How to get a fat, vintage distortion/overdrive from a modeler (PodXT, Amplitube etc.)

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GuitarGoblin

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Think Sunn overdrive, cranked Plexi, etc.

What's your secrets?
 
Modelers, in my experience, have always been disappointing for me. I am also looking for some similar sounds to replicate the classic amps I've owned in the past (yes, including a sunn). The modelers I've used, though they have the same names as these amps, never sound the same. They may somewhat capture one sound the real amp would have made, but it can never truly capture the warmth and the dynamic range of the real deal. Granted I have never used a high end modeler, so maybe there is something better out there that is great. But I've gone up to about 700-800 dollar range, and nothing was really worth the money.
 
I have a Pod XTL. (As well as a real, live, AC30CC and Matamp GT100.)

Are you asking about live use or studio use?
 
GuitarGoblin said:
Think Sunn overdrive, cranked Plexi, etc. What's your secrets?
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ummmmmmm.........to use a Sunn or cranked Plexi? not much of a secret there. :D

i've found modellers to be fun to play with, but they just don't have the "weight" or "heft" of tone that amps have. especially with distortion. they always sound thin and buzzy to me more than anything.

sorry, no "secrets" here other than use a real amp.


cheers,
wade
 
modellers will always sound like modellers.

the tone you're after comes from an amp.
 
Look, guys, he's asking about modelers. I'm betting he knows that there's a difference between a modeler and a real amp. :rolleyes:

GuitarGoblin, are you wanting advice on live use or studio use?
 
I get where you're both coming from - I'd love to help you out, but the only decent guitar tone I've ever got is from a nice amp turned up to 11 :P

That said, the new Line6 has surprised me as a hater of modelling amps - we got some in the shop where I work, and they've actually got some nice sounds.

Still no substitute though.
 
I have a POD, a V-Amp ..... a J-Station ... several of the Digitechs and a high end Digitech rackmount and none of them come close to sounding like an amp.

I did just get a Rocktron Utopia (only $200 at M.F.) and it's the first one I've tried that manages to come pretty close. It's not set up like a regular modeler ...... no models of specific amps ..... just 4 channels .. Clean, Texas, British and Mega.
I've actually started using it instead of an amp (and I have a bunch of nice amps) on about half of my gigs which I've long wanted to do but all the modelers sucked so bad I couldn't stand it.
So I'm gonna say that if you really want to go the modeler route, try one of those.
I know that doesn't help with the units you have but I have no tips on how to make them sound 'real' since I don't think they can and I've tried very hard.
For $200 the Rocktron is the best suggestion I can think of.
 
I've never had good results with a PODxt but did have some success with a Boss GT-Pro and great succes with a Rocktron Prophesy. The trick is not to go direct but through a good tube poweramp and cab and mic them up as per the old school method.
 
I think its time for a test. I'll post a thread tomorrow that will test our ears.
 
Zaphod B said:
Look, guys, he's asking about modelers. I'm betting he knows that there's a difference between a modeler and a real amp. :rolleyes:

GuitarGoblin, are you wanting advice on live use or studio use?
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It's studio use.

I'm just looking for a simple quick distortion with a modeler for a rough finish you could say for some audio to a film.
 
GuitarGoblin said:
It's studio use.

I'm just looking for a simple quick distortion with a modeler for a rough finish you could say for some audio to a film.
Click to expand...
OK. I'll assume you will be running the Pod direct into a board.

Make sure the Pod is set up for direct in (see "what are you connecting to") - this way it won't be applying any compensatory EQ. Turn off compression, gating, EQ. Add some room ambience with the AIR setting - this will keep the sound from being too sterile. Pick an appropriate cabinet, probably a 4X12, and experiment with the speaker selection and mic selection/placement parameters.

My personal favorite amp model on the Pod XTL is the HiWatt. It sounds very close to my vintage Matamp GT100. Select that model and play with the tone and gain a bit, and I think you'll find some very useable sounds. Stay away from the effects until you've found a good amp sound.

The Marshall models are good, too.

Add a little reverb to take the edge off, and there you go.
 
How to get a fat, vintage distortion/overdrive from a modeler
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well, that WAS the question.

i don't think it can be done.

just my opinion...

but i had a POD xT, and spent a LOT of time tweaking it.

and, i even ran it thru my boogie (used as a power amp only) and found THAT to be the best use of it.

fat, vintage distortion, requieres a certain 'mojo' that modelers just haven't been able to 'program' yet.

it may not be the answer you're looking for, but for me, i've found it to be the true one.

i 'felt' the difference, more than i 'heard' the difference....

i have a mp3 in the forum now ("Thief" that was all done with the Pod XT)
 
Look, I'm not going to argue because you're right, but you can get reasonably close. And the more FX you use, or compression, or anything else to muddy up that sound, the less difference there is.

I've gotten good results with my home recording setup both ways.
 
that's cool, i'm just posting an opinion, like everyone else.
 
Let's not forget the importance of a nice speaker in the signal chain, I'd argue thats 20% of your tone right there. And use a ribbon with a tube pre, that'd bring out the "fat" that you're looking for.
 
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