Your favorite modeling for recording "amph"

[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/product/Behringer-X-VAMP-Floor-Unit-Guitar-Processor?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!!

 

[Suhnton]

I have a POD 2. To be honest, I don't think it sounds very authentic. You can get some decent sounds out of it, but as far as replicating classic amps, that's a different story. But IDK, once you add all the extra processing (FX, compression, EQ) and then a bunch of other instruments, the finer details just get masked anyway.

I also use a bunch of sim VSTs:

SimuAnalog JCM900 and Fender Twin
BTE Audio TS-808
Aradaz

These are all free. The TS-808 sim is very good.

 

[deeaa]

I'd strongly suggest anybody with a DAW to check out Amplitube 3.

It really doesn't work all that well when playing into it, but if you record a dry guitar and then apply Amplitube as a plugin onto it, it's nothing short of incredible IMO. Because you can tweak the sound ad nauseam _completely_ you can really dial in tones you'd have to spend weeks with in front of an amp. Any effect combo as well at a click of a mouse, and all 100% reversible and changeable at any time, nothing committed to track.

Our guitarist records _everything_ these days so that whatever rig he plays through, the signal is also split into two right at the start so that he records also a completely dry signal. When it's all done, he says, 99% of the time he'll end up only using the Amplitube sound after all, perhaps mixing in some of his rig to create another doubled track.

That's what I've been doing with the latest songs...and the resuts sure make me smile so far. I could _never_ record such nice sounds 'live' unless I had a million-dollar studio and days of time - but these I get in 10 seconds flat with no gear whatsoever but the DAW and a guitar with a cord.

Here's a quick demo I did for a new song, just last night recorded the guitars...and it was a matter of just playing it thru and then quickly pull some amp models on the plugin. It's pretty low drive all the way thru and really boring since it has no lyrics, just mumbled something over it as I played, and drums yet...at 2:40 there is a bridge part but no solo as of yet. But I'm using maybe 5 different Amplitube presets on the song.

http://deeaa.pp.fi/lzm/CanWait/canwait_evennewer_drumless.mp3

 

[guitartango]

Deaa

Great idea , what i tend to do is recorded the guitar with overdrive then put it though guitar rig. Create two tracks by coping the wav file and then assign each track to a different amp and effects. On the second track i add a slight delay and then pan each track to the left and right.

This creates a great sounding song and sounds like two guitar players in unison.

 

[deeaa]

Indeed, I have also used Guitar Rig like that. Also on bass etc. it is great...but now I've switched over to Amplitube 3. They are very similar though, basically.

 

[Spudman]

Everything recorded on my links below was done with one of these. It does a great job and they can now be found dirt cheap.

 

[deeaa]

Definitely getting some real nice tones with it Spud...nice indeed!

 

[FrankenFretter]

I have been advised that using a tube mic preamp is vital to a good recording. Any truth to that?

 

[deeaa]

I have been advised that using a tube mic preamp is vital to a good recording. Any truth to that?

IMO, not much. I do use a dbx 378 tube preamp for most anything I record but an el cheapo tube pre will only make it worse, not better. Most really really good pres are not tube.

BUT a good tube pre can give it nice warmth and presence.

 

[deeaa]

I have a POD 2. To be honest, I don't think it sounds very authentic. You can get some decent sounds out of it, but as far as replicating classic amps, that's a different story. But IDK, once you add all the extra processing (FX, compression, EQ) and then a bunch of other instruments, the finer details just get masked anyway.

I also use a bunch of sim VSTs:

SimuAnalog JCM900 and Fender Twin
BTE Audio TS-808
Aradaz

These are all free. The TS-808 sim is very good.

I agree, and also...a pod xt is IMO a big improvement over 2.0. But the x3 is not much better than 2.0. It seems, with the 2 you best use some speaker emulators as well.

 

[Elijah]

Behringer GM110..inexpensive, has DI and the clean channel is superb.

 

[deeaa]

Anybody know how does the GX110 compare with the GM?

 

[The Grand Vizier]

Everything recorded on my links below was done with one of these. It does a great job and they can now be found dirt cheap.

Hey Spudman I realize this an old post but I only just spotted it & had a listen to your songs on Soundclick.
Just like to say great playing & singing mate I especially loved your Day of The Eagle cover as I am a big Trower fan & that was a top effort.:applause

 

[Spudman]

Hey Spudman I realize this an old post but I only just spotted it & had a listen to your songs on Soundclick.
Just like to say great playing & singing mate I especially loved your Day of The Eagle cover as I am a big Trower fan & that was a top effort.:applause

Why thank you good sir. :smile-us:

 

[The Grand Vizier]

I was not a big fan of modeling software I have had some of the early Zoom pedals & it was fizzy central. Now I have Line6 Podfarm initially I thought it was ordinary but after spending a bit of time setting up amps/pedals/cabs/mics etc I think it is quite brilliant, not compared to my tube amp but very good for headphone/recording purposes.
For the money, not a brass razoo! (Free download Podfarm via Line6 Monkey ) Plus I brought an expansion pak, I reckon it is a bargain.