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The most popular FRFR speakers for pro audio are studio monitors and stage monitors. Studio monitors are typically smaller (5-8" woofers) and are nearly always found in pairs. They are loud enough for playback in a small to medium size room with low noise - a studio control room for instance. For live playing, stage monitors are more popular. DJ{{top}}{{Gear Crumbs|2}}{{Buyer's often use pairs of these for smaller venues. For large venues, they are more often used as stage wedges for the band to hear themselves. While a pair is nice to take advantage of stereo effects/routing, often a guitarist needs just one (most dedicated guitar amps and cabs are mono). These come in sizes and loudness similar to guitar cabinets; however, they are generally lighter and more portable, as well as having a wider frequency dispersion. They are also shaped capable of being laid on the ground as wedges, stacked in towers, or mounted on poles.Guide Crumbs|6}}
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A ''modeler'''s main function is to emulate the tone of analog amplifiers; however, they typically also provide a number of other features, such as speaker/mic emulation, a wide range of simultaneous effects, MIDI send/receive, and configurable signal routing. Some are also in a foot controller form factor, allowing control of not only that device but others via MIDI. This means modelers can take a number of roles, serving as all-in-one processors or integrating with other gear. This can make them extremely complicated in some cases, requiring lots of attention to detail and effort to make it work for you. How you plan to use the modeler, how much time you have to learn and tweak it, budget, and quality are the prime considerations to make.
=== Impulse Responses ===
''Impulse responses'' or ''IR'''s are sound files that represent a transformation of sound caused by some system. They can be used to provide simulations of the reverb of a room, for instance. In the guitar community, they are popular for cab/mic simulation, capturing not only frequency response but phase and resonance information. In a DAW, a convultion reverb plugin is necessary to apply the IR transformation to an input signal. Most modelers provide their own cab/mic block or make it part of the amp block. These typically use IR's, although only a small number allow you to actually import or export the IR's in and out of the modeler.
== Ways to Run a Modeler ==
=== LePou - Various VST's ===
LePou is a programmer who has designed a number of '''free''' VST plugins that model real world amplifiers. While the quality and interface deserves praise, the caveat is that it requires a system capable of hosting a VST to use. This makes it nice in the studio but more difficult to take to gigs or rehearsal...or even move around the house. LePou also provided an IR loader called LeCab2, capable of loading 2 simulataneous IR's.
=== Line 6 - DT, Pod, Spider, Vetta ===
=== Positive Grid - Bias ===
Bias is a software-based modeler, available on mobile platforms as well as home computers, making it a highly portable solution. Despite its wide platform support, it is also known for its high quality.
=== Zoom - G ===
== FRFR ==
Modelers usually include cab/mic emulation. Guitar speakers/cabinets typically roll-off the more extreme high-end frequencies, focusing on midrange. They also have certain resonances and characteristic formants. Using cab/mic emulation is great for home recording, removing the need to mic a cabinet. It also removes the need to crank the volume a guitar ampfor its unique tonal additions from its power section, so you can play/record in low-volume situationswithout sacrificing tone. Unlike guitar speakers, most general-purpose speakers, especially pro audio (PA, studio monitors) are designed to be full-frequency flat-response ('''FRFR'''), meaning they output all frequencies (within human hearing) without boosting or diminishing any of them in relation to the input signal they receive. FRFR has become a kind of buzz-word, with many debating just how FRFR an "FRFR" speaker/monitor is. '''Regardless, using a modeler with cab/mic simulation into an FRFR speaker should get you a tone similar to a real guitar amp/cab rig that has been mic'ed.''' The most popular FRFR speakers for pro audio are studio monitors and stage monitors. ''Studio'' monitors are typically smaller (5-8" woofers) and are nearly always found in pairs. They are loud enough for playback in a small to medium size room with low noise - a studio control room for instance. For live playing, ''stage'' monitors (aka PA speakers) are more popular. DJ's often use pairs of these for smaller venues. For large venues, they are more often used as stage wedges for the band to hear themselves, with a much larger PA system responsible for delivering sound to the audience. While a pair is nice to take advantage of stereo effects/routing, often a guitarist needs just one (most dedicated guitar amps and cabs are mono). These come in sizes and loudness similar to guitar cabinets; however, they are generally lighter and more portable, as well as having a wider frequency dispersion. They are also shaped capable of being laid on the ground as wedges, stacked in towers, or mounted on poles.
[[Category: Guitar]]