Looking for decent spice program without breaking the bank

[paintballnsk]

Hey guys,

I'm shopping for a spice program to help me in my amp design. I've found a couple free ones but they would like limit the number of parts or whatever so it wouldn't get me far.

What options are out there that aren't in the thousands? It needs to have everything you'd expect in a guitar amp, including tube simulations, or the ability to import one.

Thanks!

[EL34]

Free amp layouts and schematic designs
https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?board=26.0

[jjasilli]

Checkout: LTspice


https://el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=25214.msg274528#msg274528


Way too steep a learning curve for me. 

[CascoSieg]

I use this one, but not for complete circuits (it's tricky to find and import the tube models), mainly just pre-amp and PI sections.
https://www.ti.com/tool/TINA-TI#downloads
Let me know if you end up trying it and I'll dig up the tube model resource I found. There's a significant learning curve with any of the modelers. I suspect.

[faraday]

LTSpice allows for the importation of component models from 3rd party libraries, if you find the default "inventory" to be deficient.

+1 on the learning curve. Find a Youtuber that you click with.

[dwinstonwood]

There's also this Richard Kuehnel book for circuit simulation in LTSpice:
https://www.ampbooks.com/mobile/books/simulation/

I bought a copy, but I haven't sat down to do any of the exercises yet. He goes into creating tube models, etc.

[PRR]

I've been running a student version over a decade. It has said "nya, nya!!" at me about 3 times. You do NOT have to, even want to, sim a WHOLE amp, unless you are on salary. It takes too long to build and run. You *should* be able to figure 90% of the amp to 10% (1 digit) precision with only a pencil. SPICE helps the tricky bits.

LTspice is unarguable today, because so many people use it.
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/software-tools/260627-installing-using-ltspice-iv-including-ltxvii-beginner-advanced.html

[acheld]

+1 on Kuehnel's book on LT Spice as it applies to guitar amps.

LOL, takes you right back to your college days!  Well written, though LT Spice has quite the learning curve.

[T Wilcox]

This used to cost $thousands but its free now
http://www.spectrum-soft.com/index.shtm

[Rp3703]

I've always used Kicad. Free open source.