Pedals versus PC software effects?

Hi all,

My current setup is an old tele through a vox ac15, using the lin6 delay (dl4) and analogman clone chorus pedals. (I'm in a kinda experimental/ambient/post-rock band - www.myspace.com/timespacerepeat)

I'm trying to decide whether to get more pedals (distortion, phaser, first off... then flanger, fuzz of some kind) or to get an audio interface for my shiny new laptop and use the best software plugins.

Money isnt really an issue... does anyone know if I'd get a better sound using the best pedals or the top software?

At a guess I was thinking I'd have more options with software, and more scope for exploring new sounds... but maybe I couldn't get the sound quality of those classic vintage pedals...

Are there certain effects I'd be better off using a pedal for and some maybe software?

Any tips/advice would be really appreciated, cheers


sach

a combination would be a good idea, old vintage pedals with a digital modeller like a line 6 pod xt live which has computer tweakable stomp boxes.

expect anything that's digital to give you a hard time for a while due to all the tweaking necessary to get it to sound right for you, analogue effects might however be easier to dial in a good tone, or on the other hand might not have the tone your looking for.

thanks for the tip suicidal moose....

that sounds like an idea.. but here's the crunch question for me - would the effects in the line6 sound as good as vintage pedals (in terms of live sound not, one person listening carefully trying to find a difference between the 2) or if not, would they sound better than software plugins by the companies like waves?

I know I could buy everything and compare, but I guess I'm asking so hopefully someone's who tried it or knows can offer their advice and save me having to do so...


...although i've just looked around on the net and the xt live pro seems to get fantastic reviews... and if the effects were as good as the line6 dl4 then well it could be the answer...

are there any line dl4 owners that have heard the delay on the live xt - is it as good?

argh eh! so many questions.... :confused:

I own a PODxt and I swear by it. Sound is amazing expecially if you tweak it but there are several out of the box settings that work great.

Check out their website they have some videos and music clips to give you an idea.

heya jreach,

that's good to hear - have you ever compared it to pc software or rack or the best pedal effects?

Another option i have is the tcelectronics g-station - any idea how i may compare to the xt live?

I'll swear by PC software reverbs. Distortion should be done by pedals. Modulation effects (Flanger, Chorus, Phaser) are pretty good either way. Like you said there are some effects you can't get out of a pedal. I use waves myself and I won't record anything without using something from the rverb patch. IT's a preference thing I SUPpose. If one was really better than the other than everyone would just do that.

sach!! i love your music man geez that is amazing stuff! i love sigur ros , mum ,mew and all that too man..i sent uan add request if u dont mind..!!

hey jeff - thanks dude!! i dont go on msn much, but next time i do, i'll accept the request.

magicninja - that is some extremely fine info you've given me - that's the kind of thing i was trying to find out - which effects weould be better to keep in a box and which through a pc...

there is another option. has anyone tried the new g-system by tcelectronics? rack effects in a stompbox... that could be pretty incredible... i guess better than pod xtlive and digitech gx-4? line6 wise, i have the dl4 which is fantastic sounding and the ml4, not so great... so i don't know about the xtlive pro... i hear the digitech one lets you use 3rd party sofware effects like waves anyway so maybe that's a better option sound quality wise...

if anyone has any experience of these 3, it would be good to hear from ya!

cheers

The PodXT Live is a great piece of equipment... I've played one on numerous occasions. I own a DigiTech GenX3 and a Boss GT-8 (which you didn't include).

The GenX series are great for running through a computer but it seems to me that it lacks a lot of the features that the GT-8 does. I use the two in cooperation in my pedal board. I use the GT-8 as the main effects processor and the GenX in a clean setting with a boost in compression, noisegate, and also assign overdrive to it for an extra kick...

If you're looking for an easy to use processor to hook up to your comp definitely check out the GenX series from DigiTech. The Boss units are usually a bit harder to use... You need to study up on the manual and mess around with it quite a bit to get the most out of it. The PodXT Live is also really good for hooking up to a comp... But the only difference between it and a regular Pod unit is basically the Expression pedal... The GenX will allow you to hook up to your comp and download tones and run your unit through your comp with a pretty neat interface... Also something worth checking out for computer based tones is the Line 6 Tone Pro.... I believe it's made by Line 6.... I saw it in a back issue of Guitar World and also an issue of Musicians Friend... worth a look. It comes with a bunch of computer based rig software and recording software too...

Sach:
I own a POD XT live, I've never used it live, only in practice room, but gotta tell you It's fun... tons of effects, lots of parameters to tweak and as the matter of fact it is really easy to use (a couple of flips on the manual and you are ready to go, the thing is, if you have ears, you can use it).
Regarding the use of pedals, I've seen the best results comes of using both worlds, pedals and modeled effects, just saw this Metal band (guys who studied in a schooll that has conection to bearkley music schooll in Mexico), both guitar players had the same rig a zoom unit (dunno wich), conected to a boss GT6 conected to a metal zone pedal. Gotta say, tight sound like it a lot.

Besides tweaking with the computer is so much easier than tweaking on the pedalboard. Now if you are into experimental stuff, I've read about this software called "Trash", it seems to be you thing, it's all about distortion, but not like regular metal distortion a la Slayer, we are talking blown speakers, fried capacitors, experimental stuff, you may wanna check it.

I'm not to savvy on all the latest Technology. But wouldn't having to switch to different settings for each different song ( with out a sound guy) be a pain in the ass?

To much down time for the guitarist to go over to the PC and point click etc? Same with an effects "box"? Or can you program both the PC and the effects (POD, GNX, Etc.) to stomp on certain channels and have your song settings pre-programmed?

If not, I would just use the old stomp boxes so your set will flow with out the constant interruption of having to change settings for each different song, sometimes you can loose an audience or the bands groove/vibe by too much down time between songs (either tuning or fiddling with crap).

I am planning on getting either a GNX or POD , when the budget allows (have to get the computer recording down first), these seem to be good tools for recording but Live (w/out a GTRsound tech like the pros) I do not see the "value" or reason to use live if you have a different setting for each song. but I see how it could work if you only had about 2-3 settings to switch to for your set list and you were able to transition to these settings with little down time.

Just curious.

Originally Posted by: aschlemanAlso something worth checking out for computer based tones is the Line 6 Tone Pro.... I believe it's made by Line 6.... I saw it in a back issue of Guitar World and also an issue of Musicians Friend... worth a look. It comes with a bunch of computer based rig software and recording software too...

I believe it's called the TonePort. That would be good for strictly computer recording, but I believe he was mainly looking for live usage.

The G-System is just a G-Major attached to a pre-programmed midi controller. If all you need are modulation and time based effects, this would be a great choice.

Computer based effects and modelers are great for recording, but not very practical for live use, in my opinion. Native Instruments Guitar Rig would probably be the best option if you wanted to use it live, since it comes with a footcontroller. It also has some very nice effects and amp models.

Personally, I think the PODxt Live would be your best option. The reasons being... you can hook it up to your computer to record with, and edit with a nifty interface. It also sounds great through a PA or through a guitar amp. If you like your amps tone, you can use it for just effects, or you could use the amp modeling for extra tone options.

Other processors such as the Boss and DigiTech like aschleman talked about work pretty much the same, but all will sound different and have different interfaces. I only have experience with POD's, so that's the one I used for example.

For a live setting, I much prefer individual pedals for my tone coloration. But then, I don't use a whole lot of effects either, so a multi-effects unit isn't any more practicle for my needs. In all honesty though, your average audience listener isn't going to hear the difference between a $15 el cheapo chorus, and a mucho expensive vintage chorus.

It all depends on what works best for you.