S
Skirmish
Active member
I'm observing that more and more stadium / larger venue acts switch to digital. The latest I've noticed are Muse (now using Fractals).
I
itsme
Well-known member
Glad to hear the majority are using real amps as opposed to digital simulations. Opened for a band recently that were using a Helix and Kemper. I used my slightly beefed up DSL40 combo. After we were done, one of them said, "I think I'm gonna need to grab one of those combos." They were a good band, but their tone was a little weak.
V
VESmedic
Well-known member
LMAO…. Alittle weak huh? I guess it MUST be the kemper, right? You’ve identified the problem then? Lol…got it…
These comments are hilarious to me. Do you know how many bands I’ve seen that have an absolute GARBAGE mix and guitar tone that use “real” amps??? I’ll give you a hint: it’s a hell of a lot more than I’ve seen from guys using modeling rigs. Do you know how many guys have incredibly weak ass tones that use “real amps”??? A TON….. so, using your same logic that you used about the kemper, does that mean that “real amps” also suck and sound “alittle weak”?? I mean after all, the amplification system WAS the problem in both the kemper scenario you referenced, as well as my scenario with “ real amps”, right????
I feel like I’m talking to a wall here sometimes.
In case you are missing my point completely, the point is, there are numerous (!!!!) factors that go into a great guitar tone live, and the biggest problem in todays world of technology, is for SURE not the device a guitar player is using for amplifying his guitar, be it modeling or real amps. Both systems are great, period, end of story. What modeling DOES have, is a higher learning curve for some, and a better understanding of a signal chain and what makes your guitar sound good coming through the FOH, instead of just “ welp, here is my amp, plug’er in and let her rip!”…. Yes, modeling does take more than that whimsical style attitude that many guitar players are brought up with; plugging into a great amp and turning up the volume just sounds fucking great right off the bat. This isn’t always the case with digital. But people automatically jump to “well it’s digital, that is DEFINITELY the problem here”…. It’s not…. At all…. Modeling takes ALOT of factors out of the equation that used to hamper guitarists from getting great sounding guitars on their own, but it also brings in new “issues” ( I won’t call them problems because they are just things you have to work around, just like there is with real amps) that you have to address and think about.
Last edited:
Smash
Hack
I am not claiming ears of gold, but all the local shows i go to are front of house sound system. And while most of the metal bands use tube, the ones using kemper are every bit as good sounding. The boosted sounds on it for leads, or if they are switching to another preset really cut. Very good shit.
That said, i prefer my tube amp and will wait for the tech to get way better before switching. But not in any way because i feel it os lacking.
That said, i prefer my tube amp and will wait for the tech to get way better before switching. But not in any way because i feel it os lacking.
I
itsme
Well-known member
Dude, don't take it personally, it's not. You, and many others like the modeling, and that's cool. I, and others don't think they play and sound the same. I'm not offended if you don't like the simple antiquated amps. It's just personal taste. Play what you like. No need to argue.
V
VESmedic
Well-known member
It’s not a personal attack, it’s just simply your logic is completely off, and can be proven over and over again. Look in my signature, I obviously love amps. But I have no bias towards one or the other. And I sure as hell don’t think my ear is good enough to differentiate which one is which, like ever. I say this daily: I’ll be happy to post true comparison clips with any amp of mine that has an axe fx equivalent model. Level matched, same DI, same IR. And I’m waiting for someone that can nail which is which, and more importantly, WHY they identify one of the clips “digital” sounding over the other…. You can’t do it, I can’t do it, and neither can anyone else. I’ve yet to have anyone seriously consider doing this and trying to decipher which is which.
Comparing apples to apples as much as possible with an axe fx and a real amp, ( solid foh, good stage volume etc), one is not going to sound “weaker”‘than the other. I’m sorry, but it’s just complete and utter BS. Could the tube amp on stage sound better than an axe fx with no amp on stage or just wedges? Well of course, but then that’s not apples to apples. And it’s also a completely useless and selfish tone (“stage” volume) that does nothing for the crowd and the and, which is why you are there in the first place.
skoora
Well-known member
I have no skin in the playing live game anymore. It seems to be not so much a matter of how it sounds out front vs. how the soundscape feels on stage. My past experience being long before this I just the remember the fullness of the stage sound with amps. As long as everyone was pro minded and didn’t crank it, it seemed to work well. It felt good. Just get vocals, kick and a dash of yourself and the other string players in the monitor and good to go. But as always, it was very rare to get an ideal monitor situation going and you often relied on your rehearsal regimen to get you through when you couldn’t make out most of what was going on. I still remember doing backing vocals so many times and having no clue if I was in tune or not because all you had was the vibration in your head…lol.
I never got a chance to try IEM’s. They seem ideal but take some getting used to I hear. If I was to dare attempt at playing live again, can’t say at approaching 53 and having had neck surgery, I wouldn’t embrace a rig that could fit in a small bag. Plus if you’re playing fairly early, having a rig that easily gets put away and back in a vehicle, out of sight would be pretty nice if you want to still hang out a little. I’d say you have a tube rig for when you can and a dig rig for when you would rather not.
I never got a chance to try IEM’s. They seem ideal but take some getting used to I hear. If I was to dare attempt at playing live again, can’t say at approaching 53 and having had neck surgery, I wouldn’t embrace a rig that could fit in a small bag. Plus if you’re playing fairly early, having a rig that easily gets put away and back in a vehicle, out of sight would be pretty nice if you want to still hang out a little. I’d say you have a tube rig for when you can and a dig rig for when you would rather not.
V
VESmedic
Well-known member
IEM’s definitely are a game changer when they are done right. I also personally don’t want to loose anymore of my hearing as I age either. But when done right, it sounds like you are listening to a CD, pretty wild. I also always had that problem when I initially started doing BGV’s, until I learned that cranking the bassist in my mix was what would always get/keep me in tune.