Digidesign Eleven Rack unit

[stubhead]

Have you guys seen this thing yet? $900 vs. $1600 for the Fractal Axe-Fx "basic" (or 2 grand for the good one :toothy12. It's made by the ProTools guys, and you can get in it with your computer or change it quick with the knobs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h41YtCBh9Q

I must say though, the Premier Guitar guy sounds "a bit" more like a salesman than a reviewer.... :toothy12: :toothy12: :toothy12: This stuff is getting so spectacular.... if you ran this thing into a computer, the live looping potential could get ridiculous. I need to rob a bank.... :sad1: mebbe I can take out a loan if I promise I'll be a BIG star! :sign13:

 

[AndyG]

I've read most of the online reviews, and need to find my way to the store to check one out.

As far as modellers go, they seem to have created the best of all worlds ... as it can be used with the computer, and as a stand-alone unit.  I am seriously considering dumping my old Digi002 rack and picking one of these up.

Of course, the next few posts will be from the "t00b" snobs pooh-poohing this box as another cheap, sterile attempt at amplification.  My benchmark has always been : if YOU like the way it sounds, use it!  :rock-on:

 

[Superlizard]

Of course, the next few posts will be from the "t00b" snobs pooh-poohing this box as another cheap, sterile attempt at amplification

:toothy10:

As a self-proclaimed "t00b sn00b", I have to agree with your statement above.   :icon_thumright:

I have actually watched a few vids of this thing in action (after someone mentioned it previously) - the "Eruption" clip comes to mind.

Overly compressed, cheap plastic-y tone with "sprinkles" on top - it's saccharine.

And what's the deal with all these modeler demos doing super hi-gain, overly compressed-squashed signal tone?  Don't they
realize that next to a clean tone, that's the easiest kind of tone to clone because it has no dynamics?  Why do their players
have to hide behind all that gain?  :icon_scratch:

Let's hear some real grind and crunch... I wanna hear that "broken glass"...   and how 'bout some sag in there too?  :icon_biggrin:

Oh yeah, they never do that cuz they simply can't.

My rating:  Way overpriced turd (not cheap) which, try as you might to tweek knobs, you just can't polish.

They can clone a sheep, but they'll never clone a t00b amp.

 

[AndyG]

Of course, the next few posts will be from the "t00b" snobs pooh-poohing this box as another cheap, sterile attempt at amplification

And what's the deal with all these modeler demos doing super hi-gain, overly compressed-squashed signal tone?  Don't they
realize that next to a clean tone, that's the easiest kind of tone to clone because it has no dynamics?  Why do their players
have to hide behind all that gain?  :icon_scratch:

I guess you haven't listened to the radio or bought an album recently ... the reason those tones are popular is because there are a lot of artists using them!

Once again, I know that I'll never convince anyone who drives a '69 Charger that a 2009 Civic is a good car.  Are they different?  Yes.  Do they accomplish the same function?  Yes.  The rest is all about what you like.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I am a disciple of the Tube faction as well, and a sound guy/recording guitarist friend of mine said that this one was impressive.  He said that the dynamics and the way it reacted to touch stuff was very impressive.  He also runs a tube rig for his stuff and has never been shy with his opinion about crappy equipment, so it did catch my ear.
Patrick

 

[tfarny]

SL, you don't remember that LAST MONTH you yourself failed to ID the tube amp from the Line6 emulation in a blind test, which was NOT high saturated gain at all?

Link is here, for your eternal shame: http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=9347.0 

 

[Superlizard]

SL, you don't remember that LAST MONTH you yourself failed to ID the tube amp from the Line6 emulation in a blind test, which was NOT high saturated gain at all?

Link is here, for your eternal shame: http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=9347.0  

Ah, but you're forgetting this statement by moi in my 1st tone test thread (http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=9474.0):

One thing I am verifying in all these tone tests is that modelers do 2 things well:

1) Super-saturated over-compressed / nu-metal-ish tone
2) Clean
2a) Clean with a light bit of clipping

But then again, I don't find it surprising.  In the case of (1), put enough distortion/gain in the tone, which squashes (compresses)
the signal, and pretty much any amp will sound like another.  And a clean tone (2), (2a) isn't very difficult to achieve for any amp.

It's all the in-between shades of dirt that modelers have a problem with.

Now really, if you think about it, what amp can't do good cleans/clean+light clipping?  Even my old S.S. Crate (back in the day) did so.

Of course, there's far more tones to be had with amps than:

1) clean
1a) clean+light clipping
2) super-squashed mondo hi-gain

Like I've stated, these modelers have difficulty doing everything in-between 1 & 2 (where touch-sensitivity and dynamics really come into play)
...my own test (the 1st) proved it.

 

[Rouse]

I would never recommend that to anyone, I have Eleven for Protools and its crap. Its really hard just to get a decent tone out of it; the cleans are merely average and the overdrives/distortions suck. Nothing like a real t00b amp.

 

[Superlizard]

Not only that, but these companies who put out this modeler gear aren't being honest with their vids/clips by constantly
going the, "let's crank the gain to 20 so you can hear how awesome the amp sounds" route - instead of taking the amp
through its paces starting with clean and progressing to "20" and actually including everything in between.

Clever marketing?  Sure... can't blame 'em for that.  But that don't mean *I* gotta buy it.  :icon_biggrin:

 

[AndyG]

Not only that, but these companies who put out this modeler gear aren't being honest with their vids/clips by constantly
going the, "let's crank the gain to 20 so you can hear how awesome the amp sounds" route - instead of taking the amp
through its paces starting with clean and progressing to "20" and actually including everything in between.

