- Publisher: Klevgrand
- Product: STARK
- Release: TCD
- Version: 1.3.0
- Format: VST2, VST3, AAX
Finding that perfect guitar or bass tone can be an endless chase. You need power, flexibility, and, above all, authenticity. STARK v1.2 by Klevgrand isn’t just another amp simulator; it’s a complete, meticulously crafted sonic ecosystem designed to bring your ideal sound to life, whether you’re sketching out ideas, tracking final takes, or sculpting complex soundscapes. And now, with version 1.2, it’s more potent and intuitive than ever.
Stop Chasing, Start Creating: Your All-In-One Tone Powerhouse
Imagine a rig where every component works in perfect harmony, offering a universe of tonal possibilities without the cable clutter or the physical limitations of hardware. STARK v1.2 delivers precisely that. It’s a comprehensive guitar, bass, and instrument amplifier solution that seamlessly integrates every critical element of your signal chain. From the raw growl of vintage tubes to crystalline cleans and ethereal ambiences, your dream tone is just a few clicks away.
STARK v1.2: What’s New to Fuel Your Fire?
Version 1.2 isn’t just an update; it’s an evolution, packed with enhancements directly aimed at refining your workflow and expanding your sonic palette:
- Integrated Brusfri Noise Reduction: Experience the pristine clarity of Klevgrand’s award-winning Brusfri technology, now seamlessly built into STARK. Say goodbye to distracting hum from noisy pickups, buzzing preamps, or even room fan noise. A single click learns the noise profile, and Brusfri intelligently subtracts it, leaving your core tone untouched and vibrant.
- Three Exciting New FX Pedals:
- Spinner: Add mesmerizing, swirling rotary speaker effects, perfect for classic rock, soul, or adding a unique psychedelic touch.
- Envelope Filter: Infuse your lines with dynamic, funky quacks and expressive filter sweeps that respond to your playing intensity.
- Brand New Reverb: Expand your spatial options with an additional lush reverb algorithm, adding depth and dimension to your sound.
- 30 New “Song Starter” Presets: Hit the ground running with an inspiring collection of 30 new presets, expertly crafted to showcase the latest FX additions and cover a vast range of musical styles. Find your starting point instantly and tweak to perfection.
- Amp and Cab Bypass Switches: For ultimate flexibility, you can now independently bypass the Amplifier and Cabinet sections. This allows for intricate routing, re-amping scenarios, or using STARK’s exceptional FX or room simulations with other amp modeling solutions.
The Core of Your Tone: Unparalleled Realism and Control
At the heart of STARK lies a revolutionary approach to amp, cab, and ambience modeling. Unlike many simulators that rely on static impulse responses (convolution) or FFT analysis, Klevgrand’s proprietary algorithms deliver a dynamic and natural response across the entire frequency spectrum. This means the amp feels right – it breathes with your playing, reacts to your pick attack, and cleans up beautifully when you roll back your instrument’s volume.
1. The Amplifier: 12 Voices of Inspiration
The Amplifier module is your tonal command center, offering 12 distinct amp models. Each profile has been meticulously designed to capture the essence of iconic amplifier circuits, providing everything from sparkling cleans to high-gain saturation.
- Dual Channels: Every amp model features both a clean and an overdrive channel, instantly doubling your sonic options.
- Comprehensive EQ: Sculpt your sound with precision using the onboard equalizer, including a vital presence control to help your tone cut through the mix.
- Boost Control: Drive the virtual power amp stage harder with the booster, adding rich harmonics and sustain without needing an extra pedal.
2. The Cabinets: Defining Your Sonic Footprint
An amplifier is only half the story; the speaker cabinet and its interaction with the microphone and room are crucial. STARK’s Cabinet module offers 10 distinct cabinet types, ranging in size and sonic character.
- Diverse Selection: From tight 1x10s to booming 4x12s, find the perfect match for your amp model and musical style.
