Your favorite modeling for recording "amph"

[SuperSwede]

For 99 dollars its a steal, and I bet that you can get your money back on ebay if you decide to upgrade later.

[Tone2TheBone]

For 99 dollars its a steal, and I bet that you can get your money back on ebay if you decide to upgrade later.

You think that's a good price for it then? That is what I was wondering. Hey you're right I can always unload it later if I wanted to. +1 dude.

[SuperSwede]

You think that's a good price for it then? That is what I was wondering. Hey you're right I can always unload it later if I wanted to. +1 dude.

The 2.0 POD is definately worth 99usd.

[Tone2TheBone]

The 2.0 POD is definately worth 99usd.

After lunch I'm gonna zoom by Music Go Round and see if it's still there. Hopefully it IS a 2.0. I'll see if they have a set of headphones I can run that puppy through. Wouldn't that be a better way to test it out instead of running it through an amph that would color the original sound or does it not matter?

[SuperSwede]

You should play through headphones.

[Tone2TheBone]

You should play through headphones.

Glad I took your advice. I bought it and it kills through headphones. Well I put half down on it to hold it until this weekend when I get paid.

It's the POD 2.0. Midi out but it's got 2 - 1/4" outputs. It will work. It sounded really good on an American Strat with maple neck. Wonderful clean sounds...good effects in stereo...a noise gate...overdrive and full recto modes are good too. Turned the single coil Strat into a blazing buzzing monster. I went through every turn on the amp model knobs and effects knobs and if I can't find some sounds I can use from it then I ain't worth a dang.

[SuperSwede]

Congrats Tone! I´m looking forward to hear some clips!

[sunvalleylaw]

The local store has a Korg AX10G with a price tag of $199 on it. Store owner, who also sells Vox, claims it is very much like a Tonelab (built by the same people) but smaller and without a tube. What do you guys think? Swede, you owned a Toneworks unit before your Tonelab, did you not?

[jasongins]

Given my novice status, I am in no position to give people advice. However, I'd be willing to share with you my experience with my M-Audio Black Box.



I chose it for a few reasons: Many amp models and effects, assuming you download and install the free firmware update making it a Black Box "Reloaded", has a few bass amps, approximately 100 built in drum rythms, USB port for computer connection, very low system requirements, has microphone input jack, and affordable price ($179 from musiciansfriend, free shipping, includes the $50 pedal board as a "free gift") . I use it with my low spec Mac Mini to record with garageband. Since my Mac Mini is of low spec and has no audio input, the USB connection was critical for me. I would have needed to upgrade my OS to use a Line6 PodXT. That drove the cost out of reach for me in terms of getting a PodXT. The amp models sound good to my ears, with lots of variety, but again I am no expert on if they truly sound like what they are modeling. The unit can stand alone from the computer, has a headphone jack and stereo audio out jacks, and includes Ableton Live Lite recording software which I have not yet explored. I am also able to set the Black Box on "bypass" and connect it to the line out on my VOX AD30VT. I find it relatively easy to operate, and the display is legible and bright. It has a lot of special effects some may find gimmicky and useless, while others may take inspiration from them. I am sure it is no PodXT, and the tone swapping community is not nearly as robust, but it seems to suit my purposes....for now

[SuperSwede]

The local store has a Korg AX10G with a price tag of $199 on it. Store owner, who also sells Vox, claims it is very much like a Tonelab (built by the same people) but smaller and without a tube. What do you guys think? Swede, you owned a Toneworks unit before your Tonelab, did you not?

I had the AX10G before the tonelab, its a great little unit. But I think that 199usd is a little bit expensive, they have it for about 100usd new here.

[sunvalleylaw]

I kind of thought so. I keep trying to find ways to support the local store, but he is just way overpriced sometimes.

[Blueswaite]

I record with my Vox AD120VT. Love the sounds and ease of use.

[333maxwell]

Oldguy suggested I post this question. I've been talking with him and a few others about their recording modelers. What I'd like to know is what you use and why do you think it's the best. Name some great features for those of us thinking about investing in a unit. Cost of units etc.

I suggest if it is your first mdeler to buy the most inexpensive.. *L*

Seriously though, I bought one of these for 65 bucks http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...sor?sku=480732 ANd I admit, I have never used the Wah or expression pedal because I am afraid it will break..

But I found out I was not a full fledged modeler kind of guy..

