That is why I recommend not using Line 6 audio interfaces. Don't get me wrong. I love their products. I have a Pod XT, Pod X3 Live, and Pod HD. I like PodFarm quite a bit, and still use Gear Box. The best guitar tones I have come from the Pod HD and PodFarm, though I cheat a bit and use an LA-610 in front of the Pod HD. That and a PRS Custom 24 make for a good combination.
 
Really though, switch audio interfaces. Get a nice midi controller. Buy some software synths, a software sampler, and some quality soundsets. You will be able to make great recordings. You could still use the Toneport as a dongle for Gearbox, and send the output into your new audio interface.
 
Give it a try.
 
Paul

I don't know if your computer has a couple extra external 5.25" drive bays, But I'm a big fan of removable drive trays. That way you can setup a dedicated DAW, switch drives and do whatever else without having to build a different computer.

The answer to your question is 42...

Actually, it should be..'How much money do ya got?

Yeah, I gotta chime in along with a few others on recommending against the TonePort UX2 as a main audio device. I used to have one of those. I got so frustrated with it I trashed it. It works fine as a secondary device through which you play the Amp Farm models, but not as your main device. I could give several detailed reasons why but I its a bit lengthy. I scrapped it in lieu of a Focusrite Saffire PRO 24 DSP. Now granted the PRO 24 DSP is twice the price of the UX2, but it is well worth it, and $400 ain't at all unreasonable for you main audio interface if you're serious about recording. For recording guitar I mostly mic my old Boogie with a 57 or my Rode condenser. But for amp models, I'm really liking the TH2 from Overloud. I'm showing 4.4 msecs of latency through the Saffire at 44.1KHz and a 192 sample buffer, which is excellent.
 
Bottom line...save your pennies if necessary and go for a little better interface. Amp Farm will run through 3rd party ASIO devices, though I'm not sure about the latency.
 
JTW
 
 
 
 

I can not talk right now, but for guitar, try DigiTech 355- it also USB 1 in 1 out. Win. XP is not supported and will not work with SP2X. Go on Microsoft web site and read about upgrade to Win. 8. There is upgrade assistant that will scan your computer and tell you if you can upgrade. For interfaces I would go with MOTU, Presonus or M-Audio. For computer, check out http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/

jungfriend


You could still use the Toneport as a dongle for Gearbox, and send the output into your new audio interface.
 
Give it a try.
 
Paul

That's good advice. I don't recommend using the Toneport as the main Audio Device, but it will still unlock gearbox and allow you to use it within Sonar. and if you purchased any model packs for gearbox you will be allowed to use those too.


The main problem with toneport is that their preamps suck. I could never get any serious volume from the guitar input to record with. At the time my funds were limited and I could not just buy another audio interface because I had little money.


I purchased two art preamps from musicians friends for 29.00 bucks for each. That gave me the volume I needed for input. Later on when I purchased the Sonar hardware I was blown away at how much better it sounded and how much it improved my recordings. By all means dump the Toneport and get another audio interface.

I've been happy w/ "soft guitars" for the most part.  Nomad's guitar sim is pretty good as well as the new/old ones included w/ SONAR Producer.  A new interface and one of those should work fine.  If worse comes to worse, you can use a real amp/mic.

There are plenty of cheap midi controller keyboards.  I got a Novation LE (25 keys) for $50 years ago.  Any should work, except for Aleissis, I guess.

Your computer is pretty much the same as I was using up to a month or so ago.  As long as you ain't slathering on the fx, it should be fine.  If it stutters, freeze.  A faster computer is easier to work w/ (rather than freezing guitar sims and convolution reverb I can just keep dropping them in!) but not necessary.  I would recommend a new one, but interface first.

@

jtwinpcola

Yeah, I gotta chime in along with a few others on recommending against the TonePort UX2 as a main audio device. I used to have one of those. I got so frustrated with it I trashed it. It works fine as a secondary device through which you play the Amp Farm models, but not as your main device...

Aside from the issue with the software, i.e. not being able to use the newer POD stuff with the old TonePort version of the hardware, I don't see any other reason not to recommend it as a main device.  As a soundcard, mine works perfectly well.  I am not sure why people are bashing the UX2 here.

For me the preamps in the Toneport were neither clean and transparent, nor rich and warm. They also didn't have enough level for some of my microphones. I ditched it quickly and traded it for a Pod X3. That gave me Gear Box, Pod Farm, great guitar modeling, and at least as good a soundcard as the Toneport. Now I mount it in an Atomic Reactor amp, and use an FBV mkII as a controller. That gets me some more life out of a legacy product.
 
The number of I/Os was also a limitation, and it never worked glitch free. I actually only wanted to use it to get guitar sounds into Sonar because my Pod XT was being used for my live rig. An Echo Layla 3G still serves as my audio interface, and that is probably the longest lived device in my studio. Computers, monitors, plugins, effect devices, midi controllers, pitch to midi converter, and more have been replaced because of the upgrade cycle in operating systems and DAW software.
 
That is why I warn others about making purchases without considering longevity. Some equipment is long lived; others a flash in the pan. I got caught badly by investing TC Powercore and Focusrite LiquidMix. A bundle of money down the drain that I wish I had invested in a really good stereo analog compressor. I know better now. It is sad but a good amount of ill will towards those companies is associated with their financial decisions to abandon these products. I just don't trust them any longer, and won't purchase products from them. That is the best way I can respond to such practices. Now I am much more cautious with my purchases, and realize fewer tools more aptly applied leads to quicker and superior results. I also save a great deal of time that was formerly spent learning new products, and integrating them into my studio, along with the frustration that goes along with it.