Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: adamzap on October 18, 2006, 01:56:03 AM
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What's a standard home recording setup that I can use in my apartment?
I have an Apple laptop with GarageBand, and I was thinking of getting a PodXT for Christmas.
Is the PodXT a good idea?
Also, what else would I need?
Thanks
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I have a guitarport that is like the podxt, and I find it great for recording.
The guitarport is MAC friendly now. Its kind of like a Pod, but only for the computer. PodXT has some like more amps and effects (some, not lots more), and can be used without a computer.
I don't think you would need anything else. Guitar to Pod to computer.
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I got a toneport UX2, and it's the perfect solution for recording. I usualy plug my guitar directly but also use my Tonelab SE via the line in (2 x 1/4" symetric ) and it always sounds great.
You can also use mics with it, even with phantom power, very good for the money.
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I've also got an Apple laptop (and old iBook G4!) with GarageBand, and have considered both the PODxt and the Toneport (both from Line6).
The advantage of the Toneport is that it works as a generic USB audio interface, and you can hook up mics and whatever else through it.
The advantage of the PODxt is that all amp-sim processing is handled off-board (i.e. not by your laptop's CPU, which may be a good thing considering how resource-hungry GarageBand is!).
However, I've not yet had the money to spring for either of them! :P I'm leaning towards the PODxt, though, since I've already got a USB audio interface and the PODxt would still spare the CPU a bit. It would also be slightly easier to haul away for jamming somewhere, or even running into a PA at a pinch! If I didn't already have a USB audio interface, though, I'd prefer the Toneport for sure.
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Don't forget latency!
If you are running though your computers processor you'll get a delay when you play, but I have my XT connected to an audio interface for the recording but the sound goes from the XT to the interface then straight out to my monitors so there's no latency, I use that as my stereo amp as well. Not the same as a real amp but it get's the job done for me (plus I'm thinking of joining the Epi VJ club)
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Thanks for the info guys
I still need to do a lot of research, but I just briefly looked at the toneport UX2, and I'm wondering if the PodXT can do Microphones as easily?
I also have an old iBook G4, carlaz :)
With a modern computer, will the Toneport UX2 experience latency?
More toneport vs. podxt discussion please ;)
do you guys think the recording quality will be the same between the two? The podxt costs $100 more
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I still need to do a lot of research, but I just briefly looked at the toneport UX2, and I'm wondering if the PodXT can do Microphones as easily?
Dunno whether one can run mics through a POD very easily. Certainly the Toneport would be no problem.
I also have an old iBook G4, carlaz :)
Creaks and groans a bit with GB, but it gets there!
With a modern computer, will the Toneport UX2 experience latency?
I have to say I haven't had latency problems with my non-Toneport USB audio interface, and I wouldn't expect any from the Toneport. I've got a Tascam US-122, and I'm usually recording just myself, one input at a time, but I have recorded a live band with something like 8 simultaneous inputs and didn't run into any trouble.
do you guys think the recording quality will be the same between the two? The podxt costs $100 more
I think the quality will be pretty similar. I think the POD costs more because it's its own complete solution with its own little CPU in there. The Toneport needs to be attached to a computer for it to do anything. I think POD and Toneport essentially solve slightly different problems with slightly different trade-offs. IMO, the Toneport is more flexible for home-recording (though it will tax your CPU a bit more -- I'm not sure how my G4 iBook would react to running both GB and the Gearbox software simultaneously ... perhaps not well! ;)), while the POD is a complete unit, usable without the computer, but perhaps not offering the flexibility of the Toneport's audio interface features.
Originally, the POD didn't support bass amp add-on models -- making that a big negative for me -- but I believe both POD and Toneport/Gearbox currently support the bass amp models as add-ons.
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One thing to consider is wether the Pod will allow re-amping of already recorded tracks (which I believe the tone portdoes cope with)
Although this may not be nessicary, I have yet to hear of anybody who is completely happy with a part the following day.
I beleive the Digitech GNX 3 is very good for recording purposes, and I have seen new ones for less than 200 quid on ebay stores.
Rob...
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xt does reamping and is upgrade able to have bass amps as well(at a cost, downloadable) also there's the maudio blackbox(upgraded now) is usb and £99
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xt does reamping
Really? I had never worked out how to do that easily with the XT. Does it actually interface with GarageBand or other recording apps to leave a dry signal on the hard drive but give you playback and mix down with the effected signal? That would be cool. One of the things that has kept me stuck with GB's amp sims is the built-in easy re-amping!
