Digital vs Analog pedals

[danktat]

OK, so I have been using my POD HD500X for my church gigs (using a different brand of guitar) because for praise music, I get a fuller variety of chorus and delay effects from it.

Well, Sunday, I played in church, and then ended up having it still in my car when I went to band rehearsal.....so I I used it. To a man, including Angela (who's band this is) they all said they preferred the sound of the digital modeling board, to the analog pedals I have been using for the better part of since we have been back to rehearsing and playing out post pandemic. Apparently , they all seem to like how it sounds better in the mix. So it looks like I will be spending more time learning that board.

The crazy thing is that the only reason I bought it to begin with was because of the recording project that was supposed to happen prior to covid. It was touted to be easier to model the amp and pedals but plug into a DI and be easier to control when recording. Which....we still need to do. But to the ears of my band mates, they seem to prefer the line 6. Go figure.

 

[Moondog Wily]

Good to know danktat! My next big purchase is a Fractal Axe-FX III. I have spent a lot of hours looking at what can be done with that beast and it is quite impressive. I am looking forward to making my own IR's of various sources. The fact that Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Dweezil Zappa and so many other greats use it was definitely a push in the decision to go with this modeler over others. Thanks for sharing your Line 6 experience!!

 

[danktat]

Good to know danktat! My next big purchase is a Fractal Axe-FX III. I have spent a lot of hours looking at what can be done with that beast and it is quite impressive. I am looking forward to making my own IR's of various sources. The fact that Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Dweezil Zappa and so many other greats use it was definitely a push in the decision to go with this modeler over others. Thanks for sharing your Line 6 experience!!

Yeah man. And I don't even have the helix. It is just the hd500x. So, at some point I may upgrade.

 

[alantig]

Nita Strauss has toured with a Boss floor unit (I assume her upcoming tour will be the same). She has flat-out said she'd prefer to be touring with her Marshalls but can't afford it, but in all honesty, once the playing starts, I don't think anyone really cares that it's a modeler vs. a stack. I did see her play solo w/the Marshall (on a tour w/Angel Vivaldi), and I can't say there was a drop-off in sound. Really, the only difference was that she had some issues w/the Marshall early in the set, but it was fine after that.

I think we as guitar players tend to put too much emphasis on things that no one notices but us. I'm not saying they're not important, but they're important to us, not the listener.

 

[danktat]

Nita Strauss has toured with a Boss floor unit (I assume her upcoming tour will be the same). She has flat-out said she'd prefer to be touring with her Marshalls but can't afford it, but in all honesty, once the playing starts, I don't think anyone really cares that it's a modeler vs. a stack. I did see her play solo w/the Marshall (on a tour w/Angel Vivaldi), and I can't say there was a drop-off in sound. Really, the only difference was that she had some issues w/the Marshall early in the set, but it was fine after that.

I think we as guitar players tend to put too much emphasis on things that no one notices but us. I'm not saying they're not important, but they're important to us, not the listener.

I am still playing through my Fender amp, but I am using the HD as a pedal board in front of it instead of the individual pedals. That is how I started out playing with this band. It is kind of the best of modeled effects and the best of what tubes do for tone. (Except at church, I am going into the DI for the PA).

There really IS a little difference in sound and feel (Even though I set the board up to emulate my board full of pedals), but I can't say it is "better" or "worse". Just a little "Different".

 

[alantig]

I am still playing through my Fender amp, but I am using the HD as a pedal board in front of it instead of the individual pedals. That is how I started out playing with this band. It is kind of the best of modeled effects and the best of what tubes do for tone. (Except at church, I am going into the DI for the PA).

There really IS a little difference in sound and feel (Even though I set the board up to emulate my board full of pedals), but I can't say it is "better" or "worse". Just a little "Different".

I kind of glossed over that point. I haven't really compared pedals in terms of digital vs. analog - if it sounds good, it sounds good.

 

[RickP]

if it sounds good, it sounds good.

This, 1000 times over. If people would just use this as their standard, life would be much simpler for players.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Ehhh, my friend used the same unit as @danktat to tour with Joss Stone, and used it on a pile of recordings for… uh… dunno if he’d appreciate me mentioning his old boss now.

Neil Schon used a Boss GT8 for gigs waaaay past that unit’s expiration date, and Johnny Marr was rockin’ a GT100 (or some s**t) for awhile.

These floor processors are great for some stuff, and super convenient to setup after the initial programming is out of the way. Plus with scenes/patches you can switch between multiple parameters way easier than with individual pedals.

