Eleven Rack review by Jace Nuzback

Introduction

Digidesign introduced their amp modeling plug-in “Eleven” a couple of years ago.  It has been well received and used in many professional recordings.  In fact all of the guitar parts on Motley Crue’s last album “Saints of Los Angeles” were recorded using the Eleven plug-in.
The problem with recording guitars with amp modeling plug-ins is not the sound quality, but the feel quality.  Plugging a guitar in to a recording interface does not properly load the guitar pickups so the dynamic response is never the same as playing through a real amp.  With the Eleven Rack, not only is the impedance value selectable, but it can also change automatically depending on which pedal or amp model is first in the presets signal chain.  Each pedal and amp model has a different impedance value so each will have a different feel.  These settings are made per preset.  So different impedance levels can be stored for presets used with a strat as opposed to presets used with a Les Paul for example.

So how does it sound?

First I connected the Eleven Rack main outputs in to my M-Audio BX8A monitors and played through some presets.  The presets all had very usable tones.  They seemed like they were all created to give players access to classic sounds for studio and stage with no fuss.  They sounded great!  The Eleven Rack is the only modeling device I’ve ever used that sounds and feels like a real amp.
Next I plugged the unit in to my two 1x12 tube combo amps.  I set the unit so that the signal sent to my amps contained only preamp and effects, no speaker or mic models.  I sent these signals from the “Output to amp” outputs to the effect return jacks on my amps.  The sound was amazing!  Not only that, but the dynamic feel was dead on.  I could really dig in with the pick and then back off and the sound reacted just as it should.  The sounds were as good or better then I usually get plugging directly in to my amps.  I may have to buy one of these!

Re-amping

Eleven Rack allows a dry, unprocessed track to be recorded at the same time the stereo processed track is recorded.  This way the dry track can be altered later with plug-ins or by using the re-amping features if needed.  Sometimes even the best recorded tracks just don’t fit in to the mix of a song.  This feature allows the performance to remain, but the sound to be changed to better fit the track.
The re-amping features are very intelligently implemented.  A track can be assigned to the Eleven Rack, processed and sent back to another track with nothing but a few mouse clicks!  All of the signals are going back and forth over the USB cable.  A track can also be assigned to the “Output to amp” jacks.  Plug this signal into the front of an amp just as if it were a guitar.  Mic the speaker cabinet and plug the mic signal into the mic input on the Eleven Rack.  Then select the mic input from Eleven Rack on a new track.  It doesn’t get any easier then this!

Mic pre and converters

The Eleven Rack uses the same mic preamp and A/D-D/A converters as the newer 003 Rack Plus units.  While the Eleven Rack is an audio interface for Pro Tools 8 LE, it cannot be used as an audio interface for Pro Tools HD.  However the Eleven Rack signals can be sent to a Digidesign HD interface from the analog or digital outputs.   If you keep the Eleven Rack connected to the computer via USB, the Eleven Rack special features with Pro Tools 8 will still be available.  If other LE hardware, such as an M-Box2 or 003 is currently being used with a computer, that interface I/O will override the I/O on the Eleven Rack.  Send the digital output of Eleven Rack in to the LE interface, but keep the Eleven Rack plugged in to the computer via USB and the Eleven Rack special features with Pro Tools 8 will still be available. 

Pro Tools Special features

In the Windows menu of Pro Tools there is now an Eleven window.  This allows the Eleven Rack’s parameters to be edited from the computer within Pro Tools rather then using the controls on the front panel of the unit.  Very slick.  Next, Pro Tools can embed the audio files with the Eleven Rack settings used to record the track.  So if overdubs need to be done later on, the exact settings on Eleven Rack that were used to record the track can be recalled.

MIDI

Just about every parameter of the Eleven Rack can be controlled via MIDI.  This can be MIDI coming from a Pro Tools MIDI track via USB (or any other sequencer via the MIDI in jack) or from a MIDI pedal board.  If a band plays to a click track from a sequencer, a MIDI track can be used to trigger all patch changes and real time controller changes automatically.  Or any standard MIDI pedal can be used to change patches, turn effects on/off etc.  Multiple parameters can be assigned to the same MIDI controller.  For example, with an expression pedal the amp gain can be turned up, the reverb level can be lowered and the speed of the chorus effect can be raised all at the same time with one pedal move.  There is also a pedal input on the back of the unit for connecting an expression pedal or momentary pedal.

Can you use it with other DAWs?

Yes you can.  Eleven Rack ships with Core Audio drivers, ASIO drivers and WaveDriver MME drivers.  Only Pro Tools will offer the embedded preset information in the audio files and a Window to edit the parameters on the computer though.

Conclusion

Eleven Rack is a really cool product.  Even if it was never plugged in to a computer, I think most guitar players would love using this unit for rehearsals and live performance.  But the fact that it’s an effect processor, recording interface, a re-amping device and it comes with Pro Tools LE 8 makes it really hard to pass up.  Especially with a street price of only $899.