Balls through Native Instruments' "Guitar Rig 2" ?

[Axilla]

Hey folks,

I'm currently heavily thinking about getting myself a nice home recording/modeling solution. I checked out some Line6 stuff (Toneport UX2) but was not quite comfortable with it, also considering that the UX2 hardware did not appear well made to me.
Native Instruments are doing an apparently really fine product called "Guitar Rig 2" including a sturdy aluminium floor board/controller.
I was wondering if any of you fella forumites by chance have already tried this out or even own one and would like to share your experiences with me...

Any of your input is highly appreciated !

Thank you so much in advance !

Axel

 

[Dead-Eye]

I only tried it a couple of times...it wasn't bad, but I wasn't overly impressed by the sounds either. Might be different if you have the time to really set everything up to your liking.
But at that price I think I'd rather have a Pod XT which you can also use without the computer...

 

[luke69]

I've tried it a long time and now i use amplitube 2.1 IK multimedia
it's works better
more respect of your guitar better crunch tones
a macbook+amplitube+a midi pedalboard is a very good set
guitar rig is good for specials effects but the simul of valve is not very credible

 

[mesadualrec]

I tried the original one


I wasnt that bad but I did prefer the Line 6 POD if I were going to be going direct


also my friend has made a few recordings with the UX2 and they came out astonishingly well!!!


I would only use these if I really had to you cant beat the sound of a well mic'd cab.

 

[Axilla]

...it's not that I don't own a nice couple of amps & cabs.

It's more the "living in a 115 square meters flat out in that country and just cannot find a f*ckin' place to crank up...there's a family living below" kinda story ...

Sad, but that's the status...

So nobody yet gave Guitar Rig 2 a test drive ?!

 

[Fernando]

I had good experiences with guitar rig software, but be prepared to tweak a lot.
Never used the controller.

On the hardware side, i have been a user of pods for recording for quite some time, mostly when doing commercial work.
I had the 2.0 pod and the xt . I hated the Xt, there is some kind of anoying fizz on most settings, i couldnt get rid of it.
I really liked the 2.0 pod, is dirt cheap now on ebay. Buy the pro version which is rackable.

There is also another (the best in my opinion) solution for : I want to crank an amp at family levels!, and is to get a 8 or 10 watt tube amp. I had a technician friend who made me one, i am pretty sure that in the States there should be plenty to choose from.

Fer

 

[Colin]

Guitar Rig 3 is about to be released and it is awesome. I'm a NI Beta tester and let me tell you this is impressive. The new NI rig controller is great too

 

[phatduckk]

i think OC uses Guitar Rig and likes it

 

[TheBassGuy]

I'm using both. Altough the options and menu's in Guitar Rig 2 are more convenient IMO, the sound on Aplitube is sooooo much better.

 

[mesadualrec]

Guitar Rig 3 is about to be released and it is awesome. I'm a NI Beta tester and let me tell you this is impressive. The new NI rig controller is great too

seems like you should hold off a tad until this is on the market

give it a demo as well

 

[Axilla]

Thanks guys !
I'll give those PODs another try and then probably wait for GR3 to be released...

Considering the small wattage tube amps: I already own two, but they don't produce some kinds of tones I wanna shake at bedroomlevel - that's why.
A friend of mine is currently working on another one sort of custom built for me. My still take some time (tweakin' & stuff) to get ready but I'll sure post THAT one when done ! Finest handwired boutique 6 watts stuff ...I'm just sayin'

Again - thanks so much for all of your feedback and especially Rossi for the PMed info ! ! !

 

[Jonny Dubai]

What about a THD hot plate for your amp?????

J

 

[ivanmihaljevic]

I've tried Guitar Rig 2, but I have to say I think Line6 POD xt sounds waaaay better!!!

 

[Axilla]

What about a THD hot plate for your amp?????

J

Hey J, yeah - that came to my mind, too - some time ago...
I tried the Marshall Power Brake of a friend's which luckily was switchable from 8 to 16 ohms so I could try it on the combo and the stack, but it "ate" the sound and I did not like it at all.
THDs are sooooo hard to find around here in Germany. There is however Online Shop - Tube Amp Doctor Verstärker Röhren Spezialist - Tubes and Amp Kits here in Deutschland who do real great attenuators, but they are expensive as a funk and can only do 2, 4, 8, or 16 ohms per device. Prices are € 400,- which equals around US$ 640,-
...and after all, I'm looking to do some homerecording on PC...
Nevertheless an attenuator will come soon I guess...
How do you rate the THDs ?!

 

[Axistence]

I bougth the L6 UX2 TonePort a few weeks ago, and I'm really happy with it. Keep in mind you can also manage vocals and bass, and the sounds are great, a la POD XT. I know it's not the real thing, it's not a real amp or FX, but dude, you can play at any hour you want with very good quality sound through your headphones and make a great demo too. For the "live" thing I'm ol' school and I still keep my analog stuff and my good friend Laney.
The GR2 is good too, costs more too. I haven't checked the GR3 but I think the GR4 is gonna be better

EDIT:
Yes, the UX2 hardware don't look very well made but is more like an external soundcard, just plug it once, and play yer guitar, and do not take it to the road. I think the GR2 has a better hardware for the stage. But if you want to play meanwhile your family reads a book, the UX2 is a low cost solution.