Clever marketing?  Sure... can't blame 'em for that.  But that don't mean *I* gotta buy it.   :icon_biggrin:

And nobody's telling you to buy it.

You have to realize that there are a world of styles and tones out there.  Not everyone wants to record Thin Lizzy covers ... and just because you don't like "over-compressed" distortion doesn't mean there aren't a world of guitar players who do.

State that you don't like modellers (OK, you have, SEVERAL times) ... but don't sh!t on everyone else because YOU don't like something.

Stating your opinion on what you like it fine, dumping on everyone else because you don't like it is a$$inine.

 

[Superlizard]

State that you don't like modellers (OK, you have, SEVERAL times) ... but don't sh!t on everyone else because YOU don't like something.

Stating your opinion on what you like it fine, dumping on everyone else because you don't like it is a$$inine.

shiteting on everyone else?  :icon_scratch:  LOL!

Where exactly did I insult you?

More like I'm shiteting on a crap product (modelers).  And will continue to do so until my ears tell me otherwise.

Besides, you had no part in designing or distributing this particular unit... so how could you possibly be so uber-sensitive over
someone else's opinion on it?

 

[toronado]

I think it is an interesting product for small project studios or semi-pro studios who either can't afford a room full of boutique vintage tube amps or need to be very fast and flexible soundwise. I like the idea that the rack unit has its own DSP for processing, clearly an advantage when using it with pro tools LE.

I haven't heard this thing yet in action (and unlike superlizard I cannot judge the sound quality from an internet streaming video) but it sounds promising.

Saying this, I would not use a modeller for recording a CD myself, but I think eleven will find its place in the modeller market, e.g. pro tools power users and such.

 

[AndyG]

State that you don't like modellers (OK, you have, SEVERAL times) ... but don't sh!t on everyone else because YOU don't like something.

Stating your opinion on what you like it fine, dumping on everyone else because you don't like it is a$$inine.

shiteeting on everyone else?  :icon_scratch:  LOL!

Where exactly did I insult you?

More like I'm shiteeting on a crap product (modelers).  And will continue to do so until my ears tell me otherwise.

Besides, you had no part in designing or distributing this particular unit... so how could you possibly be so uber-sensitive over
someone else's opinion on it?

The fact that I happen to use a modeller ... Guitar Rig II, and you uncatagorically say that the tone coming from ALL modellers is crap.
High -gain tones come from LOTS of T00b amps ..Boogie, Rivera, Soldano etc.  There are many of us who do not thiink that modellers are crap.  I've worked as a recording engineer for the better part of 15 years, and if there's one thing that has taught me is that tone is personal.  It's not a matter of being able to tell the difference, it is a matter of taste.  If you don't like it, fine.  but I could dig up a dozen posts where you call modelling tone "crap", or "shite".  That in itself is insulting.  You are not the god of tone, just because you use a hand-wired JMP45 (or whatever).  Opinions are like a$$holes ... everybody has one, and most of them are full of sh!t.
Just live and let live... say you don't like modellers, but don't crap on those of use who do.

 

[Mor Paul]

Opinions are like a$$holes ... everybody has one, and most of them are full of sh!t.

I'm just going to say.... that's your opinion. And it's, according to you, got a good chance of being full of what?  :laughing7:

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

No matter how much it may sound like the real thing, that looks way to complicated, IMO.

 

[AndyG]

Opinions are like a$$holes ... everybody has one, and most of them are full of sh!t.

I'm just going to say.... that's your opinion. And it's, according to you, got a good chance of being full of what?  :laughing7:

There's a big difference between opinion and hyperbole ... one day you may learn the difference ...  :icon_biggrin:

 

[Mor Paul]

Opinions are like a$$holes ... everybody has one, and most of them are full of sh!t.

I'm just going to say.... that's your opinion. And it's, according to you, got a good chance of being full of what?  :laughing7:

There's a big difference between opinion and hyperbole ... one day you may learn the difference ...  :icon_biggrin:

I'm going to have to say you used a metaphor.

 

[AndyG]

Opinions are like a$$holes ... everybody has one, and most of them are full of sh!t.

I'm just going to say.... that's your opinion. And it's, according to you, got a good chance of being full of what?  :laughing7:

There's a big difference between opinion and hyperbole ... one day you may learn the difference ...  :icon_biggrin:

I'm going to have to say you used a metaphor.

While the statement was indeed a metaphor, it's all about context.
Besides, what does this have to do with tone?

 

[Mor Paul]

Everything.

 

[Superlizard]

If you don't like it, fine.  but I could dig up a dozen posts where you call modelling tone "crap", or "shiteee".  That in itself is insulting.

Saying modeling amp tone is "crap" is not insulting... except to perhaps the individuals who designed it.  :icon_biggrin:

And for someone who exclaims that "opinions are like asses" (i.e. opinions are of little value) you sure put a lot of weight in my opinion considering how "offended" you are about it.

The difference 'tween myself, many others on the board here compared to yourself is that we can hear someone say something is "crap" without
taking it personally.

You could say my Marshall sounds like "crap", or that t00b amps sound like "shite" all day long and it wouldn't bother me.

You could say Led Zeppelin is the crappiest band ever and it wouldn't bother me.

:icon_scratch:  :dontknow: