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Post by jacques on May 23, 2009 21:26:06 GMT
hi all,
i am looking for hardware with the best ac15 / ac30 simulation, for playing with headphones.. i currently have a line6 podxt, but somehow "it isn't it" for me. is a tonelab (deskmodel?) a better solution?
a lot of the (in my opinion silently) played song are still to anoying says the wife (its not my playing itself, she adds quickly)
i am even considering building meself a amp isolation box to be able to play at nights.. there aee some nice examples out there.. any experiences here? what is the best isolation material to work with? that foam stuff? thick wood?
grts
jacques
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Post by garystrat on May 23, 2009 22:43:13 GMT
Hi Jacques There are several options, but I tend to favour either the VOX Tonelab (they have just brought out a new model), or if you are looking to go the computer software route, IK Multimedia's Amplitube 2. Amplitube 2 can either work through a DAW VST/RST or it has a dedicated program that comes with it called X-Gear, this is a practice tool that allows backing tracks and all manner of effects. You will find the information on these sites: www.voxamps.com/us/pedals/tonelabst/www.ikmultimedia.com/amplitube/features/Another option would be a VOX DA5 practice amp, these can work on mains (transformer)/ batteries, and has built in modelling similar to the Valvetronix. I recently tried one with a friend and for the price it was exception (around £100.00), just lacks a little warmth due to it not having a valve, but you can certainly get that VOX tone. www.voxamps.com/us/da-series/da5/Gary |
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Post by jacques on May 25, 2009 9:24:12 GMT
Thanks Gary, for your reply.
I had a look at the tonelab LE (and it's little black brother) this weekend. The shop I went to only had one demo version left (still asking 150 euro's for it, crikey rip-off, pedal was broken!). When I looked at the black one, it didn't seem to have phones-out, but looking later on at the internet, it seems a combined headphone-out / guitar out combination.. I am worried on the quality of the sound there!
I think the tonelab is soon to be replaced with something else.
I don't want to use a computer/laptop yet for playing at night, so those option are no-go for now, but maybe in future.
SO left is isolation of the amp. Well, surfing on the web gives a lot of info, pro and cons.
I ended up by looking at the rivera silent sister. That one seems to be quit (noise level like sitting in an average car), and doesn't seem to suffer the typical issue's with sound (it's open, not a closed box).
Drawback is it's price, but if it does what is say it does, I'll get over that (and my family aswell I guess) ;-)
ANyone experiences with iso cabs, or rivera?
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Post by garystrat on May 25, 2009 9:47:38 GMT
Hi Jacques
I haven't seen the new Tonelab, so can't comment on that, but the experience with my Tonelab LE and that of friends has been very good. Interestingly, using headphones phones with the LE the sound seems even better than through my computer and monitor speakers?
For late night practice there is another possible route you could take. I also have a VOX AC30 amPlug (about £35.00), plug the guitar into the the echo in the normal way, but on the mono output of the echo plug in the amPlug and then the headphones into this. The amPlug is quite a versatile little device and you can plug in an MP3 Player or something similar for backing tracks, combining everything to headphones via the amPlug.
Also I wouldn't overlook the the little DA5 which has most of the effects you will probably need, plus a headphone/line out. Perhaps lacks a little warmth, but I would have thought ideal for practice and possibly with minimal compromise, home recording.
Gary
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Post by JohnG on May 25, 2009 13:59:21 GMT
Have you tried Guitar Rig 3,comes with foot pedal.
It's computer software and has ac15 / ac30 simulation.
Cheers....
JohnG....
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Post by Charlie Hall on May 25, 2009 15:27:45 GMT
I would not recommend the Amplug Vox AC30 version. Someone sent me a recording that was done with one, complaining of the brightness of the echoes. After analysing it, I saw that the frequency response tried to dip down around the 5-6KHz area as it should to simulate a guitar speaker, but then at higher frequencies, it rose sharply again, which was causing the brightness of the echoes. I applied the correct EQ curve to the recording and it cured the brightness of the echo. I would recommend everyone to steer clear of the Amplug.
Regards,
Charlie
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Post by Len on May 25, 2009 15:50:07 GMT
Hi Jacques
I get a fairly close Vox AC30 sound with my GT-3 through using the Vox Preamp. The amp simulation is supposed to be a sampled AC30 "Top Boost". If I use my son's Strat Squier and put it through the 'Power In' on my Princeton 65 (bypassing the 65's solid-state preamp for uncoloured sound), it seems to have a close sound to a Shadows tone. It distorts quite a lot though if you don't keep the preamp volume fairly low. I usually use a setting of about 30 which translates to a 3 on a 1-10 range setting that many amps have. You would have to set the Master very high to compensate for the low preamp setting. You can use the GT-3 with headphones on the line/headphone setting. The Preamp has a lot of treble in it for a cutting lead tone. It doesn't sound quite as clean as a Twin preamp. I haven't tried it much for rhythm though.
I hope this might add another perspective to the suggestions you already have in some way.
Regards
Len
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Post by Len on May 25, 2009 15:54:01 GMT
Hi Jacques again
I forgot to mention that this is the Roland/Boss GT-3. A similar sound would probably be available through later GT versions (they are up to about 10 now).
Regards
Len
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Post by rogerbayliss on May 25, 2009 22:50:36 GMT
I have the Tonelab LE which does a good job of the AC15/AC30 sims but I also have a PODxt which also does an excellent job. The POD tone controls on the Topboost model work exactly like the amp does ie the real deal and it features Matchless DC30 and Chieftan simsand AC30 non topboost models too so I would say look at the PODxt / X3 range.  |
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Post by didier on May 26, 2009 7:11:26 GMT
Gégé (Gérard Tabis) Gegesite who has an excellent sound and tested almost all available gears uses a Tonelab for amp emulation... Didier |
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Post by BarryH on May 26, 2009 8:05:01 GMT
Gégé (Gérard Tabis) who has an excellent sound and tested almost all available gears uses a Tonelab for amp emulation...
Didier Morning Didier, My command of the French language is not as good as you English, but on Gerard's site and in his latest YT videos he still appears to be using the POD XT Pro, is this not for the amp simulation? Cheers Barry |
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Post by didier on May 26, 2009 10:53:59 GMT
Gégé (Gérard Tabis) who has an excellent sound and tested almost all available gears uses a Tonelab for amp emulation...
Didier Morning Didier, My command of the French language is not as good as you English, but on Gerard's site and in his latest YT videos he still appears to be using the POD XT Pro, is this not for the amp simulation? Cheers Barry You are perfecly right, my memory failed, he currently uses a Pod XT Pro for amp emulation, not a Tonelab (although he also has one). A few years ago he used a miked AC30, but now he finds more practical to use amp emulation for recording. Didier |
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