Woah sparky! Slow down.....
RockinRobert, you may have taken the responses here a bit out of context. Maybe you didn't.
I don't know these other guys, and what kind of experience they have in recording, but I have recorded artists for quite some time now. I hear all sorts of claims about how such and such is so good, and this and that is "f*cking amazing!" and disk and dat is "like the real thing". Judging from the responses to this topic here, it would seem that these other guys have too. What I haven't experienced much of is these claims actually being true. Call me a snob because I was fortunate enough to be able to track some stuff with a C12 through a Telefunken on certain occasions! I don't mind. But, I certainly can't afford to buy those units for my own setup right now. But, thank the sound gods that I DID get to use some of this stuff, because it has saved me from spending good money on stuff that will in the end disappoint me!
I have a few friends that go out and buy the next $300 miracle box thinking it is the solution to their audio problems. 2 months later, their stuff still sounds like crap. But, they invite me over with my modest, yet, quality gear that cost a bit more then they were willing to spend (especially microphones, in which it would seem that many around here don't have very good taste in) and they are amazed that I get such great sounds out of it. Do they run out and buy some decent mics? Not usually. That would be money that they couldn't spend on the next $300 miracle box that will solve their audio problems.
I will never back down on a microphone and/or monitor discussion. You either get quality, time proven components in these two areas, or you will always be compromising your sound in a major way. These are the two areas where modeling and software code just cannot replicate real life. The issues on the why of this are vastly complicated, and I wouldn't ever try to approach describing them here because I would be writing well into the weekend non-stop! But, mechanical transference is what audio recording is all about! Little to big sound waves which are very real exist in the air and are either captured or reproduced in the recording environment. How this is done, and the quality of the components used to do it are of paramount importance to the outcome of the recording.
My above listed friends are always complaining a couple months after buying their "wonder boxes" why their audio doesn't sound realistic. Sure, they get "clear" sound, and "controlled" sound, but not "realistic" sound. Microphones and monitors are the most important aspect of getting "realistic" sound.
So, my point is that instead of paying money for a code that "models" what you want, you would be better off paying a bit more money and getting the real deal, especially in any device in the recording chain that does mechanical transference. A good set of monitors and a great mic will last you for years to come. They are worth the price you pay for them in helping achieve much better results in the tracking process, thus making "modeling" code not needed.
Well, this may not be very convincing to you as an arguement. You really couldn't call me a gear snob in any way because I will use whatever is there and make the most of it at the time. But, you will never hear me give glowing reviews of stuff that doesn't really work the way it is advertised. Mic modeling and amp modeling don't!
You would have to hear the real stuff to understand.
Stive for quality, not a compromise, and you will be a happy camper and have far less headaches down the road.
Good day!
! That's where the sound is!
