Line 6 alternatives

[Coma]

My old Line 6 Toneport UX2 (think they call it Pod Studio UX2 these days) seems to have finally given up on life, sadly. I'm contemplating buying a new one, but I also know that in the roughly 8 years that have passed since I got it, I'm sure technology ( and Line 6's competitors) have moved forwards. Can anyone recommend me anything? I like the convenience of running something through my computer, not only for the plethora of "amps" but also becuase I already always have it running guitar pro when I play anyway.

And for the record, I already have a real amp. But its in my rehearsal space.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

I have really been enjoying the Behringer V-Amp Pro! Great tones and, IMO, gets better clean tones than Line 6.

There are MUCH newer stuff out there though. Between Boss GTs and Line 6 HDs, you can get some awesome stuff! The newer ones let you even use different amps in stereo (for example a 1x12 Fender on the left and a 4x12 Marshall on the right.)

 

[DMR]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

Funny, same exact thing happened to mine last week. I need something new as well. Something a bit more durable and well built than the Line 6 this time.

 

[Coma]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

I finally settled on the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4. Will see if I can still run GearBox through it or if I'll have to buy something like ReValver or other third party software.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

I finally settled on the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4. Will see if I can still run GearBox through it or if I'll have to buy something like ReValver or other third party software.

Sweet man! Hope its awesome for you!

 

[DMR]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

I finally settled on the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4. Will see if I can still run GearBox through it or if I'll have to buy something like ReValver or other third party software.

Do you know if you can still use your POD software with the interface you got?

 

[Coma]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

Do you know if you can still use your POD software with the interface you got?

You can if you've purchased it as a standalone product after a certain date, can't remember which one right now but its on their website. Otherwise no. I decided to try out a few new ones since they all cost pretty much the same. Decided on BIAS FX, tried it for a few weeks, and realised I hate it, finally settled on Revalver 4 and have been using that since march. If anyone is interested in my (admittedly limited) experience with these plugins I'd be happy to share it.

 

[Zarg]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

You can if you've purchased it as a standalone product after a certain date, can't remember which one right now but its on their website. Otherwise no. I decided to try out a few new ones since they all cost pretty much the same. Decided on BIAS FX, tried it for a few weeks, and realised I hate it, finally settled on Revalver 4 and have been using that since march. If anyone is interested in my (admittedly limited) experience with these plugins I'd be happy to share it.

Guitar Rig 5 is also pretty decent, I use it and like it. Never had the chance to try out revalver, is it better than GR5?

 

[Coma]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

I've never actually tried Guitar Rig. That, as well as Amplitube, is on my watchlist, so to speak. The only drawback I've found so far with Revalver is that the non-peavey amps all sound pretty dull, and the interface can be a bit daunting at first. The same goes for the virtual component modding that's included, so I've stayed away from that one so far.

What Revalver does have going for it is the ACT software, which simulates other instruments (doesn't work perfectly but still a pretty cool feature), the GIG quick-load feature and the overall sound is very nice, bot for distortion and clean. I wish the stompboxes were a bit more user-friendly, but its not a dealbreaker.

What BIAS FX/AMP does have going for it is that the amp-builder/component editor is very intuitive and easy to use. But that's also about it. I can't get a decent tone out of it to save my life, the interface isn't as cisually pleasing as Revalver (and that one is no beauty by a long shot), heck, even the tuner doesn't work. I've emailed Positive Grid about it and they said they are aware of the problem, but that's about it.

I know a few of the more well known internet guitar and tech gurus such as Fricker, Fluff and Englund all endorse BIAS and given that they're much, MUCH more experienced than me with this stuff, I'm not gonna say they're all wrong, but BIAS does not work for me one bit.

For comparison, my old Line 6 Gearbox and Pod Farm sounded better out of the box and (at laast on the distorted sounds, for cleans BIAS still blows it out of the water) and then you still had a very intutive interface to work with.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

I use a Focusrite Sapphire DSP 24 (firewire) which works really well. I'd be interested to know how the Scarlett works. Not many computers come with Firewire anymore.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

I have Amplitube and a basic version of Guitar Rig 5. Both are good, though I prefer Amplitube due to having a much larger library of amps and effects with it. I have all three Bias apps on my iPad and I think they're fantastic apps, but I didn't like the Bias VST's on my iPad. I think Amplitube is by far the best VST that you can get for your computer, but Bias on the iPad is amazing as well. I've used Pod Farm in the past but I thought it was really bad, IMO. The distorted sounds were very digital sounding and the cleans were absolutely lifeless. In comparison, Amplitube and Bias can get a great combination of sounds and work really organically. Dropping something like an overdrive in front of the 5150 sim on Amplitube really tightens it up for the chugs. Rolling back on your volume knob cleans them up immensely.

 

[Coma]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

I use a Focusrite Sapphire DSP 24 (firewire) which works really well. I'd be interested to know how the Scarlett works. Not many computers come with Firewire anymore.

It was a bit of a hassle to get it to work, was getting terrible low frequency background noises that were giving me headaches and causing nausea (weird, I know), but that can mostly be chalked up to me being a dumbass and not connecting things properly. I'm doing the first proper recordings with it this weekend, I'll let you know how things went. But yeah, firewire is a hassle. Recorded drums alst weekend and had to use my bass players ancient laptop because the sound card in the studio we're using uses firewire. Needless to say, nobody was particularly happy.

Everything we record this weekend is gonna be re-amped anyway, so we'll see how things go. I don't have any active monitors, just hi-fi speakers, but for jamming the Scarlett works very well indeed, nice clean sound, basically zero latency. I have the buffer set to 2 ms, but I'm also sitting on a machine with 32 GB ram, so that might also help.

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

ive used all the vst's or stand alone mentioned.. Mostly just messed around with them for short periods of time.. I still prefer and use Guitar Rig 4 as my main practice amp. I KNOW there is a GR5 but I prefer GR4..I get no noticeable latency and sounds I can live with so im happy

 

[leevc5]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

I would recommend a Mustang II (you can probably find one for $100) or III based on your budget. They link to your computer and have a nice software package to work with.

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

I would recommend a Mustang II (you can probably find one for $100) or III based on your budget. They link to your computer and have a nice software package to work with.

when i get some extra cash, a mustang might be my 1st purchase

 

[InbredJunk]

Re: Line 6 alternatives

I've always had good luck with the zoom stuff. I have a g5 now that is packed with killer tones.

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