Summary of "STL Tones Interview at NAMM 2019"

Interview at NAMM 2019: STL Tones and Howard Benson on Guitar Amp Plugin Development

The video features an interview at NAMM 2019 with STL Tones, discussing their collaboration with producer and guitarist Howard Benson in developing a guitar amp plugin.

Background and Development

Howard Benson and his team have spent over 20 years meticulously documenting and modeling every guitar sound from their records. This detailed archive includes:

Amplifiers
Cabinets
Microphones
EQs
Preamps

This extensive work allowed them to create highly accurate digital recreations of their classic guitar tones.

Collaboration and Plugin Creation

The plugin was developed in partnership with Sonny and his company, who helped model these sounds in the studio over the course of a week. The main goals for the plugin were:

To serve as a “one-stop shop” capturing the essence of iconic guitar tones
To make these tones accessible to musicians and producers
To provide a user-friendly experience with a fast workflow and zero latency
To allow players to focus on creativity without technical distractions

The plugin works seamlessly in all major DAWs and delivers great sound straight out of the box, while still offering options for fine-tuning.

Unique Features

Unlike other plugins that emulate popular amp brands, this product is based on Howard and STL Tones’ personal sounds and processes, making it unique and authentic.

Previously, the team released a smaller “cab pack” which was successful and encouraged them to create the full plugin.

Future Plans

The team plans to release preset packs featuring signature sounds from various artists, expanding the plugin’s versatility.

Their overall vision is to provide an affordable, high-quality tool for musicians—especially younger players starting out in digital audio workstations—offering an alternative to expensive physical gear.