I suspect it's a matter of how well the iso's are designed, it seems to me that they have their place and can be a very useful tool. Are they better than "analogue" cab sims ? My experience with MP2 says why bother. the analogue cab sim outs are fantastic, as is the ADA GCS-3 in an MP1 loop for direct recording (or as MikeB uses his with MP1 direct into my studio setup, sounds great). Two notes I have no experience of, and I'm currently not a big fan of cloning, not saying it's bad but I still prefer the analogue difference (hence all the the MikeB tests with his MP1 and GSC-3 and TC GMaj etc.), we are both convinced that currently analogue is better and you can hear it, but do you care ?. Obviously El does
, are isos' the way to go mmm I'm all for an iso kind of room, wavelengths need space to develop/propagate, but if your miking the cone close, then what's the difference ? All the variables change things/sound in various ways. When your in the burbs you need to keep it down (this is why god invented electric drums LOL, you can turn them down...). In the end, there is nothing like a Huge Stack pumping, everything else is a compromise. I've done the ios thing as in it's (my live rig) all set up in the recording area, I'm connected through to it but in the control room. That works well.
Live, I've decided (without having tried them) I don't want isos' and in ear. The energy works better IMHO when you all are surrounded by good noise/sound. Though totally understand why other ways are "expeditious".