How we did it

Digital mojo: the art of IK's science

Since 1997 with the release of the T-RackS analog modeled mastering suite, IK has been one of the pioneers in the digital tone generation and analog gear modeling field — unraveling the secret DNA and true behavior of analog components, and recreating them for the next generation of musicians, engineers and producers. With unique technologies like DSM™ (Dynamic Saturation Modeling), VRM™ (Volumetric Response Modeling) IK models have set the industry standard evidenced by our co-branding recognition from the most influential partners in the industry such as Fender®, Orange®, Soldano® and many more.

IK is proud of its "Made In Italy" passionate craftsmanship heritage, and treats each of the models as a unique project — a process that we feel has now been perfected. All the originals are painstakingly researched and collected, paying extreme attention to critical sonic details like finding the best sounding model series or same-era matching speakers.

The original amplifier or effect is then accurately measured, and a virtual circuit representation of it is coded in software, with each component's value and the circuit details carefully matched. Then, a comparison of the electrical signals between the original and the model ensures that the model's behavior matches the original circuit behavior in the gear. After this phase we start a complex audio-engineering comparison with the original amplifier or effect compared to the modeled version. This is followed by a series of tweaks and fine-tuning to the circuit and the sonic characteristics of the model. The result is a sound indistinguishable from the original when fed with various guitar signals and dynamics.

The creation of a single model of amp or effect takes the same time that it would take to build a hardware version of it. All these technologies and development efforts have helped millions of users get the best sounds out of their guitars and basses on countless records and productions – including legendary bands like AC/DC, Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Guns'N'Roses, Queen, Level42 and more. And we are passionately proud of it.