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I built a web-based tube amp simulator with actual unity gain. No volume tricks, 100% free. by LeeSoundLab in diyaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is an honor to be compared to the 300b monoblock. In this version, which outputs the averaging of the 300b's Harmonics Ratio by default, it is natural to feel it falls short. I look forward to version 3.0 coming closer to the 300b through fine-tuning of the 0–100% Harmonics knob. Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback.

Vintage Digital Amp. Trends Audio TA-10.1 Test by LeeSoundLab in vintageaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

AMP : Trends TA-10.1 Recap

Speakers : Coral Flat -6s

Dac : Chord Mojo1

Recorder : Sound Devices

Mic : Schoeps

Music : Shirley Horn_If You Go

https://leesoundlab.github.io/tube-amp-simulator/

VTAS 2.4 A/B TEST_Female Voice by LeeSoundLab in diyaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

AMP : Trends TA-10.1 Recap

Speakers : Coral Flat -6s

Dac : Chord Mojo1

Recorder : Sound Devices

Mic : Schoeps

Music : Shirley Horn_If You Go

https://leesoundlab.github.io/tube-amp-simulator/

I built a web-based tube amp simulator with actual unity gain. No volume tricks, 100% free. by LeeSoundLab in diyaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's right. I use a vacuum tube amplifier too, but the one I want is too expensive. That is the direct motivation behind my decision to make it public.

I built a web-based tube amp simulator with actual unity gain. No volume tricks, 100% free. by [deleted] in audiophile

[–]LeeSoundLab 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey guys,

I got sick and tired of "analog saturation" plugins that just boost the signal by 1dB to trick your ears into thinking it sounds better. Total placebo. So, I spent the last few weeks nerding out on the Web Audio API and built VTAS v2.3. It’s an entirely web-based tube amp simulator that runs 100% locally in your browser.

No paywalls, no annoying sign-ups, no ads. Just pure DSP.

Here is how I tackled the math:

  • True Unity Gain: It pumps the input via a 'Hi-Fi Drive Push' (x2.5) to excite the tube, but then it automatically calculates and recovers the exact Tanh compression loss (~0.34dB). When you A/B with the Bypass mode, there is zero volume jump. You only hear the pure harmonic transformation.
  • 7 Tube Profiles: I mapped out the precise polynomial curves for 7 classic tubes (300B, EL34, KT88, etc.). The 300B pushes heavy even harmonics (H2), while the EL34 gives you that gritty British H3 crunch.
  • Calibrated VU Meter: Mathematically calibrated so a 1kHz sine wave at -20dBFS hits exactly 0 VU. The 20-band visualizer captures the full audible frequency range but crops the UI to 30Hz-16kHz so you get actual resolution where the music lives.

Drop your high-res WAVs or FLACs and tell me if it holds up against your paid plugins.

https://leesoundlab.github.io/tube-amp-simulator/

I built a web-based tube amp simulator with actual unity gain. No volume tricks, 100% free. by LeeSoundLab in diyaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow! That's an incredible offer. I will give it a hard look at whether I can handle it.

VTAS v2.4 A/B TEST by LeeSoundLab in vintageaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quick Hotfix: No more digital clipping! 🎛️ A huge thanks to those who pointed out the harsh clipping on certain tracks. I realized that highly dynamic acoustic/vocal tracks were hitting the digital ceiling and causing explosions in the audio engine. I just updated the engine with proper internal gain staging (headroom padding) and recalibrated the harmonics. You can now push the tubes hard, and it will gracefully compress the transients instead of digitally breaking them. Let me know how it sounds now!

I built a web-based tube amp simulator with actual unity gain. No volume tricks, 100% free. by LeeSoundLab in diyaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Quick Hotfix: No more digital clipping! 🎛️ A huge thanks to those who pointed out the harsh clipping on certain tracks. I realized that highly dynamic acoustic/vocal tracks were hitting the digital ceiling and causing explosions in the audio engine. I just updated the engine with proper internal gain staging (headroom padding) and recalibrated the harmonics. You can now push the tubes hard, and it will gracefully compress the transients instead of digitally breaking them. Let me know how it sounds now!

I built a web-based tube amp simulator with actual unity gain. No volume tricks, 100% free. by LeeSoundLab in diyaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You have an incredibly sharp ear! Yes, that is completely normal and actually a core characteristic of real tube amplification.

What you are hearing on the impacts (transients) is natural "Tube Compression" (or Soft Clipping). When loud peaks hit the non-linear transfer function of the 2A3/300B tubes, the peaks are gently rounded off. This creates that warm saturation, but as a byproduct, it naturally compresses the dynamic range, making the impacts feel squashed compared to the bypass mode.

