BIAS Rack Amp Match Rackmount Preamplifier Review

Pretty good with some shortcomings

This review is basically going to be an elaborated pros and cons list so here goes: Pros: It makes very organic sounding tones that feel very natural while playing, with almost no ability to discern this unit from a real tube amp. Tones are very easy to make with the included software, with a near endless amount of options Seriously, you can adjust every basic setting of every… read more amp you design. Full featured software is available for multiple platforms, iphones, ipads, PC and mac. Bluetooth 4 or higher will allow your iphone or ipad to connect directly to the unit. Backups and restorations are extremely easy through the software. Amp Match works, if there is a specific sound you really want, and you have access to that amp for a bit, you can get that sound fairly easily. Includes a powerful DAW plugin for the same amps. If you do home recording, you get an extra couple hundred dollar application with the purchase of the preamp. Cons: MIDI channel is stuck at 1. If you have MIDI gear and you want it all to work together, make sure you don't have anything else that requires MIDI channel 1, because this unit is stuck on it. Lack of basic features that perhaps I have taken for granted in my other modelers. For example, there's no built in tuner, no effects other than reverb, it is solely and only a guitar preamp. I was hoping to replace my aging GSP1101 with this unit, but it turns out I have to use it alongside the other unit in order to have a tuner and basic chorus effect without going back to non-rack etiquette and packing a pedalboard. it actually brings into question how gig-worthy the unit truly is if I have to pack other gear, it makes this unit seem inferior to things like the Axe-FX AX8, Line 6 Helix... I mean even the Kemper which is basically an amp copier has a tuner. Somewhat insecure... I have noticed that it is not possible to turn off bluetooth once it's on, which means if you play live, and you don't haul a PC with you to connect the USB to, anyone with an iPhone and the Bias app can connect to your unit and change settings on you unless you keep your phone or tablet connected to it 100% of the time. You can take the antenna off, but that doesn't disable bluetooth. Not all settings on the amp can be manipulated with the front panel and there is no way to tell where each preset is set to just from the front panel. Which makes me a little curious as to why there is a front panel at all. Conclusion: I really want to like this modeler... I really want to like it a lot, but its shortcomings are extremely vast, and are becoming more obvious to me the more I use it. I even had to factory reset it twice already to get rid of odd crackling sounds, but luckily the backup/restore feature is easy to manage. I am unsure if I would recommend this to anyone.

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Bias Rack W/O amp

It was a bit disappointing to find out that the software for the Ipad actually costs you money and is not included. You get the desktop version of the software included as a download. After seeing all the videos and how easy it works with the Ipad I felt a bit deceived by the company. Sound wise it is ok, again I don't know if I would purchase it without the amp built in because… read more some amps are loud and have good tone yet others are so quiet even when I crank up all the outputs. I think for the amount of money they want for it that you are better of getting the Kemper which I also have.

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Killer preamp!

After sampling the possibilities from Positive Grids iPad apps like Bias FX and Bias Amp, I was interested in upgrading my older digital preamp (ADA MP-1 Classic). I had a great experience dialing in my favorite tones straight away with the iPad apps so I figured the Rack unit & software would be a killer upgrade for my live sound and also serve as a flexible recording tool. The… read more software was easy to install and getting tones dialed in quickly was no problem. I'm the type of guitar player that likes to tweak each aspect of my sound, so being able to spec out my favorite amp head and characteristics was very exciting for me. Right away I love the glassy and spongy tones like Vox AC30 combo types and Fender tweed sounds that sound really nasty with my Tele and Les Paul. My signal chain is now super simple, I plug into the Bias Rack and go straight into the Marshall EL34 100/100 dual mono bloc power amp and into my Marshall 1960TV cab w celestion greenbacks. I'm also able to control the whole thing from my Voodoo Labs Ground Control floor unit just like my old setup. Combined with Positive Grid's effects, you have endless possibilities in terms of creating the sound you want. It allows me to taylor tones for each of my guitars without having to buy a fleet of amplifiers to carry along with them. The only thing I would change are the front LED lights, there are a bit too bright in dark lighting, so trying to read the front panel to make an adjustment is kinda hard. But once I had everything saved into presets, I didn't need to change much. The best part about this Rack is the customization via laptop. I also thought the tone had more punch and low end compared to the Fractal unit. If you want endless tone shaping but an easy to use interface, definitely get this preamp! Especially if you're running it direct to FOH or for recording. Also, their customer support team was super helpful and responsive. Felix helped me out with my purchase and software install. Great team!

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Decent but not worth the money

I will start by saying I run BIAS FX & BIAS AMP on my Ipad and run thru a Sonoma Guitarjack stage. I was ready to take the next step and go for the BIAS AMP rack. The first thing I found out that only a few user models on the tone cloud were available to download to the IPAD, you need to run BIAS amp on your desktop/Mac to download and save to the head. I had to exchange the… read more first unit (it was an open box) parts were ratting around inside and a high pitched noise on all patches. The great folks at Sweetwater rushed me out a new unit. The new unit has locked up twice while changing presets/models from Ipad pro once while demoing guitars and once live. I must say that some of the models such as the 50w Plexi are great!! However equipment malfunctions in a live setting or professional setting are not a good thing. Not keeping this unit.

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Positive Grid Bias Amp Rack Processor

This is one of the most awesome pieces of gear that any guitarist or bassist should have! This blows all the other amp modelers out the door! It's versitility is unmatched! Love it!

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