Advice on processors

[neverdunn]

I'm curious as to what folks are using for processors with or without your amps. My amp is a little (translation: alot) loud for the living room and too big to move around the house, so...... I'm looking for something that sounds good with headphones, but ideally also with an amp. I've had a chance to use a Digitech RP300 for the last week and it seems alright, but I was wondering what else people are using and why they like them.

thanks, tom

[jeff300]

I also use an RP300 for low volume or bedroom playing. The patches it comes with are just terrible, but its easy to grab some great patches from the online database or make your own good sounding ones.

I've played with a bunch of modelers, and all in all I'm quite happy with the RP300. Some of the newer ones have some more convincing tube-amp emulations, but that's not what I'm looking for in a modeler. I like the ease of use, flexibility, durability and overall usefulness of the RP300. It's a bit of a pain that it doesn't have a USB connection like the RP400, but it doesn't take long to manually enter patches.

[neverdunn]

I think I'm going to try the new Rocktron Utopia this weekend. Seems pretty user friendly and I've liked their stuff in the past. I also might try the Line 6 system, I think it's the XT Pro Live - I may have it wrong. Seems as though the Line 6 stuff is fairly well thought of for this type of application.

[Newc]

I liked the XTLive (floor unit, didn't try the Pro rack thing).

But I've been using an ADA MP-1 and Digitech TSR-12 for years, so I'm happy with those. I used a Fender RocPro1000 head and Carvin 2x12 cab when I had a band, and a Digitech GSP21 for effects on that since it had the pedalboard.

[toddstaples]

Vox Tonelabs.....

easy and user friendly

[neverdunn]

I actually just barely tried the XTLive at my local store. They are getting out of the Line 6 business and offered their last one for $299.00. I only got to play it through headphones, but it sounded pretty good, better than the RP300 I'm borrowing now. It looks like you need to really read the manual closely though to make changes and dial it in. The stock sounds were not bad - how well does it respond to adjustments and how is it with an amp should I choose to use one? The salesman tried telling me these things sound great direct through a PA and that I would not even bring my Soldano after I got used to it. I'm not sure I'm buying that....

[jgcable]

The XT Live is great. So does the Boss GT-6 and the GT-8.
The Vox Tonelab stuff is nice too.

[Racerx2k]

I use a Johnson J-Station in the loop of my amp, controlled by a Digitech Control X pedal (Same as the Johnson J8). It's set for "Direct" which bypasses the amp sims, and let's me just run the effects portion. For practicing purposes at home, I use a Digitech RP-12, that was given to me by our singer. Pretty flexible procs, I say.

[memphiskat]

I use a PODxt. I borrowed a friends RP300 and anothers RP400, a Korg Pandora and hands down prefered the sound quality of the POD. It has a usb port for connecting to my Mac and I use the editing software to build all my patches on the computer and to downlaod from Line 6's site. It's great for practicing when connected to the computer because I use software drum patterns, metronome, and import MP3's to jam with. But if you strictly will use it away from the computer the Digitech units may be more practicle. They have built in drum patterns, can run on batteries, and have an input for connecting a sound source (mp3, cd player ect.) to jam along to. The POD has none of these features. If it did it would be perfect :-) So it's about practicality verses sound quality, or that's at least how I would some it up. I may get an RP50 or RP80 just to get these features.

Oh, it sounds great through my computer speakers, but with limited volume. I also use it thourgh the effects return of my Randall RG75 (solid state) with bypasses all of the tone shaping effects of the amp and it sounds great really load or really low volume. I also use it with an outboard solid state power amp and a 2x12 cab I made loaded with Eminence modeling 12's and it sound great too. The XTLive is just the POD bean in a flour pedal. Karl

[Dreamland_Rebel]

i use the XTL live. and i can tell the difference, but the P.A can't. and for so long i've had to hear sound men tell me to "turn it down". when the amp hasn't even gotten up to its sweet spot yet. not anymore. and with the crate powerblock, and our 2x12 cabs, we have a lot more room in the car.

[dinky kustom]

ada mp1 and gt6 here

[neverdunn]

I hear you on the soundguy. I finally gave up and stopped putting my amp on the backline (when I played out alot) and set up behind the PA and crossfired to the stage. I was able to get to a workable volume and keep him happy at the same time. I still have a hardtime believing though that you can get a real good servicable tone direct into an PA. I may need to rent one of these things and show up at one of my brother's shows for soundcheck to try one out. It almost seems too good to be true. What would I do if I didn't have to lug a half stack up stairs?

[AdRock]

I hear you on the soundguy. I finally gave up and stopped putting my amp on the backline (when I played out alot) and set up behind the PA and crossfired to the stage. I was able to get to a workable volume and keep him happy at the same time. I still have a hardtime believing though that you can get a real good servicable tone direct into an PA. I may need to rent one of these things and show up at one of my brother's shows for soundcheck to try one out. It almost seems too good to be true. What would I do if I didn't have to lug a half stack up stairs?

As a soundman myself, convincing a guitar player to shoot his cab across the stage as you're doing is like pulling teeth most of the time. I haven't worked with you, but I still thank you for doing it, as the other guitarists that see you might be more inclined to try the same thing.

As for myself, I've always shot my rig across the stage and if possible I'll tilt it back against the wall to point it up towards my head. When I'm on the musician end of the musician/soundman equation I always remember the things I have to put up with when running sound.

As far as running direct goes, I ran my Chameleon direct a few times and got a great sound as long as I ran it through a Red Box. Otherwise it had this digital fuzz on the top end.

[neverdunn]

As a soundman myself, convincing a guitar player to shoot his cab across the stage as you're doing is like pulling teeth most of the time. I haven't worked with you, but I still thank you for doing it, as the other guitarists that see you might be more inclined to try the same thing.

As for myself, I've always shot my rig across the stage and if possible I'll tilt it back against the wall to point it up towards my head. When I'm on the musician end of the musician/soundman equation I always remember the things I have to put up with when running sound.

As far as running direct goes, I ran my Chameleon direct a few times and got a great sound as long as I ran it through a Red Box. Otherwise it had this digital fuzz on the top end.

Well thanks for the comp, but I certainly don't deserve it. I have made many a soundman's life miserable "back in the day" but I kind of came to the conclusion that our band just sounded better when I did this, though I certainly missed the cool factor of having a full back line. I guess in the end it was more important to sound good. Seems like more guitarists are doing this now though aren't they?

[AdRock]

Well thanks for the comp, but I certainly don't deserve it. I have made many a soundman's life miserable "back in the day" but I kind of came to the conclusion that our band just sounded better when I did this, though I certainly missed the cool factor of having a full back line. I guess in the end it was more important to sound good. Seems like more guitarists are doing this now though aren't they?

Yea, quite a few more are doing it these days. Well, at least the bands I've been working with are doing it more, LOL. Usually, the way I convince a guy to change is to record the gig from the board to my minidisc. Then I'll put it on CD and they get to hear what's coming out of the mains. When they hear the cd and there are no guitars on it they start asking questions. Then I ask them to try it my way once and I'll record it again. that usually is enough to convince them.

More than once I've had to resort to " The whole band souinds like ass because you have to have your cabinet there and turned to fuckin' 11". You alone are turning the gig to crap, nice way to treat your bandmates. LOL, that will usually guilt them into moving it.

I will say this though, I do not use any of these tactics unless absolutely necessary. If the guitar volume isn't a problem they can put the thing wherever they want it.

Since I sing and play guitar I'm working on getting an in ear setup so I can have my own mix as loud as I want it and not have to crank my stage volume.