Can't get the distortion sound I want out of the PODxt or the V-amp

[dogbiscuit]

I am trying to record all my own songs on my pc. It's going ok except I really can't get the Heavy sound I want from the PODxt. I'd like a good meaty distortion like green day perhaps but everything I try just sounds shit. Micing up is not an option for me. I have tried the V-amp 2 and now the PODxt. The clean sounds work ok for me but it's just this heavy sound I can't get. Any tips for me? It would be much appreciated.

[HangDawg]

You will be more than likely stuck with shit sound from either of those. There are some around here that say they can get a good heavy sound out of them but I've heard VERY few examples to prove otherwise. IMO it's a case that they got lucky and the particular patch they used just happened to fit the song. Good luck.

[giraffe]

look for an amp with one good sound

not a "merical" with 400

[dogbiscuit]

Cheers dawg
I guess I'd be worried if people start saying they are getting a good heavy sound out of these cause that would mean I am doing something far wrong! I think it probably does depend on the paricular song as it kind of works for some but especially not on one. It would have to be my favourite one too!! I am absolutely running out of ideas what to try with it.

[HangDawg]

Here's just a suggestion. I don't have the POD but I do have a J-Station(it sounds like ass too). Pick a Marshall or Mesa preset. Turn the gain down to about half, bass down around 2, mids about half, and treb 3-4. That's where I normally start. I don't ever use it for more than scratch tracks but it's nice to sound halfway decent.

[the edzell]

The best your going to do on a PodXT is to crank the volume all the way up and then control the overall volume with your output nob.

[dogbiscuit]

Cheers Dawg. I'll give that a bash.

[Spaztic]

To get decent presents off of the VAMP2 you need to access it via midi and use the software.

[olfunk]

i borrowed a pod about a year and a half back, and i dont recall getting great meaty sounds out of it although i went to see this amazing band (check em out www.trailer-park-trash.co.uk) and the 2 guitarists both played via pods (one used some sort of tube amp as well i mite add) and they got these amazing sounds. they were kind of a hybrid between guns n roses and 70s metal stuff. ive also got their album, which i no was recorded with pods, a bass pod and an electronic drum kit, and theyve captured that amazing sound again. so yeah i duno how they did it but it must be possible.

[therage!]

Join this group and check out the links section and download some user presets and that will help get you started. But you need to get the MIDI/Software going too.

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/V-AMP/

[amra]

You CAN get heavy tones with a V-AMP2. It just depends on your rig.
I recorded this riff with a V-AMP2 and this is after I EQ'd the low end out so it would sit in a mix.
http://www.texasimedia.com/michaelc/...Compressor.mp3

I think this one is un-Eq'd
http://ratpoison.dmusic.com/music/do...5556/.fb2b61d0

Amra

[aaroncomp]

I use a Pod XT, and disagree completely about getting shit tones with it. Have you got the metal pack yet? It's a must. Go to the Line6 message boards - some of those people are obsessed with tone and tweaking.

http://line6.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=3

I've heard stuff on the XT that destroys most sub-professional metal recordings.

[Richard Monroe]

I can get pretty good heavy tones out of a Pod, but I'm afraid my tactics won't be much use to you. I jack it into a power amp, then to a Marshall cab, then mic the cab.-Richie

[Projbalance]

No amp sim is a catch all. You have to think of it as being just a part of the sound, the same way an amp/speaker/mic is just part of the overall sound. No amp sim will give you the sound you want all by it's self. You have to treat it he same way you would treat using a regualr rig in a recording, only smaller and a lot less noisy. Double tracking, compression, layering, eq-ing, reverd, etc..... you still have to go through a lot to get the sound you want.

[volltreffer]

IMHO, the prob with the sims is always the same:
The sound is too perfect alone but will not cut through in the mix. Downloaded the example, and it is a good example. Too much high end, too much distortion, too much 'single track fancies' (like verb on the track).

