Amp Simulators

Epicus Furor · #1 05-08-2006, 04:39 PM

O.k so here's the deal, I've borrowed my freinds Line 6 Toneport and Line 6 Pod XT to try out with my IMac, I've spent most of today trying to get some 'convincing tones' out of them but the high gain distortions are absolutley awful! Some of the clean sounds are actually quite good but when I want a good distortion there is absolutley nothing that sounds even half like a tube amp .. Distortion wise I'm looking for a high gain tone, similiar to an Engl Powerball/Mesa Rectifier but am having no luck, so before i buy an amp simulator I want to test as much stuff as possible .. which leads me to my question ..

What is the best amp simulator available for recording?

JESTER700 · #2 05-08-2006, 04:49 PM

Different people have different opinions. My fave SO FAR is the Vox ToneLab - but I use clean & crunch sounds; not too much high gain.

A couple sites that have comparative reviews like the Digitech GNX3000, and I just got a used one on the strength of those reviews. I'll re-sell if it doesn't prove useful.

Others prefer the PodXT, others the Boss something-8 and others the Zoom G9.2...

...and my V-Amp2 isn't too bad, either...

Ibanut · #3 05-08-2006, 05:29 PM

remember the speakers you are using will have a huge affect on what your hear. If you are monitoring thru crappy tiny speakers you'll it'll sound crappy.

JESTER700 · #4 05-08-2006, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibanut

remember the speakers you are using will have a huge affect on what your hear. If you are monitoring thru crappy tiny speakers you'll it'll sound crappy.

Absolutely. Think about it: lots of systems claim to be full range, from cheap PC speakers through $200 mini home stereos and $2000 component home Hi Fi systems, to $20,000 triamped PA systems.

Even systems in the same category and price range can sound very different, to say nothing of the huge differences BETWEEN categories.

This is why I don't get some people who claim modelers can't match, say, a Marshall - after they only ever tried the modeler on a small set of bookshelf speakers or nearfield monitors. Modelers may indeed still be "missing something", but if so, let's at least compare apples with apples. If you want visceral feedback, crank a modeler through a big PA. If you want polished recorded tones, RECORD the Marshall, and compare THAT with the modeler over monitors or Hi Fi speakers (or car speakers - whatever floats your boat).

I think my modelers all sound pretty durn good over my PA (fairly cheap Yamaha Club system, biamped + subs) and I can't see ever going back to an amp.

Shredcows · #5 05-08-2006, 10:07 PM

www.tech21nyc.com the Sansamp Classic. i use it and the samples on the site are accurate.

Or google for V-Stack

sirbrandon101 · #6 05-08-2006, 10:12 PM

I have the UX1 TonePort and I hate it. I'm probably just going to buy a rack processor, maybe the Behringer V-Amp because i'm not yet a tone merchant or anything along those lines.

7 Dying Trees · #7 05-09-2006, 12:13 AM

Unfortunately, all the good high gain tones seem to be in the metal pack that you have to pay for. I was a bit sick of my xt untill i got them, and there's some scorching models in it, which has made me happy

gu1tar · #8 05-09-2006, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibanut

remember the speakers you are using will have a huge affect on what your hear. If you are monitoring thru crappy tiny speakers you'll it'll sound crappy.

Absolutely.

Epicus Furor · #9 05-09-2006, 03:13 PM

'remember the speakers you are using will have a huge affect on what your hear. If you are monitoring thru crappy tiny speakers you'll it'll sound crappy'

I understand where your coming from man, but it isn't really an issue as i have professional Roland studio monitors, the problem is the actually distortion sounds themselves - the high gain settings don't decay properly which result in a very weak, 'plasticy' sound. I want some BEEF

'Unfortunately, all the good high gain tones seem to be in the metal pack that you have to pay for. I was a bit sick of my xt untill i got them, and there's some scorching models in it, which has made me happy'

What model is this for?

JESTER700 · #10 05-09-2006, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epicus Furor

'remember the speakers you are using will have a huge affect on what your hear. If you are monitoring thru crappy tiny speakers you'll it'll sound crappy'

I understand where your coming from man, but it isn't really an issue as i have professional Roland studio monitors, the problem is the actually distortion sounds themselves - the high gain settings don't decay properly which result in a very weak, 'plasticy' sound. I want some BEEF

So, are you saying that recorded tones (from amps or CDs) sound "beefy" over those same speakers?

My own problem with the POD 2.0 was never lack of beef, it was the tizzy highs. There's a little of that in some of the ToneLab models too, but not others, so I don't think it's a universal digital thing but a specific algorithm thing.

Epicus Furor · #11 05-09-2006, 03:43 PM

Well ... i consitute lack of beef with fizzy highs. Is there any modellers apart from Vox that use tubes and can provide high gain tones? The main issue is the sudden decaying of notes, it just sounds so artificial ..

JESTER700 · #12 05-09-2006, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Epicus Furor

Well ... i consitute lack of beef with fizzy highs. Is there any modellers apart from Vox that use tubes and can provide high gain tones? The main issue is the sudden decaying of notes, it just sounds so artificial ..

OK, then - maybe it's just semantics.

The new Zoom G7.2 and G9.2 use 12ax7s. One in the 7.2 and two in the 9.2. IIRC, the 9.2 uses one as a pre tube and one in a "power amp emulation mode" similar to the way the Vox does. I'm not sure which way the one in the 7.2 is used. I WILL say that I don't think the tube does much for the high gain tones in the Vox. That control does add more gain, but also more fizziness in this unit, and works best at middle levels in clean & crunch sounds. Overall, high gains are the Vox's weak point (actually, I don't mind them, but I don't use them much and this is the "common wisdom", so I'm mentioning it). If the tube was "all that" for high gain, you wouldn't think this would be the case.

You could always check out something like the damage control Demonizer.

JiMoSiTY · #13 05-10-2006, 07:32 AM

I'll have to agree on the Pod XT Pro.
It's great for direct recording, but I do have the "metal pack" installed.
I found that my favorite tone in it was the Soldano SLO, which is included without the metal pack, but it's cool to have.
They just released an update for the Pod XT that gives you a couple more amps to choose from, including the Soldano X88 I believe it is.
UNREAL tone from that one, it's worth the download!!
I haven't updated my Pod XT with it yet, but I did the update on my Vetta Head and it sounds KILLER!

In the studio, I use a Langner DCP-1 and a Randall RM-4.
On our last studio sessions, I used an Engl Powerball and a Mesa Road King head for my tone and the Langner / RM4 tones as good or better than the Engl / Road King combo.

For direct home recording though, the Line6 stuff is the way to go.
If you're just getting "pretty close" tones out of what you're using, check out "Native Instruments Guitar Rig 2.0" and let it help you.
Even if it's just running your tone thru another 'cabinet', it can make HUGE improvements.

We recorded one of our last live shows and something was wrong with the mic on my guitar cabinet so everything sounded great except my guitars, which were a buzzy mess. I was able to run my guitar track thru NI Guitar Rig thru a couple different cabinet simulators and get a great live tone again.
If it can help a totally trashed live recording; I'm sure it can really help you if you have an even slightly decent way of getting your signal into your PC.
Be careful with all the presets, they usually have way too much stuff on 'em.
Best to try one piece of it at a time so it doesn't destroy your tone.