 

[Axilla]

...oooh guys, you get me tempted that Line6 direction again...
I guess I'll try a PODxt Live first, but man - POD 2 goes real cheap and for the TonePort UX2 - let's see... Damn - so many things to choose from...

 

[starsky]

I can't run any amps at full tilt at home, so I do all my playing and recording through modellers with headphones

Over the years I've got a POD 2, Vox Tonelab, POD XT Live and recently, for portability, a Pocket POD.

One thing I've found is that the guitar you are using dictates your impression of each modeller. Patches which sound rubbish with one guitar can sound great with another, and they all need a lot of tweaking. Luckily my Balls all sound great with any of the above.

Back in my pre-Ball days I was close to getting rid of my original POD 2, because I just couldn't get any sounds I liked with the guitar I had at the time. So it sat in the cupboard for about 3 years. When I got my Luke I broke it out again and suddenly the thing seemed to come to life!

Out of the modellers I have, I'd say the Vox Tonelab gives me the most amp-like response, and I'll use that or the POD 2 or Pocket POD for general practice and noodling.

For recording, the XT Live is better for me, because with a direct USB connection to the computer (in my case a Mac running Logic) you don't need a soundcard and the recorded sounds sit better in the mix. YMMV.

The XT Live can indeed sound fizzy with some guitars, and it's not my overall favourite, but as I say in a recording situation it works better than the others for me.

I recently got the Line 6 plug-in software which now enables me to re-amp the recorded guitar sounds, so that's another option.

I know modellers are no replacement for a real tube amp mic'd up, but in my situation I just can't do that. I'm happy with the results I'm getting, certainly a whole universe away from my early days with recording in the mid 80's using a Fostex 4 track!

I'm still learning, a long way to go yet

 

[mr.b]

I can't run any amps at full tilt at home, so I do all my playing and recording through modellers with headphones

Over the years I've got a POD 2, Vox Tonelab, POD XT Live and recently, for portability, a Pocket POD.

One thing I've found is that the guitar you are using dictates your impression of each modeller. Patches which sound rubbish with one guitar can sound great with another, and they all need a lot of tweaking. Luckily my Balls all sound great with any of the above.

Back in my pre-Ball days I was close to getting rid of my original POD 2, because I just couldn't get any sounds I liked with the guitar I had at the time. So it sat in the cupboard for about 3 years. When I got my Luke I broke it out again and suddenly the thing seemed to come to life!

Out of the modellers I have, I'd say the Vox Tonelab gives me the most amp-like response, and I'll use that or the POD 2 or Pocket POD for general practice and noodling.

For recording, the XT Live is better for me, because with a direct USB connection to the computer (in my case a Mac running Logic) you don't need a soundcard and the recorded sounds sit better in the mix. YMMV.

The XT Live can indeed sound fizzy with some guitars, and it's not my overall favourite, but as I say in a recording situation it works better than the others for me.

I recently got the Line 6 plug-in software which now enables me to re-amp the recorded guitar sounds, so that's another option.

I know modellers are no replacement for a real tube amp mic'd up, but in my situation I just can't do that. I'm happy with the results I'm getting, certainly a whole universe away from my early days with recording in the mid 80's using a Fostex 4 track!

I'm still learning, a long way to go yet

here, here. i encountered exactly the same situation with previous axes. i'm using the g-port and its a decent tool for running through Magix which is the preferred package of choice for my band recording quick demos for working on. considering getting the pocket pod too.

 

[Jonny Dubai]

Hey J, yeah - that came to my mind, too - some time ago...
I tried the Marshall Power Brake of a friend's which luckily was switchable from 8 to 16 ohms so I could try it on the combo and the stack, but it "ate" the sound and I did not like it at all.
THDs are sooooo hard to find around here in Germany. There is however Online Shop - Tube Amp Doctor Verstärker Röhren Spezialist - Tubes and Amp Kits here in Deutschland who do real great attenuators, but they are expensive as a funk and can only do 2, 4, 8, or 16 ohms per device. Prices are € 400,- which equals around US$ 640,-
...and after all, I'm looking to do some homerecording on PC...
Nevertheless an attenuator will come soon I guess...
How do you rate the THDs ?!

I have not tried one. Just thought it might help you!!I am using a little korg psandora and have it set up to how i like it. I am running it through amd i-deck so I can jam along with my i-pod.

J

 

[Ricman]

axilla
Line 6 have just bought out a stripped down version of the toneport - the GX. I replaced my POD XT Live with it and have been very impressed. It costs next to nothing - and gives you all the tones of the tones of the other toneports. The Plug-in software is another $100 but is so worth it. You can record your track dry and then play around with amps, cabs and effects until dawn. Can'r recommend this set-up highly enough.