Thanks. Honestly, if feels inspiring. It just sounds so sweet while I'm playing and it makes this guitar feel like one of my better decisions over the last few years.