i use it the analog way on my 16channel mackie onyx 1620 (the old one) firewire interface, as i also need the remaining input channels for recording other stuff like vocals, etc.. and i dont like switching the audiointerfaces in my cubase projects as it would always totally change the predifined track input settings.
Also the mackie onyx is the perfect central station for me, where i can flexible put my outputs anywhere in my musicroom where i want.. headphones, Full Range PA (ideal when just jamming or fiddling around) or studiomoniros
but i was worried that maybe the additional D/A A/D Conversion results in a sound loss, so i recently did a comparision and made a test, recorded digitally via usb, kept the DI and then reamped through USB and recorded back analog and then flipped the phase.. perfect cancelation of the sound..
then i did it the opposite round, recorded everything analog, made a reamp via usb and recorded via usb and did the same again, perfect phase cancelation. so nothing to worry about me that one or another has a "better" sound.
so in my setup, both ways are good to go, but i guess if you going to have a cheap audiointerface with cheap converters and preamps, there might be a noticable differnce.
also i prefer analog outputs as i can use my complex routing setup
for each guitar track i record 3 tracks in Cubase
1x Stereo and 2 mono Tracks
(the guitar goes straight into Instrument Input, no DI Box, etc, as my opion is that the AXEFXII Instrument is TOP Notch and i defintly want to use this and not hook up any di-box or signal speaker in front of my axe to get a for example a nice DI Signal, as you would do with an analoge tube amp setup for example)
Axe FX Output 1 is the Stereo Signal, it includes the Guitar Amp inlcuding Reverb, Delays etc.
i use this signal always when i play guitar, as i like a wet sound with lots of reverb
but for recording this is often not ideal, so what i do is in my presets, that i split the signal and send it out of output 2
that gives me 1x Mono Track that i run out from the CAB Block, with no Reverb and Delays,
and another Mono Track that i use as DI
so Main Output 2 Left is my DI Signal, and Main Output 2 Right is my Mono Guitar Sound that i use in my cubase sessions, for like rhythmn guitars.
you can easily do this with an FX Block in your presets
and looks like this:
on Lead or Solo Takes i may use the Stereo Track, or mix it with the Mono track. also for cleans i consider to use the wet stereo track..
i would love to make an aggreate interface, using my axe FX with USB simultany with my Mackie Onyx.. but somehow that doesnt work on PC..