Which Newer Interface is the right choice for easy reamping?

[xdespisedicon]

Hello,

 

I am a long time user of the POD UX1/POD Farm 2 setup and am looking to upgrade to a newer, better quality Line 6 device. Currently I use the setup to record directly into my DAW (Reaper). I use the UX1 as a DI interface, then in Reaper I load the POD Farm 2 VST. This is great because I am able to make a signal chain/amp setting then record a track with it. If I am unhappy with some aspect (too much gain, not enough mids, too much bass, etc), I am able to make the changes within the POD Farm 2 plug-in in real time and hear the changes reflected in the play back as I listen and tweak. 

 

So my question is, which newer POD interface will be able to still easily do this for me, while giving me the best POD tone quality? I've been juggling a bunch of options and can't really find any straight forward answers. I'm between a POD HD Pro X, the X3 Pro, or a newer Pod Studio UX2. They each have their pro's and con's for me and I was hoping someone could shed some light on which would be best for recording the way I'm comfortable recording. 

 

The cons (and I may be misinformed):

-The HD Pro X needs either another interface, or complicated routing to get dry signal reamping to work. It does not support any kind of real time tone tweaking ability over USB.

 

-The X3 Pro is outdated/not supported anymore, so I can't find one new (easily) that still carries some kind of line 6 warranty. It still uses older modeling technology (i.e. prior to the HD releases)

 

-The UX2 Studio does not seem to be much of an upgrade from the UX1. From what I've read, there's not any hardware changes that would actually result in a higher quality signal/better audio/less latency/etc. Again like with the X3 Pro, it's built on the older gen of modeling capabilities.

 

So what do I get?

Thanks.

[silverhead]

I believe you are well informed. Line 6 provides simple and convenient tools and products for recording and reamping, but they are based on older technology (POD Studio UX series and X3/XT interfaces with Pod Farm plugins). The newer POD HD technology is more focused on live playing; there is no Pod Farm HD. The HD devices do not easily support reamping unless you also use another audio interface with the HD ProX (or 500X as long as your interface has s/pdif input).

 

So I think what would work best for you depends mostly on whether you want simple workflow at reduced cost, or superior tone. Your call.

[xdespisedicon]

Yeah that's what I was kind of afraid of. I really would like to do things how I do now, just with better/newer hardware and software platforms. Part of me wants to hold off and see if Line 6 ends up offering something new in their "Interfaces" department as I realize the HD series really is designed more for live play, with the ability of recording your tones just being an added benefit. I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed that Line 6 realizes how convenient the older gen interface/software pairing is for recording and they create the POD Studio HD series interfaces and the corresponding POD Farm HD software.  

[fflbrgst]

Note"  it's not 'reamping' unless you send the recorded signal out of your DAW to an amp (or other device), then back into a new track in your DAW.  I think what you want to do is simultaneous recording of clean and HD track?   You could do this, but it'll take work:  split your guitar signal (use something like the Radial Tonebone) to the Pod HD and a 2-input audio interface.  Run the audio output of the HD to the interface as well, then record the 2 inputs to two separate tracks.

I do this with my Spider 75 - I run the stereo audio output of it to two inputs and record that as a stereo track in Reaper, and take the DI guitar signal to a separate input on my Tascam US800 interface and record that to a mono track in Reaper.  I use a Radial PZ-Pre to split up the signal, running 1/4" to the amp input and XLR (DI) to the Tascam.

[silverhead]

fflbrgst makes a very good point. In re-reading your question you may be more interested in simply recording a dry signal using the Pod HD as the audio interface rather than actually reamping as clarified above. My earlier answer was based on actually reamping. If you just want to record a dry signal (and even a wet signal simultaneously) try this preset:

 

http://line6.com/customtone/tone/217206/