AmpliTube MESA/Boogie is a virtual guitar amp and cabinet suite by IK Multimedia, featuring five officially licensed MESA/Boogie amplifiers and matching cabs designed for authentic high-gain tone.
Purpose
AmpliTube MESA/Boogie is a virtual guitar amplifier and cabinet suite that recreates the tone, feel, and response of five legendary MESA/Boogie amplifiers and their matching cabinets. It aims to bring the signature sustain, gain, and harmonic richness of these hardware amps to a digital format for use in a DAW or standalone.
The suite includes models of the Mark III Combo, Mark IV Combo, Dual Rectifier Head, Triple Rectifier Head, and TransAtlantic TA-30 Combo, each paired with a matching cabinet. The amps are known for their cascading preamp stages, offering near-infinite sustain and aggressive crunch independent of volume.
Key Capabilities
Each virtual amp model replicates front and back panel controls, providing realistic performance and function. The suite includes a tuner, configurable stomp pedal board, amp head, cabinet with microphone options, and rack effects, allowing for extensive tonal shaping.
Users can build two fully configurable rigs with up to 32 simultaneous effects, and can mix and match amps, cabinets, and mics across different virtual gear. The models are sound-certified and approved by MESA/Boogie engineers to ensure authenticity.
Workflow
The software works as a standalone application or as a plug-in within a DAW. Users can select an amp and cabinet, then adjust controls like gain, EQ, and effects to craft their tone. The two rigs allow for easy switching between different setups, such as a clean and a high-gain configuration.
The stomp pedal board and rack effects can be configured in any order, and the tuner helps with quick tuning before recording or performance. The interface is designed to resemble the physical hardware for intuitive control.
Practical Applications
This suite is suitable for guitarists seeking authentic MESA/Boogie tone for recording heavy rock, metal, and classic high-gain styles. It can be used for songwriting, practice, and production without the need for microphones and physical amps.
The wide range of amp models covers both vintage Mark series tones and the aggressive Rectifier sound, making it versatile for various genres. It also works well for live rigs when used with a laptop or desktop computer.
Key features
- Five officially licensed MESA/Boogie amplifier models: Mark III, Mark IV, Dual Rectifier, Triple Rectifier, and TransAtlantic TA-30
- Five matching cabinets: 1×12 Mark III, 1×12 Mark IV, 2×12 Rectifier Horizontal, 4×12 Recto Traditional Slant, 1×12 TransAtlantic TA-30
- Includes tuner, stomp pedal board, amp head, cabinet with mic placement, and rack effects
- Two fully configurable rigs with up to 32 simultaneous effects
- Sound-certified and approved by MESA/Boogie engineering
- Standalone and plug-in software for Mac/PC
Best for
Best for guitarists and producers who need authentic MESA/Boogie high-gain tone for hard rock, metal, and classic rock recordings. It excels in delivering realistic sustain and crunch in a digital format, ideal for those who want the sound without the volume of a full tube amp.