Tech 21 Character Pedals vs. Digitech's RP/GSP Modeling for Direct-to-Board

[mtmartin71]

Title says it all. For those who have had a chance to compare, which produces a better direct sound to FOH/Board for live use? I have an Axe-FX and RP1000 already. The AxeFX sounds much better than the RP1000 with all sims going direct to the board for live use. The RP1000 does not have enough options to take the clanky sheen off of the direct sound...to me. I'm after a backup option and the RP1000 is doing duty strictly as a pedal board for my Marshall 2061 head/cab combo when I use that. I don't have a great solution though for a lightweight backup and was considering putting the RP1000 through a Character pedal if the Tech21's cab modeling was better than the Digitech stuff. Anyone here directly compare these two on that basis?

 

[peridot1]

I like the Character series better. Smoother. No clanky digitalness. I do like the RP1000 though. Very flexible and I'm getting some fine tones if I work at it. Even better I like to use them together. Yes I do say they work well together. Especially the California.

 

[mtmartin71]

I like the Character series better. Smoother. No clanky digitalness. I do like the RP1000 though. Very flexible and I'm getting some fine tones if I work at it. Even better I like to use them together. Yes I do say they work well together. Especially the California.

Thanks. Are you using the RP1000 as a virtual pedalboard into the California as a virtual amp?

 

[peridot1]

If I remember right I have the Calif in the stomp loop. I turn the RP's distortion and amp models off. I use the cab sims, but I have the stomp loop in 'post amp' mode. Think it's the 4x12 fane or rock (can't remember. did many variations).

So what I got is RP's cab sim -> Calif -> effects. Don't know why it works but I love the sounds. It's not mesa. I'm getting metal.. or something between mesa and metal. Love these cab sims on the RP.

 

[mtmartin71]

That's interesting because when I was trying to dial in my RP1000 direct to the Verve 8ma I had, the sound was too shrill and not smooth. The limited PEQ (no roll-off curves) didn't really allow me to dial it out the way I wanted. Conversely, the AxeFX Ultra sounds much more smoother and natural to me when trying to go direct and I think that has to do with the cab sims. I'm using the RedWirez stuff though so not the stock sims in the box.

 

[peridot1]

When I go direct to board I like to blend sounds. A little of this a little that. The Calif is designed to go direct. So my layout was 4x12 sim first into the Calif. So most of the tone was coming from the character pedal.

The cab sims have their own distortion sound as you well know. Sometimes the amp models are too strong for me.

There are many shrill, unsmooth sounds on the RP. But after so many midrange floor modelers this is the best I've heard and can use (never play the AxeFX).

I like to get many different sounds. Character pedals are very nice but I was looking for a multi to give me variety without too much fizz. I don't rely on it's own EQ to dial them out. I blend sounds together. Usually what I do is use the RPs models or sims (rarely both at the same time) to blend with a character pedal and a tube preamp, and find the right chain to make it work.

So using the character and preamp with the RP I have a much easier time ridding the clanky shrill if I have the right unit dominating the sound.

RP alone direct to board for mid to high gain? Not enough for me, but better than the other floor units I've tried to make work of.