Anyone else find modelers/sims uninspiring?

[12ax7m]

I have found the more you play modeler/profilers, the less you want to plug into an x-ray box. Inspiration comes from within the soul you apply to the tools, the tools have no soul so they can provide no inspiration, in my opinion anyway...lol Enjoy y'all...Dave

 

[glpg80]

I have found the more you play modeler/profilers, the less you want to plug into an x-ray box. Inspiration comes from within the soul you apply to the tools, the tools have no soul so they can provide no inspiration, in my opinion anyway...lol Enjoy y'all...Dave

This brings up a real valid point - gear isn’t always used to just play music but also necessary to inspire creation of music. I like analog for the alive attitude they have as you play - the amps seem alive.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

I’m inspired by both.

Tube amps feel alive and raw, and are just cool. I also like the tactile feel of analog knobs and switches for dialing sounds, the clicking of relays when you switch channels, the heat, the tolex, the feeling that you’re burning the “fuel” of tubes that will eventually wear out as you play them to get that sound, all that stuff.

Fractal stuff is great too. The Axe-Fx 3 is effectively infinitely tweakable to the point that you can build just about any sound you can imagine, routed just about any way you can imagine. Also the virtual nature of modelers means you can run virtual components as hard as you want and they’ll never break, etc. I don’t know how anybody could see all the possibility inside one of those things, with all the ground they can cover, in as small of a package as they come in, and just go “no tubes, yawn.” They solve so many more problems than that.

The way I think of them is that tube amps are muscle cars and modelers are space ships. They’re both great.

 

[Monkey Man]

The way I think of them is that tube amps are muscle cars and modelers are space ships.

Yup, we all love muscle (and pony) cars and spaceships.

 

[JDs Couch]

I’m inspired by both.

Tube amps feel alive and raw, and are just cool. I also like the tactile feel of analog knobs and switches for dialing sounds, the clicking of relays when you switch channels, the heat, the tolex, the feeling that you’re burning the “fuel” of tubes that will eventually wear out as you play them to get that sound, all that stuff.

Fractal stuff is great too. The Axe-Fx 3 is effectively infinitely tweakable to the point that you can build just about any sound you can imagine, routed just about any way you can imagine. Their virtual nature means you can run virtual components as hard as you want and they’ll never break, etc. I don’t know how anybody could see all the possibility inside one of those things, with all the ground they can cover, in as small of a package as they come in, and just go “no tubes, yawn.” They solve so many more problems than that.

The way I think of them is that tube amps are muscle cars and modelers are space ships. They’re both great.

That's a great way to put it actually.
Muscle cars and spaceships. Both are pretty awesome. (My Tesla can slay most muscle cars though )

 

[VonBonfire]

Muscle cars and spaceships. Both are pretty awesome. (My Tesla can slay most muscle cars though )

Space isn't real tho.

 

[JDs Couch]

Space isn't real tho.

Oh no, I ain't goin there... (literally)

 

[VonBonfire]

Oh no, I ain't goin there... (literally)

Neither has anyone else.

 

[JDs Couch]

Neither has anyone else.

Must not take bait....

 

[Monkey Man]

Indeed.

Let's not stray OT for too-long fellas.

 

[JDs Couch]

I actually find the variety of tones available in the Kemper to be extremely inspiring. Whereas the amp always sounds like the amp; different profiles draw out different playing styles, stretching me as a player.

 

[Monkey Man]

Of course.

Each Profile is literally a different mic'd-amp situation.

Different mics, distances, angles etc.

 

[Catthan]

Even though some digital software/ hardware might lack in feel under the fingers vs an amp, I found some of the user presets I tried more inspiring than what I can dial in wrt to sounds and effects.
not all amp setups that sound inspiring in the room translate well recorded and for me downloading someone else’s preset that achieves a certain result is like having Bradshaw building me a rig.
I’m also past the stage where I’ll invest time
getting a good amp inc fx, cabs,
mics and preamps to work so even if digital was objectively less inspiring, for me it’s faster to find inspiration with digital than working and adding to my amp rig.
My Wizard ain’t going anywhere but that’s about the only amp I’ve played recently where feel and presence is so unique and addicting. Had I not been spoiled by it, I’d have gone digital a year ago