Mic'd a cab. For the first time in almost 15 years.
My first impression?
:) :) :)
A lot funnier and intuitive to move a mic around than to browse through impulses or to move virtual mics onscreen w/ a mouse.
I've always felt like emulation had "sweet spots" where everything sounds as expected but when you twist a knob just a little bit, it all falls apart and sound nothing like the real thing. Because of that, I end up feeling like I'm a newbie even if I've been at it for years - it's like all my experience doesn't register. Things are lot more predictable w/ actual amps and mics. To me anyway. There is a consistency that seems to be missing in the software world.
That being said, I'm not ready to sell my amp sims. I've messed with them all later last night again and I'm thinking that a bit of both is probably the best option for me at this time, but that the core of my sound has to come from a real amp. It also seems easier for me to put on my guitar player hat when I'm turning knobs and staring at the Marshall logo than moving a mouse and staring at a computer screen.