Spaceboy (or others)...
I'm using PT9.X (HD system) with my new Axe II and wanted to get your opinion on something.
I would love to track dry signal and processed signal at the same time, keeping the dry for reamping. Prior to getting the Axe, I had a Pod Pro. I connected this to my external clock, and then recorded both processed and dry signal. Simple.
Near as I can tell, though, the Axe doesn't accept external clock unless it's also accepting input on that channel -- so I can't have clock on the digital input and track from the front panel analog input.
The USB isn't an option in Pro Tools HD and would be pretty lousy quality even if it was, right?
So if I want to keep the unprocessed signal in the digital domain (which I would prefer) I think my only option is to plug the guitar into a pre-amp that converts the signal to digital, track that signal unprocessed (albeit colored by the preamp even if it's not by much), and then send the digital signal into one of the digital inputs on the Axe, and then take the processed output from the Axe II from the digital out (or an analog output if I don't care about the processed signal remaining digital, which if I'm reamping I probably wouldn't care about). Mind you, I would prefer NOT to re-amp -- that's kind of the point in investing in this piece.
I was doing this -- as klugey as it is -- until I heard a loud "pop" from my equipment and now find the digital output isn't tracking. I don't know if this is a problem with the Axe or with PT or if it was a "ghost in the machine" issue that has resolved itself.
So, can I ask if you've got a more streamlined solution than this? Honestly for the price of this thing I find it inexcusable that it doesn't behave better as a piece of studio gear. The $600 POD Pro was doing this seamlessly five years ago.
Would love your thoughts!