Nailing Erra’s Rhythm Guitars: Amp Sims, Fortin & Bus FX

Alright, let’s talk about getting those absolutely crushing Erra rhythm guitar tones. You know the sound – tight, aggressive, articulate, and just plain massive. If you’ve ever wondered how Jesse Cash’s intricate riffs cut through so clearly while still packing a serious punch, you’re in the right place. We got a peek into the methods used by Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland, the masterminds behind the sound, and it’s a killer combo of modern amp sims and smart bus processing.

The cool part? Amp sims aren’t just for sketching out demos anymore. As Carson and Grant show, they’re totally capable of delivering final, record-quality tones, even on big-budget productions. Let’s dive into how they craft that signature Erra guitar sound.

Building the Core Tone: Amp Sims and a Crucial Boost

Before any fancy bus processing, you need a solid foundation. For Erra’s guitars, this starts with carefully chosen amp sim profiles and a very specific boost pedal emulation.

The Amp Sim Foundation: STL Tone Hub Goodness

The main guitar sound for Erra is a blend – a common practice to get a fuller, more complex tone. In this case, it’s a mix of two presets from STL Tone Hub.

1. One of these is a profile Carson and Grant actually created themselves from a Diezel Herbert amp. Fun fact: they bought it from Guitar Center, profiled it, and then returned it the next day! Resourceful, right?
2. The other profile in the blend is from a Diezel VH4.

By balancing these two distinct amp sim tones, they create a rich starting point that’s already got a lot of character.

Pre-Gain Punch: The Fortin Grind Pedal Emulation

Now, here’s a key ingredient that happens before the DIs even hit the STL Tone Hub plugins. Grant uses the Fortin Nameless Suite by Neural DSP, but with a twist – everything in the suite is bypassed except for the Grind pedal emulation.

This pedal is all about adding an aggressive, mid-rangey bite to the guitar signal. Grant mentions it’s pretty close to the Fortin 33 pedal, Fredrik Thordendal’s (from Meshuggah) signature clean boost, which he often uses when tracking with real amps. This “Grind” stage is a vital part of shaping the attack and clarity of the guitars before they even see an “amp.” It’s this pedal feeding into those two STL Tone Hub profiles that really defines the core Erra sound.

Polishing the Mix: Rhythm Guitar Bus Processing

With a strong core tone established, the next step is to send those rhythm guitars to a bus and apply some strategic processing. The goal here isn’t to drastically change the sound, but to enhance it, make space, and ensure every detail of those complex Erra riffs is audible and locked-in. It’s all about the cumulative effect of several subtle moves.

Sculpting with EQ: SSL E-Channel Style

First up on the guitar bus is an SSL-style EQ, specifically the one found in the Slate Digital Virtual Mix Rack. This is a go-to for many mixers, and for good reason.

• Brightness Boost: A little bit of a lift in the highs and high-mids helps the guitars cut through and adds that modern sheen.
• Surgical Cuts: Grant also uses it to notch out a couple of specific, problematic frequencies that might be cluttering the sound.

Interestingly, there’s no high-pass filter applied on the bus EQ. Why? Because that work was already done on the individual tracks before they were printed. Grant had an instance of FabFilter Pro-Q right after the STL Tone Hub plugins, taking care of subtractive EQ and filtering out unnecessary low-end rumble. If you want to dive deeper into EQ strategies for metal, check out our EQ hub page: Carve Your Core – EQ Strategies for Mixing Modern Metal.

Taming Resonances: Soothe2 in Action

Next in the chain is oeksound Soothe2. This plugin is a lifesaver for dealing with harsh resonances that can make distorted guitars sound unpleasant.

• Subtlety is Key: It’s not about nuking the signal. Grant uses it subtly to smooth things out.
• Guitar-Friendly Default: The cool thing is that Soothe2’s default preset often works really well on guitars because one of its main detection bands is typically focused right where guitar harshness can live.
• Grant’s Tweaks: He usually sets Soothe2 to “Hard” mode, cranks the attack to its fastest setting, and spikes the sharpness and selectivity a bit to really hone in on problem spots.

Adding Glue and Control: Waves Renaissance Vox

A touch of compression comes next, courtesy of an old faithful: the Waves Renaissance Vox (R-Vox).

• Moderate Squeeze: Grant uses the “Moderate” setting, just to gently squeeze the guitars a little. This helps to even out the dynamics and add a bit of “glue” to the guitar bus.
• This isn’t about slamming the guitars; it’s about consistent control. For more on how compression can shape your metal tracks, visit our Compression hub page: Metal Compression Secrets – Beyond Just Making It Loud.

Enhancing Width: Waves S1 Stereo Imager

The final touch on the rhythm guitar bus is a bit of stereo widening with the Waves S1 Stereo Imager.

• Slight Goose: Just a little nudge to spread the guitars out slightly in the stereo field. This helps create a wider, more immersive soundscape and can make the guitars feel even bigger.

The Result: Powerful, Articulate, and Crushing Guitars

When you solo the guitars after all these bus processing steps, they sound pretty damn decent – tight, clear, and aggressive. But the real magic happens when you hear them in context with the thundering bass and punchy drums. Each plugin plays a small but significant role:

• The SSL EQ adds clarity and presence.
• Soothe2 removes harshness without sacrificing aggression.
• R-Vox provides gentle dynamic control and cohesion.
• The S1 Imager adds a touch of width.

It’s a perfect example of how relatively minimal processing, applied thoughtfully, can take an already great amp sim tone and elevate it to a finished, professional sound ready for a modern metal mix.

Learn How the Pros Do It with Nail The Mix

Want to see exactly how producers like Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland dial in these tones, make these decisions, and mix killer tracks from start to finish? At Nail The Mix, you get to be a fly on the wall. Every month, we bring you real multitracks from huge metal bands, and you get to watch the original producer mix the song from scratch, explaining every plugin, every fader move, and every creative choice.

If you loved these insights into Erra’s guitar tone, imagine what you could learn from the full Erra Nail The Mix session. You can grab the multitracks, follow along, and even try these techniques on your own system. It’s time to move beyond just presets and truly Unlock Your Sound: Mixing Modern Metal Beyond Presets. Join the NTM community and see how the pros get those record-ready sounds you’re striving for. Check out what’s happening this month and gain access to our extensive back catalog, including the full Erra mixing session!