STL Tones

Active

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 2016
Developer: STL Tones
Pricing: Paid plugins with free trials
Open source: No
Platforms: macOS, Windows

Indexes

Audio/Music Production

Overview

STL Tones provides audio plugins for guitar and bass tone processing, including AmpHub, ToneHub, and ControlHub, which offer collections of amplifiers, pedals, cabinets, and signal chains. These tools target musicians, producers, and engineers for building and customizing rigs in digital audio workstations. Key elements include pro-created presets, user-captured tones via Tracer technology, and Kemper profiles.¹²³⁶⁷

Key Features

AmpHub - Platform with 56 amps, 42 pedals, and 34 cabinets for building guitar rigs.
ToneHub 2.0 - Plugin for loading, customizing, and saving signal chains with Tracer for capturing user gear.
ControlHub - All-in-one mixing plugin for complete signal chains and tone shaping.
Tracer Technology - Tool to capture and model personal amps and pedals for upload to Trace Exchange.
Kemper Profiles - Amp profiles optimized for Kemper Profiler, suitable for studio and live use.
Artists Setup - System for creators to monetize presets and captured rigs via plugin profile.
Trace Exchange - Cloud platform for sharing and accessing user-generated tones.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Individual Plugins (e.g., AmpHub, ToneHub)	$99-$149	Plugin license, presets, free trial available.
Kemper Profiles Packs	$59-$99	Rig packs for Kemper Profiler, instant download.
STL Artists Beta	Invite-only	Marketplace for selling user-created tones and royalties.

Platforms & Requirements

Plugins run on macOS and Windows as VST/AU/AAX formats for DAWs. Free trials and downloads available via website. No mobile or web versions mentioned; requires compatible audio interface for captures.¹⁷

Integrations & Ecosystem

Kemper Profiler (profiles)
DAW signal chains (VST/AU/AAX)
Trace Exchange cloud sharing
Artist preset marketplace

Alternatives

App	Difference
Neural DSP	Focuses on artist-specific amp sim plugins rather than modular hubs.
Plugin Alliance / Brainworx	Offers amp simulations with M/S processing, less emphasis on user captures.
Softube Amp Room	Modular amp/cab/pedal design with hardware integration focus.
IK Multimedia AmpliTube	Extensive gear library with custom IR loader, more pedalboard-oriented.

Reputation

STL Tones is recognized for high-quality, pro-endorsed tones and innovative features like Tracer for user captures.²³ Some users praise the artist presets and plugin versatility for studio work.⁶ Criticisms include high pricing for rig packs, viewed as expensive compared to competitors.⁸

Sources (8)