Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

[JeffB]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

. It has basically become just kind of a novelty thing that I use for a minute or two for comic relief

Without trying to sounds like a Jackass..this is pretty much how I feel about Line6 digital modeling period...regardless of "patch". Their Marshall models in particular are he absolute worst I have heard. I have to wonder if the techs at Line6 have ever heard a real Marshall.

 

[Dankerella]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

I like to dress up like my nu metal alter ego (Phat Psycho Clown) and play through the insane channel (I call it Insayn) while moshing by myself in my bedroom. I'm really sic!

Actually, I kind of like the Marshall settings on my Flextone I, and thank sweet jesus they didn't have the insane setting back then. I'd have to cover it with tape to hide it.

 

[shredist]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

stupid, i want to remove it from my amp! ahahah
i think its supposed to be for nu-metal players???
im not sure even frank zappa could get something out of it

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

Without trying to sounds like a Jackass..this is pretty much how I feel about Line6 digital modeling period...regardless of "patch". Their Marshall models in particular are he absolute worst I have heard. I have to wonder if the techs at Line6 have ever heard a real Marshall.

Their models are generated using the real amps they are simulating, so the answer to your question is "yes they have". The PODxt manual has a little "story" for each amp model. The Plexi Lead, for example, is modelled from a real '68 they found in Holland, and they got the Plexi Variac by running the same amp though a Variac (despite warnings that it would toast the circuits!)

 

[Neeradj]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

I agree the Insane model sounds plastic/artificial and had too much gain but I do think the Behringer high gain models were much worse. The thing I did like about the Insane model was that it had awesome dynamics. I played my last gig with a Spider combo and thought the Insane model came the closest to get the sound for the song. Besides this was the best amp they had lying around so I didn't have much choice but to use it. Anyway I did a lot of tapping and sweep picking and after the song ended people came up to me and didn't only compliment me on my playing but on the raw sound I got although some said it did have too much gain (I didn't really have time to tweak my sound, but I turned the mids to 10). Anyway during the song I was kind of suprised how well the amp responded to my playing. So it's not the best thing out there, but to me it's not the worst either

 

[shreder75]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

I've had a vetta for awhile and never once used the insane model

 

[JeffB]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

Their models are generated using the real amps they are simulating, so the answer to your question is "yes they have". The PODxt manual has a little "story" for each amp model. The Plexi Lead, for example, is modelled from a real '68 they found in Holland, and they got the Plexi Variac by running the same amp though a Variac (despite warnings that it would toast the circuits!)

I forgot the "winky". I was being silly

However I still stand by my statement in the general sense. Having owned and played a bunch of 60s/70's 80's and more modern Marshalls as well as low end to top end Line 6 products..IMO, Line6 really does not know what they are doing as far as Marshall emulations go, regardless if it's a POD XT , Spider..FT, Vetta, or the HD147...all of the Marshall models sound compressed, lifeless and thin to my ears... no low end balls, "sparkle", or clarity/definition like a real Marshall has.

Some of the MESA and Fender models line 6 has are great though. I remember liking the Diezel model on the HD too.

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

Not my cup of tea. Too much drive (Gawd, did I really say that?). I prefer the TS9 in front of the British Hi Gain w/drive about 1/2. I also really like the Modern Hi Gain setting all by itself.

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

The key to the Insane model is to keep the drive no more than a 3-4. I personally don't use it much. I prefer the Spinal Puppet over it.

 

[Dankerella]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

Not my cup of tea. Too much drive (Gawd, did I really say that?). I prefer the TS9 in front of the British Hi Gain w/drive about 1/2. I also really like the Modern Hi Gain setting all by itself.

I used to use the Modern Hi Gain setting as my main sound when I was in a band. The amp I used right before it was a Marshall JCM800 used with an Ibanez Tube King. The Line 6 stacked right up in terms of harmonics, drive, clarity, loudness, etc. Plus it was quieter, and I had 3 other channels to switch to. Actually four other channels, if you count the manual mode. It helped that I had a Duncan Distortion p/up too.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

Not my cup of tea. Too much drive (Gawd, did I really say that?). I prefer the TS9 in front of the British Hi Gain w/drive about 1/2. I also really like the Modern Hi Gain setting all by itself.

That, and the Spinal Puppet with a touch of reverb, are the two I use teh most for high gain stuff. Putting the Screamer in front of the JCM800 model sound pretty good to me. Does it sound exactly like a Marshall with a TS in front of it? No, but it does have the marshall vibe and is much much more than simply "usable," it's actually very nice.

