Surfcaster
06-12-2006, 10:31 PM
I picked up one of these a couple weeks ago basically because I was curious about it and was looking for a new toy. Also, it meets my requirements for something headphone friendly, since that's mostly how I get to play these days with 3-yr old and 8 week old daughters! Anyway, J&R Music World out of NY was selling the UX1 on-line for $100, when everyone else wanted $130, so I jumped on it!
For the most part, I'm pretty impressed with it. It's a scaled back version of the PODxt, PODxt Bass and also has vocal preamp models included, with a USB computer interface (and comes bundled with Ableton Live Light).
So far I've only played around with the guitar parts (which to be fair is mostly what I'll use it for, though I will likely use it to record bass tracks when I record my songs, and probably vocals, too, if I ever get inspired to write lyrics again!)
For its guitar modelling capabilities, my previous experience comes from a Yamaha DG-Stomp, Vox Valvetronix and V-Amp 2 (I still have V-Amp) and it certainly holds it's own...though like the rest it has its strenghts and weaknesses. The models represented are the more traditional models...Fender Tweed and Blackface, Marshall Plexi and JCM 800, Vox AC30, Soldano and Mesa Dual Rec, and then a number of high gain Line 6 originals (that I don't have much use for). I mostly use the Fender and Marshall models, but dabble with the Vox and Soldano, too. I don't like the Dual Rec model (though I haven't really liked this model on any of the modelers I've heard).
I really like the graphics...when you select an amp or effect the graphics resemble the actual amp or pedal...and in some cases they add optional controls on the side, in case you want to tweak parameters the original didn't have.
There are a number of cabs available as well, covering those you would expect with the respective models and a few popular additional options. I've enjoyed comparing the various Marshall 4x12s: 20W Greenbacks, 25W Greenbacks, G12T75s and V30s.
There are also 4 mic options...SM57 on axis and off axis and a couple condensers and it's interesting to see how different amp/cab combinations work with different mics and positions.
Each of the major effects are represented...Tubescreamer, Rat, Fuzz Face, Big Muff Pi, Chorus, Flanger, Tremolo, Compressor, Phaser, 4-band parametric EQ, Noise Gate, 3 types of delays and various reverbs. You can also select where in the chain some of the effects are placed.
It's pretty easy to make presets...and they are easy to alter as well. One disadvantage of the UX1 is that there is no ability to footswitch between presets...I think the UX2 would allow that, as well as switching effects on/off, etc.
There are some great tones in there and the ability to do some tweaking is there, too, but it's not so much so that you can get lost with endless tweaking (which is a good thing for me!)
I think it's a great learning tool...it could almost be used as a Primer on guitar gear. Sure, it's still "only a modeler", but it does give one an idea of how the different amps sound, how different cabs sound and how different amps respond to different cabs. You can get an idea of how different mics and mic placements affect your recorded tone. It's also a great way to understand how effects placement affects tone.
As for Abletone Live Light, it definitely has a learning curve for me who's never used computer recording software...and it's pretty limited...only 4 tracks. But I have a Boss digital 8-track that I can route the signal back to for recording, and I'll imagine that's mostly what I'll do. However, I want to learn more about programming the drums in Ableton, I'm hoping it's easier than with the Boss.
In the end, I still prefer the tone of my tube amps. But for headphone playing and silent recording the Toneport is a great option...in fact for those specific situations it excels...my Mesa F50 has a Headphone/Record Out jack, and that signal straight out of the jack is pretty lousy! So if I can't record with a mic I'll definitely use the Toneport...my Taylor sounded great through it, too.
For the most part, I'm pretty impressed with it. It's a scaled back version of the PODxt, PODxt Bass and also has vocal preamp models included, with a USB computer interface (and comes bundled with Ableton Live Light).
So far I've only played around with the guitar parts (which to be fair is mostly what I'll use it for, though I will likely use it to record bass tracks when I record my songs, and probably vocals, too, if I ever get inspired to write lyrics again!)
For its guitar modelling capabilities, my previous experience comes from a Yamaha DG-Stomp, Vox Valvetronix and V-Amp 2 (I still have V-Amp) and it certainly holds it's own...though like the rest it has its strenghts and weaknesses. The models represented are the more traditional models...Fender Tweed and Blackface, Marshall Plexi and JCM 800, Vox AC30, Soldano and Mesa Dual Rec, and then a number of high gain Line 6 originals (that I don't have much use for). I mostly use the Fender and Marshall models, but dabble with the Vox and Soldano, too. I don't like the Dual Rec model (though I haven't really liked this model on any of the modelers I've heard).
I really like the graphics...when you select an amp or effect the graphics resemble the actual amp or pedal...and in some cases they add optional controls on the side, in case you want to tweak parameters the original didn't have.
There are a number of cabs available as well, covering those you would expect with the respective models and a few popular additional options. I've enjoyed comparing the various Marshall 4x12s: 20W Greenbacks, 25W Greenbacks, G12T75s and V30s.
There are also 4 mic options...SM57 on axis and off axis and a couple condensers and it's interesting to see how different amp/cab combinations work with different mics and positions.
Each of the major effects are represented...Tubescreamer, Rat, Fuzz Face, Big Muff Pi, Chorus, Flanger, Tremolo, Compressor, Phaser, 4-band parametric EQ, Noise Gate, 3 types of delays and various reverbs. You can also select where in the chain some of the effects are placed.
It's pretty easy to make presets...and they are easy to alter as well. One disadvantage of the UX1 is that there is no ability to footswitch between presets...I think the UX2 would allow that, as well as switching effects on/off, etc.
There are some great tones in there and the ability to do some tweaking is there, too, but it's not so much so that you can get lost with endless tweaking (which is a good thing for me!)
I think it's a great learning tool...it could almost be used as a Primer on guitar gear. Sure, it's still "only a modeler", but it does give one an idea of how the different amps sound, how different cabs sound and how different amps respond to different cabs. You can get an idea of how different mics and mic placements affect your recorded tone. It's also a great way to understand how effects placement affects tone.
As for Abletone Live Light, it definitely has a learning curve for me who's never used computer recording software...and it's pretty limited...only 4 tracks. But I have a Boss digital 8-track that I can route the signal back to for recording, and I'll imagine that's mostly what I'll do. However, I want to learn more about programming the drums in Ableton, I'm hoping it's easier than with the Boss.
In the end, I still prefer the tone of my tube amps. But for headphone playing and silent recording the Toneport is a great option...in fact for those specific situations it excels...my Mesa F50 has a Headphone/Record Out jack, and that signal straight out of the jack is pretty lousy! So if I can't record with a mic I'll definitely use the Toneport...my Taylor sounded great through it, too.