Lets compare..
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Posted on Sep 28, 2010 12:14 pm
smoore528
Member Since: Dec 24, 2009
Finally getting some decent money coming in, and I've decided I'm buying a new toy :) I have some in mind, though was wondering if you guys might have some advice with which direction to go in.
Basically, I need:
An interface with low noise and low latency
2-4 XLR and 1/4" inputs
Preferably usb 2.0, as firewire would require me to spend more money on upgrading my laptop to have firewire inputs.
Decent output options for studio monitors.
Compatibility, Im using REAPER. Though if I get some more money I'm thinking about upgrading to something else.
I had researched some, and I found the following products that I think might be useful, your advice is invaluable, as you people here seem to know a lot... well more than me...
Tascam US122 MK2 USB 2.0
PreSonus Audiobox USB
M-Audio Fast Track Pro
Saffire 6 USB
Line 6 UX2
I must admit, I am tempted by the UX2, I really want to try the podfarm software, though I've heard its not great with distortion :/
Some other information that maybe helps: I'm aiming to create a pop punk sound, so the quality of the guitars will be essential.
Thanks for your help dudes :P
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Sep 28, 2010 12:18 pm Distortion is a tough effect topull of digitally, it's an analog effect, in my opinion...that said, Line 6 does it among the best in the business...perhaps the UX8 would be an option. It'd give you more inputs, even more than the four you want, plus have all the benefits of Line 6 regarding podfarm and such.
Sep 28, 2010 12:31 pm The UX8 sounds great, I actually read up on it. Problem is it might be out of my budget for now. And distortion has been the bane of my life since I started recording :D
Sep 28, 2010 12:32 pm Ha, yeah, that stands true for a lot of us...that being said, Line 6 CAN do it, it just takes some tweaking, I've gotten some awesome dirt from Gearbox and the amp/effect models.
Sep 28, 2010 12:34 pm I have a question about the UX line 6 models. Are the newer ones actually better than the older ones? Or is it literally just the face they changed?
Sep 28, 2010 12:36 pm Generally they are the same, they all share the same software (Gearbox, Podfarm, etc) to actually render the models and such, it's just a difference in the number of inputs and that sort of thing.
Sep 28, 2010 12:38 pm I see a fairly decent deal on Ebay for one of the older models... Contemplating that heh heh.
Sep 28, 2010 12:38 pm There's about 5 stores online that are still selling the UX8 for $300, just so ya know. And i don't think they've really upgraded their models in a long, long time. Seems like they're focusing more on the hardware and expansion side of things right now. But, they "leaked" something about a "Pod HD series" though, i have no idea what that even means.
Sep 28, 2010 12:45 pm Well I'm in britain unfortunately... the delivery might kill that $300 price tag. Might look around for some online shops
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Sep 29, 2010 01:47 am The new series of Pod Studio UX are identical to the older Tone Port series, just a different color. The UX8 however has better AD/DA converters/preamps than the lower UX series.
If you can find the UX8 on sale like it is here in the US, that would be the one to get. Otherwise I think the M-Audio line is better. Pod Farm is okay but it's falling behind Guitar Rig 4 and Amplitube 3, both of which IMO sound much better, have more features, and don't require a dongle (either iLok or a UX interface).
Dan
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Oct 04, 2010 02:27 pm Pod farm 2 just came out, only $50 for me to ugrade on my UX8, just have not done it yet. Would like to see how it compares to GR4 and AMP3 now.
Oct 04, 2010 04:32 pm Cpt, pod farm 2 really isn't much better :\ no new sounds, just a few much needed features. Midi (gearbox does that), a few nice routing options, as in the ability to move your FX around more freely, you are "allowed" to run a preamp after an amp sim (but, you could do this with 2 instances of pod farm running). And IMO, the most useful, pod farm elements. They take up a lot less processer speed, and you can load only the effect type you want (like loading only a guitar amp/cab, leaving all the FX off to lessen the processor load).
Just thought i'd tell ya what the differences are :)
And, while i'm posting. Might as well throw this out there, i'm going to be posting my UX2 on ebay soon. However, if you're interested smoore, i could just sell it "buy it now" style, maybe avoiding ebay entirely (to avoid their 10% chunk of the sale they end up taking out). Just let me know :) it has pod farm platinum unlocked on it.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Oct 04, 2010 11:58 pm CptTripps, I have PF2, it has no updates to the sounds, no new amps/effects, and IMO they screwed the interface up. Parts of the interface are somewhat better but the one you spend the majority of time in to me is less convienient. It's still limited in routing options compared to GR & Amp, though better than it was before. The Pod Farm Elements are indeed pretty cool, though I've yet to use them in anything because really GR4 & Amplitube 3 IMO sound much better at this point.
Prior to GR4 & Amp 3 I was using Pod Farm the most, no longer, haven't touched it since. Not that PF sounds bad, they've just fallen behind and don't seem to be doing much to catch up, I think they have too many things on their plate right now. That said they do have a money back guarantee and for $50, you might as well grab it, there are a few little goodies in there. :D
Dan
Oct 05, 2010 12:14 am Yeah, thats the vibe i get from line 6. though...honestly, pod farm 2 really (IMO) should have been a FREE update to podfarm. You're paying for things that they should have *fixed* in the first place, to make it a little simpler to use. Idk, just doesn't make sense to me.
That said, line 6 did just release their "HD" series. which, though i haven't heard much of it yet, seems to be their answer to the next generation of guitar amp modeling. It does seem more detailed from what little i did hear. And they claim to have closer achieved the "feel" you get while playing a real amp. We'll see ;] so far no announcements for a software version, just their hardware stuff. Which is again...strange. Strange that they would even release a Pod Farm 2, with no new sounds, when they were developing new amp models.
olddogMember
Since: Jul 02, 2003
Oct 05, 2010 12:25 am I agree Fragile, it should have been a free update, but maybe they are planning on adding some worth while stuff in a later update.
If I was playing live I might be interested in the POD HD's but I'm pretty much done with hardware amp sims and I've never felt the current amp sim's were really lacking in feel nor my Boss GT6.
I am planning on getting a JTV as soon as they are available. :)
Dan
Dematrixhttp://www.reverbnation.com/2ndgMember
Since: Nov 27, 2007
Oct 05, 2010 01:01 am mate that lives here with me just upraded wit it, he reckons its pretty cool, can do some new **** with it, like hook up an outboard wha and control the amp sim one with it etc. i will find out what else it has too.
I dont see much wrong with the distortion on POD though, as dB says i think its as good at itll get for digital.
I got a few songs using just the digi distortion, sounds pretty chunky to me.
Oct 05, 2010 07:50 am Same here, i don't really have much use for a floor pod, even if the models are better. And i already have a JTV-69 preordered :) i can't wait til it comes.
@Dematrix, yeah, i deffinately don't see anything wrong with the POD sound right now. Especially for your style. I've had trouble trying to get a more vintage tone for other people jamming over at my house, but maybe i just needed to tweak a little more before i could get something usable. For the tones that I like, Pod Farm works great. Though GR4 is just one step above it imo.
Also, if all that you want is MIDI control, the free gearbox software will do that. :) the interface isn't as pretty. But it gets 'er done
