Want a recording / practice rig

[The Luke]

My aim is to get something manageable as a practice rig to play in the house without disturbing everyone, and be able to record song ideas to share with other band members, perhaps other stuff for my own use. This would be just guitar and bass tracks, occasionally getting a singer involved.

My problems is that all my gear is for live use and my 100w JCM800 2210 head and 4x12 isn't an option in the house. I was using a rubbish Peavey practice amp or Guitar Rig through my powerbook and speakers as a practice rig. It wasn't anything decent. The powerbook has been replaced by a Mac Mini and I literally have nothing for computer recording. No interfaces, mics etc

THe two avenues I am considering are:

Eleven Rack (therefore use Pro Tools LE)
OR
My 2210 head -> Sequis Motherload Elemental -> Apogee One/Duet -> Logic Express

I don't have any experience with either Pro Tools or Logic, only GarageBand, so would be starting the same place with either.

I am concerned that the Eleven Rack is putting all of my eggs in one basket, and as seems the way with computers/technology, in a year or two it will be near worthless. So with it being all in one - upgrading will involve replacing everything I use to record.

I suppose with route 2, if I change the interface etc the other items are unaffected. And the real amp covers my Marshall and I can use software for others (not that I would very often).

The eleven rack has the potential to be used live as well, but I don't play with many effects as it is. I tend to use one sound and sometimes add effects with pedals.
My pedalboard is Wah, Phase, Chorus, ParaEq, Delay and OD, and I play quite straight ahead hard rock, (or pop/rock in another band).

Suppose the Motherload Elemental has live potential too and heard good things about the richter attenuator. Also read that many preferred the Elemental's speaker simulation to Palmer units.

I know it is a lot, and two radically different ideas, but any thoughts?

 

[jcj]

I liked some of the 11r demos I heard quite a bit.

It's only obsolete if it no longer functions with you rig.

For the $6-700 (used?) it would run you, I'd go for it.

If you get two or three years out of it, you're a hero.

Edit: Having said all that, I have and dig the Axe Fx

 

[thunda]

I have a pod xtlive that has a headphone out - works great for silent practice and it records really great. Vox, Digitech, Boss all make something along these lines

 

[CaseyCor]

Can I make another suggestion?

 

[The Luke]

The axefx is way out of my budget. So that's a no.
Also, I'm in England, and have never seen an 11R turn up used.
I guess you're right about the obsolete part, i'm just new to this whole embracing modelling hardware as part of my guitar setup. So I'm apprehensive as to it's longer term uses. Guess it's like a computer though - it's value is in using it.

The boss and line 6 stuff has never really impressed me sound or feel wise either. Besides, the cost of an XT live plus Logic Express and a decent interface would be close to the price of the 11R.
I've never played an 11R but the sounds definitely have me curious.

Can I make another suggestion?

Sure. As long as it's not the axefx lol

 

[jcj]

The axefx is way out of my budget. So that's a no.
Also, I'm in England, and have never seen an 11R turn up used.
I guess you're right about the obsolete part, i'm just new to this whole embracing modelling hardware as part of my guitar setup. So I'm apprehensive as to it's longer term uses. Guess it's like a computer though - it's value is in using it.

The boss and line 6 stuff has never really impressed me sound or feel wise either. Besides, the cost of an XT live plus Logic Express and a decent interface would be close to the price of the 11R.
I've never played an 11R but the sounds definitely have me curious.

Can I make another suggestion?

Sure. As long as it's not the axefx lol

Totally get the budget thing, I was just letting you know that's what I'm using.

As I said, I've dug many of the 11r demo's I've heard. I also like Line 6 stuff, so take it with a grain of salt

 

[Audioholic]

I say either the 11r or maybe even one of the new pods. I have heard decent to pretty great clips from both. Something like a direct box usually ends up being not as good as you hoped and they are not cheap what so ever.

 

[CaseyCor]

The axefx is way out of my budget. So that's a no.
Also, I'm in England, and have never seen an 11R turn up used.
I guess you're right about the obsolete part, i'm just new to this whole embracing modelling hardware as part of my guitar setup. So I'm apprehensive as to it's longer term uses. Guess it's like a computer though - it's value is in using it.

The boss and line 6 stuff has never really impressed me sound or feel wise either. Besides, the cost of an XT live plus Logic Express and a decent interface would be close to the price of the 11R.
I've never played an 11R but the sounds definitely have me curious.

Can I make another suggestion?

Sure. As long as it's not the axefx lol

Look into the Blackstar HT-5. Low wattage tube head with a loop, unlike most of the others. Can be had for cheap, and sound great paired up with a 1X12.

Spend the left over money on filling a pedal board, and you're good to go

 

[The Luke]

Totally get the budget thing, I was just letting you know that's what I'm using.

As I said, I've dug many of the 11r demo's I've heard. I also like Line 6 stuff, so take it with a grain of salt

I'm grateful for your opinion either way - especially considering you have the axefx as it seems to be the modeller to which all others are compared. However I don't think I could get an axefx even if I had the money - I don't need that many sounds nor that many modelled so well.
I only really need one good Marshall sound, and maybe a few effects as variations on the tone. Some modellers just seem like too many sounds that aren't quite good enough though.

I say either the 11r or maybe even one of the new pods. I have heard decent to pretty great clips from both. Something like a direct box usually ends up being not as good as you hoped and they are not cheap what so ever.

The Sequis is supposed to be a really good box and although it is not common as they are made here in England, most who have heard it seem to prefer it to things like the Palmer boxes. And those Palmers have been used by EVH, Cantrell, Satriani etc
The emulation and attenuator in one is convenient in theory.

Also, another option with the Sequis is to take a line out from it, bypass its own speaker emulation and use something like a Red Wire IR for the cab. Apparently Pete Thorn was doing something similar to rehearse at home - run his PT100 into the faustine phantom as a load box, then running a line out into logic with a Red Wire IR loaded and play through headphones. He said he was impressed.

Look into the Blackstar HT-5. Low wattage tube head with a loop, unlike most of the others. Can be had for cheap, and sound great paired up with a 1X12.

Spend the left over money on filling a pedal board, and you're good to go

The price of the HT5 and cab is still going to cost about as much as the Sequis Elemental, so I am not sure there is any point as they would be doing about the same job - going for valve tone at low volume whilst providing speaker emulated out. And I hear the Sequis provides better emulation.

Also, my pedalboard is full lol I have an 18x16 trailertrash with a Crybaby Classic, Turbo Tuner, Mad Professor Tiny Orange Phaser, Boss CE2, Keeley SD1, Nova Delay and an Empress ParaEq. Fun times, but I could live with only a wah a tuner.

This really is a tough decision.

 

[dstroud]

I got Guitar Rig Session for $99 bucks (Comes with Cubase LE) and some Beta Monkey drum loops for like $30 - awesome practice/recording scratchpad tools - here's a tune I trew together using only Guitar Rig Sessio and the Beta Monkey - $$$ well spent for me...

http://www.mp3lizard.com/download.cfm?id=27416

 

[The Luke]

I have used Guitar Rig 3 before and although it was pretty good, I am looking for a step up in quality and ease of use.
I don't think they sell the Sessions version here anymore either - I can only find the 'Mobile' edition that comes with the Guitar Rig 4 essentials software.

The other other options I presented also have potential to use some aspects in my live rig too, and guitar rig would be restricted to home use.

Decisions, decisions. Shame I can't just try these things out first.