Digidesign Eleven Rack

[Trypp Powell]

I just picked up a Digidesign Eleven Rack. So far, straight into the clean channel of my F50 and straight into a mixer/power amp/FRFR speakers, it sounds incredible.

This is by far the most touch sensitive/most realistic feeling amp modeler I have ever played. The videos floating around You Tube do not do this unit justice. When switching from a Marshall to a Fender, the response/touch sensitivity changes as well. It "feels" like a Marshall, etc.

F/X options are limited, but this thing is incredibly simple to use. Anyone who has used an F/X box can program this without looking at the manual.

[deflep]

Cool...I'm really interested in this unit.

Are you using it for primarily for recording or performing?

[Trypp Powell]

I bought it primarily to use as a recording interface. I have a good E-mu1616, but so many people I know use PT Le. I figured this woudl be a good way to get Pro Tools and make exchanging files easier. The gutar processing was just going to be an "extra". With a footswitch, you could very easily gig with this unit. The amps feel more responsive and touch sensitive than my GSP1101. While this has less f/x and amp models than many units, the sound quality/feel is great.

Also, the presets do not entirely suck, and many are a good jumping off point for programming your own.

[deflep]

It appears that depending on what hardware you choose you are forced to go either the Pro Tools LE route or the Apple Garage Band/Logic Pro route.

Are you using a MAC or a PC with Pro Tools LE?

[Trypp Powell]

I'm on a PC. I am a long time Sonar user, and plan to use this interface with that and Pro Tools LE. Pro Tools runs fine on my PC, and I plan on trying the interface with Sonar later tonight or sometime tomorrow.

[deflep]

What about instrument packs? What do you use for drum loops?

(this is very helpful bc I have zero friends who have this stuff)

[Trypp Powell]

I've been using EZdrummer for loops and drum sounds. The Eleven Rack comes with BFD Lite. I have not had a chance to load and play with it yet. One cool plug-in it does ship with is a SansAmp plug. Even though the Eleven Rack does amp modeling, there are some good sounds to be had on the SansAmp plug when recording.

One thing I noticed about PT Le is that Digi lists a number of computers and hard drives that are problematic with it. I'm running it on an old Dell 9300 laptop with a 1.78Ghz Centrino/2 Gigs Ram and an external Western Digital hard drive. I am not having any issues at all with pops, clicks, too much latency with soft synths, etc. I did connect the external hard drive via firewire since I already have the Eleven Rack going in via USB.

[wilkinsi]

I wonder how this thing sounds compared to a Boss GT-Pro. Being as it's twice as expensive, I'd hope that it sounds tits.

[wilkinsi]

Excuse the resurrection. Is it possible to edit patches via USB and PC without having to go pro tools or sonar?

[Rupe]

This is by far the most touch sensitive/most realistic feeling amp modeler I have ever played.

So what you're saying is that you haven't played an Axe-FX yet?

[hippietim]

A buddy of mine grabbed one of these. First chance we get we're going to get together. I want to hear this thing!

[DR5Guy]

This is by far the most touch sensitive/most realistic feeling amp modeler I have ever played.

So Axe-FX is no longer the holy grail of amp modeling?

[hippietim]

So Axe-FX is no longer the holy grail of amp modeling?

What led to that conclusion?

[quiksilver]

Thanks for the useful info, Trypp. I heard some great clips of the Eleven doing SRV-esque sounds. How is it for EVH, hot rodded Marshall Plexi kinds of tones? How does the Eleven's flanger compare to the MXR?

[Matt_B]

So Axe-FX is no longer the holy grail of amp modeling?

Disregarding its tonal quality (which is subjective), the Axe-FX has more effects, more models, more cabs, more flexibility than the Eleven Rack.