Variable
Active member
So I decided to put together a solo project just to see if I could pull it off. I picked up an 11R + ERXP on Friday along with a used Ibanez ErgoDyne bass (the wood version, not Luthite). So far I'm really digging it.
I'm not prepared to do a full review, but I'm definitely going to keep it while I work on this project. Here are my first impressions:
The Pro Tools integration is very cool, especially the ability to embed your 11R patch settings into each recorded track. I can't tell you how many times I'd try to record something in Cubase and then get pissed when I futzed with a patch and couldn't get the right sound back (yes, this is a personal problem!). Being able to recall the exact settings just from a right-click menu is very cool.
This is my first foray into Pro Tools and I'm liking what I'm seeing much better than my years with Cubase. Things seem to make more sense now that I'm getting into it, though I am finding that it really seems to be designed for dual monitors. All the windows are a bit cramped.
The tones themselves are excellent. I could find myself using just about all the included models, and the ERXP adds even more awesome sounds. IMHO the Matchless DC-30 sim is worth the price of admission alone.
I should point out that this is not my first attempt with the 11R; I purchased one a couple months ago to try out, but mainly live using 4CM with my Guytron GT100. In that role I really wasn't impressed, and after spending a weekend with it getting a feel for its capabilities, I really feel like it's first intent is to be a direct recording solution / FRFR preamp. Probably the best direct to tube poweramp sound I was able to get was with the Soldano sims.
Anyway, what I'm really digging is how easy everything has been. I'm not new to recording, but I'm also far from being a pro. I'm finding good tones to be had going direct much better than when I was trying out the Axe FX Standard (which I found absolutely excelled at live tones through my Guytron's poweramp). Obviously the Axe FX is capable of stellar direct recording tones; I just found the 11R much easier and faster to dial in for laying down a quick track.
I don't want to belabor this post with my random musings, so I'll just add a link to the intro + verse of a song I'm working on. It's admittedly more "pop" than what I normally play, and it's an incredibly early attempt, so please forgive my wacky playing:
http://soundcloud.com/variableresults/a-walk-through-the-park-intro
I used the DC-30 sim boosted with the Green boost and the Ampeg sim for bass. Drums are Superior 2 with a stock MIDI groove from EZ Player since I'm not even close to figuring out what I want to do with that...
I'm not prepared to do a full review, but I'm definitely going to keep it while I work on this project. Here are my first impressions:
The Pro Tools integration is very cool, especially the ability to embed your 11R patch settings into each recorded track. I can't tell you how many times I'd try to record something in Cubase and then get pissed when I futzed with a patch and couldn't get the right sound back (yes, this is a personal problem!). Being able to recall the exact settings just from a right-click menu is very cool.
This is my first foray into Pro Tools and I'm liking what I'm seeing much better than my years with Cubase. Things seem to make more sense now that I'm getting into it, though I am finding that it really seems to be designed for dual monitors. All the windows are a bit cramped.
The tones themselves are excellent. I could find myself using just about all the included models, and the ERXP adds even more awesome sounds. IMHO the Matchless DC-30 sim is worth the price of admission alone.
I should point out that this is not my first attempt with the 11R; I purchased one a couple months ago to try out, but mainly live using 4CM with my Guytron GT100. In that role I really wasn't impressed, and after spending a weekend with it getting a feel for its capabilities, I really feel like it's first intent is to be a direct recording solution / FRFR preamp. Probably the best direct to tube poweramp sound I was able to get was with the Soldano sims.
Anyway, what I'm really digging is how easy everything has been. I'm not new to recording, but I'm also far from being a pro. I'm finding good tones to be had going direct much better than when I was trying out the Axe FX Standard (which I found absolutely excelled at live tones through my Guytron's poweramp). Obviously the Axe FX is capable of stellar direct recording tones; I just found the 11R much easier and faster to dial in for laying down a quick track.
I don't want to belabor this post with my random musings, so I'll just add a link to the intro + verse of a song I'm working on. It's admittedly more "pop" than what I normally play, and it's an incredibly early attempt, so please forgive my wacky playing:
http://soundcloud.com/variableresults/a-walk-through-the-park-intro
I used the DC-30 sim boosted with the Green boost and the Ampeg sim for bass. Drums are Superior 2 with a stock MIDI groove from EZ Player since I'm not even close to figuring out what I want to do with that...
