If you prefer a NAM and IR loader that's kept as simple as possible—similar to the original Gateway—but still want Tone3000 integration, you might like Impronta by Caesura.
While browsing KVRaudio, I came across Impronta and decided to give the plugin a try. I was immediately impressed.
What makes Impronta special is that, in addition to the NAM and IR Loader, it offers an absolutely fantastic Tone3000 integration in a very compact interface that’s still very clear and intuitive to use. I’ve never seen anything like it before. Absolutely brilliant.
Of course, you can also load your own NAMs and IRs from your local computer.
What exactly can Impronta do?
Impronta is available as both a standalone application and a plugin: VST3 for Windows and AU for Mac.
In Impronta, you can set up to two rigs, each with a NAM and an IR loader.
If you load two rigs, you can play these “two amps” as a single guitarist or use them as “two players,” meaning for two guitarists. The two rigs can be panned using the “Spread” control. This allows you to create a very fat and wide sound when playing alone, or to jam together.
Furthermore, Impronta has a gate, and you can save your presets. The great thing about the presets is that Impronta uses the name of the NAM Capture as the preset name and suggests it accordingly. That’s a really cool idea, because I often use that name for my presets.
I’ve already mentioned the Tone3000 integration. I could go into more detail and describe it further, but I recommend just trying Impronta out for yourself. After all, Impronta is free.
That Little Extra
There’s one more nice feature worth mentioning. Impronta can also load AIDA-X files. How awesome is that?!
Maybe Impronta will be expanded at some point so that, like Two Notes’ Genome, it can also load Proteus files. Who knows...
Personally, I prefer Proteus slightly over AIDA-X, but tastes certainly vary. Proteus files are also available on Tone3000. I just wanted to mention it...
There's more
Impronta doesn't have any effects, such as reverb, delay, or flanger. But Caesura has Elementi. Elementi is a pedalboard with 8 effects, which also includes Impronta.
Elementi (for Mac & Windows and for iOS) is available in both a free and a paid version.
The free version includes:
- Impronta
- Tuner
- Spinta - Overdrive
The paid version also includes the following pedals:
- Bruto - Fuzz
- Vortice - Phaser
- Marea - Flanger
- Vefo - Chorus
- Palpito - Tremolo
- Eco - Delay
- Aura - Reverb
You can choose the order of the individual pedals however you like.
Each pedal can be purchased individually for $7.99, or you can buy them all together—the complete board—for $29. With Elementi, you basically have everything you need as standard.
Caesura also offers premium effects for Mac & Windows and for iOS. I use the Feedback Reverb Morendo all the time and wouldn’t want to be without it. If you’re interested, you can check out these plugins. There are 14-day trials available for each one.
There’s also a paid version of Impronta for iPhone and iPad. And Elementi is available in the App Store.
Summary
In my opinion, Impronta is very well suited for use in your DAW, where the excellent Tone3000 integration makes it a pleasure to work with.
In addition, you can use the standalone version of Impronta to put together two rigs that sound good together, which you can then use later in a music project.
If you want more and are willing to invest a little money, you should check out Elementi.
Links
- Impronta on caesura-effects.com
- Elementi (for Mac & Windows) Elementi (for iOS) on caesura-effects.com
- Premium effects for Mac & Windows and for iOS on caesura-effects.com
- all News articles form Caesura Effects on guitar-sims.com
- all Software form Caesura Effects on guitar-sims.com