Anolog Vs. Digital

[digmudvayne]

Does anyone know the difference in sound between anolog and digital say for like a guitar head?

[Kevin Taylor]

Like most analogue vs. digital comparisons.
Digital is usually harsher and thinner sounding.
Analogue is usually smoother and warmer.

[Raskolnikov]

To me, digital effects -- either built into a head or a processor -- sound "fake."

[Lordathestrings]

Digital modelling is getting better, but it ain't there yet. At first, it can sound really good, but then you start to notice that it doesn't respond well to a players touch. The dynamics get compressed too much, and it all starts to sounds the same. Especially with a lot of distortion effects. The real sound is still a mic in front of a raging tube amp, with the effects dialed-in at the sound board. Which is why I've stopped using stomp-box effects between the guitar and the amp.

[SpeckledJim]

analogue effects kicks digital effects ass.

[HDJ]

Oh yeah, analog all the way.....used to love my Pod Pro for the first year I got it, then bought my JCM 800 and never looked at the Pod Pro again, except to maybe use it as a tuner...

[rockonn91]

To me, digital effects -- either built into a head or a processor -- sound "fake."


yeah they do. and plus, if you have any pedals and you use them in addition to effects on the amp it just sounds horrible

[Polera]

Although i must confess to not owning any digital equipment myself, there are times and places where they can be alright. For instance...line6 has a spider 2 amp thats digital, while it not as good as the amps its emulates..for a cheap price it covers a wide range of tones, plus it has effects. So although anlog and tubes are better...there are times when digital is easier and or cheaper.

[Raskolnikov]

Although i must confess to not owning any digital equipment myself, there are times and places where they can be alright. For instance...line6 has a spider 2 amp thats digital, while it not as good as the amps its emulates..for a cheap price it covers a wide range of tones, plus it has effects. So although anlog and tubes are better...there are times when digital is easier and or cheaper.
Yeah, I'm planning on getting a POD of some variety for practicing, recording demos and general futzing around purposes, but when I play a gig, my preferred setup is Bass-->[possibly stomp boxes]-->Sunn because, frankly, I'd rather have one great tone than 500 or even 1,000 mediocre tones.

[Danny C.]

I have a flextone and it does sound somewhat fake, its not bad though, but for all the effects and what not its got, it was worth the money, from what i have heard analog is better.

[Leedogg]

....never looked at the Pod Pro again, except to maybe use it as a tuner...

that's quite an expensive tuner :D.


I've had a Digitech RP300 for over 3 years now and it's served me well for the $200 dollars I originally paid for it. While it'll never sound as good as analog effects, it's still quite nice, and you can't beat the variety of sounds and effects you can get out of one of those bad boys.