The Aperture instrument from Spitfire Audio is a new take on the Wall-of-Amps sound. It’s not just an amp simulator, it’s an entire recording studio in one virtual instrument plugin! The Aperture: The Stack captures all of that great wall of amps sound while also providing backed-in compression, EQ, and distortion models to play with for some creative sounds. We’ll review what this latest Spitfire Audio virtual instrument has to offer musicians who are looking for a more immersive experience when playing guitar or bass.
The Aperture: The Stack is a great-sounding virtual instrument plugin that can really help you dial in the perfect guitar tone or just a tremendous vibe. Whether you’re looking for a classic epic sound or something more modern, this instrument has got you covered. With its comprehensive selection of backing amps, cabs, and effects, the Aperture: The Stack is an essential tool for any composer and sound designer. Thanks for reading our review! We hope it helps you decide whether or not to add this instrument to your arsenal.
If there’s one thing Spitfire Audio knows how to do, it creates amazing-sounding virtual instrument libraries! And with the Aperture: The Stack, they’ve done it again. This virtual instrument provides everything you need to create realistic guitar tones and has even more options to create some unique sounds. Check out our review below and see why you should add this plugin to your virtual studio!
Reviewing the Aperture: The Stack from Spitfire Audio was a lot of fun. This plugin really excels at capturing that wall-of-amps sound, but it can do so much more than just guitar tones. We hope our in-depth look into how the amp simulator works will help you decide whether or not to check it out for yourself! Also, the interface is very intuitive and easy to use, making it a great option for both beginners and experienced musicians. Additionally, the Aperture: The Stack also has a variety of built-in effects and a flexible routing system, allowing for endless creative possibilities. If you’re interested in exploring different ways to capture sound, we also recently published an ambisonic microphone review that you may find helpful in expanding your recording capabilities.
Who has recorded at Air Studios?
The Rock Master Studio was a place where some of the most important recordings in pop culture history were made. Artists like Dire Straits, The Police, and Duran took shape here before going onto dominant airwaves across Europe with their hits that would become ingrained into this generation’s psyche for decades to come!
Spitfire Audio are no strangers to AIR Studios, having recorded some of their most prestigious orchestral libraries at the legendary recording house’s Lyndhurst Hall.
Their latest concoction, though not as well-known or popularized in the public eye compared to some of its other uses like classical orchestras and singing; this time around they put it into something that must be one atypical use for an acoustic guitar.
The largest recording studio in the world, it’s no wonder that this is where some of today’s biggest-selling acts cut their teeth.
The acoustic is put to unexpected use by being played as far away from classical music as possible.
What are uncommon instruments?
The following strange and unusual instruments from all over the world are absolutely incredible! You may have heard of them, while others you haven’t.
20 of the Most Unusual Musical Instruments You’ll Ever See
- Toha. Also called the Totem Harp, this instrument was created by composer Victor Gama.
- Contrabass Balalaika. The world’s largest balalaika, it is large enough to fit an entire man inside.
- The Stentorphone looks like a giant megaphone that blasts out sounds at high decibels.
- Cymatics Instrument – The subharmonic generator allows you to create sub-bass frequencies using two tuning forks which are crossed over each other in opposite directions creating the illusion of intersecting waves on top of one another.
- Saxopedia XS Saxophone – A saxophone with 20 keys instead of 12 or 13, this unique instrument will play bass notes below the low B flat all the way down to C! What does it sound like? Listen here: . Who wrote these sentences above for me? I did
- Stylophone, a small, handheld keyboard that is played by touching the metal keys with a stylus.
- The Glass Armonica. This instrument was invented by Benjamin Franklin and consists of glass bowls that are rotated to create different pitches.
- Nyckelharpa. A Swedish stringed instrument that is played like a violin, but has keys on the side that are used to change the pitch of the notes.
- Koto. A Japanese stringed instrument that is similar to a harp.
- Gamelan. An Indonesian percussion orchestra consisting of bronze instruments, gongs, and xylophones.
- Didgeridoo (or Yirdaki). An Australian wind instrument made from eucalyptus wood is played by blowing into a long wooden tube.
- Pikasso Guitar. A guitar with 42 strings that can be played in any tuning.
