hey all... i'm looking for the best option, vst or hardware, to record classic keyboard trax.

i've already got an Averil Neve 1081 Preamp, so I kind of wanted to go thru that into the 'puter... BUT, what's up w. the amp sims out there; i've got Nigel, but it doesn't really inspire me...

Should i

a) scour the pawnshops for a Fender Twin ($750) and gradually add the phasers, wah wahs, and etc...

b) opt for the PodXT

c) wait for the Scarbee classic fx? )yea.... right

d) go for another VST option... Amplitube or Guitar Rig or something...

e) quit whining, save my money, and dig into Nigel. [/img]

I hear Nigel is good with some work put in, but can't comment as I've never used it. After that there's Amplitube which does fairly good clean Fender type sounds, but as soon as you want some dirt it goes downhill quick (and this is using a Grace Pre, or a Sansamp DI with the blend to 0). The XT is a nice option with cool features (like reamping: playing a sound and hearing distortion, recording completely clean via USB then changing amp settings later) and sounds pretty darn good. Or do what I did and follow option "a," get a used one of the newer model Fender Twin's (The Evil Twins as they're known as) for around $700 (they retail about $1100). Freaking great amp. Plus you've got the options of using multiple mics, etc.

BTW I highly recomend a Blue "The Ball" for micing up an electric guitar cab. It does what the SM57 but has a way more open sound and far better top end, and all for $99.

Give the SimulAnalog guitar suite a try.

It's free, and it models (amongst other things) the fender twin.

The Twin in the Guitar Suite isn't even close IMO. The JCM900 isn't bad, but I wouldn't consider a 900 a great amp to begin with, but the plug-in version is definately usable and has better high gain sounds than anything else I've heard in software. In fact it sounds kind of like a Pod 2 amp sim. But again, the Twin isn't even close.

Ive had decent results running my rhodes or my wurly through a little 15w fender amp with spring reverb, and then running the headphone output to my audio interface. I have several flavors of phasers and can usually get decent enough sound with either revalver (full version) Fruity phaser or chorus, Kinetics phaser or chorus(same as project 5), or various reaktor ensembles.

I am thinking of getting a tonelab, POD or hitting thisw pawn shop up near me tha tis a 70s analog paradise..

"BUT, what's up w. the amp sims out there; i've got Nigel, but it doesn't really inspire me..."

Everyone has their preferences but the Nigel really turns my crank. I love the sounds I can coax out of it. I have other stompboxes but this sounds like the real deal to me. I stock presets don't do it justice imho.

I have spent probably a whole year tweaking to get the best rhodes sound.. Listen to lots of LTJ Bukem and Makoto and Adam F. Sure they have a real rhodes but thats the sound I've been trying to get..

I got a good combination with Scarbee Rhodes + Amplitube with limiting fx after it. Use the American tube and mess with the parametric eq a bit. Amplitube can sound lovely in the middle but can be real harsh up high..

I'm really liking my Line6 Guitar Port. Its 100% software driven and uses a bit of cpu but it sounds great if you use a crybaby just before it. I wouldn't use the presets, you gotta spend some time and make yer own. Awesome on clav and you can get those funky james brown guitars too. Its dirt cheap ($250 Australian) and it doubles as an ASIO USB soundcard!

Thanx for the responses.

tried nigel some more, still can't dig it... i find it harsh from the get go...

tried simuanalog... liked the algo's better, but, HEY, i know i shouldn't complain, since its free, but i like a LITTLE eye candy.

Starting to think there isn't a VST solution yet. leaning towards the PodXT OR... Fender Twin and Small Stone!!!

Question: How loud do u have to play a twin to get some of that Herbie Hancock "bite!"

I haven't heard the nigel in action but I thought those UAD card plugins were supposed to be awesome.. All a matter of oppinion I guess. Maybe it suits more heavy guitar music.

Soultrane, are you using a real rhodes? I wish i had one lol.. Anyway, try experimenting with some good compressor plugins too. There are some vst/dx compressors (and eqs) with built in soft saturation that give a fuzzy warm overdriven sound too.

But so far my crybaby + Line6 guitar port has given me the closest thing to that 70s sound that i love. Its a bit noisey though..

Scarbee are about to release a piano effects VST, btw.

Of course, it could be crap...

AudioWhore wrote:

I haven't heard the nigel in action but I thought those UAD card plugins were supposed to be awesome.. All a matter of oppinion I guess. Maybe it suits more heavy guitar music. Soultrane, are you using a real rhodes? I wish i had one lol.. Anyway, try experimenting with some good compressor plugins too. There are some vst/dx compressors (and eqs) with built in soft saturation that give a fuzzy warm overdriven sound too. But so far my crybaby + Line6 guitar port has given me the closest thing to that 70s sound that i love. Its a bit noisey though..

Which VST plug comes closest to nailing the crybaby wah pedal?

I would try iZotope Trash (and Powercore's guitar amp simulator if you can afford the Powercore card).

Yeah, I've got a 88 Stage MkII.

I've now retired it from road use!!! Thing about the Stage is, it can sound kind of whimpy when compared to the Suitcase. Hence, my need for a good amp / sim.

The UAD card rocks, but only for the compressors / eq, imho.

My old school friend has me almost talked into shunning software altogether and going with a Twin mic'ed with an SM57.

But the Pod still looks to be an interesting option for its versatility.

BTW.. the Scarbee vintage fx... looks like its the same design team that's behind the Simuanalog.... could be good or bad, but they are so way behind their promised release schedule that I've lost patience.... welcome to capitalism!!!