PODs? V-Amps? Tonelabs? - options for home recording?

[Brow]

Hey guys.

I'm looking to get some kind of modeller for a bit of home recording, but don't really know what I'm looking for!

From being a studio engineer in the past I've got plenty of experience with miking amps up, and this will always be my 1st choice when possible, but there are times I just want to get some ideas down so I'm looking to buy a modeller for ease.

I have limited experience of modellers most of which is a KORG Pandora I bought years ago when I was still having lessons to use as a headphone amp and the Pod Pro that the studio I used to work in had.

I'm not really looking to model any particular amps, just something to give me a bit of tweakability and chance to get a relatively decent sound down when recording ideas.

Anyone got any suggestions for me without going OTT price wise?

Thanks.

Craig

[Jazz Rock]

I don't have much experience with modellers but I would advise against the V-amp. I had one for a few years and I never really managed to get a sound out of it I was pleased with.

On the other hand, I have a friend who uses a Tonelab when I am jamming with him and he manages to get a pretty good breaking up sound with the unit run through a small Fender combo. So, for what it is worth, I would suggest you to give it a try.

[Brow]

I don't have much experience with modellers but I would advise against the V-amp. I had one for a few years and I never really managed to get a sound out of it I was pleased with.

On the other hand, I have a friend who uses a Tonelab when I am jamming with him and he manages to get a pretty good breaking up sound with the unit run through a small Fender combo. So, for what it is worth, I would suggest you to give it a try.

Thanks for the heads up.

An old bandmate of mine used to use a V-Amp 2 live and he never bothered tweaking it for his guitar, just used a preset and it always sounded like total ass. So I had no idea if they'd sound any better after some tweaking etc.

I've found a POD XT for £109 so I'm going to keep my eyes on that just incase :-)

[Modular1]

I've always found the amplitube and guitar rig plugins to provide better tones than any pod. If you already have a recording interface I'd check them out. There are demos to try for free.

[MDV]

The tonelabs the best of those in my experience. Sounds and feels a bit more natural. If this has anything to do with the valve in it, its probably coincidence.

The sound is however hard to make not dull/mushy and the onboard IRs suck balls. But its better than a pod xt or v-amp.

As with all modellers and VSTs I've used it was still a case of 'try to find a sound I dont utterly loathe and muddle along'. Mic a proper amp :D

[sgmypod]

If going that route tonelab all the way, had podxt and used v amp. Tonelab sounds most natural out the lot. (Tried korg version tonelab without valve, can't remember number not as nice as tonelab again if it is the valve is coincidental)

[Brow]

I've always found the amplitube and guitar rig plugins to provide better tones than any pod. If you already have a recording interface I'd check them out. There are demos to try for free.

Interface wise I have an M-Audio USB interface, so I'm good to go on that front.

I have a copy of Guitar Rig and tbh I'm struggling to come up with anything tone wise that I like from it. I've asked this same question on another guitar forum I go on and a few of the guys there have also mentioned the Amplitude stuff as well as Peavey Revalver, so that's next on my list to look at. Thanks!

The tonelabs the best of those in my experience. Sounds and feels a bit more natural. If this has anything to do with the valve in it, its probably coincidence.

The sound is however hard to make not dull/mushy and the onboard IRs suck balls. But its better than a pod xt or v-amp.

As with all modellers and VSTs I've used it was still a case of 'try to find a sound I dont utterly loathe and muddle along'. Mic a proper amp :D

Micing my Splawn for OD tones or my old Carlsbro for cleans would always be my 1st choice, but it's not always an option due to not living on my own and that the main PC is in the dining room  :lol:

If going that route tonelab all the way, had podxt and used v amp. Tonelab sounds most natural out the lot. (Tried korg version tonelab without valve, can't remember number not as nice as tonelab again if it is the valve is coincidental)

Thanks for the opinion on the Tonelab. It's starting to look like a better alternative, going by the opinions of people on here anyway  :D

[adamj]

I use an EMU 0202 which i think is similar to the MAudio stuff. Its taken me years to realise but the reverb on my pod 2 makes the guitar tone all mushy. Iv found the best bet so far is to have a dry signal from the pod (apart from gain/OD) and use VST's for any FX you might need. For what I do, amatuer EP's, i get some pretty decent tones this way. Its taken a long time to get there though!

[Brow]

I use an EMU 0202 which i think is similar to the MAudio stuff. Its taken me years to realise but the reverb on my pod 2 makes the guitar tone all mushy. Iv found the best bet so far is to have a dry signal from the pod (apart from gain/OD) and use VST's for any FX you might need. For what I do, amatuer EP's, i get some pretty decent tones this way. Its taken a long time to get there though!

Thanks for the heads up.

From the studio work I've done in the past I've always been of the case to track dry and then use FX (either hardware or software) afterwards. Where possible atleast :)

I'm still no closer to deciding what way I want to go so sorry for all the questions!

[JDC]

With the modeller/VST route I found they always sound better if you turn off the cab sim and put them through a DAW with cab IR, revalver lets you add cab IRs inside the program itself. There are some decent free single amp VSTs around these days too

[Brow]

Just an update for anyone that may care  :lol:

I managed to find a POD XT with the Metal amps and bass amps/cabs model packs in for £60 (the cheapest I could find 1 o nEbay for was £109), so I spent some of my other saved money on a PS3 too  8)

[metale]

I've had good results with a V-amp pro (rack version). I set it up for a friend who plays for a living. I set him a dozen of patches, and set it up with the midi pedalboard. The v-amp was connected to a behringer "sonic maximizer" type device -> mixer -> PA poweramp -> PA speakers. Can't comment on it for recording, but it's been more than 5 years and my friend still uses it live once or twice a week on the good months.

Oh, and yes, default patches do suck. Always, on any brand.

[sgmypod]

http://www.electromusic.co.uk/Atomic-Reactor-112-Tube-Amplifier-Slave-USED.html
cheap and what it needs to warm it up

[Brow]

http://www.electromusic.co.uk/Atomic-Reactor-112-Tube-Amplifier-Slave-USED.html
cheap and what it needs to warm it up

A bit too OTT for what I need tbh. I only wanetd the modeller just to get some quick ideas down if I'm not in a situation to drag out my Splawn and mic it up.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

[_tom_]

I used to use a V-Amp 2 and it was alright. I would go for something software based as you can tweak afterwards, so your recorded sound isn't set in stone. And I think they sound better than anything hardware-based I've heard. Amplitube 3 is pretty good. I used it on this and it sounds ok but could do with more mids! http://soundcloud.com/tom_the_beast/maps3