- Initially I was all fired up about X-Edit, the PC-based editor. After fiddling around with it for a couple days, I've stopped using it, not to the fault of X-Edit. The relative simplicity of the GSP1101 (with fewer effects and parameters to tweak than competing units) and its relatively intuitive display/controls means that I don't need to fire up the PC to be efficient at editing patches... it's only taken me a couple of minutes to dial in any particular tone I've been looking for.
- That said, I created about 20 patches to use for performance/rehearsal... starting with clean tones from the M4 with spring reverb (and switchable wah), crunch/heavy tones from the M4 with studio reverb (and slightly "pushed" wah), solo tones from the M4 with delay and hall reverb, all sorts of clean variations (chorus, flange, phaser, rotary, autowah, detune, etc), some heavy pitch shifted tones, a guitar-synth patch (loaded with modulation, delay, and reverb), and finally an acoustic simulator patch. They all sound good (high quality effects, relatively transparent) at low volumes, but I'm curious to see how well they hold up at high volumes at tomorrow's rehearsal.
- I also created about 25 patches to use for recording... all of these are stripped down with no effects except for a touch of studio reverb. I have a patch for practically every model in the GSP1101 with the corresponding simulated cab enabled (e.g., Fender Champ through a 1x8, Fender D.R. through a 1x12, Vox AC30TB through a 2x12, Marshall JCM800 through a 4x12, etc.). Again, they sound good so far through the headphones, but I haven't tried recording using the XLR outputs--I'm hoping it will stack up favorably against the V-AMP Pro currently in the studio rack.
So my experience with the GSP1101 + Control 2 has been positive so far, but the real test will be in rehearsals and recording sessions.
My one gripe... Having read a lot of GSP1101 reviews prior to purchase, I knew there was an issue affecting some GSP1101's where there is a loud "click" sound through the headphones until the unit gets warmed up. As luck would have it, my unit is plagued with this issue. It's very annoying (since it's relatively loud compared to the audio level), though not a complete show stopper since it goes away after 3-4 minutes of playing. Still, it defeats the pupose of my "instant on" setup for recording. It does not impact the 1/4" line outs, and I have yet to see if it impacts the XLR outs. Hopefully it will be a simple (quick) repair under warranty.
Coming soon... more on the GSP1101, including thoughts on how it holds up with the band, as well as some sample clips of the amp models straight to PC.
--B
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2 comments:
Great review - thanks. Any update yet on live use? Also, how do you find the Control 2? Can you re-assign the bank switches to just go up and down between patches, so that you can utilize the 1-5 switches for more effect control? I am trying to decide between the Control 2 and the Behringer FCB 1010 midi controller. Also, do experience any digital aliasing on any patches when letting chords sustain?
CP
I never did get to use the GSP1101 for live use... only for some band rehearsals and a bit of recording work. I really liked the Control 2 (very fast switching + brain-dead configuration), though I don't believe it had the option to reassign the 1-5 switches for more control over effects. (I'd still recommend it over the Behringer FCB1010... I ordered a new FCB1010 once and it arrived with 2 broken switches and several damaged lights.) Having tried a lot of effects boxes over the gears, the GSP1101 was relatively transparent... I didn't notice any tonal change on delay/sustain as much as I noticed just a bit of "softening" (a bit less attack) on chords--perhaps due to some compression occuring in the signal chain.
--B
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