KVR Audio

jantzen · Post by **jantzen** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 8:34 am

Are they using exactly the same modelling technique or not? There's quite a price difference between the two and if I'm considering recording with it will there be any difference at all? (no live use application for me.)

Jantzen

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 8:44 am

Pretty much, as far as I know, to the extent that if you buy 'model packs' of new amps or whatever, they can be used in either one. In fact, I think the modelling is basically the same across all their amp and pod models. My Guitarport has pretty much all the models you'd get in a Vetta II....

MrTom · Post by **MrTom** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 8:48 am

jantzen wrote:Are they using exactly the same modelling technique or not? There's quite a price difference between the two and if I'm considering recording with it will there be any difference at all? (no live use application for me.)

Jantzen

First I used guitarport, then I purchased the PodXT because I want to have knobs and did not like to have the software running on the same box as my DAW.

To me, they sound exactly the same, allthough I sold the Guiter Port before, so I never compared them directly. Maybe there are some more features in XT, but I never needed them.

The extensions packs are available for both pieces as far as I know.

Try to get a used XT.

Lunch Money · Post by **Lunch Money** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 11:01 am

I'm curious about this, too-- the main thing I don't understand is how one records with the GuitarPort. It runs its own non-VST software to generate the tones... and then where from there? Does it have a 'virtual' ASIO input that you can select in your DAW? I'm sure the answer is simple and I'm just an idiot, but I just haven't figured it out yet and I'm loathe to even think about buying a GuitarPort until I know I can record with it in Tracktion.

Greg

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 11:05 am

The GP can be used as a USB 1-in, 2-out ASIO soundcard, but not with the modelling software running, AFAIK. I actually use it on a second machine to save horses, although it might be possible to use it in conjunction with a proper host on the same machine using another soundcard; its CPU usage aint that much on my 1.3 TBird Athlon.

omicrom · Post by **omicrom** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 11:18 am

I use my Guitar Port with Tracktion 2.0 but I run the audio through my mixer and then to my soundcard. I dont have to set Tracktion 2.0 to the Guitar Ports ASIO driver but I do have to start the Guitar Port software after I fire up Tracktion 2.0.
I have used the PODxt as well and I cannot tell the difference in sound quality of the models.
Hope this helps!

timmyo · Post by **timmyo** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 11:51 am

whyterabbyt wrote:The GP can be used as a USB 1-in, 2-out ASIO soundcard, but not with the modelling software running, AFAIK. I actually use it on a second machine to save horses, although it might be possible to use it in conjunction with a proper host on the same machine using another soundcard; its CPU usage aint that much on my 1.3 TBird Athlon.

There is no problem running GP modelling direct in to your Host internally on one machine. I have a clunky old Althlon 1.2GHz and do just that. Select 'ASIO Guitarport' as the audio device and it then shows up as an audio input. To monitor you will then also be using the Guitarport out (hook your monitors up to the RCAs on Guitarport) - that way no external mixer is needed and it works fine for me.

<edit> I'm using Tracktion btw

Lunch Money · Post by **Lunch Money** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 11:51 am

Sure does. Just let me confirm:

You plug your guitar into GuitarPort. You connect GuitarPort to your PC with the USB cable. You ALSO connect the GuitarPort to your mixer with an audio cable. Then you connect your mixer to your usual soundcard inputs for recording.

Is that the gist of it? Does that mean that the USB cable feeds a signal BACK to the GuitarPort so that you can plug it into whatever else you want?

Greg

napsack · Post by **napsack** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:20 pm

I just picked up a GuitarPort last night from GC... Got it for $76 (open box, god love um), and it's gotta be the best $76 I've spent on guitar tone in awhile (at least from a standpoint of usable versatility)...

anyhow, as for recording, I am using SONAR, and the way that I got it to work is I would use the WDM drivers, which would drop SONAR down to 44.1khz/16-bit (my main card is an ECHO MIA). I would then select the GuitarPort Stereo as the input for the track, and change the Master output on the project to the GuitarPort as well. In the GuitarPort software there are recording controls and you can control how much of the guitar sound you here, and how much of the Computer. So instead of having to do "Live Input Echo/Monitoring" in SONAR, you can just let the GuitarPort software do the monitoring of the guitar, and mix in the track from SONAR's level in the GuitarPort software with the Computer level. This seemed to work pretty well. The one thing to look out for, is you have to make sure that NOTHING is outputing to your other card.. At least I did.. If I had any track directly outputing to my MIA instead of going to the Master channel and through the GuitarPort, all I would get is a big mess of noise.. Kind of strange.