Just back off, less distortion, less high end, no ambience from the sims... Will sound VERY clean and sterile nevertheless. I LIKE the sound of sims as one track of doubled ones. If done right, it can help a lot in giving good definition to the doubled guitars (but maybe I'm too stupid to get that done with 'real' guitar sounds )

aXel

[dogbiscuit]

but maybe I'm too stupid to get that done with 'real' guitar sounds

aXel[/QUOTE]


Funny you should say that cause the name of the song Im trying to nail is 'Too Stupid'!

[lpdeluxe]

I always end up going through most of my options. Face it, there ain't just one PERFECT sound: there are sounds that work, and sounds that don't work. So I try a distortion box, then a tube amp set on overdrive, then maybe another amp, and I may even (gasp!) try a different guitar. A jack of all trades is known for being the master of none.

[nuemes]

I've tried digital amp simulators for a long time and gave up. There simply is no way for digital medium to produce the sound of a tube amp pushing air through a speaker. If you want a distorted guitar tone to sit in the mix and sound good your best option is a tube amp and a mic. For $300 you can likely get a small used amp and a SM57 mic.

[amra]

There's no way you are going to get as good a recording with a $300 amp/mic combo as you would with a V-AMP2 or a POD. Not unless you find a 1 in a million deal or are a recording genius.


Amra

[dogbiscuit]

Originally Posted by aaroncomp

I use a Pod XT, and disagree completely about getting shit tones with it. Have you got the metal pack yet? It's a must. Go to the Line6 message boards - some of those people are obsessed with tone and tweaking.

http://line6.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=3

I've heard stuff on the XT that destroys most sub-professional metal recordings.

Cheers for the tip. You have swayed me into buying the metal pack. I have considered it before but thought it might just be a gimmick but I think I will give it a try now. They apparently offer your money back if you're not happy with it too.

[volltreffer]

What might help alot is a way of recording with digital sims, that I often used: record direct in via something like a pre and possibly a compressor. Why the comp? It somehow seems to give the 'right' feedback through air that makes a lot of a real guitar sound. Record dry. Then in mixdown, try to nail the sound you need by inserting the pod/vamp...

Did that with the VS recorder amp sims and it was not too bad. When you do it like that, a big advantage is that you'll be able to try to find out the right amount of distortion, high end/low end etc.

Very often, the distorted sound that you choose when using sims will have far too few mids, be too distorted a.s.o. to cut through in a mix. IMHO, the only way to be able to use such guitar stuff is if the guitar is VERY dominating in the song. Often the sound is done a lot by the bass, too. Even a doubled (recorded twice and NOT copied) track may help alot in giving a guitar the power you'd want.

aXel

[an1989dy]

grow some balls and get a mesa boogie

[etnoziroh]

Doubling tracks with my V-amp made a big difference. Don't copy and paste a recording to a new track but redo the part on the new track. Pan then a little (or a lot, your choice) and eq the tracks.

[volltreffer]

You may even use different sims on the two tracks...

aXel

[ecktronic]

I dont really beleive in using direct recording for distorted guitars. (can be good for clean). If you want to get a good tone and meatiness in your direct recordings, turn the gain down so you arent getting that digital nasty distortion sound. Have the distortion just enough so it is kind of meaty and there is no digital chhcgrzz atall. Watch the high end at 5K (the hiss that you might not hear at first listen) once recorded. Record the same guitar part many times using different model settings ie mesa then marshal then 70s or something along those lines. You might have to change the eq settings on the pod for each distortion type. Once recorded listen back and mix them together. Say tou really like the tight low end grizzle on one of the distortions, the clear present crisp mids of another distortion and the sparkling hi end (but not digitally hissy) of another. Mix these to taste only with the faders, then bounce them to one track. Now you can use EQ to get the exact tone you want that works with the mix.
With a bit of practice you might be able to get a decent meaty tonefull distortion. I have never tried this but i think it might work wuite well as l,ong as you dont have that digital sound.
Good luck. Let us know if it worked if you decide to try it.