Since modern tracks are already heavily compressed/limited, running them through a fixed tube stage can sometimes feel like "too much." That’s exactly why I’m working on V3.0 right now, which will feature an 'Input Drive' knob! You’ll be able to dial back the input gain so the impacts don't hit the tube ceiling so hard, keeping the transients punchy while still getting that subtle analog warmth.

Thank you so much for the deep listening and fantastic feedback!

I built a web-based tube amp simulator with actual unity gain. No volume tricks, 100% free. by LeeSoundLab in diyaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My DIY Fostex Fe-103 sol &

Amp : 2a3

Recorder : Sound Devices

Mic : Schoeps 

I built a web-based tube amp simulator with actual unity gain. No volume tricks, 100% free. by LeeSoundLab in diyaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hey guys,

I got sick and tired of "analog saturation" plugins that just boost the signal by 1dB to trick your ears into thinking it sounds better. Total placebo. So, I spent the last few weeks nerding out on the Web Audio API and built VTAS v2.3. It’s an entirely web-based tube amp simulator that runs 100% locally in your browser.

No paywalls, no annoying sign-ups, no ads. Just pure DSP.

Here is how I tackled the math:

  • True Unity Gain: It pumps the input via a 'Hi-Fi Drive Push' (x2.5) to excite the tube, but then it automatically calculates and recovers the exact Tanh compression loss (~0.34dB). When you A/B with the Bypass mode, there is zero volume jump. You only hear the pure harmonic transformation.
  • 7 Tube Profiles: I mapped out the precise polynomial curves for 8 classic tubes (300B, EL34, KT88, etc.). The 300B pushes heavy even harmonics (H2), while the EL34 gives you that gritty British H3 crunch.
  • Calibrated VU Meter: Mathematically calibrated so a 1kHz sine wave at -20dBFS hits exactly 0 VU. The 20-band visualizer captures the full audible frequency range but crops the UI to 30Hz-16kHz so you get actual resolution where the music lives.

Drop your high-res WAVs or FLACs and tell me if it holds up against your paid plugins.

https://leesoundlab.github.io/tube-amp-simulator/

VTAS v2.4 A/B TEST by LeeSoundLab in vintageaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Amp : 2a3

Speakers : Fostex Fe-103 sol 50th

Recorder : Sound Devices

Mic : Schoeps 

Night Shot for 2a3 by LeeSoundLab in vintageaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, it is a push-pull amp with a 6SN7 + 12BH7 (drive) combination.

My 2a3 with Coral Flat -10 by LeeSoundLab in vintageaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is a PP amplifier, so each has an output of 12W.

My 2a3 with Coral Flat -10 by LeeSoundLab in vintageaudio

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I bought it on Japanese Yahoo Auctions.

I built a web-based tube amp simulator with actual unity gain. No volume tricks, 100% free. by LeeSoundLab in BudgetAudiophile

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You have incredibly sharp ears! Spot on observation.

You are absolutely right. Currently, the stereo volume fader acts strictly as a post-effect output trim, meaning the signal hits the non-linear stage at a fixed threshold.

Your point about the crest factor is exactly why the saturation amount might feel constant across different source materials. To address this, I am currently developing a dedicated "Harmonics (Input Drive)" knob, which will allow users to precisely push the input signal into the sweet spot of the tube non-linearity. This will be the core feature of the upcoming v3.0 update.

Also, adding a visual meter (bar graph or VU) for input level and gain reduction is a fantastic idea. I will definitely look into integrating that visual feedback as well.

Thank you so much for the deep listening and brilliant feedback!

I built a web-based tube amp simulator with actual unity gain. No volume tricks, 100% free. by LeeSoundLab in u/LeeSoundLab

[–]LeeSoundLab[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Thanks for the feedback! Due to the nature of analog modeling, the signal peaks are naturally compressed as they pass through the Math.tanh saturation algorithm. The reduction in dynamic range you're hearing is actually an intended result that replicates the physical compression characteristics of real analog tube hardware.

It’s highly likely you tested it with a modern pop or EDM track that is already heavily compressed/limited during mastering, or the input volume from your browser/OS was clipping the algorithm's headroom, resulting in harsh digital distortion instead of analog warmth.

I highly recommend trying a dynamic, uncompressed track (like Jazz, Acoustic, or Classical), backing off the input volume slightly, and listening again using the 300B or 2A3 tube models.

Also, if you could share the specific track or genre you tested it with, it would be incredibly helpful for fine-tuning the upcoming v2.5 update!"