USB Interface

[davenz]

Hi gang

I'm after some advice, and who better than the guitar gurus that frequent this forum.

I started off a few weeks ago using an M-Audio Fast Track USB device to get Riffworks going. It is an entry level thing, and it did the job. I went out a couple of days ago all fired up and bought an M-Audio Black Box. I had done the research and it all looked like a good product. Just my luck, the day I purchased it I went back to the M-Audio site and the Black Box had disappeared from their pages - a site search turned it up under the 'Obsolete' products. Story of my life really, but that's for another forum.

Anyway, it doesn't actually sound that good, and it doesn't play well with Vista - the driver is a beta release and apparently now there will be no others. I can't program anything using my Vista machine so it is next to useless. Long story short, I am going to return it and this is the problem, I want to replace it with something else. Those Line 6 Pods and Tone Ports look good, but some people are grumbling about how they work with Riffworks (which is all I am interested in really). So my question is this; what would you guys buy (if you had a few hundred bucks) to use with Riffworks. What do you use, and does it work great or does it just 'work'. What do the devs use? If I got a Tone Port do I use it the same as my Fast Track thing, or do I need the Line 6 version of Riffworks? I know I should know this but I am pretty new to all this computer recording stuff.

I am taking it back about 12 hours from now so don't be shy, let me know what I should buy!

Thanks for your help.

Dave.

[Wedgebill]

If you want superlative guitar recording, for me it's Line6 Pod XT Live.

If you want to add high quality vocal recording it's toneport UX2.

I have both and they both are excellent with any version of RiffWorks. I have both Line6 version and std version of RiffWorks so can vouch for that.

I'm reading here that Pod X3 is maybe the new way to go, can't comment on that from experience though. You'll have to wait for a comment from elsewhere on that and any other devices.

[mickeymix]

TonePort works ROCK solid with either the Line 6 or Standard versions of RiffWorks...I happen to have Standard and a TonePort UXII.....upgraded from GuitarPort which also served me quite well.........but I needed the Phantom Power and mic pre-sets for vox.. my TP works equally well with either Vista (my laptop) or XP (PC) ...I haven't heard any grumbling about the Toneports and RW's just with the POD X3..........seems the POD X3 drivers aren't quite out yet for RiffWorks............Line 6 has been in NO rush to release em apparently...... I've heard nothing but RAVES about the POD XTLive though.

[Wedgebill]

And maybe you can get your hands on a cheap XT live on Ebay from someone who's "upgraded" to X3

Are they doin the variax 300 + Pod package in your neck of the woods ? That's a good bet.

You might be able to get the autoplay feature to work

[davenz]

Line 6 stuff is stupidly expensive in New Zealand. I would buy on eBay but the power supplies are all wrong voltage-wise and getting the thing repaired if it went 'phut' would be impossible. I have the option to buy a 2nd hand Toneport UX2 for 250 bucks (retail is 599 here) so thats what I'm thinking I'll go for. If you guys recommend them, then they must be good.

I looked at the pods. An XT goes for 699 here, but aren't they specially for computer interface recording? I got the impression they were more a DI unit for the studio than a computer interface. There are some grumplings on the line 6 forums about them working with Vista.

Plus, I am undecided about having amp emulators in the device or on the computer - to be honest Amplitube Live has way better sounds than this 500 dollar Black Box I have here. Thoughts?

Thanks guys, I appreciate your help.

Dave.

[Wedgebill]

Second-hand Toneport UX2 ??? Cool, make sure you get Gearbox with it.

Rip their arm off mate, Toneport UX2 even has a special flat area in the middle between the silver twiddly bits to stand your beer mug on

[mickeymix]

Amplitube does have some phenominal sounds that sit WELL in the mix when also using GearBox which is where your TonePort tones would be at on your computer....... Amplitube can be used with the TonePort no probs........


The XT is the "bean" version of the Pod XT Live ......if I was to get one or the other it would be the XTLive .....so's as to be able to use the wah's and volume pedal.......

