I just watched your Budget home studio lesson. I think it was teriffic and useful since I'vet set my mind on a home studio, not just exactly like the one you demonstrated but I think you can point me in the right direction.

About a budget home studio I wonder if you could give me some hints so I can find the items I need instead of going by trial and error. A trial&error studio could end up more expensive that the budget was set for initialy if something I buy doesn't cut it.
I'm not really fond of working with computer sequencer programs, at least not early on in the process. What I'd like to do is record my takes onto a device (anything but a computer). Transfer all the bits and pieces to the computer and puzzle it together in there - if not already done in a portable studio.

So I have a few ideas of my own. Things that have been on my mind are
Digitech GSP1101
Behringer VAMP PRO (rack)
Rocktron VooDu Valve (perhaps on the expensive side)
ENGL E-530 preamp
TC Electronic G-major

The recording part a BOSS BR600 or BOSS Micro BR

And I want to keep in mind that I'd like to have something to build around for the future to have;
preamp->effectsunit->poweramp

Possible setups, a couple of examples so you can see what I'm hovering around

1) BOSS micro BR - just that and nothing else. Use it's internal modeling and effects to record.
2) Digitech GSP1101 into BOSS micro BR - Take the modeling and affects from the GSP1101 and only record with the BOSS (or maybe then a simpler unit even)
Or same as above but with the Behringer Vamp PRO which is a lot cheaper.
3) ENGL E-530 into TC Electronics G-major into a recording unit (modeling was cut away - could have the GSP1101 though but...)

In my mind the Behringer Vamp PRO and Digitech GSP1101 seem like useful units with both the amp modeling part and effects. And I guess it's possible to shut off the modeling and only go for the effects?
Though I'm a little in favor of the Digitech unit I wonder if the plenty of extra money is worth the better sound?

There must be taken into concideration the value of the entire studio versus the value of having great sound. I can settle with a little less if the cost saving is more value than the sound quality loss. (What is this silly litte man saying? ) I mean, it's not $ for $, if I save $$ moneywise and lose $ soundwise it's worth it. But I'm not trading $ money saving for $$ loss off sound. I will pay for good sound, but I'm not a freak if you get me

I'd be happy to hear your ideas on a studio like this. I'm not in favor of solid state or tube pre-/poweramp here, maybe leaning a little towards the solid state for less maintenance.
And as I said earlier, possibly adding a poweramp to this later on so live giging might not be entierly out of the question spite I got a half stack for that purpose. Could plug a nice effects unit into the loop there also but please mind the studio foremost.

Thanks!

It's great to hear that my lesson has helped!

Let me share with you a few things that I've learned.

1) Rack Mounted gear (in my opinion) isn't as good as gear that emulates stompboxes. The volume pedal that doubles as a Wah is great in itself. Though you may get more settings with rack mounted gear, you're going to get more flexibility with gear you set on the floor.

2) Self contained recorders work well for when you're writing and composing the song...or for just rocking out in your room, but if you want good sounding recordings, you're going to want to eventually learn a software sequencer.

Ok so it sounds like I'm completely against what you want to do, but I promise I'm not. I've been where you are and I've done the Trial and Error Studio...luckily I've sold my old gear to friends that wanted it.

From what I've read...you want something that will help you tweak your sound with effects and with cabinet and amp emulation and you also want something that you can record with.

Here's what I would suggest:

The POD. These things are supposedly the best out there. I don't own one though. You can connect straight to your computer and record with a sequencer...still not a great solution for you though...but its a little heavier on the effect side...so it seems.


The GNX3. This is my baby...I love it. I've had mine for 4 years and it's lasted through 3 bands I've been in. It has all of the cabinet and amp modeling you're looking for and has tons of effects. It also has an 8-track recorder that the POD doesn't. You can use the recorder to do full length songs as well as use the built in Drum Machine(nothing fancy) to jam with. I use the recorder to build loops to solo over and to write riffs with. If you get the newest version, the GNX4, you can actually hook it up to your computer via USB and I would imagine be able to get your recordings over to your computer.

If you're going to buy either one of those...be sure to read up on them. They both have online communities that post presets that you can download and use.

I do recommend that you have some sort of self-contained recording device that is considerably simpler than a sequencer, but no matter what you get, you'll almost always get more flexibility with a sequencer. Howerver....To me, no software out there is going to produce the guitar sound that I want with ease...I've tried recording just a direct guitar and then applying effects in software...nope...didn't sound good. The controls for panning, EQ, compression, and gating seem to be the main controls I use within a sequencer. I try to handle everything else before I even sit down at my computer(all the effects like distortion, flanger, chorus, reverb, delay...etc.).

