New Modellor

[Ben_W]

Hi all,

I have recently finished all my exams etc. at school, and am looking to start recording again.

I am currently using a Tonelab LE, but find that it just doesn't quite cut it on my high-gain stuff, like As I Lay Dying, for example.

Now I as thinking of getting a Pod for this, perhaps the XT, although Pods seem to be getting bad feedback on this forum, so are there any other good alternatives for heavy metalcore that will sound good with a very high gain?

I will probably not have the facilities for close micing my amp, due to space issues atm, so a modellor would be much better for my current needs.


Anyone got any ideas? I don't really want another pedal-board style one if poss, although i'm not hugely fussed.


Thanks a lot,


Ben.

[hamfist]

If you like the tones in my GSP1101 thread, then the Digitech RP500 and RP1000 will do exactly the same tones. I would thoroughly recommend either of them over any Line6 product, for both reliability and tone.

[Ben_W]

Yeah, they sound good, thanks. Although they are a bit different to the sorta stuff I play, not by much, but i'm just trying to image that tone in my sorta style.

Can anyone else give a recommendation on the Digitechs? I will have a look at them now, but any other first hand experience would be nice. :)


Thanks.

[hunter]

Well, best of the best is the FAS Axe FX, but 1300 for the standard version.

If you don't wanna go software you could also try a Vypyr, they seem to do great highgain stuff.

Apart from that, if you don't look for many bells and whistles: sansamp gt-2 has great metal direct tones.

[morgasm]

i like my like 6 pod x3, nothing wrong with it in my eyes.
axe fx looks amazing but v expensive...

[Adam.M]

I hear the Zoom G9 is great for the high gain stuff where the tonelab isnt.

And the tonelab is better at mid and low gain where the zoom isnt.

[hamfist]

I hear the Zoom G9 is great for the high gain stuff where the tonelab isnt.

And the tonelab is better at mid and low gain where the zoom isnt.

Very true.

IMO, Vox and Digitech (and obviously Fractal) are the only makers to have done a good job with low to mid gain tones.

Boss, Line6 and Zoom products are generally good for high gains and cleans but fail on the inbetween tones.

For me, of the mainstream "pro-sumer" units only Digitech has the whole range of tones from clean, through mid gain to high gain well sorted.

[Ben_W]

Well, best of the best is the FAS Axe FX, but 1300 for the standard version.

If you don't wanna go software you could also try a Vypyr, they seem to do great highgain stuff.

Apart from that, if you don't look for many bells and whistles: sansamp gt-2 has great metal direct tones.

The Axe FX is too expensive unfortunately, but you hit the nail on the head really, as I don't need any bells or whistles, and I have the Tonelab for the lower gain stuff.

Although i've only ever tried recording through a stomp box once, and it sounded horrible, although that may be to do with the pedal.

Is a stomp box any different to DI with than a modellor? As I have played through a SansAmp GT2 before, and I liked it, but as it would only be used for recording, I don't know how the sound would differ.



Thanks.

[LazyNinja]

How about just using a high gain pedal in front of the Tonelab LE and record through that? Keeley MT2 is great for American metal tones.

[dheim]

everybody seems to hate PODs, here, but i actually like very much mine. it has got its limits, that's obvious - i'm thinking to replace it with an axe-fx for recording - but it does the job pretty good and, for that, better than any software emulation around. i cant' compare it with the tonelab because i never tried the latter, but after 5 or 6 years of extensive PODxt use i can say something about the various prejudices around...

1) PODs are good just for high gain tones - partly true. when i bought it there were forums full of metalheads stating the exact opposite, for that... high gain tones are very good. low gain tones could be badly modeled but some are very good. i never played most of the modeled amps, but some models are very good, even if they're objectively WRONG. i don't use many mid-gain amps but boosted plexis are very nice.
2) PODs are "blocky" and "flat" with no dynamic whatsoever... - false. i've got some solo setting that's very, VERY dynamic.
3) PODs make every guitar sound the same - partly false. i notice many differences between different guitars (and i've got plenty...:)). the differences are not exactly the same you can hear on a true amp. in most cases they're smaller, in some other not.
4) PODs suck live - true. i use my xt through the soundcard mixer. if i use it directly through USB or headphones the sound changes drastically. if i use it as a preamp it sounds aweful. used as a pedal it's piercing trebly and mildly scooped but very aggressive. through the mixer via monitors it's very good (after all it's like my home setting) but lacks completely the earthquake effect of a cab moving air so it sounds weak compared to the worst 10 W combo.
i don't use it often in "live" situations... not when there's another guitar properly amplified on stage.

for home use and recording - the amazing effect of having a real amp in front or behind you is completely vanified by the simple act of recording... - it does its job. very well. but you have to tweak it a lot to get YOUR tone.

[38thBeatle]

I like my Pod too-it is an old one but I still use it fairly often -particularly if I use my electro acoustic where I put it between the amp and the PA. I wouldn't use it for electric live for sure(except in an emergency perhaps) but it provides some usable tones if I am knocking off a quick demo of a new song to get the idea down.

[Ben_W]

OK, thanks for the input guys.

I may well buy a Pod, for my high gain recordings, and if I don't like it, then I may just use it for the reasons 38thBeatle mentioned, for getting quick ideas and demos to band members etc.

I have had very limited use with one before, and didn't think it was THAT bad, but I guess we will see!

If I do not like it, then I will probably get the SansAmp GT-2, and put it in front of the Tonelab, like LazyNinja said.


Thanks a lot guys,



Ben.