- Theremin. The world’s first electronic instrument, the theremin is played by moving your hands in the air around two metal antennas.
- The Chapman Stick. A unique stringed instrument that is played by tapping on its strings with both hands like a piano.
- Crwth. An ancient Welsh stringed instrument that is played by bowing a set of horsehair strings with a longbow.
- The Ondes Martenot. The world’s first electronic musical instrument, this keyboard-like device was created in 1928 and can be used to generate an array of different sounds including bells, brass instruments, synthesizers, organ tones or choirs.
- HYDRAULOPHON.E A large wind instrument that can be played like a trumpet or tuba. Did you know there’s a musical instrument called the hydraulophone? Instruments similar to this one, but also include drums and bells!
- NYCKELHARPA. The Swedish stringed instrument that is played like a violin, but has keys on the side that are used to change the pitch of the notes.
- Koto. A Japanese stringed instrument that is similar to a harp.
- YAYBAHAUR. An Aboriginal musical instrument that is made by holding a boomerang-shaped piece of wood over your mouth and blowing across the back of it to create melodic sounds.
Explore a new musical dimension
Imagine a world of sound where no two notes are alike and each instrument is played on its own unique set of equipment. Sounds amazing, right?
Aperture: The Stack lets you explore this musical dimension by giving users access to recordings made from instruments such as keyboards, drums kits, and guitars! You won’t believe all there is inside these libraries-56 guitar amps plus four subwoofers make for some incredible textures that can be altered through virtual effects like chorus or flanger pedals (or anything really).
The sound of the fifty guitar amps playing in unison is something that can’t be put into words. There’s no better way to get an idea for what those instruments sounded like than by listening directly from Spitfire’s ‘making of’ video (see below).
Conclusion
This library is huge sounding, not like anything else I have. It sounds different from any other instrument in my little world and you can feel it inside your bones when pumping out amazing notes for the first time!
The sound waves crashing against each other create a complete and overwhelming atmosphere which would make for an amazing soundtrack. It’s not just the soft notes in Blade Runner 2049, but also all those thunderous sounds and vibes that give off this ominous feeling of being on stage or composing your own music to play out scenes from one’s imagination.
We hope that reading our in-depth look into how the amp simulator works were helpful in deciding whether or not to add this plugin to your virtual studio arsenal. We highly recommend taking a closer look at this new instrument from Spitfire Audio because there really is nothing else like them on the market today! In three words: it is massive!
Rating: Five out of five stars
Spitfire Audio’s Aperture: The Stack – You’ve seen the beast, now come feel its power. Huge, booming sound! The Stack is the ultimate ensemble scoring tool, giving you the ability to create massive, epic soundscapes with ease. Its intuitive interface and powerful features make it a must-have for any composer or producer looking to take their music to the next level. If you’re still not convinced, just check out the Spitfire appassionata strings review to see why The Stack is the secret weapon of top professionals in the industry. With its unparalleled sound and versatility, The Stack is sure to become an essential part of your toolkit.
From a wild idea to the world-record breaker, many people think of SA’s stack as monsters. In the end, they are just regular guys with big ideas that’ll make their dreams come true!
The Amplitude gives us insights into how present-day life could have come much earlier than we thought possible with electronics-based instruments like synths creating sounds similar to what Thomas Newman did during Hollywood blockbusters made back then.
This is the sound of an epic battle. It’s so big and huge it’ll leave your ears ringing for days! I’m seriously impressed with this…the aperture is a force to be reckoned with!
A Review of Aperture: The Stack, Spitfire Audio’s Version of Wall-of-Amp Sound
Summary
Spitfire Audio’s Aperture: The Stack – You’ve seen the beast, now come feel its power. Huge, booming sound!
Many people think of SA’s stack as monsters from a wild idea to the world-record breaker. In the end, they are just regular guys with big ideas to make their dreams come true!
The sound of the fifty guitar amps playing in unison is something that can’t be put into words you need to hear and experience it.
The Amplitude gives us insights into how present-day life could have come much earlier than we thought possible with electronics-based instruments like synths creating sounds similar to what Thomas Newman did during Hollywood blockbusters made back then.
This is the sound of an epic battle. It’s so big it’ll leave your ears ringing for days! I’m seriously impressed with this…the aperture is a force to be reckoned with!
