Zoom ZFX or Line6 UX2

[Hotrod40]

Any one have either?....comments about the software would be helpful too.

[macfar14]

I'm curious to see if anyone has used the UX2, and definitely POD Farm.

[SDSrt-4]

I have it, just got it for x-mas. What do you want to know?

[macfar14]

I'm just looking for something decent sounding and inexpensive to do some bedroom recording & practice. I can't mic my amp in my condo and want to be able to record ideas with and approximation of the tone in my head. I've got an Edirol USB interface that I've had for years and considered just buying Guitar Rig, Amplitube, GTR etc for use a plug in (I'm just using Garageband on my Macbook) but I was intrigued by the look of POD Farm & price of the UX2 because it includes POD Farm. I noticed POD Farm is sold seperately but I'd have to buy an iLok key. Figured it would be just as easy to get the UX2 at that point. I'm mostly curious how POD Farm stacks up against Guitar Rig and the others because I really like the look of POD Farm.

[Hotrod40]

I am just getting into all this stuff as a hobby...started out looking at a recording studio such as a Zoom HD16 or a Boss unit....someone suggested due to cost factor and ease of use go to an audio interface and software rout...UX1 or 2 or the Zoom ZFX...would be the least cash outlay and the quickest way to get my feet wet...I know both units come with some basic pc software however if I really enjoy the experience I may look at getting an iMac and a more detailed software package.I am mostly looking for as much input as possible.

[SDSrt-4]

So far my experience has been ok. For high gain sounds its not very good, but there is a metal amp model pack available that I dont have. Low to med gain sounds I think it sounds pretty good. It has been very nice that if i had riff or lick or song idea i can boot up pod farm, boot up reaper and in 10 seconds flat be laying down ideas with zero latency thanks to the tone direct monitoring. Add in the fact that ot has tons of usable sounds for guitar and bass also. I would say just get it, especially from musicians friend because i think you can return it within 45 days if its not your cup of tea. Hope this helps. PM me if you have any specific Q's.

[drgonzoguitar]

I am really diggin' POD Farm. I will try to post some stuff tomorrow to provide some examples. The vocal preamps are really solid!

[amigo30]

I also just got a UX2 for Christmas.

So far, I love it! Using Pod Farm, I've been having a blast playing with some great tones. I've just plugged it into the FX loop in on my amp, and listening through it through a 2x12. Pod Farm is a breeze, you won't have any trouble with that.

I fired up the Ableton software, downloaded some drum tracks, and made a track using the downloaded drum tracks, a rhythm tone and a lead tone. I had it figured out and had a decent sounding track within the first 2 hours.

This is coming from somebody with absolutely zero recording experience prior to installing the software.

I did have some trouble trying to configure my computer keyboard for midi triggers for making my own drum tracks. I may have to resort to reading the directions.

Good luck with it.

[macfar14]

Yeah, the vocal preamps interested me as well. I'd love to hear clips if anyone is willing to share.

drgonzoguitar - I like the Nomad mod clips from your myspace page.

[KCWM]

I recently picked up a UX2 at a pawnshop. I was simply using gearbox for recording and playback purposes. Like a poster above, I find that the higher the gain, the worse it sounds...but that seems to be my experience with line-in recording.
Having that line in recording for bass purposes is nice as well...especially with the bass cab sims that they have. The one thing I've noticed, and maybe it's just my lack of tweaking, but it doesn't seem like the line in signal is all that hot...i almost always have to max the volume/gain in order to get it up. But, I also have a Presonus TubePRE that I use to offset that.

I'm not sure if you can use more than one input at a time...that's the one thing I haven't figured out. If that is the case, that's a little limiting, as the M-Audio Mobile PreUSB can record 4 inputs at once, and thats what I upgraded from. But, the models and ability to shape my input more than makes up for it.