Sequencers can be confusing, but once you understand some lingo and jargon...they're not hard. My next video lesson is actually going to be on how to use Sony Acid Xpress...which is a free sequencer.

Hope that helps...if it didn't, please let me know and I'll try to fix it.

I did glance at the GNX3 and GNX4, mainly the GNX4 for it's built in sequencer and connectivity to PC. But I decided to sit that one out, the floor boards in the market all are pretty aged and I was hoping for new releases to show. Then Boss dropped their GT-10 on us though I was actually wanting a new GNX4 at this time. Digitech released their GSP1101 prior to Boss' GT-10 and I'm not so sure Digitech will counter on the GT-10 anytime soon.

The GSP1101 it said to be great sounding unit and there's a MIDI floor board to get as an extra addon if you like. Not cheap but never the less, it's available. I'd rather have this setup over the Line6 POD.
Since you suggest just that, a POD, another option could be the cheap Behringer Vamp PRO. These guys know how to make good copies and I suspect the Vamp to sound no different than the POD.
So the Vamp is a cheaper option to the GSP1101.

And to add, I own a copy of Sony ACID pro which is a great easy to use sequencer. I tried out a few other demos but nothing came close to the simplicity of ACID pro imho. Well Reaper does, I'm actually running that free software for the time being since it runs smoother on my computer. I don't use much of the sequencers possibilities, I just want to record, maybe later add some fade, effects, cut and paste and simple editing. I also got EZdrummer quite some time ago, this was when I was on track for computer recording. But what can I say... In all it's simplicity I find it a tedious task to record, retake, guitar sitting on it's strap around my shoulder banging into the table while I'm steeing with the mouse etc. None impossible to solve but I'm lazy, I want things to just work.

With these reasons in mind I was eagerly browsing the GNX4 as mentioned earlier. It has everything I need. I sould make the drumtracks in my PC with EZdrummer, transfer them to the GNX4 and record my guitar while sitting anywhere in the house, transfer the result to the PC for the final mix, doubling guitar tracks and so on. Viola!
But what's keeping me is that I know for a fact that the same day I buy the GNX4 Digitech will release something brand new and much better, a floor unit that not only does that but can mix the best ice tea and make me a club sandwich.
That's how I steer the stock market. When I buy, I trigger the market to fall, when I sell that will set off the buy signal of the century.

A competitor to the GNX4 would be the BOSS micro BR, I belive that one can also lod mp3's, I guess that's meaning I would be able to record to a drumtrack (or drums + bass). Not useful for anything but recording but if it does that well, it's my first priority. Still, I don't mind dividig my gear, as you said "I do recommend that you have some sort of self-contained recording device that is considerably simpler than a sequencer" - I would value that idea. Just a recorder, not much more, I'd take the effects from a Vamp, POD, GSP1101, GNX400 or whatever.
Maybe the first question I should ask myself is - Do I want to be mobile or have separated modules for preamp, effects, recording device.
I know the answer to that already, I want both. Not sure how that would be possible though. Perhaps I should have another look at the GNX4 afterall?


Conclusions from your reply.
Flood units would be easier to use and more flexible. Self contained recorders for ideas. Software sequencer for production.

What's remaining for me then are Boss Micro BR, not a floor unit but mobile and easy recording with plus GNX4, seem to have everything I need and based on your experiences of the GNX3 very handy.

Do you know of any competitors to GNX4 that has all that? A built in sequencer, drum machine, possibility to add MIDI and mp3 tracks as background, PC connectivity, amp modeling and effects?

Thanks again!

First let me say I’m not and expert (but I did stay at Holiday Inn Express) -joke



Definitely what I'm saying there.

One thing about Boss boxes is that they all sound more harsh and more distorted than Digitech. Some people like this, but I don't. Boss has more overtones as well.

If you get the GNX4...you won't want the Boss Micro BR. Foot controls for recording beat hand controls. You don't really need something with lots of features here...you need something that will record your ideas. The Boss Micro BR just isn't worth it for just doing that. It's geared towards actually producing songs without a PC. It's going to be able to produce some decent stuff...but if you plan to use a sequencer for actual production...you're wasting $$.

The Boss GT-8 is probably the GNX's best competitor even though it lacks a lot of the features that the GNX has.

You can even do vocal stuff with the GNX. If I ever upgrade my gear...i'll get a GNX4 to replace my GNX3.

Here's what I would suggest...buy 1...if you don't like it, return it. With zzounds you get 30 days to test it out before you decide if you want to keep it or not. I buy all my gear from there.

Also...remember that if you're not using USB or firewire to connect to your PC...you're definitely going to need a good sound card.

must be a local joke, I didn't get any of it.

So I contacted my musicstore here and they told me the GNX4 went out of production :-(

go to zzounds.com

they still have some in stock.