Not quite... a virtual amp is a more sterile, front end type sound. There is no doubt you can get close to the same tones, but the 'power' will not be there. If you've recorded live drums, and start cranking up your mix, your virtual amp signal will get lost and sound 'weak' in comparison.
When micing a speaker, the spl hitting the mic is actually 'felt' (when played back loud) through your monitors, pushing the cone.
A combination of both yeilds great results, especially for rock/metal music.
Your miced signal will give you the 'meat' and 'fullness' ('power') if you will, and the virtual amp will bring out the clarity of what you're playing.
That being said...something I've experimented with great results for a 'lead track' is bringing my NS10's (which I no longer mix on) into our 'big room', and re-amping through a PODXT, dialing in exactly what I want to hear, and throwing an SM57 or an e609 and capturing that sound.
The result is a less 'sterile', more 'natural', but still 'present and focused' lead track that cuts through any big chugging Mesa tone.
Apologies for all the 'tonal lingo'..but it's difficult to communicate this stuff on message boards.
Hope this helps,
-LIMiT
