A vs B ... Opinions?

[Jim Soloway]

After experimenting with direct recording augmented by plugins, I've move on to experimenting with recording using a Pod Express. Some piece of music, same guitar but quite a different tone. Example one is the direct recording with plugins. Example two is the Pod Express. Any preferences? (Example one is louder).

[Jim Soloway]

[John A.]

It doesn't strike me as "quite different." It strikes me as "a tiny bit different." I hear the first one as a little more mid-rangey with a little less top end detail. It's more the tone I would go for myself. But the difference between the two strikes me as well within the range of adjustment on one rig/guitar, and not at all as two different rigs entirely. I might have said this before, but you have a very specific way of playing that doesn't really "push" the amp, and is I think about as close to rig-proof as playing can get. Honestly, pretty much everything you've ever posted sounds almost exactly the same to me. Sorry if this is unhelpful, but it's how it does strike me.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

The direct capture is a bit fuller and more mellow to my ears. As John observed, the PE seems to me to be a bit scooped in the mids - it has a tinge of the “hollow” quality of a Strat with 5 way switch in position 2 or 4. We used to call this a “cocked wah” tone for its resemblance to a wah wah pedal that was half up. It’s very subtle in your comparison.

I agree with John that it seems more a matter of subtle EQ than a significant difference in overall tonal quality. But as you present it, I prefer straight in.

[StefanoGhirardo]

it's true: the two examples are very similar and both widely usable. However, I prefer the first because it seems to me that it respects the dynamics better (a little difficult to be sure with your example, but it seemed that way to me) and is more balanced in tone. The second instead has a good presence, which perhaps you could recover in the first by raising the high treble a little.

[Jim Soloway]

I hear what you guys are saying about the differences being small but I suspect that the problem for me is that the very narrow band of tone that you hear from me is in fact my entire musical universe, so small changes sound huge to my ears.

[markesquire]

Jim, what are the settings/models used on the Line 6 here?

For what it's worth, I prefer the Line 6 version. I feel like the overall tone is pretty similar, but the high end on the Line 6 sounds smoother like it's going through a guitar speaker, while the direct recording had more of a "grainy" top end.

It seems like you could get a Bud 6, put the POD on top, and get anything you want with everything fitting in the amp's gig bag.

[Jim Soloway]

Jim, what are the settings/models used on the Line 6 here?

For what it's worth, I prefer the Line 6 version. I feel like the overall tone is pretty similar, but the high end on the Line 6 sounds smoother like it's going through a guitar speaker, while the direct recording had more of a "grainy" top end.

It's a Deluxe and a pretty reasonable simulation. Hence the scoop that others are hearing. The problem with it is that the USB output level is VERY low so I'm having to find some work around solutions that don't add a lot of noise. It's feeling pretty frustrating right now.

[Boss Man Zwiebelsohn]

It's a Deluxe and a pretty reasonable simulation. Hence the scoop that others are hearing. The problem with it is that the USB output level is VERY low so I'm having to find some work around solutions that don't add a lot of noise. It's feeling pretty frustrating right now.

Isn't there a master volume that you can crank up?


EDIT: manual p. 19, but you probably did try that already.

https://line6.com/data/6/0a020a3f611...English%20.pdf

[Jim Soloway]

Isn't there a master volume that you can crank up?


EDIT: manual p. 19, but you probably did try that already.

https://line6.com/data/6/0a020a3f611...English%20.pdf

I did but it's still a pretty weak signal.

[John A.]

I hear what you guys are saying about the differences being small but I suspect that the problem for me is that the very narrow band of tone that you hear from me is in fact my entire musical universe, so small changes sound huge to my ears.

Which do you prefer? What ideal are you going for?

[Boss Man Zwiebelsohn]

I did but it's still a pretty weak signal.

Which operating system are you using? If it is Windows: Are you using their ASIO driver? (On Mac, Android and Linux it should be class-compliant, meaning it should be working out of the box without a dedicated driver.)

EDIT: Are you using batteries or a power supply?

EDIT 2: When you are setting the master volume: Is the LED circle around the center knob fully lit?

[Jim Soloway]

Which operating system are you using? If it is Windows: Are you using their ASIO driver? (On Mac, Android and Linux it should be class-compliant, meaning it should be working out of the box without a dedicated driver.)

EDIT: Are you using batteries or a power supply?

Windows. Yes I'm using their ASIO driver. I'm using an adapter now but the behavior has been the same with batteries or adapter. And as I dig through the info online, this is apparently a known issue. The output level on the clean model is much lower than all the other models.

[Jim Soloway]

Which do you prefer? What ideal are you going for?

Probably what I'm looking for is something in between. The blackface sound has been what I've worked with for decades. Over time I've taken a bit of edge of the high end and I was hoping to make it a bit thicker and round but without giving up the basic blackface idea. Equally important (or possibly even more important) is a practical and sustainable work flow and an absence of noise. I'm starting to believe that achieving all of those ideas may not be doable with a device in this price range.

[Boss Man Zwiebelsohn]

Windows. Yes I'm using their ASIO driver. I'm using an adapter now but the behavior has been the same with batteries or adapter. And as I dig through the info online, this is apparently a known issue. The output level on the clean model is much lower than all the other models.

If it is a flaw in design and not your fault then my last idea is trying this free plugin by Chris from Airwindows which shifts the audio gain bit-wise without adding quantization niose as a workaround.

[John A.]

Probably what I'm looking for is something in between. The blackface sound has been what I've worked with for decades. Over time I've taken a bit of edge of the high end and I was hoping to make it a bit thicker and round but without giving up the basic blackface idea. Equally important (or possibly even more important) is a practical and sustainable work flow and an absence of noise. I'm starting to believe that achieving all of those ideas may not be doable with a device in this price range.

What about a tweed plug-in in your DAW? That'll thicken/de-icepick the blackface sound, and probably be quieter than a stand-alone device (with a decent interface, anyway).

[Jim Soloway]

I've been messing around with a variety of plug in toys and this is what I came up with.

[supersoul]

I prefer the second example, the one going thru the Pod Express. Mostly the tonal balance was more inviting.
One thing that bothered me, though, is that guitar buzz goes away when you stop playing. I'm guessing there's a noise gate on somewhere in the Pod?
I know it's a small thing, but when I hear the buzz go away it pulls me out of the sound a bit. It's something in between the sound from the guitar and my ears. I'd rather there just be a little buzz all the time (which the first one has). Buzz really doesn't bother me, it's an electric guitar after all.

[emanresu]

I liked 1st one way more.

[emanresu]

I only know one thing - the more stuff between your fingers and the output, the less you're gonna get.
Maybe it'll change some day but don't trust us, the internet. And never trust what the plugin makers tell you.

[Jim Soloway]

The Pod Express is gone. Just way too confusing with no software and no display. There were other issues but without software or a display I'll never know if it was me or the device that was malfunctioning.

[rpjazzguitar]

I liked #2 a little better. Seemed fuller or mellower or something. Maybe warmer.

[One_Note]

I preferred the first one, it seems to have more body