Guitar > MFX > Computer > Studio Monitors

[dacrylic]

Hi guys i was wondering whether such a set-up would work. The MFX being connected to the computer by USB or line-in and the computer hooked up to studio quality monitors such that both sound from the computer and sound from the guitar will come out through the monitors. Will there be latency issues or anything of that sort?

This is because i want to remove the amp per se from the equation and have the MFX permanently hooked up to high quality monitors which are already being used for the computer.

Any opinion or suggestion will be of great help. Thanks!

 

[Vax]

There are two possible setups that will work:
1. MFX direct to your computer, which means you hit the monitor button on your guitar track to hear your tone. You'll definitely have to adjust for latency.

2. Using a Y-cable before the monitors. This will look like:
MFX------------->Monitors
Computer----^

This way, you don't have to monitor from your DAW, and you'll have less of a latency issue (performance-wise anyway). I still prefer to have at least a small amp to play through, it feels more real than a pair of studio speakers. And I'll still be able to have amp feedback.

What MFX are you using? Does it have a headphone out?

 

[zesn]

Even with high quality headphones,
monitoring my signal and actually recording it... the recorded one always sounds nicer.
This happens when i'm going direct without an amp, using a simulated amp on the DAW.
I don't have any problems with latency so far.

However, monitoring my mic on my amp, sounds the same when it's recorded.
Weird right.

 

[dacrylic]

Thanks guys for the input. I am thinking of experimenting with the POD HD series and maybe stepping up to an axe-fx eventually but its all in the future. As i mostly go directly into the house PA i feel that a MFX will be better in terms of practicality especially in live settings. Also another + is that the tone from monitors should sound the same as when direct into PA (?). Is it possible to use the USB on the POD HD series to plug into the com and use the XLRs to connect to monitors. Im certain the POD will be used as the soundcard instead so i'll have to keep the POD on to have the speakers hooked up am i right?

 

[dorngo]

well for me, guitar-effects-DOD 285-computer-monitors. works for me. invest in a dod , or a palmer pdi 09. makes a whole lot of diff.

 

[carboxymoron]

If using a POD HD with amp sim he doesn't need a separate cab sim DI...

 

[MadWerewolfBoy]

what are you using to record? do you have a separate audio interface apart from the pod?

 

[dacrylic]

Just to clarify, I am thinking of using the monitors as more of an accurate depiction of how the MFX will sound through the front of house without an amplifier instead of recording per se. For the HD series i think i would not need a seperate interface but as for the Axe-FX it would be neccessary am i right?

More so i would like to use the monitors as a practice and a tone-gauge for my live sound instead of professional(or amateur) recording and mixing.

And so, another question would be, is it way less "shiok" and "feel" through studio monitors as compared to a good low wattage tube amp or even a great solid state amp? Afterall it would be horrible to practice without decent tone.

The final question would be how accurate will the tone sound from the studio monitors compared to the front of house?

Hahah i guess im just looking for an alternative rig specially for MFX usage as compared to many pedals stacked in front of an amp. This is because amps are fickle creatures and an amazing sounding board at home may sound bad on the amps at the live venue. Especially so when the PA crew may not be adequetly trained in mic-ing and EQ.

Thanks for all the comments so far!

 

[Vax]

Also another + is that the tone from monitors should sound the same as when direct into PA (?). Is it possible to use the USB on the POD HD series to plug into the com and use the XLRs to connect to monitors. Im certain the POD will be used as the soundcard instead so i'll have to keep the POD on to have the speakers hooked up am i right?

Yes, that's possible. The tone shouldn't differ when playing through monitors versus a PA. I do think that live tone is a whole different ball game than at home though. As you aptly mentioned, all it takes is a soundman doing a lousy job to make all those hours of tweaking useless. I gig with both a POD and a traditional setup of pedalboard/amp, and I think while it's practical (and far more portable) to use a POD, a lot less will go tonally wrong with a good 'ol mic and finding that sweet spot on the amp.

Is it less shiok to play through monitors versus an amp? That's a subjective experience; there's something about the dynamics of an amp driven hard resonating with the cab that I haven't been able to feel with studio monitors. (Even more shiok as you turn the amp up)

 

[MadWerewolfBoy]

More so i would like to use the monitors as a practice and a tone-gauge for my live sound instead of professional(or amateur) recording and mixing.

haha then don't confuse us with the latency questions!! i use the same setup, i just skip my computer altogether and plug my monitors straight into the headphone out of my pod hd500.

and yes, most of the time, if your tone sounds great on flat response monitors, it should sound good on the PA. but it's always best to tweak your tone less bassy even though it sounds good for practise because it will tend to screw up the mix in a band setting.

 

[Rohai]

Since we're on the topics of studio monitors, what studio monitors are you guys using?