Illinois Entertainer November 2018 | Page 54

By David Gedge DIGITAL DIMEBAG Darrell's Tone IK Multimedia Dime Darrell CFH Collection Longtime computer music modeling company, IK Multimedia announced the Dimebag Darrell CFH Collection for AmpliTube last month. The collection fea- tures models of the exact gear used by "Dimebag" Darrell Lance Abbott on Pantera's groundbreaking album, Cowboys From Hell. Mac and PC users can enjoy nine "Darrell" models including two amps, two cabinets and five stompboxes. Dimebag is considered one of the most influential guitarists of all time and a leg- endary, genre defining musician. IK Multimedia worked with Dime's long- 54 illinoisentertainer.com november 2018 time guitar tech and right hand man, Grady Champion, to precisely model all of Dime's guitar tones from the album utiliz- ing all the personal guitar effects, ampli- fiers and cabinets he used while recording Cowboys From Hell. Available in a conven- ient desktop app and DAW plug-in, gui- tarists can now play and record using the same gear and settings Dime did. The collection features models that mirror the rig Dime used to record the album. This includes a modeled reproduc- tion of his Randall RG 100ES Amplifier, a completely re-modeled 1986 Roland JC- 120 stereo combo amp, and all the pedals Dime used. For the Dimebag Darrell CFH Collection, IK Multimedia used their latest Dynamic Interaction Modeling to deliver the most ultra-realistic sound when mod- eling Dime's gear. The product of 20 years' experience modeling analog gear, DIM models the behavior of every single com- ponent in the circuit right down to its smallest nuance and character. Then it models the interactions and influence that each component has within the system of the circuit and all of the variables that affect it. Applied to Dime's rig, the result is heavy riffs and ferocious leads, with the same sound and feel comparable to the real gear. "Dime's tone was so unique, you auto- matically knew it was him as soon as he strapped on his guitar and hit that first note," Grady Champion told the press gui- tar technician for Dimebag Darrell. "What a lucky guy I was to know him. He was my friend first and took me on a ride I'll never forget. I owe him everything. I am very fortunate to be included in this project and help create the Dimebag Darrell Cowboys From Hell version of AmpliTube. Can't wait for you all to hear it." Pantera bandmate Philip Anselmo adds, "Dime was as brutally hilarious as was his playing lethal. During extreme writing sessions, it was his sense of humor that made the intensity of those moments that much more endurable. Like Vince, Dime was a perfectionist in the studio and in a live setting, so his comedic styling benefitted all involved - the band, crew & audience. He was one in a zillion and his methodology lives on with every studio endeavor or tour I do. Bless his memory." IK's iRig HD 2, iRig Pro I/O and iRig Pro Duo portable audio interfaces for easy connectivity to AmpliTube or any other software. The Dimebag Darrell CFH Collection runs inside AmpliTube Custom Shop, a free download available to all. The Collection is now available for pre-order via IK's online store, inside the Custom Shop, or from IK authorized retailers. The Collection will commence shipping during this month after which it can be purchased for the regular price of $99.99. No previous purchase of AmpliTube is required. Individual models can also be pur- chased à la carte. The new collection will show up as an optional purchase for exist- ing users. For more information about the Dimebag Darrell CFH Collection for AmpliTube, please visit: www.ikmultime- dia.com/dimebag and for more informa- tion about Dimebag Darrell, visit: www.dimebagdarrell.com.