Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: adriaan on January 17, 2010, 12:16:56 PM
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Thought I'd throw out a question to the group ...
Thinking of starting to record stuff at home, using my brand spanking new PC, and no microphones.
I guess I'll need an analog-to-digital converter. The Line-6 stuff offers amp modelling, which sounds useful, and recording software (Ableton).
Anyone using one of these, or any other brand? Recommendations more than welcome!
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Here's what I use in my home recording Mecca:
ProTools with MBox....the MBox is a pretty decent converter that takes up very little deskspace. Good six-string plug-in is AmpliTube LE.
Most of my recording basses run through either a SansAmp DI Bass Driver or Line6 Bass POD XT Pro (the latter's amp simulation is pretty versatile, I think).
One bass (the Wal MKII) has an XLR output that can jack straight into the MBox...sounds incredible with virtually no tweaking at all.
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I've yet to see a USB device that can keep up in terms of latency and bandwidth. I would stick with interfaces that are either PCI or Firewire. I have a MOTU 24i that accepts the direct outputs from my analog board and converts the signal to digital. The MOTU interfaces with the computer via a PCI card. The beauty of this system is that it has gotten more powerful as computer technology has evolved without ever having made any significant changes to my system in 10 years. I've been using the PODs since they first came out, but I use the analog output. I briefly had a UX8, but I returned it almost immediately because of the latency and bandwidth issues. I suppose I should say that I am multi-tracking. If you're just laying down 1 track at a time, it might not be an issue. But the price of a good PCI or Firewire interface is so reasonable, why limit yourself.
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I use a Mackie Onyx 1640 board into a Pro Mac, with Digital Performer software...
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I use the UX2 and record into Reaper. I haven't noticed any latency problems, but I'm just doing one track at a time.
The amp modeling is fun to play with, but I get a better bass tone running straight thru without any modeling.
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Unless it's purely for demos/ideas I would stay away from using a blow up doll... The real deal is 1000% better and that fact is only magnified when using a very nice sounding bass like an Alembic. Most of the time I record my Alembics straight into the board. They sound fabulous that way. A good DI (Countryman/SansAmp/Avalon U5) also give wonderful results.
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Hey guys - thanks for the input. I should have been more specific: looking for a simple device here, just plug in my bass or guitar, hook it up to the PC and record some music. Nothing too serious, but the device shouldn't put the sound of my Alembics to shame.
The MBox seems nice - a bit pricier than the Line-6 stuff, but the Focusrite connection sounds promising. Seems like they used to have a simple version for guitar, but it's no longer available (or at least out of stock).
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In that case this setup will be fire and forget:
M-Audio Audiophile 2496 (http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MAudio-Audiophile-2496-PCI-Digital-Audio-Card?sku=701341)
Use a DI of your choice and plug directly in. For recording software I used Sonar for years and recently switched to using Protools. I understand that there are a number of free(or nearly free) solutions that will give you basic multitrack recording options.
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I'm a Sonar guy, but I did play around with Reaper: not bad for Freeware.
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I've got the Line 6 POD X3 (bean) and I've been very pleased with it. It has amp, cab, mic, and stompbox modelling, as well as a USB recording interface (24-bit, 96 KHz). As I've never owned even a tiny fraction of the devices the X3 emulates, I can't attest to the accuracy of the models but I will say that a good percentage of the tones are highly usable and more than a few of them border on the excellent.
One aspect of the X3 I really enjoy is dual tone. With dual tone, you can have two completely independent audio chains (i.e., two sets of amps, cabs, stomboxes, mics, etc.) and mix them together freely. With 8 channels of audio coming over USB, you can record any combination of the two stacks, in stereo, plus the original dry signals.
My two basses (Exploiter and Precision) both record equally well/easily with the POD.
One caveat: The X3 Live models have suffered from an audio dropout problem that renders them of dubious value for recording. The bean and rack-mount models, curiously, do not seem to suffer from this defect.
(Message edited by honninscrave on January 19, 2010)
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+1 on the X3 Live. Line 6 never did get that one right. They've accumulated some quality control issues since moving their production to China. Just don't say that on the Line 6 forum... you think WE sometimes bicker with each other??? There are some major Fanboy types all over that forum who never sniffed a Line 6 turd that didn't smell like roses.
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I use the GX studio, about 80 euro's in most stores.
Works great for practice! I can play along with Windows media player and have a very decent sound.
You can combine two amps/cabs/effects settings, real neat :-)
It comes with some recording software, but haven't tried that yet...
I recorded some with my integrated webcam from my laptop: click here (http://www.painandgrief.com/aaa/fcbasssite/PWF/blitzbassonlyws.wmv target=_blank) and with backing track: click here (http://www.painandgrief.com/aaa/fcbasssite/PWF/blitzbassws.wmv target=_blank)
Does not compete with the real thing though... We did some recordings last year, I used a Pod and later the real thing. The Mesa rig (miked) was the obvious winner (everyone agreed)
Also I tried running the GX through my Strategy 400, could not get close to the sound I get from the Bass 400. (note: I don't have the Bass 400 model in my software package, I use the SVT model)
The software (Pod Farm) is quite limited, you get the basic set amp/cab/effects models. Line 6 is selling additional software, no experience with those...
So for home use I think it's great as for recording some demo stuff, for live or real studio work I prefer the real thing (as much as possible) :-)
Good luck!
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Here's a screenshot of POD Farm:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/449/75609.jpg)
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Funny how the SVT controls at the top, the ones that you use for settings, are different from the controls pictured in the middle, that of course are of no use whatsoever.
Anyway, I'm leaning towards the GX (costs, ease of use).
Thanks again to everyone for your valued input!
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Just scored the POD Studio UX1 - much the same as the GX, but with a mic input - not an immediate requirement, but will certainly come in handy some day (well, there's that upright piano in our living room not getting played enough).
I'll post my experiences!
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I've used the UX1 before, I think it will suit your purposes fine. Just remember that you are using your computer's CPU to run everything. I just bought the PCIe upgrade for my 24i... it's actually the first real upgrade (other than computers and software) that I've made since I put the system together.
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POD Farm is nice for re-amping. I usually record a dry signal along with the modelled one and if I find that the modelled one is not exactly what I want, I can experiment with the dry signal and POD FARM until I get it just right and I don't have to redo the performance. The platinum license of POD FARM that comes with the X3 gives you every model and every preset present on the actual physical device.
It's a lifesaver if you nailed the performance but the tone was a little off.
(Message edited by honninscrave on January 20, 2010)