I’m seriously contemplating ditching my pedals and digging out the Zoom G3 in my closet to use in my MkIV’s loop. I have already tossed the Eventide H9 to the side and put a single Zoom MS50g in there and while it’s not as “nice”, it’s a whole heck of a lot more practical and enjoyable to use.

 

[KentuckyBoiledChiccan]

Even tho my current board is full analog I am no stranger to digital pedals. H9 and HXFX are two of my favs for delays. The only reason I don't use them is I went with compact setup - less is more approach. HXFX is huge, H9 needs midi controller for more than basic operation. Both very decent units and you won't regret trying them. Same time I could never made Strymon to sound good, I had Volante and Big Sky and I hated their fucking guts

 

[Deleted member 5962]

My issue with modelers, seems to be that the better and better my amps got, the more dissatisfied I was with modeling. I mean, I use it all the time, but for convenience, not tone. But the better my amp tones got, the less I liked the modelers. And, I'm hesitant to drop $2K on a top end modeler and $1K on a "better" amping solution (like the powered Kone or something) when I can buy great tube amps for a grand or two.

For a bit over $3K, I can get a Louis Electric Cobra, and I've never heard ANY modeler that could even sniff the dirty socks of that amp. For $2K I can get an HX/DA or a Splawn. Makes it hard to dump $3K and "hope" it sounds as good.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Even tho my current board is full analog I am no stranger to digital pedals. H9 and HXFX are two of my favs for delays. The only reason I don't use them is I went with compact setup - less is more approach. HXFX is huge, H9 needs midi controller for more than basic operation. Both very decent units and you won't regret trying them. Same time I could never made Strymon to sound good, I had Volante and Big Sky and I hated their fucking guts

uh... I don't think we're allowed to say "guts" out loud here...

 

[danktat]

My issue with modelers, seems to be that the better and better my amps got, the more dissatisfied I was with modeling. I mean, I use it all the time, but for convenience, not tone. But the better my amp tones got, the less I liked the modelers. And, I'm hesitant to drop $2K on a top end modeler and $1K on a "better" amping solution "like the powered Kone or something" when I can buy great tube amps for a grand or two.

For a bit over $3K, I can get a Louis Electric Cobra, and I've never heard ANY modeler that could even sniff the dirty socks of that amp. For $2K I can get an HX/DA or a Spawn. Makes it hard to dump $3K and "hope" it sounds as good.

That is why I am still playing through my amp. Just using the board for the effects in front of it.

 

[bodia]

My issue with modelers, seems to be that the better and better my amps got, the more dissatisfied I was with modeling. I mean, I use it all the time, but for convenience, not tone. But the better my amp tones got, the less I liked the modelers. And, I'm hesitant to drop $2K on a top end modeler and $1K on a "better" amping solution (like the powered Kone or something) when I can buy great tube amps for a grand or two.

For a bit over $3K, I can get a Louis Electric Cobra, and I've never heard ANY modeler that could even sniff the dirty socks of that amp. For $2K I can get an HX/DA or a Splawn. Makes it hard to dump $3K and "hope" it sounds as good.

Yeah, but for $3k you can get A amp, or for $3k you can get ALL the amps

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Yeah, but for $3k you can get A amp, or for $3k you can get ALL the amps

Yes, but I (and a couple hundred thousand other guitar players) fell for that same line with the original Line 6 POD came out.

 

[alantig]

Yes, but I (and a couple hundred thousand other guitar players) fell for that same line with the original Line 6 POD came out.

That was a test run, like the aliens with the probes.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

That was a test run, like the aliens with the probes.

The probes were actually more fun than that original POD. Heard that from a friend.

 

[alantig]

The probes were actually more fun than that original POD. Heard that from a friend.

Uh-huh. A 'friend'. If you say so.

 

[dogrocketp]

Right now, I’m down to a 30 watt 59 tweed pro clone (2-12’s) with a Ryra clone for solos. Seems to work, while my beautiful pedal board (analog and digital mix) stays home. I think I finally sound like me, so I quit chasing amp and pedal sounds. All the other stuff stays boxed for now, even reverb. And I only have one volume and a single tone knob on the amp and on my PRS.

 

[KentuckyBoiledChiccan]

uh... I don't think we're allowed to say "guts" out loud here...

Its a typo, should be g@#s

 

[bodia]

Right now, I’m down to a 30 watt 59 tweed pro clone (2-12’s) with a Ryra clone for solos. Seems to work, while my beautiful pedal board (analog and digital mix) stays home. I think I finally sound like me, so I quit chasing amp and pedal sounds. All the other stuff stays boxed for now, even reverb. And I only have one volume and a single tone knob.

Love the Ryra. Great pedal.