Alternate ways of getting that mic'ed amp sound?

[dabluesman]

I've been using a SansAmp GT-2 for recording my guitar through my sound card. When I'm just jamming, I run the GT-2 straight to my amp. I noticed that it sounds great when I play it through the amp but when I record straight into the sound card it looses it's "amp" sound. I know that I should probably mic the amp and record that way but I have a noisy room and would like to be able to do it by direct input. Should I go with a POD? I dont care too much for effects but I want my recordings to sound like they are comming from an actual amp. The GT-2 is great for EQ'ing the guitar's signal and the tube sound really shines when it's coming through an amp. But running it straight to the sound card, it sounds like an EQ with a tube pre-amp or something, it has no amp characteristics. I guess what i'm looking for is a true amp simulator, but something I can still use effects units with. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

 

[happy hour]

The POD is pretty convincing as a DI box, I wish I had a soundfile for ya, but I don't. If you got POD you find a good clean sound and put your GT-2 infront of that as well. I love my pod, its good for live as well, except that the floor controller is a massive effing ripoff.