I am glad I got the lil Behringer.. for my hobby recordings it does just fine.. NO MODELER IS GOING TO GIVE YOU BALLS TO THE WALL FEEDBACK< VOLUME PLAYING OFF STRINGS TONE>.

I sometimes wish I had better tones, but shoot, the thing has many amp models (and for clean non distorted tones it does a goood faxcimile of them) dozens of FX and time based FX, a Tuner, a wah and expression pedal for 65 bucks..

As I learn more about modelers, I may of been less impressed with a 350 dollar modeler and what it can do, than a 65 dollar modeler and what it delivers..

I've used it for every guitar tone on my page DIRECTLY into my computer soundcard..

This aint really saying much.. except that for 65 bucks, it sounds pretty darn good..
_________

SOooooo

after all my BS,,. again, the best modeler I have found for me, is the least expensive one.. you can see I actualy use it right here in the pic..

[jpfeifer]

Right now I'm using a Vox Tonelab for recording. My only other comparison is the original Line6 POD (version 1.0) that I replaced with the Tonelab.

I really like the Tonelab because it sounds very close to a real amp, and it has a certain amount of feel (natural compression) that a real amp would have. It's not perfect, but it comes close if you spend time dialing in your sound.

-- Jim

[Justaguyin_nc]

Gentlemen, for your consideration...
Take an amph, (my 65 Blackface Super, for instance)...
Add a modeler...
I don't want to destroy the sound of my vintage amph...
Turn the amph models off...add the effects you like.

When I started here a few years back, I went thru a few modellers and modelling amps, Vamp, J-station, zoom, cyber-champ, vox da-5 and they are all gone except the da-5 because its a battery amp. They are all neat, don't get me wrong.. they just don't sound as good as pedals to me.

Oldguy said it right imho... find the effects you like but turn off the amph models! I have since found sounds I like thru the pedals as they don't sound like it..it is it.. more expensive.. but its a sound you don't complain about .. you just use it...without dialing an hour to get it.

If you need the direct in to your computer due to not being able to make noise in da house..get a Weber mass.. set speakers off.. go lineout.. you now have a complete silent modelling setup..

With that said..Modelers helped me figure out which effects I like..
I do like a cheap (used about 30 bucks) Zoom 505-II which again Oldguy turned me on to.. I like using it for the Acoustic model and thats about it.. The effects are good on it.. just not pedals.. but at least I still have one..

[guitartist]

I have an original POD 1.0 and the Korg Ampworks. I like the Ampworks a little more than the POD, to my ears its tone is a little better, especially on the "Fender" and "Vox" type sounds (for the Marshall tones, I think the POD nails them better). I do a little 4-track recording with them but mostly just do a lot of late-night playing through headphones with them.

I also use the Ampworks as a pre-amp for my Pignose a lot, a set-up which sounds great played in stereo with my Vox DA-5 amp. Korg is owned by Vox, and for the Vox DA-5 amp, they more-or-less just simplified the Ampworks features some and built them into the amp...with the Ampworks modeling though, you have the options for different "head" sounds and different "cabinet" sounds, and that really makes a difference. Neither the Da-5 or the POD 1.0 gives you the option to switch "heads" and "cabs" and you can really get some nice different sounds that way.

I wish the modelers gave you more control over effects...many effects you cannot combine. With the Korg Ampworks, you can't combine reverb and trem for example, which is frustrating because you can get a pretty good fender tone and I like to play a lot of surf-type stuff. They corrected this on the DA-5, they have a combined reverb/trem setting but unforthunately the Fender tones aren't quite as "there" as they are on the Ampworks.

In general though I agree that pedals sound better than modellers, especially the higher-end pedals through a good amp - But modellers are sure convenient and give you a lot of bang for the buck.

[sumitomo]

This is good info for me heck I just started using internet a yr ago(still dont have a clue how to post a pic let alone how to record something and post a sound clip? so keep this info coming Im soaking it up you guys are great. Sumi

[markb]

The last "direct box" device I used for recording was a Mesa V-twin pedal. It gave a very nice fender-ish clean and two levels of drive. This was however a valve preamp/distortion box with a pair of 12AX7s in it and worked fantastically as an emergency amp on one occasion when my Vibrolux decided to sulk. The Sansamps are quite good for this too, I had a Tri-AC.

[TS808]

I use a Line 6 POD XT for recording and really like it. Sometimes though it really doesn't seem to give that "mic'd amp" sound though. Nonetheless, some of the models are very good!!