If ya get the TP , I'm sure you'll LOVE the tones in GearBox............

[cwight]

I use Guitarport, which works fine. There are some issues with Riffworks crashing and losing the drivers, but there can be sorted out by unplugging your USB than plugging it back in after 30 secs (this forces Gearbox to reload the drivers). What's the diff between Guitarport and and Toneport? No idea, never really figured that one out....

Also, with Riffworks standard you get included a limited, but nonetheless impressive free version of Amplitube; and there are some very helpful guys out there can can help you get the full version (if you know what I mean ). Does Toneport come with the Line6 Riffworks included? What version of Riffworks are you using now Dave?

[mickeymix]

What's the diff between Guitarport and and Toneport? No idea, never really figured that one out....

GuitarPort which I had bought originally and used for about a year only has 1 single 1/4 inch input.


TonePort UXII has.......

...........2 1/4 inch (1 reg & 1 padded)
............2 XLR for microphones PLUS phantom power for your fav condenser mics
............2 Line Ins (1/4 inch)
............plus more.............yeah it is double the price but ya get more then quadruple the recording flexability...........

dual amping and such........


Don't get me wrong ..........
GuitarPort DID serve me well but I just needed more..........

[Wedgebill]

Mickey, I notice your reference to 2 1/4 inch padded, are you referring to the cell you are kept in or my incontinence knickers ???

[gatorjj]

Dave, not knowing what else is ridiculously expensive in NZ I think the UX2 is a good choice if you can get a decent deal on it. You will get a lot of good capability out of that and Gearbox. And if you want to bypass Gearbox and use something like Amplitube you certainly can.

[ThrobbyRobby]

I'm using POD XT live, and it works flawlessly with Riffworks standard. The prices down under are outrageous! My thoughts are, purchase a used XT live from someone here in the US. You can find them for about $225-300. They are powered by a transformer that plugs into the wall socket, so you could find one that drops your 220v to the correct dc input voltage for fairly cheap. It would save you hundreds! The XT live updates its drivers and can be expanded (additional FX, amps,etc) through the internet. Also, with the XT live, you have all the tones you've developed available for playing "live". Sounds awsome through a PA, especially if you play in stereo!

[ThrobbyRobby]

P.S. Dave
The xt live works as a DI for recording, or playing live, but it's an asio device and connects via usb port. Also, because it has its own processor, all the guitar tones and effects are processed by the unit itself, it really takes a load off your computer.

[pooterpatty]

If prices in your area are that expensive, you might look for a second-hand GuitarPort, as it would be cheaper than the TonePort, which is newer. The system I'm using is at the lower end of the scale as far as "system requirements" goes, and my GuitarPort/Gearbox/Riffworks Std. combo is rock solid and stable. This is, of course, providing you don't have much need to record vocals, which the TonePort would be better at (it should be theoretically possible with GuitarPort, though you'd have to use a mic with a 1/4" out). For vocals I normally use a mic into a 4-channel mixer then direct into the sound card.

[davenz]

Thanks for your suggestions guys.

Robby I would love to grab gear from the US - eBay has so many good deals (the Black Box for example is only 199 there (plus 47 postage which is in itself outrageous) and the same thing is 550 here) but while I could easily find another power supply adapter (or even step-down transformer) it is more the repair side of things. Many places there refuse to warranty their products as soon as they ship offshore, which is crap as they are legally bound (in New Zealand at least) to honour the warranty. If something like a Pod broke down, that's the end of it here unless it is under warranty. Even then it gets sent out to Singapore or somewhere like that so I'd be without it for weeks, if not months. This is the main reson buying overseas bites many customers in the behind.

I could always just take the chance that nothing would go wrong with it, but my 'luck' with things like that isn't great to be honest. I see a 2nd hand Pod XT Live here on an auction site for 549, I might look at that one.

Thanks all, you helped a lot.

Have a great day

Dave.