Has anyone else gone "virtual"?

[AndyG]

I recently got Native Instruments "Guitar Rig II" with the controller pedal from eBay, and can't say enough good things about it.  To be able to switch from a mellow Jazz Chorus, to an overdriven Marshall, to a thermonuclear meltdown Mesa Boogie with a single mouseclick (or pedalclick) has got to be the coolest thing I've ever seen!  Most of what I do is home recording, so going the software route made a lot of sense.  But, I want to load the software onto a laptop, and try it in a jamming situation, using a plain old keyboard amp as a reference monitor.  For live, I think I'd send a DI'ed signal to FOH, and not have to worry if the soundman has enough mics!

Anyone else actually doing this?

 

[mayfly]

Weeeeel, in the past year I gave up my pedal board, custom snake, 1x12 cab and a Mayfly BC30 head (Hand wired boutique AC30 style amp) for one of these:

For gigs I run it straight into the PA, get a monitor mix that I can hear, and I'm done.  From a convenience point of view, it's the cat's ass.  From a tone point of view, it's pretty good, but not quite up to my old rig - however in a typical bar gig no one is going to notice.  We're playing out a lot these days,and we're old and have bad backs - so this setup fits the bill perfectly.

It does have one annoying habit - there is a really slight delay when you change programs.  A fraction of a second, but it's enough.

 

[RLW]

You'll get my tubes when you pry them out of my cold, dead hands.

 

[kboman]

I've been playing through a Boss GT-8 into whatever is present (PA, rehearsal space PA, practice amps, home stereos, headphones) for a couple of years now, and it's exactly what I need. The sounds are generally good to great, and the convenience is priceless.

 

[GoDrex]

I've got a Fender Cyber Deluxe. I'm not crazy about the speaker - but the stereo output sounds great to me. I definitely think the advantages of stuff like this are huge. Especially for recording.

 

[Xplorervoodoo]

I love Guitar Rig.  I find it much easier to use than dropping a whole lot of cash I don't have on the live rig I want.  Besides I don't play live, so there's another reason to go virtual.  :icon_thumright:

 

[tfarny]

I have a toneport that I often use for recording; it's better to use the real gear for best sounds, but the convenience is undeniable. If I were more serious I would probably invest in a bunch of mics and do it old-school though.
I also have a Vox valvetronix amp that is a fantastic value in a practice amp.

 

[AndyG]

I have a toneport that I often use for recording; it's better to use the real gear for best sounds, but the convenience is undeniable. If I were more serious I would probably invest in a bunch of mics and do it old-school though.
I also have a Vox valvetronix amp that is a fantastic value in a practice amp.

Having worked in a few recording studios over the years, I don't think I'd agree ... Both Guitar Rig and Amplitube's tones for recording are awesome ... most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference.  The way they modeled the microphones and the mic placements are pretty darned accurate as well.

Besides, the whole idea for going virtual (for me) was to be able to record at 2am without waking up half the neighbourhood. 

Trying this as a live rig seems to make sense, for its versitility, but also, most club owners frown (and I'm being polite) at the sight of each 4x12 that comes in through the door.  Great tones don't have to weigh a ton anymore!  I'm thinking of using something like a Roland KC-350 as a stage monitor ... clean, loud, and doesn't require roadies or a truck to get it to the gig.

 

[dbw]

I can fit my 4x12, head, guitars, and pedals in my Honda Civic.  No trucks or roadies needed, just someone to help me lift the cab in and out of the trunk.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Rondo road case loaded with this, Metal Shop pak installed, using the Diezel's, Bogner's & the L6 Insane quite a bit.

After I get loaded with this

 

[ZGOZZ]

Rondo road case loaded with this, Metal Shop pak installed, using the Diezel's, Bogner's & the L6 Insane quite a bit.

After I get loaded with this

Tony you eat alot dude LOL

 

[mayfly]

You'll get my tubes when you pry them out of my cold, dead hands.

The VOX box I'm using has a tube in it.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

After I get loaded with this

Beware of cross-contamination.

 

[stubhead]

I'm semi-virtual? Or virtual-optional.... I have a SWR SM-500 bass head, two hi-fi Black Widow speakers and I can run the bass & pedal steel into the front of the amp, and guitar into a modeler through the amp's effects loop. I have a great-sounding Boss VF-1 modeler with guitar synth, ring modulators, infinitely-adjustable flanges, delays and such - BUT IT'S ALL MENUS - mega-scrolling, not too quick. I use a Digitech RP250 when I need a knob I can change, pronto. I've had the POD 2 and PODxt, but they just don't have the tones.

 

[mayfly]

I'm semi-virtual? Or virtual-optional.... I have a SWR SM-500 bass head, two hi-fi Black Widow speakers and I can run the bass & pedal steel into the front of the amp, and guitar into a modeler through the amp's effects loop. I have a great-sounding Boss VF-1 modeler with guitar synth, ring modulators, infinitely-adjustable flanges, delays and such - BUT IT'S ALL MENUS - mega-scrolling, not too quick. I use a Digitech RP250 when I need a knob I can change, pronto. I've had the POD 2 and PODxt, but they just don't have the tones.

Let me get this straight - you play bass, pedal steel, AND guitar?!?  I think that you could only amaze me more if you told me you play them all at the same time 

BTW - about that steel - did you build or buy?

 

[bpmorton777]

PODXT into Roland KC150. Loud and clean if you need it clean, more bass/treb response than a guitar amp as well if you plug anything else into it like a guitar synth. Id like to get the bigger KC550 and sub for sh**s and giggles.

Brian

 

[dbw]

The Vox Toneport is pretty nice-sounding.  I also like the GT-8.  But I don't really use effects myself.

 

[gnome]

i use a toneport for recording but thats it, normal playing must involve tubes and anolog effects

 

[stubhead]

Let me get this straight - you play bass, pedal steel, AND guitar?!?  I think that you could only amaze me more if you told me you play them all at the same time  Smiley

BTW - about that steel - did you build or buy?

All steel players play guitar too, that's where it starts... kinda like reefer-> heroin or Marilyn Manson -> Cannibal Corpse. I've only been playing steel a decade or so, it's really hard to do well. There are a few isolated machinist-types who built their own steels (once!) but you have to be loony - it's a lot more involved than a guitar (or a lap steel). If building a Warmoth guitar is like assembling a scooter kit, building a steel is like machining a bicycle, from scratch.

 

[Superlizard]

Have Guitar Rig 2 & 3... really nice; real clicky and stuff... however, aside from a few presets, the tone sucks @$$.

It's great for noodling around, but I wouldn't use much of it for anything serious.

There is no emulating the dynamics of a good tube amp circuit.