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by reamping you mean changing the tone after youve recorded, right?
while the mic stuff is cool on the toneport, I was thinking...I'm the guitarist, so it should be up to the singer to find a nice mic and a recording solution
not that we even have a singer yet ;)
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In my situation, I am the singer, bassist, keyboadist .... :)
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with toneport you CANNOT re-amp if in meaning you mean change the amp settings after recording (this is discussed on Line6 forum, not got mine yet).
My clips are recorded (cept Warpig chug) with UX2 into GB and I am v.satisfied with it (tis why have ordered one), also has two pantom power mic outs so can use it to direct record amp.
WP Chug is recorded with M-Audio Black Box which is also VERY good (built in drums etc.) but I prefer the layout of UX2 (with it on pc screen) and the phantom power ports.
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sound wise which one wins the ux2 or the blackbox...could always get a mixer..
the behringer ones start at about £40 with phantom power etc
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when it comes to lil electronic boxes my mind feels old at times LOL.
In a nutshell, I prefered the big PC interface (i.e. using screen for tweaking etc.) of the UX2.
Two different bits of kit really. One is standalone and has built in drums etc. and one is more an interface.
Black Box is pretty simple to use, guess I am just more used to a mouse ;)
Another option is a DAW like the Zoom MRS I have for sale. Even more stand alone with prog. drums etc. and alot more internal control.
Alot depends on HOW ya wanna record. Only with pc or maybe on holiday, work etc. where a stand alone will be more valuable.
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Maudio has mic input, http://www.soundtower.com/blackbox/bb_files/bb_page.htm
heres some editing software as well...so you can use your mouse*L*
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VERY cool, thanks, have not seen that.
Still, have UX2 in Texas waiting with missus now so, gonna be spoilt for choice now lol.
ALso, BB mic input is not phanotm powered so is no good with my Shure or Blue 'Blue Ball' :(.
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does depend on his comp for ux2 and black box can be used live
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im sure the tone i get from the podxt would be better than micing my Crate GX65 though right :D
ive only beeh playing for 2 years and i'm a student so my amp isnt amazing
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If I were gonna run Gearbox (as comes with a UX2) in combination with GarageBand, I think I'd want to upgrade from my iBook G4. 'Course, I wanna upgrade from the iBook G4 anyway .... :)
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does depend on his comp for ux2 and black box can be used live
Fr the UX2 you don't depend on cpu if you only use Gearbox, cause it works through the UX2 DSP, so you're only limited by the latency (max 20ms here, but more like 10).
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Fr the UX2 you don't depend on cpu if you only use Gearbox, cause it works through the UX2 DSP, so you're only limited by the latency (max 20ms here, but more like 10).
Huh, my understanding has been that there is no actual on-board DSP on the UX-series; that the Toneport itself is basically just A>D/D>A device and all DSP is done in software using the host machine's CPU. Thus, all the load of processing the guitar signal with the amp models is borne by your computers CPU (which may already be under pressure from your audio-recording software). Moreover, I don't think you can "re-amp" without doing something like ensuring you record a dry signal along with any effected signal that you could then feed back out of your computer to the Toneport via anlogue cables and then back into your computer from the Toneport to re-record as another effected signal.
My understanding has also been that the Podxt is similarly limited in terms of re-amping (these are not software plug-ins for your recording software), but does (obviously) have its own chip for DSP.
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carlaz,
recorded my clips (most) with my mates.
He is running G4 mac and it flies.
According to Toneport forums etc. it takes up miniscule cpu useage (remembering summit like 10-15%) as opposed to many others.
Re-recording is a def. issue (from what have read) as it is 'locked' to the recording via the toneport when playing.
It needs more ram than my mum's old PC here has :( which is why ordered one in US for missus to bring with my laptop.
Hope this helps.
BTW, running with mates Mac it is VERY good and screams with no issues. It really is'nt a cpu hog mate.
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Well, that's good to hear -- 'cause GarageBand is certainly a resource hog on its own! :)
Honestly, I'd do well to upgrade to a faster chip and faster/bigger HD (and bigger screen :)), anyway, since it would make GB a bit happier. I have to be pretty careful about what else I'm running and where I store the GB files. Locking tracks and mixing down can be sloooow.
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I've got a 2Ghz duo core (intel) iMac with 1gb memory and don't really get problems with GB, mixdown is pretty quick although sometimes it says all the tracks are full when I add some drums loops from a library and then it plays silly buggers.
I still hanker for a powermac but the missus likes the clean styling of the iMac and I can't blame her, especially as I've turned our living room table into a mini home theatre/hi-fi/recording studio (complete with acoustic foam tiles on the wall!)
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I've got a 2Ghz duo core (intel) iMac with 1gb memory and don't really get problems with GB, mixdown is pretty quick although sometimes it says all the tracks are full when I add some drums loops from a library and then it plays silly buggers.
Yeah, that will handle GB much more happily than my ol' g4 iBook!
I still hanker for a powermac but the missus likes the clean styling of the iMac and I can't blame her, especially as I've turned our living room table into a mini home theatre/hi-fi/recording studio (complete with acoustic foam tiles on the wall!)
Eh, I'm still hunched over the dinky desk in our 2-room "house"! The guitar lurks in a corner by the sofa and the bass leans up against the refrigerator, behind the stairs. But it gets the job done, more or less :)
We're saving our shekels against the day we can move somewhere less brutally cramped, though it will probably be in South America rather than the UK! I'll have to score a new Mac before then, though .... ;)
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Well, I can't do reamping using Gearbox models. There is a DSP in the UX2, because the cpu load is very low when I use only Gearbox to record. If I do the same thing with a vst the cpu load is much higher (I tried with Guitar Rig), higher latency too.
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There is a DSP in the UX2, because the cpu load is very low when I use only Gearbox to record. If I do the same thing with a vst the cpu load is much higher (I tried with Guitar Rig), higher latency too.
Be that as it may, all the info I can find either from the Line6 site or forums, or third-party reviewers, seems to indicate that there is no actual DSP onboard the Toneports.
I suppose Line6 might have simply written more efficient software! :)
I'd love, though, to see a "SuperPod" that was actually aware of popular recording apps like Logic/GarageBand, Cubase, Cakewalk, Ableton, and would actually interact with them to record dry-tracks to disk but provide off-board DSP for recording/playback and mixdown. That oughta be possible without rocket science, but the amount of partnership required between Line6 and the various recording-app software houses would be insurmountable, I think!
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Weird, I hope they'll do Gearbox as a vst then, because it's not that easy to reamp with it :(
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Weird, I hope they'll do Gearbox as a vst then, because it's not that easy to reamp with it :(
I'm all for that. If one has to use an amp sim, one might as well reap the rewards (re-amping) as well as the punishments (being fake :))! Line6 releasing their models as VSTs and AudioUnits would rock. Of course, it might canibalize a lot of their own hardware sales ....
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I'd love, though, to see a "SuperPod" that was actually aware of popular recording apps like Logic/GarageBand, Cubase, Cakewalk, Ableton, and would actually interact with them to record dry-tracks to disk but provide off-board DSP for recording/playback and mixdown. That oughta be possible without rocket science, but the amount of partnership required between Line6 and the various recording-app software houses would be insurmountable, I think!
I was considering one of these if I ever bought a modeller (a line 6 amp put me off modelling equipment)
Try tutorials 19 & 20 here for the digitech GNX4.
They also do a lot of mac support
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One of ... what? :)
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One of ... what? :)
The GNX 4 from digitech (then I looked at my bank account)
It's does all the processing for you, plugs into all the major packages, is a drum machine, and an 8 track recorder built in. Oh yeah it has power for mics and stuff too.
I guess the vague posting is what I get for posting from work before my boss has went home
Rob...
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I keep telling y'all support a forum bruvva's 'amp habit' and buy my MRS8, job done ROFLMAO :P
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I've got an old (relatively!) Roland VS-1680, which is a bit out of date in terms of having basically zero capacity to interface with a laptop/desktop computer (a problem solved in more recent VS models), but otherwise is well equipped as a "studio in a box", with a good range of inputs and effects/amp sims. It is, alas, a little difficult to use as a solo artist unless you've got it set up with all your other kit plugged-in -- something which is hard for me to manage in my currently limited living space! The iBook/GarageBand setup, with onboard software drum machine/drum loops + cheapo MIDI keyboard + USB audio interface is more compact and faster to get into action (plug in and go!), so that's working for me at the moment.
Ideally, I'm eventually gonna have a place to live with a dedicated studio space -- nothing fancy, but with everything set up a ready all the time. That'll be cool. I might get a mini-tube amp in there some day, but it'll be amp-sims for the forseeable still. But there's no reason I couldn't have a couple of different amp-sim solutions to choose from! :)
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Gearbox is VST but you have to pay for that part as a plugin.....say if you have a xt, Gport toneport........but you can buy gearbox on its own and comes with interface as well(also VST plugin)
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Gearbox is VST but you have to pay for that part as a plugin.....say if you have a xt, Gport toneport........but you can buy gearbox on its own and comes with interface as well(also VST plugin)
Whoa, I didn't know they had released Gearbox as a VST -- and now a quick Google shows it seems to have been released as AU (AudioUnit, for Apple stuff), so that ought to work with GarageBand ....
Mmmmmmmm, must investigate further!