M-audio Black Box -- Are The Models Good? Options

[muleboy]

Just wondering if anyone has experience with the Black Box? The USB / s/pdif outs make it singularly attractive at $199 [compared to comparable POD with only MIDI controlling, no digi out], but I'm wondering what your experience is with the modeling/cabinet simulation.

I gues what i mean is: does it sound good?

[Wilko]

If you're looking for inexpensive emulations, you may want to check out the behringer v-amp 2.

It's not too expensive as you can see here.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gui...ects?sku=480674

There is also a rack mountable "pro" version for $70 more.

I personally havn't had a chance to hear the amp models on the Black box yet, but my dad said it sounded pretty good when he saw a demonstration of it at the local store.

I personally use a Pod XT, and if you can muster up the extra cash, I'd swing it for the rack mountable version (pod xt pro). My guitar teacher was saying something along the lines of it having an ability to loop the clean signal back through the Pod XT pro and reprocessing it to another track. That could be a gateway to some seriously huge tonal possibilities!

If you're short on cash though, I don't doubt the black box will give you what you're looking for. I'm not sure if it has the room/cabinet/mic type/position emulation that the pod XT does, that stuff is pretty amazing.

[mortalengines]

I am kinda leary of ever buying little "modeling boxes" & would recommend you do a couple of things instead:

1) Buy a DI box

2) Buy a Reamp Box

3) Find a good deal on modeling software like Izotope Trash or Amplitube LE (or even some freeware modeling programs)

4) Think about getting a decent dynamic mic like the Blueball or The SM57.

The idea behind this is that modeling gets better as time goes on & upgrading software is easier than commiting to a Pod or a Black Box & you can use the modeled stuff until you meet a friend or go to a "real" studio that has good amps & then bring your file & "reamp" your DI'd guitar tracks into whatever amps/stompboxes you like & get a GOOD guitar sound.

Actually, a Black box is pretty cheap so if you get it, just buy a DI for now (one that splits your signal into 2 outputs) & Record a clean signal at the same time as you record the Black Box. Later, you can spend the 300 bucks on a "reamp" & a dynamic mic when you are thinking about mixing down. The "reamp" works really well on Drums & Keys & even whole mixes for putting a little air & grunge on any pristine "digitized" signal with the idea that it converts the signal coming out of your computer to "line level" capable of driving a guitar amplifier which can be recorded & run back into the computer as a new track. I can elaborate more if you wish but I am not to hip on the Pod (I own one by the way) or any of that stuff after I bought a mic & jammed it into my amp's grill & CRANKED THAT BABY UP. My Pod is a dust collector now.

This post has been edited by mortalengines: Tue 21 Feb 2006, 03:39

[Wilko]

I'm having trouble recording any tones through mic that sound anywhere near as good as the emulations on the pod. What kind of set up do you have going? I've tried recording my amps into my firepod with an apex (435 or something I think) medium diaphraghm, and havn't had much luck getting anything that sounds particularly good.

[mortalengines]

I am kinda suprised to hear that. I use a 12 year old Crate Vintage club 50 (Tube amp) & have used both a Blue Ball & an Audix F10 Dynamic mic set about 1/2" to 1" away from the grill. I also have a Mackie Onyx (the Preamps are pretty goshdang good) & since I live in a house I am able to record quite loud (I use isolation headphones from Vic Firth). It is the volume that makes the difference, I feel. It seems like the amp doesn't sound that great until the volume is WAY UP & the tubes have had a little while to warm up as well & never underestimate the power of the Shure SM 57 either (ALL your favorite guitar tracks were recorded with one). Don't get me wrong, the Pod sounds good -almost TOO good, I like a little dirt on my guitars. I don't really know what the Presonus Preamps are like on the firepod but their 99 buck "Tube Pre" is quite nice, I understand.

This post has been edited by mortalengines: Tue 21 Feb 2006, 03:52

[Wilko]

I might give it another shot with the volume really cranked. My recordings didnt seem to have much punch, but maybe my volume was a bit too soft. Eventually, I'm going to try to perfect recording an identical signal through the pod, and through the amp at the same time, for a nice layered tone.