DRAPsound

14/06/2026

----- ENGLISH-----

A question for the DRAPsound community.

Over the last few years, we have noticed that several producers are increasingly moving toward demos in which only the sound of the original analog amplifier is presented, rather than the actual digital profile being sold.

When it comes to DRAPsound products that include extensive effects programming, this is not a strategy we intend to adopt. In these cases, the final result depends not only on the quality of the profiling process, but also on the design and optimization of the effects, which are an essential part of the product and vary from one platform to another.

However, we have been considering a question regarding "pure" profiles, with no additional effects.

If, for this type of product, the demos were created using only the sound of the original amplifier, without directly presenting the corresponding digital profile, would you consider that acceptable? Would you still be willing to purchase the product?

This reflection stems from a fact we have observed over time: in the blind tests published by DRAPsound, no one has ever been able to reliably distinguish the digital profile from the sound of the real amplifier. For this reason, we believe the issue may be more related to perception and psychoacoustics than to differences that are actually detectable from a sonic standpoint.

We would be very interested in hearing your opinion.

----- ITALIANO------

Una domanda alla community DRAPsound.

Negli ultimi anni abbiamo notato che diversi produttori stanno orientando sempre più la propria comunicazione verso demo nelle quali viene fatto ascoltare esclusivamente il suono dell'amplificatore analogico originale, anziché quello del profilo digitale effettivamente messo in vendita.

Per quanto riguarda i prodotti DRAPsound che includono una programmazione approfondita degli effetti, questa è una strategia che non intendiamo adottare. In questi casi, infatti, il risultato finale dipende non solo dalla qualità del profiling, ma anche dal lavoro di progettazione e ottimizzazione degli effetti, che rappresenta una parte essenziale del prodotto e varia da una piattaforma all'altra.

Ci stiamo però ponendo una domanda relativamente ai profili "puri", privi di effetti aggiuntivi.

Se per questo tipo di prodotto le demo fossero realizzate facendo ascoltare esclusivamente il suono dell'amplificatore originale, senza riprodurre direttamente il profilo digitale corrispondente, lo riterreste accettabile? Sareste comunque propensi all'acquisto?

La riflessione nasce da un dato che abbiamo riscontrato nel tempo: nei blind test pubblicati da DRAPsound, nessuno è mai riuscito a distinguere in modo affidabile il profilo digitale dal suono dell'amplificatore reale. Per questo motivo riteniamo che il tema possa essere legato più agli aspetti percettivi e psicoacustici dell'ascolto che a differenze realmente rilevabili sul piano sonoro.

Ci farebbe piacere conoscere la vostra opinione.

10/05/2026

A lavoro per il prossimo tour di Sal Da Vinci con il grande

08/05/2026

Ci vediamo al Padiglione 31 del Guitar Show di Bologna!!!

17/02/2026

All DRAPsound patches, in the absence of an automatic profiling that is convincing to us, are sold including a specific IR for each single sound. This is not just a single speaker/cab emulation IR: DRAPsound IRs are the synthesis of an entire emulation process that we use to create our exclusive "Real Tone": an extremely faithful replica of the real analog sound created with our collectors' amplifiers and pedals.

Available at this link:
https://drapsound.com/hx-stomp
https://www.drapsound.com/helix

Setup details:
Head: Marshall JCM800 model 2210 (1987, Gain maxed out)
Cabinet: Vox 2x12 with Celestion G12 Alnico Gold
Mic 1: Royer R10 ribbon → API 512c preamp
Mic 2: Shure SM57 dynamic → Heritage ’73JR preamp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC_dWTKVloI&t=11s

All DRAPsound patches, in the absence of an automatic profiling that is convincing to us, are sold including a specific IR for each single sound. This is not...

14/02/2026

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of working with Francesco Cassano at my DRAPsound studios on the sound of the great Allan Holdsworth.
I started by profiling the original Yamaha Magicstomp (kindly loaned by the great Rocco Zifarelli II) that Allan used for a period of his career. Then, thanks to extensive online research (Francesco wrote his thesis on Allan), I found all the parameters Allan set on his Magicstomp, both for the dry sound and for the settings of his eight delays.
All adapted for Fractal FX III - FM3 - FM9.
Enjoy!

Francesco Cassano plays the "DRAP ALLAN" pack (two presets: CHORUS and LEAD) dedicated to the great Allan Holdsworth !!!All DRAPsound patches, in the absence...

12/02/2026

Here’s also the 2026 DRAPsound BLIND TEST video!!!

We strongly recommend downloading the 10 audio files (48kHz/24bit, .wav format) from the following link for a more accurate listening experience:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zoKqXTyH2tQ0Y3K3DZ99loYRQKkGj7DN

You’ll have to wait until Monday, February 16 for the results — no spoilers before then!

A special thanks to our friend Egidio Marchitelli for kindly playing for us 🤗

Of course, the same video has been reamped with all profilers/modelers, as well as with the real amp.

For those who might not know, HX STOMP and FRACTAL don’t include native profiling functions out of the box, but by pairing their internal blocks with our custom-made special IRs (which are not standard cab emulations), we’re able to profile using any modeler on the market — so you’ll find profiles for these two units included in the test as well.

HAVE FUN!!! 🤩😀

Setup details:

- Head: Marshall JCM800 model 2210 (1987, Gain maxed out)
- Cabinet: Vox 2x12 with Celestion G12 Alnico Gold
- Mic 1: Royer R10 ribbon → API 512c preamp
- Mic 2: Shure SM57 dynamic → Heritage ’73JR preamp

All units used are updated to their latest firmware, and for many, we’re talking about V.2 profiling.

You’ll find (in random order — guess if you can!) 10 recordings of the same reamped guitar riff:

• REAL AMP (MIC’D ANALOG SOUND)
• QUAD CORTEX
• KEMPER RACK
• AMPERO II STAGE
• MOOER GS1000
• HEADRUSH PRIME
• TONEX
• NAM
• HELIX HX STOMP
• FRACTAL FXIII

17/01/2026

The Maton EBG808 C TE (Tommy Emmanuel) is widely regarded as the best-sounding amplified acoustic guitar. Its “secret” lies in an excellent blend between the piezo pickup and the internal condenser microphone. There is, however, one small but BIG detail: Tommy Emmanuel plays solo and therefore has no issues with microphone bleed. Try playing at high stage volumes with bass and drums and you’ll see that, assuming you don’t run into serious feedback problems, your guitar track (try recording it in isolation) will be full of bleed and spill.

This is where plugging the soundhole and completely muting the internal mic can save the gig. But, as we all know, the sound of the piezo alone is awful… and that’s where CUSTOM DRAPsound IRs come to the rescue. I’m also producing them in stereo XY, as in this quick, on-the-fly audio demo.

Soon, together with the great Egidio Marchitelli (who also happens to be the owner of the guitar shown in the photo), we’ll record a nicer demo video in the studio 🙂 but for now, the audio already speaks for itself.

N.B.: Please don’t listen to this on your phone speaker!!!

30/11/2025

🎸 StompStation BASS BOX delivers the defined, dynamic, stage-ready tone every bassist needs…now enhanced by its new dedicated app.
Easily build your presets, mix classic and modern effects, and emulate your favorite amp with full NAM support.

Factory amps, IRs, and presets were crafted in partnership with and DRAPsound.
🔥 Shape your sound

👉 Learn more on our website: https://sonulab.com/?page_id=4792&v=01c054100e77

27/11/2025

Like every year, 35% off, only for tomorrow Friday 28th!!!