I even find myself using the built in noise gate because Line6 was nice enough to include the classic Marshall hum in their models.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

That, and the Spinal Puppet with a touch of reverb, are the two I use teh most for high gain stuff. Putting the Screamer in front of the JCM800 model sound pretty good to me. Does it sound exactly like a Marshall with a TS in front of it? No, but it does have the marshall vibe and is much much more than simply "usable," it's actually very nice.

...and that's what I love and hate about modeling amps.

When I'm in the mood for screwing around and making something fun and experimenting there's enough there to keep me busy for a long time. For sheer knob-twiddling satisfaction nothing beats a modeling amp in my book.

But when I'm trying to "nail" a sound with any real authority I just never seem to manage to get there with any real satisfaction and that aggravates me to no end.

 

[Forbes]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

But when I'm trying to "nail" a sound with any real authority I just never seem to manage to get there with any real satisfaction and that aggravates me to no end.

+1, I have a guitarport and a decent set of PC speakers, but i can't get anywhere near a 'real' guitar tone with it, i just can't ever get them to sound thick enough, they seem to lack bass. I see the use of modellers, and can see that some people coax some decent tones out of them, but they are definately not for me.

Back on topic, i must say the insane setting on the guitar port is un-useable, it sounds so blatently digital and buzzy that i have found no use for it at all.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

+1, I have a guitarport and a decent set of PC speakers, but i can't get anywhere near a 'real' guitar tone with it, i just can't ever get them to sound thick enough, they seem to lack bass. I see the use of modellers, and can see that some people coax some decent tones out of them, but they are definately not for me.

Try this: deal with the tone coming from your PC speakers, record a few tracks, burn it to a CD, and listen to it on a proper stereo. I've managed to get some HUGE tones out of my Guitar Port. If nothing else, it's 100x better than a SS practice amp, especially at bedroom volumes.

Interesting that you say it lacks bass, I find myself turning down the subwoofer on my PC speaker system because I've got too much. Unfortunatly, the sound quality of the guitar port is too reliant on your PC's system specs, most natable the quality of the sound card and PC speakers.

 

[Sirion]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

The insane is advertized for a reason. Just look at Boss, the Metal Zone is their best selling pedal by far, even though mostly everyone hates it.

 

[Burkwieser]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

I thought the Insane model on my POD 2.0 was pretty good....over the top but that's what it was supposed to be. It was Soldano'ish but with a Mesa brutality....just like the manual said kind of....

+1

The only settings I use on my pod for "High Gain" are the insane and dual recto settings. I thought the sound was real good though headphones, BUT plugged into the front of any poweramp, it sounds like crap. I use it for practice. It is light, quiet, and serves my purpose. It is nothing compared to my full rig though, but that is not why I have it.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

+1, I have a guitarport and a decent set of PC speakers, but i can't get anywhere near a 'real' guitar tone with it, i just can't ever get them to sound thick enough, they seem to lack bass. I see the use of modellers, and can see that some people coax some decent tones out of them, but they are definately not for me.

It's definitely your speakers. Unless you have the top-of-the-line Klipsch 5 point set, pretty much all PC speakers aren't satisfactory for really "big" tone.

I have a pair of Samson Resolv 50a active studio monitors, and my PODxt sounds MASSIVE through those. :headbang:

 

[jayK]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

A few of you recommended to dial the gain way back on the insane channel which I have done and surprisingly it does allow a decent sound now! Thanks for the tip!

I have been keeping it around 2-3 and it is now actually usable, I am actually pretty shocked because I was just about to send the amp back and get something else. I had been using it with the gain pegged all the way up which obviously resulted in a ridiculous tone.

Unfortunately, the "crunch" mode is fairly dissapointing, I have a small 15 watt marshall and it is not in the same ballpark, the line 6 just does not capture the essence of the marshall sound. For that matter, their "metal" setting is supposed to emulate the mesa dual recto, and that also sounds kind of weird, it kind of gives off a strange syntho-thump when you play.

Roland's version of the dual recto sounds unbelievable, I have a cube 30 and that emulation kicks ass! I don't know if it really sounds like a Mesa, but it does sound real good! Overall I would have to rate the cube 30 probably the best amp in its price range that I have tried.

 

[Blueline]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

I have a pod 2.whatever and i love the crunch channel
its like a slightly brighter jcm800 (to my ears at least)

no idea what its supposed to really be though

cheers

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Opinions on "Insane" setting on Line 6 amps

i got an okay tone with it it after scrolling through every cab & tweaking the parametric EQ on it a whole lot

it took like an hour but atleast i know i can make even the worst presets sound good!