The thing that kinda sucks about this setup though is that in order for me to get back to 24-bit recording, I have to disable the GuitarPort drivers in SONAR and restart SONAR. That is kind of a PITA, so I may just grab an RCA-1/4" stereo adapter from RadioShack (ack!) and record through my mixer.. I doubt it would make much of a fidelity/noise difference... But in short, GuitarPort = Much Love.

timmyo · Post by **timmyo** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:27 pm

You don't actually need another sound card. If (like me) the only external stuff you record is guitar (I do drums and bass using plugins/midi) then the GP<-->USB is the only connection you need to the PC, and connect your monitors to the GP audio outs.

If you need additional audio inputs then do as Lunch Money says above - the Ins on your other card feed its outs, which (via a mixer) can feed the (mini jack) in on GP - there are many ways to skin this cat, but I usually just use GP (although this may change when I get a better PCI card, and I also plan to start recording acoustic with dual mics, so then a mixer will be required and my overall approach will have to change.

hello1234 · Post by **hello1234** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:31 pm

Consider the live xt. The thing is that it's much much cleaner (quality of signal) and of course nice to have the foot controls. There are problems with the software/guitarport connections for ALL line6 products since the usb is also asio drivers. It hijacks your system and is not recommended for the daw part of your system. It's not fatal, but it's a pain unless you are familiar with the symptoms. I'm currently trying to sort it out with line6........it's a painful process so far (did you download the lastest drivers and all that "duh" stuff........and they know the problem exisists........)

Guitarport is a great product if you are a guitar player (crappy preamp won't work for bass......distorts no matter what.) and although not quite as many amps and such as the more expensive units, it's still a fun and funcktional product.

Lunch Money · Post by **Lunch Money** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:36 pm

I don't imagine people would even consider the GuitarPort over a Pod unless price were the issue, though, so that's a moot point.

Scotrick · Post by **Scotrick** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:37 pm

yeah, I have the Pod XT, and I can say that I think within the computer it sounds about the same as the Guitar Port, but of course with the Pod XT you can take it away from the computer and still get a good sound...

like the other person, I would recommend the PodXT live, if you can afford one, well, if you play live at all...

any of them are great products... I don't care whether they sound like a room full of amps or not, they're great for getting different guitar tones and texturs... for vocals and whatnot too

napsack · Post by **napsack** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:42 pm

yeah for me the guitarport was the answer since my live rig i like to keep analog... pretty much just plug into my amp and roll.. maybe through my ts9 or voodoo chorus in the signal path but thats about it.. when it comes to recording i like to be able to layer a bunch of different guitar amps, and unfortunately at the moment I cannot afford a jcm800, dual rect, bassman, ac30, etc. etc. etc. so for $76 I can have approximations of the tones they would generate.

unlike eyeknow, i actually just installed the software from the cd, plugged the GP in and everything worked.. shocking!. hehe. on my AthlonXP3000+ it seems like the GP takes about 10% CPU-ish?.. I might try using a laptop I have laying around as a "dedicated" guitarport during recording so my DAW doesn't get bogged down...

whyterabbyt · Post by **whyterabbyt** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 12:42 pm

eyeknow666 quoth The thing is that it's much much cleaner (quality of signal) and of course nice to have the foot controls.

What's the actual difference in the AD and DA convertors then? The GP is supposed to be 24bit so whats the difference?

BTW you can use MIDI from anything to control the Guitarport.

There are problems with the software/guitarport connections for ALL line6 products since the usb is also asio drivers.

What problems, exactly?

It hijacks your system and is not recommended for the daw part of your system.

and although not quite as many amps and such as the more expensive units, it's still a fun and funcktional product.

Unless you get the model packs, like I already said. If you do, you can get exactly the same number of amps and effects as the Vetta II.

GuitarPort and PODxt?