Positive Grid isn't satisfied with taking over our homes with its range of frankly awesome Spark practice amps, it's now upping the ante with its acclaimed BIAS FX 2 software thanks to a tone engine overhaul for all new and existing users.
Ten of the Mac and PC software's amps have been re-engineered with a "new, dynamically detailed DSP sound engine, along with many other new features including Guitar Match II, IR Cab 3.0, Cloud access and more".
As before, you can use BIAS FX 2's updated tones as a DAW plugin for recording, or stand-alone for practice and creating tones. An updated user interface is going to make that easier too with enhanced drag-and-drop signal chain building.
"Thanks to point-to-point precise measurement and dynamic tube distortion emulation, guitarists can now experience new rich tones and responsive dynamics," says Positive Grid of its amp updates. "Classic versions of their favourite amps are still available, so all current user presets remain intact."
On the cab side of things, Cabs 3.0 includes 10 new custom cabinet IRs to further complement the newly re-engineered guitar amps. Positive Grid’s Fusion IR tech already mixes top IRs for the "most dynamic and responsive final result" but users can now modify mic placement using a more accessible interface. A True Stereo mic blend and a Reality/Studio mode is available; too, with the latter adjusting the output to fit the user’s guitar and bass playing style.
Bias Fx II introduced Guitar Match – effectively modelling the sound of iconic guitars. Guitar Match II evolves the concept with acoustic and bass guitars. Dialing in the tones is now also claimed to be faster with Guitar Match Quick Mode.
Additional features also include a redesigned Tonecloud to access more than 50,0000 tone setups, a Rewind For Auto Recording feature to record up to ten minutes of playing that can be edited, improved optimisation for a 20% reduction is CPU usage and a new Cloud Bank feature. This allows user to backup, sync and access custom presets across multiple devices through a cloud storage system.
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All in all, a huge upgrade that's great to see offered to existing customers for free, and a great incentive to try BIAS FX 2 for newcomers.
Find out more at Positive Grid.
Rob is the Reviews Editor for GuitarWorld.com and MusicRadar guitars, so spends most of his waking hours (and beyond) thinking about and trying the latest gear while making sure our reviews team is giving you thorough and honest tests of it. He's worked for guitar mags and sites as a writer and editor for nearly 20 years but still winces at the thought of restringing anything with a Floyd Rose.