Hello everyone,
new to this forum and using plugins in general. I have a few questions that I can't solve alone and hope for you to share some experiences with me.
Background: I recently moved into a new flat where I can't use my Marshall tube amp at all times anymore, therefore I am looking for good options to practice with headphones. I mainly play metal (Metallica, Pantera) and some heavy rock. I already owned a headphone amp (Fender Mustang Micro), which is all right from time to time but tone quality esp. of high gain models is not sufficient for daily practice. Therefore, I bought an Axe I/O One with Amplitube and TONEX SE to delve into the world of plugins.
Problem: I just can't get decent tone quality. I tried hundreds of presets, both IK factory and from Tonenet, premium and free plus _ stuff. High gain sounds seem to be full of mud/background noise, crackling and rustling while picking. I use noise gates, but while playing and the gate is open, you really hear a lot of noise coming through the headphones. Also, playing palm muted low frets always sounds kind of clipped, like through a very old speaker. I played around with input/output controls (never in the red area) and a ton of tonal settings, but never got a satisfying, clear and rich sound. Even my old 200$ modelling combo in the basement sounds way better.
Questions:
1) Was my plan to use plug-ins to achieve very good sound quality when playing through headphones wrong from the outset? Are plugins only good for recording and mixing?
2) Is it all down to my headphones (Sony WH-1000XM3)? I know that they are not perfect for this application. Would studio headphones really be a game-changer here?
3) Noob question: Why the heck can I get an incredible tone quality with my headphones when listening to music or a recorded preset tone example, but playing sucks?
3) In you opinion, what is the best way to achieve high-quality tone with headphones, i.e. equivalent to using a good amp/cab? I would be willing to invest some money, but am really lost here at the moment.
Advice much appreciated!
Best