- Stereo Width: Simulate the spatial placement of microphones with the stereo width knob, adding realistic depth and dimension to your cabinet sound.
3. The Ambience: Placing Your Sound in Space
The Room simulation module allows you to embed your tone in a realistic acoustic environment. Choose from six different room types, each with its own character.
- Flexible Sizing: Each room type offers Small, Medium, and Large size variations, giving you 18 distinct spatial starting points.
- Decay Control: Fine-tune the reflectivity and tail of the room ambience with the decay parameter.
- Dry/Wet Mix: Blend the room sound precisely to achieve anything from subtle air to cavernous reverb.
4. The Pedalboard: Your Smörgåsbord of Effects
No guitar rig is complete without a versatile pedalboard. STARK provides four FX slots and a palette of 17 meticulously crafted effects pedals. Arrange them in any order with intuitive drag-and-drop functionality.
- Gain Staging & Dirt: Overdrives, distortions, and fuzz pedals to add grit, saturation, or all-out mayhem.
- Modulation: Chorus, flanger, phaser, tremolo, and the new Spinner for adding movement and character.
- Time-Based Effects: Delays (digital and analog flavors) and multiple Reverbs (including the new dedicated reverb pedal) to create depth and atmosphere.
- Dynamics & EQ: Compressors, EQs, and the new Envelope Filter to shape your sound and control its dynamics.
- Utility: Essential tools to fine-tune your signal.
5. Brusfri Inside: Crystal Clear Tones, Effortlessly
The integration of Brusfri is a game-changer. High-gain tones often amplify noise from your guitar’s electronics or environment. With STARK v1.2, achieving a professional, noise-free recording is as simple as pressing the “learn noise” ear icon when only the unwanted noise is present. Brusfri intelligently eliminates hum, hiss, and other background disturbances without compromising your precious guitar tone.
6. Presets Galore: Instant Gratification & Endless Inspiration
While STARK is incredibly easy to dial in from scratch, the extensive library of factory presets provides immediate access to a world of tones. Explore categories covering numerous genres and playing styles. The new “Song Starter” presets are particularly valuable for quickly finding a vibe and getting your creative juices flowing.
Engineered for Performance
STARK v1.2 is built for the modern musician and producer:
- Ultra-Low Latency: Experience the immediate response crucial for a natural playing feel, making tracking and live use a joy.
- Optimized Performance: Efficiently coded to be light on your CPU, STARK runs smoothly within your AU, VST, or AAX compatible 64-bit host on macOS (10.10 or later, M1 optimized) or Windows (7 SP1 or later).
Why Choose STARK v1.2?
- Authentic Sound & Feel: Klevgrand’s unique modeling technology delivers a natural and dynamic playing experience that truly responds like real hardware.
- Unprecedented Versatility: From subtle enhancements to complete tonal transformations, STARK offers an all-in-one solution for guitar, bass, and even other instruments.
- Effortless Noise Reduction: The integrated Brusfri technology cleans up your signal chain with unparalleled ease and effectiveness.
- Creative Freedom: With a vast array of amps, cabs, rooms, and a comprehensive suite of 17 FX pedals, your sonic imagination is the only limit.
- Intuitive Workflow: Despite its depth, STARK is designed for ease of use, allowing you to dial in incredible tones quickly.
- Exceptional Value: Get a complete, professional-grade virtual rig, including advanced noise reduction and a wealth of effects, all in one plugin.
STARK v1.2 is more than an amp simulator; it’s an invitation to dream louder, explore new sonic territories, and craft your signature sound with unparalleled ease and authenticity. Stop wrestling with complex signal chains or noisy recordings. It’s time to plug into inspiration.
Ready to transform your tone? Free Download STARK v1.2 Now!
x64: AAX, VST3, VST2 | x86: JBridgeJust install!
v1.2.0
TCD
Added noise reduction functionality
New pedal: Reverb
New pedal: Envelope Filter
New pedal: Spinner
Amp bypass
Cabinet bypass
Various optimisations
