IK Multimedia has unveiled the Brown Sound 82/84 Signature Collection for TONEX, the highly anticipated third and final installment in its limited Brown Sound series. Featuring 83 meticulously crafted Tone Models, the collection includes amp-only captures for players who prefer pairing with their own IRs or running straight into a real cab on stage.
As rock productions shifted toward radio-ready precision in the early ’80s, the Brown Sound followed suit – becoming tighter, more layered, and more refined while never losing its signature bite. This collection recreates those subtle but crucial shifts, giving users both faithful recreations and thoughtful variations that reflect different theories about how these landmark tones were recorded.
Captured at Amigo Studios, the ’82 Tone Models showcase the G12-65 speaker at the heart of the era’s sound. Its tight low end, warm mids, and smoother top end gave a more controlled character than earlier Greenbacks. With refined mic placement and outboard gear shaping the mix, these tones delivered a polished studio edge while preserving the raw energy of earlier sessions.
Tracked at a new Coldwater Canyon studio, the ’84 Tone Models embody a leap forward in production quality. Suspected Telefunken EL34 tubes added warmth and a mid-forward punch, while meticulous amp tweaks and precise Variac adjustments produced individualized tonal flavors for each track. The result: a controlled yet ferocious voice, bridging grit and studio finesse.
At the collection’s core is “The ONE” – a painstakingly built Marshall-style amp matching the infamous 1968 Super Lead #12301, complete with key mods that defined the early Brown Sound. This amp was the DNA source for the entire series, recreated in TONEX with obsessive accuracy.
From Variac voltages and cab voicing to mic geometry and parallel load setups, IK Multimedia explored every lever to ensure authentic period-correct results. Each Tone Model is level-matched, raw, and unprocessed, providing an ideal foundation for layering time-based effects within TONEX or through your favorite pedals.
With the Brown Sound 82/84 Collection, IK Multimedia completes its trilogy of era-defining tones, giving players everywhere the chance to plug in, play, and step into the final evolution of one of rock’s most iconic sounds.
Get the Brown Sound 82/84 here for $99.99 and keep up with all our IK Multimedia coverage right here!
