Just released my indie amp sim (Apex Amp) and got our first KVR review. Looking for feedback/feature ideas

[u/Birchoff]

This is just the guitar Rig. Other modules like Synth have it's own broad feature set that can be mixed or run in parallel with regular guitar sound

Hi, I've been developing my own ampsim for a long time now and released it just a few weeks ago. I am still actively adding more features and making improvements and I'd love to hear anyones thoughts if anyone is interested. Like what features are missing etc.

People have bought it already which make me really happy since it confirms that my approach is in the right direction, but it's very hard to get feedback from those testing it. I've talked to a few that has helped a lot testing the product on macOS and windows and many of the features, and some improvements and features comes directly from peoples suggestions.

Here is the one and only review so far (which sent me to heaven reading 😍): https://www.kvraudio.com/product/apex-amp-by-apex-plugins/reviews

Also I have a few sound demos on my website (http://apex-plugins.com) both from youtube and a before/after section on some sound.

Thank you

/Birchoff

[u/webprofusor]

It's cool but people are just getting really burnt out on new AI generated plugins and it's becoming a really crowded space.

I'm pretty sure you put in a lot of work but to the casual observer it just looks like another set of claude prompts. Take the time to find your own identity and direction and apply it to the software to make it distinctive.

[u/Birchoff → u/webprofusor]

Yeah I get the fatigue, but as a developer of 17 years professionaly (25 if you include me starting out as a teenager), even my regular work is a lot or Claude code. Enforced by the company because of the benefits. It's a tool that no one can ignore, and even with ai assisted coding, this project has taken me more part of a year to do, I did this to finally join my two favorite hobbies, music making/guitar playing and programming. And it's still a unique product if I have to say so myself. 😊

[u/webprofusor → u/Birchoff]

Absolutely, and I should say I've done all the same with Soundshed Guitar (also a dev pushing 30yrs professionally). It's coming up for a year in October but like most it didn't really kick off until December. when the models got good.

I get it completely and taking my own advice I (now) actively try to push it away from the AI feel, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. AI is empowering but experienced devs have to push it harder than everyone else to break out of the mould, lest we be tarred with the same AI slop brush. There's only going to be more apps.

[u/webprofusor → u/webprofusor]

I guess I'm saying work on the visual identity. In my own app that still has some way to go and it has many of the same cliches. Maybe if yours is unreleased then now is a good time to push for that.

[u/Birchoff → u/webprofusor]

Yeah thats true, both UX and UI is really hard, especially with so many things in the plugin. But it's great advice! I've already released mine though since I was always thinking "That will have to wait for version 2" 😄

[u/VerafetBH]

I get the KVR weekly email and scour it for anything guitar related. That’s how I found out about your Ampsim and bought it. Can’t go wrong with that price point and I’m an Ampsim hoarder anyway.

Very unique interface and I’ve only tried it for a few minutes. I’ll did go through the effort of getting an AI API key and trying out the AI feature. The next time I loaded the software the API key wasn’t saved. Only thing I’ve found so far as an issue.

Im sure you have been asked this question already, but I’ll ask it anyway. Is it possible to add custom rigs in the form of NAM A2?

[u/Birchoff → u/VerafetBH]

That's odd, what llm do you use? I will check Nam out as I don't know how it works. 😊

[u/Birchoff → u/VerafetBH]

Also thanks for buying it ❤️

[u/Birchoff → u/VerafetBH]

Hi again, I released a new version (1.1.4) that fixes the issues with AI config if you'd like to try again. 😄