Best direct recording gear

[Sly_D]

Hi all,

I've always been on a budget for music gear, but I now have a little more money. I have a tube amp I love but trecording with it in my house is just impossible (young kids and the fact I can only record late at night). So I'm now looking for the best bang-for-the-buck direct recording gear for writing my little stuff.

Many say the line 6 POD is still the way to go for direct recording. What do you think?

I tried the Digitech RP-500 but didn't like it much. I like the old Boss stuff for clean but always tought their distorted models were not that good.

So what would you suggest in that price range?

The POD x3? The GT-10? Any other options?

Thanks in advance!

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Best direct recording gear

I have either owned or recorded with:
POD's all except the HD's
Boss GT10 ME25
Digitech RP's many of them
Vox Tonelabs
Line6 Toneports
Valvetronix Amps
Line6 Amps
Blah blah.

Best tone so far is the Vox Tonelabs making my own patches followed by the Boss GT10.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Best direct recording gear

If your valve amp has a speaker output, you can try this: Run the speaker output into a Hot Plate, and then run the Line Out into your interface. With a little EQ or (*shudder*) impulse response, you can get some really great DI tracks this way and still retain a good chunk of the tone you already have. Most important: NO WASTED GEAR!!

 

[P.A.Foholic]

Re: Best direct recording gear

Impulse Responses, so underrated piece of gear I'm getting POD HD500 on Monday so I can make a small review of it. If you can, try what Odyssey suggested.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Best direct recording gear

I really want axe fx, I bet it is the end all be all

not for me tho, too expensive

also not much bass modeling from axe fx yet

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Best direct recording gear

Impulse Responses, so underrated piece of gear

Hehe, I'm just pulling chains.

 

[Sly_D]

Re: Best direct recording gear

Hey TO, long time no speak! Thanks for the advice. I will definitely investigate this.

The GT-10 is really what I'm leaning to right now as far as digital direct recording goes.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Best direct recording gear

Hey TO, long time no speak! Thanks for the advice. I will definitely investigate this.

The GT-10 is really what I'm leaning to right now as far as digital direct recording goes.

The GT10 is great but you really have to dig out your own presets to get the most out of it, the Vox is a bit more organic sounding and the GT10 has the famous Boss tones. With either unit roll your own.

 

[Sly_D]

Re: Best direct recording gear

Yes, I know that with those unit, nothing comes good out of the box. You really have to take the time to dig in. I'll take a closer look at the Vox.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Best direct recording gear

Yes, I know that with those unit, nothing comes good out of the box. You really have to take the time to dig in. I'll take a closer look at the Vox.

Speaking for myself I paid $399 for the GT10 and $199 for a Vox Tonelab ST if I had to do it again and it was just studio use and money was no object I'd get the Vox Tonelab ST again.

 

[these_go211]

Re: Best direct recording gear

there is also the option of running speaker of tube amp out into hot plate and then into a palmer speaker simulator. palmer is good stuff.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Best direct recording gear

$30 behringer Ultra g from the line out is my go to direct sound. Don't know how they did it, but they did. I'd like to make a condor cab sim to compliment it though, do a left and right thing.

 

[MyWheelsAreBackwards]

Re: Best direct recording gear

I've tried everything (i even had one of those ultra G's which was GREEAT. One of the best cab emulators i've ever heard) but and at the end of the day......... i've concluded that recording direct always sounds harsh (with distorted tones) and it will never be equal to micing a speaker. maybe "harsh" isnt the word. The word i'm looking for is raspy and shrill.

I now stick microphones into the ears of headphones to capture some kind of speaker action.

Amp out---> some rack or device with headphone out and cab emulation---> mic inserted in ear of headphones.

I did that here (sorry for the lame playing and poor quality recording. but the point is.. thats how I roll around here to avoid noise jail. I'd never record a real album like that though).

http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=11019443&q=hi&newref=1