Post by martyn on Jun 24, 2009 22:40:00 GMT
Will the Tonelab do the trick ? From my understanding it seems that the Vox AC 15 & AC 30 amp simulations are very good but on the other hand I hear that the tonelab don't produce a decent clean tone.
Louis, alias " Fender Bender "
Bear in mind I'm relatively new to the tech stuff after a playing absence of 45 or so years, so this is just what I've fiddled around with so far since taking up the guitar again last Xmas:
I started out with the Magicstomp & Charlie's patches, running through a TonelabLE which gave me great sounds into the computer for recording. The AC15 amp/cab simulations seem the most accurate for early Shads material and AC30 settings are a bit louder and punchier - much as you'd expect.
I occasionally switched cab simulations to Fender type just to brighten up things a little, then reverted to Vox types for the warmer, creamier tones. The Tonelab certainly produces really rich, clean sounds that are spot-on, in my humble opinion, so that may answer your main question.
However, playing in a confined space (small 10'x7' spare bedroom) that also houses three bookcases, two computers/desks, chairs, filing cabinet (I work from home), space is limited and I found the LE too bulky on the floor alongside the M/stomp. Was always bashing my feet against it and struggling to reach down and adjust things under the desk. I know there's downloadable control software and indeed I used this to control the settings onscreen but that doesn't help when playing live at monthly meets. I needed to know which controls to physically push or turn to get the sounds I wanted live.
So I finally sold the LE version and bought the latest and much smaller TonelabST, which now sits on the desk alongside the M/stomp - the LE was far too large for this. I only need to operate its volume/expression pedal at monthly meets where it can sit on the floor as intended.
This new smaller and cheaper version has fewer bells & whistles than its predecessors and even fewer variables on each but its Vox simulations remain just as authentic as before. Some might regret the reduction in options but that's good for me as I found the LE quite hard to comprehend anyway with way too many variables for each sound and a complex method of altering these - I was constantly referring to the manual and even then not always certain what I was doing. No good for live usage unless purely relying on its programmable presets. 'Simple' works for my poor brain.
A rather long-winded answer but I think all Tonelabs do a pretty good job of amp simulation and the clean sound you want is ably done by any of its incarnations - and the reverbs/delays aren't bad, albeit the latter don't have the more complex echoes. I usually combine the M/stomp's echoes/reverb with those on the Tonelab as this creates a fuller, more rounded sound.
When playing through an amp, you have to allow for its own tonal controls colouring your presets that may have worked well through a computer but which may not sound quite the same played live at a club meet. Last time I played live I forgot to switch the Tonelab's 'LineOut' computer recording switch to 'Amp' and ended up with a rather woolly subdued sound. Just to make matters worse, simulating a Vox AC30 when plugged into a real one really confused things further since I'd also forgotten to switch off the amp/cab simulation. I really should have left the Tonelab at home or just used its volume/expression pedal if necessary as the M/stomp took care of the echoes/reverb really.
I can't justify buying a Vox AC30 for once-a-month club usage only - it's no good for home recording without being miked (and doesn't sound right unless played at high volume to get the tubes sizzling - impractical and anti-social late at night!) so I'm now investigating a Tech21 Trademark 60 amp that won't colour the sounds of the Tonelab at monthly meets but which can also be used for home recording purposes with speaker bypassed. But that's wandering away from your initial question.
Hope that helps and doesn't confuse things further with my twitterings about amps etc.
Regards,
Martyn