Pros and cons of various input options

[Tark77]

Greetings all,
I'm fairly new to computer based home recording and I've realized that I have several options to get my guitar signal to my recording software. I'm interested in the pros and cons of the various methods.

Available options
Guitar processor can output Left and Right channel unbalanced signals to the Audio Interface (no XML on the unit)
Guitar processor can output S/PDIF to the Audio Interface
Guitar processor can output USB 2.0 directly to the Computer and Software

Equipment details (if needed)
Computer - PC
Guitar Processor - Line 6 Pod HD
Audio Interface - M-Audio Fast Track Ultra
Software - Sonar X1
Monitors - KRK Rokit 8s

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[grimtraveller]

Amp ? Microphones ?

 

[Armistice]

Amp ? Microphones ?

Yup...... that's what I was thinking.

If they are your only options (why run it through the Pod thing at all unless there are particular noises you like?) then I'd let the interface do the AD conversion rather than the guitar processor if I was doing this on my equipment. Yours? I'm not sure it'd make too much difference, but I'd still tend to go that way....

 

[Bobbsy]

I'd agree with the others about just going straight from your guitar processor into your DAW via USB except for on small "but".

My memories of earlier versions of Sonar than you use is that changing the hardware source involved a bit of floundering through menus and lots of mouse clicks. If that's still the case, then consider using the S/PDIF feed into the Fast Track Ultra. I doubt you'll hear much (if any) difference in sound, you probably don't need the S/PDIF for anything else, and having everything on the M Audio probably makes switching around faster and easier. It also opens the door to, for example, recording on track via the processor and another via a microphone and amp.

At the end of the day, it's whatever is easier and most convenient for you.