KVR Audio

zmora · Post by **zmora** » Fri Jun 02, 2006 5:52 pm

What is better for computer recording, Guitar Suite or SansAmp clone GDI21 Behringer?Interesting me opinion about sound.

chrishurley · Post by **chrishurley** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 1:38 pm

The GDI-21 is a sansamp clone and a relatively poor one at that. All of the settings have more distortion than the equivalent GT2, which may be a good thing, depending on your perspective. The GDI-21 is a great value however for the $25 or whatever that it costs.

Simulanalog plugins sound better to me and also keep you from having to "print" a final sound while you record your tracks. On the other hand, you'll have to have a low-latency recording setup to work this way. The Line 6 TonePort really is a decent low-latency interface that can be used for this purpose. The line6 amp sims are a bonus and can be bypassed if you just want to use plugins in your host.

zmora · Post by **zmora** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 6:18 pm

Thanks for your opinion.I used Guitar Suite with succes on my Soloist card.Latency is very low.Important for me is opinion about soud.

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 6:29 pm

there's a sansamp clone

....that's just plain funny...I'd shell out the 150 for a GT2.

Amberience · Post by **Amberience** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 6:43 pm

The clone is actually supposed to be quite good. Bit noisy, but not as shabby as Chris has made out I don't think.

chrishurley · Post by **chrishurley** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 6:54 pm

Its not exactly shabby- it really is a tremendous value compared to the GT2. It isn't a fantastic copy of the GT2, but worth the money for sure. I don't really like the sound of sansamp-type devices without some sort of auxillary cabinet simulation, but it is still quite handy to have/

dusted william · Post by **dusted william** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:10 pm

I bought the bass version of the sansamp clone and it won't turn on. I'm shipping it back to get a replacement.

dw

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:51 pm

chrishurley wrote:Its not exactly shabby- it really is a tremendous value compared to the GT2. It isn't a fantastic copy of the GT2, but worth the money for sure. I don't really like the sound of sansamp-type devices without some sort of auxillary cabinet simulation, but it is still quite handy to have/

I may have to take your word for it, though I would appreciate a model numer or link. I'm kinda on the fence with Behringer right now, they really started their saturation of the entire market of sound gear a couple years before I left retail. On one hand it might have tones I really like and at 25 bux it surely is worth it. On the other hand, so far I have found behringer to have noise issues with a lot of what I have tried.

But my biggest problem is that I'm not sure I feel comfortable about what they are doing to the music retail business. That's where I'm still on the fence. Once at Looptalk (FL) I got in a huge argument defending them with someone I do not even remember but a few other regulars (including a staff memeber) took it to a personal level and attacking my character (remember I said I was defending behringer)and lashing out with childish insults...even refering to my opinion as useless because I shop at Walmart when the need arises.

That was a couple of years ago, but the truth is that whole argument was about behringer "bastardizing" companies...I guess at the time I was reasonably confident if that were the case the larger companies would have had their legal eagles all over it.

Now though it seems like perhaps there is truth to the bastardizing concept. As a result I'm a little skeptical to spend more money with them seeing how everything I have tried of theirs I didn't like to begin with and my mixer I gave to my son because it was useless for me.

I can see it being good for the consumer keeping prices from exploding, I can also see it as a ploy by the larger manufacturers (hence why no action) as a way to convince the consumers that they need to buy the more exspensive brand name stuff. But I do also see it as being possibly just this side of piracy.

Because I do not have the facts I need to really come to a fair conclusion I feel a little "when in doubt"...but then it's only 25 bux so what's the harm? My only problem is if I believe behringer is a good faith company and until I'm sure I'm a little concerned about supporting them...

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 8:29 pm

well I just looked at it at B&H, I was somewhat surprised to see that the more popular stores didn't seem to carry it...by looks it sure does seem to have features of the GT2....but it also has features the GT2 does not....ground lift, xlr jacks...in fact as has been said it's likely worth the money if not just as a DI...my one question to chris is, are the tone controls passive or active like in the GT2?...because imo the active tone controls on the GT2 are one of the better features...they are quite responsive. Truly though for 30 bux (that's the price I found) it's a good deal...if you want to buy from behringer...

chrishurley · Post by **chrishurley** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:19 pm

I think the tone controls must be active- they are very responsive.

Where the GT2 bests it is in cleaner sounds. Its hard to get a clean sound on the behringer.

You won't get an argument from me saying it isn't worth the money. Its so cheap that would be tough. :)

The Tri-AC is a pretty cool sansamp to have too. 3 presets in it. All of these things seem to have some sounds that the others don't.

Hink · Post by **Hink** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:22 pm

thanx chris, I think I might order it just as a DI/splitter, besides I just got a pair of dt 770s from B&H and I want to stay on their mailing list...

poonna · Post by **poonna** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 9:14 am

chrishurley wrote:The Tri-AC is a pretty cool sansamp to have too. 3 presets in it. All of these things seem to have some sounds that the others don't.

Perhaps a bit OT, but seeing that you might have Tri-AC, how would you compare the tone of Tri-AC to GT2? Is it true that Tri-AC sounds more vintage and less aggressive?

I see that Tri-AC has more control on equalization as it has mid-band EQ. Does this work towards obtaining modern scooped mid sound?

Regards,
Poonna

chrishurley · Post by **chrishurley** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:10 am

No authentic modern metal sound in any of the sansamps. They can do a scoop, but not the complexity in the mids. Each of them seems to have some different sounds though. Makes it hard to decide which one to buy (or keep if you have more than one)

Lunch Money · Post by **Lunch Money** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:44 am

I really like the GDI21, and I disagree about the modern metal sound. I think you CAN get it, but just like any amp sim/emulator, it won't sound right just by itself. It needs help. For me, this means-- gating, using a VST EQ instead of the 'tone' control on the unit itself, and layering.

Now, a word to the wise: I had the DC adapter's input jack/circuit/whatever die on me. It would still work with battery, but the jack stopped working within days. I got it replaced. Then I had the replacemnt die. And yes, I was using the right voltage, resistance, polarity, etc.

I just dug out a soldering iron, a dead 9V battery which I ripped apart with pliers for the top 'connector' part, and rigged up my adapter to use the battery compartment instead. Working so far, but a real burn. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a consistent problem and some sort of design flaw.

Greg

dusted william · Post by **dusted william** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:15 am

Now, a word to the wise: I had the DC adapter's input jack/circuit/whatever die on me. It would still work with battery, but the jack stopped working within days. I got it replaced. Then I had the replacemnt die. And yes, I was using the right voltage, resistance, polarity, etc.

I just dug out a soldering iron, a dead 9V battery which I ripped apart with pliers for the top 'connector' part, and rigged up my adapter to use the battery compartment instead. Working so far, but a real burn. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a consistent problem and some sort of design flaw.

I wonder if that is what is wrong with my BDI21.

I'll give it a try before I send it back.

dw

GS or Behringer GDI21