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Author
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Topic: New Toy - Line6 Tone Port UX2
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Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 13 February 2006 01:11 PM
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Just got a new gadget. This Line6 TonePort thing has two mike inputs with phantom power and two guitar inputs. It contains virtual preamp emulators that you control via USB from your computer.
It has digital and analog outputs to run into any external recorder, or you can record directly into various software programs in your computer.
I hope to hook it up tonight. Anyone else have one of these, or am I the first Forum member to get one?------------------
 Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6) My Blog |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 13 February 2006 06:36 PM
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Very impressive looking piece, and at that price. Keep us updated. SPDIF and USB, two mic preamps, cool VU meters, all that modeling software, way cool idea. Brad |
Bob Martin
Member From: Madison Tn
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posted 13 February 2006 07:31 PM
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Hi b0b, I was going to buy one and I did considerable research on them as far as downloading several demos with it being used as the preamp for recording vocals as well as guitar. I also read every bit of information I could find on the web.I was very impressed with the sound as well as the whole process of modeling effects and amps thru software rather than hardware i.e. pods and such. I had my money all ready to order one and then I read the reviews at musicians friend and they scared me a little bit and I decided to try another product. Just about 9 out of 10 users complained of the drivers not working for usb recording and as using it as an interface. It seems according to the users that usb which is the whole reason for using it is not quite there yet as far as their drivers go. Most complained about pop's and cracks all the way thru the recordings. With no fix yet. Now with that being said if it is true I can't imagine line 6 letting that go on very long and they probably have it fixed by now. I will say that I tried a hardware version of it called the pod-xt live and when I tried to record with it thru usb I got the same results so that's what really made me decide not to use it. Let me know if they have it fixed yet or if the problem even exists. I normally take those user reviews with a whole table spoon of salt but one review right after the other kept saying the same thing so I thought there might be something to it. Well I went with Boss GT-8 but I still have my money laid back for this unit and I will be waiting with bated breath to see if there's a problem or not and if there was did the fix it. My main use for it would be a nice warm preamp for my AKG-C414 into my digital console as I already have my guitar effects now. Well anyway let us know how it works for you. Bob[This message was edited by Big Bob Martin on 14 February 2006 at 03:13 AM.] |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 14 February 2006 10:20 AM
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First problem: The Gearbox software CD that came with it had written on it Mac OS X 10.3.9 or 10.4. I tried to install it and it complained that it needed 10.4 (I have 10.3.9).
Solution, I downloaded the software from their web site and it installed just fine.
I haven't recorded with it yet. I plugged my steel and my headphones into the unit and played with the models to hear what they sounded like. The set of amp models is pretty limited compared to my Pod XT. Seems that they picked the ones I have little use for. They want you to buy an expansion pack, I guess, to get the good guitar amp models.
The mic preamp models seem to be pretty cool, though. I might end up using one of them for steel. Also, there are bass amp models that aren't available in my pod, and you can sweeten them with effects.
The hardware itself is lightweight plastic. Pretty flimsy - feels like junk. I wish they had used a metal case like the Pod series.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give the software a 9 (it's way cool!), the stock models a 5 and the hardware a 3.
It also come with some recording software called "Live" that I haven't played with yet.------------------
Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6) My Blog |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 14 February 2006 10:24 AM
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Oh yeah, the VU meters light up and look really cool. And the hardware is powered from the USB so there's no wall-wart. So maybe I'll upgrade my rating of the hardware to a 4 or even higher, depending on how well it actually works. It's a crappy plastic case, though, and that's a big minus for me. |
Bill Leff
Member From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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posted 14 February 2006 11:54 AM
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I wonder if the drivers would work with OS X 10.3.1? That's what's on my wife's Mac and I'm too scared/cheap to update it, since everything works fine for her. I'm running Garageband version 1 on it and liking it but am going through the soundcard which is not optimal, but still produces some pretty good results. |
Bob Martin
Member From: Madison Tn
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posted 14 February 2006 04:18 PM
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Yeah b0b, I forgot to mention about the expensive upgrade packages. I think for 99.00 you can get one of the effect/stomp box/amp cab packages to add more effects or for either 149.00 or 199.00 you can add everything they have all stompbox models and all amp and cab models. That sort of stinks but they probably need the money to buy more boats and stuff:-)But I'm still wondering how much horse power it takes to run a bunch of stompbox effects and amp/cab models and of course the usb driver issue they talked about. When you get around to recording please let us know. I might still get one if for no other reason as a Mic pre. Big Bob |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 16 February 2006 10:56 AM
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I mainly got it to record with my condenser mikes with phantom power. From what I've heard, there's no reason at all to use the guitar amp simulators. I can just run my PodXT or rack into it as a convenient interface for recording.
Still haven't found time to record with it. My day job has been hell for the past month. My brain is fried by the time I get home. I've been doing Sudoku puzzles (on paper!) and playing marimba in the evening to unwind. The last thing I feel like doing is experimenting with electronics...------------------
Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6) My Blog |
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