Best modeler for hi-gain stuff, purely for studio use

[weemies]

I've used V-Amp 2, Pod, Pod Pro, NI Guitar Rig 2. Haven't been entirely satisfied with any of them. Any ideas where I should look for to get the best possible high gain sounds? I'm looking for meaty crunch and all that good stuff.

[alteredsounds]

Guitar Port?

[Phil O'Keefe]

I like the Pod XT. It works pretty well for high-gain stuff. I don't think it's quite the same as using a good mic on a good amp, but it's certainly useable and flexible. And if you've only tried the original Pod and Pod Pro, and not the XT stuff, give them a listen. Even if you were not completely impressed with the originals - the tone is significantly different. You may like it better than the old ones, or you may dislike it even more - I've heard from both camps. IIRC, Craig Anderton decided to hang on to one of each. Once I got the XT, I didn't feel the need to hang on to the Pod 2.0 and sold it to one of my clients for $100.

The Johnson J-Station also does pretty good with the high-gain sounds. I prefer the XT, but the J-Station does well too in a grittier sort of way. I've held on to that one. The effects on it are not nearly as good though. I don't know if they're still in production, but a used one shouldn't set you back more than a c-note.

[Gearhunter]

Adding the Metal amp model pack to the Pod XT adds some nice High gain amp models:
Bogner '02 Uberschall
Diezel '03 VH4-Lead
ENGL '02 Powerball
Mesa/Boogie '01 Triple Rectifier, just to name a few cool ones in the Metal pack.