Anyone used a Guitar POD for bass?

[MK-Ultra]

Hi,

I bought a POD XT a few days ago, and I was wunnerin if there were any algorithms that sound decent on a bass geet?

Thanks!

MK

 

[Dogman]

I haven't had mine long, just a few months, but have found some of the cleaner tones sound decent. So far the driven tones are way to distorted, but again, I have only tried it a few times.
Here is a song I am collabing on, guitar and bass on the POD.

Also, have you gone to the Line 6 website, and downloaded some better presets? They have some that are way better than what it came with.
Ed

 

[goldtopchas]

I've tried using the Tweed Bassman setting in my pod, but wasn't that thrilled with it. I get better results just using a clean setting on my amp and using a mic.

 

[MK-Ultra]

I haven't had mine long, just a few months, but have found some of the cleaner tones sound decent. So far the driven tones are way to distorted, but again, I have only tried it a few times.
Here is a song I am collabing on, guitar and bass on the POD.

Also, have you gone to the Line 6 website, and downloaded some better presets? They have some that are way better than what it came with.
Ed

Hey, Dogman,

I couldn't really hear the bass through the little computer speakers. Can you tell me which settings you used? As for downloading from the Line 6 website, I have a bit of a problem, methinks. You need a USB compatible sequencer, right? And I am using a Mac with OS 9.1, and, as far as I know, there isn't a shareware USB compatible sequencer available for OS 9.xx. At least, I couldn't find one.

Goldtopchas,

You are talking about a bass guitar, right?

Thanks,

MK

 

[goldtopchas]

Yeah, a MIM Jazz bass > pod> mixer> recorder.
Although I did like using the compressor. Helps to even out the levels a bit. I figured the Bassman was originally meant for bass guitar and it might sound good, but I just wasn't satisfied with the results. I don't use the POD for recording guitar either, You can usually get better tones using an amp.....even a crappy one if you tweak things enough.

 

[Dogman]

Hey, Dogman,

I couldn't really hear the bass through the little computer speakers. Can you tell me which settings you used? As for downloading from the Line 6 website, I have a bit of a problem, methinks. You need a USB compatible sequencer, right? And I am using a Mac with OS 9.1, and, as far as I know, there isn't a shareware USB compatible sequencer available for OS 9.xx. At least, I couldn't find one.


MK

The settings on that were just a clean one. I believe it was the Line 6 clean, but might have been one of the clean jazz settings. I'm still playing around, so the sounds aren't that good, but my bass amp blows chunks. That one was mic'd through my guitar amp, BTW. I think I will retrack it direct, just to see what happens. As far as the USB sequencer, I'm not sure. I use a pc, and just plugged it in, turned it on, and then downloaded some software. I think they call it the Line Monkey. It then kind of just walks you through everything. There were some software updates that made the prestet sounds better, less muddy. Go to their site, and see if they have all you need for a MAC, or if there is something else you need.
Hope it works out for you.
Ed

 

[DaveO]

I have a POD 2.3 that I used on bass for a litlte while, but I like that much better on guitar (not going to even start on the amp vs. POD debate here). Before that I used an ART Tube MP and thought it worked pretty well but when I got the POD I thought I could make some of the settings work for bass. The only ones I thought were OK was the Line 6 Clean and the Bassman as long as I kept effects to a minimum. I thought the Tube Preamp was too noisy and never used it.

I eventually went back to my ART but then I eventually I bought a SansAmp Bass Driver. I like the results I get with that much better than what I was getting with my POD, especially when i pair it with the ART.

Your POD XT may work better for you or better in general than my 2.3, don't know. But if you like what you get with it post some samples in The Mixing Clinic without spilling the beans on how the bass was recorded. You might find out it works well when mixed, and that's ultimately what matters.

 

[notCardio]

DaveO

You use the ART and SansAmp simultaneously?

Elaborate, please.

 

[mikeh]

I've use the tube setting on my POD 2.0 for bass (with some compression dialed in) using a MIM Jazz Bass. I was satisfied with the sound I got.

 

[DaveO]

You use the ART and SansAmp simultaneously?

Elaborate, please.

Yep, simultaneously. The SABDDI can be powered by a wall wart, a battery (if I remember correctly), or by phantom power, which i get from the ART. So my usual signal chain for recording is bass -> SABDDI -> ART Tube MP -> sometimes a compressor -> sound card -> PC.

I tried that at first as a way to power the SABDDI, but it turns out I liked the sound better than either of them alone so it's my usual method. I can keep the gain on both somewhat lower, below the point where either would introduce much noise, and still fiddle with the bass, treble, presence, and drive on the SABDDI to get the tone I want and also get a nice strong S/N ratio so I have plenty of level to work with when mixing.

Another variation I've used is to start with that same signal chain but to lower the bass on the SABDDI. Then I use the unaffected 1/4" output to go directly from the SABDDI to one of the other inputs on my soundcard. That unaffected output gives me a nice clean low end and then I use the drive and presence on the affected channel to get the desired amount of growl. That's the technique I used on my submission to Homerecording.comp Volume II (not REALLY a plug for the CD, no idea if that compilation is still available) and right now is the only place to get a sample of that sound. I'll have to figure out where I can post an MP3 if you don't have a copy.

 

[notCardio]

Interesting

What do you think that the ART adds to the sound, other than the signal boost? And if you split the signal, do you put the ART after the affected signal, or the unaffected signal?

Also, is that an MP, MP Pro, or some other variation?

 

[DaveO]

I don't use it to add a whole lot of grit since the ART isn't *really* a tube preamp, plus it gets noisy when you really push the gain. I generally boost the level enough to drive it close to clipping but not enough to use it for a distorted sound. My usual signal path is to send the affected out into the ART and then feed the ART into the sound card. The unaffected out goes directly into the sound card.

I have the old ART Tube MP and for some reason I also bought a Dual MP a year or so later because Sam Ash gave me a nice discount when I bought a mic. I really don't need both, they're basicaly the same sound wise. Most of the time I use the Dual MP at home so I've got two preamp channels if I need them, depending on what I'm recording simultaneously. My Tube MP doesn't come out to play that often at home anymore, I mostly use it when I'm playing elsewhere.

 

[MK-Ultra]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'll get back to this thread as soon as I get to tracking a bass. I've had quite decent results going into my Mackie 1202 VLZ, and then direct to my VS-880 EX, inserting the bass comp patch as I record. We will see if this can do better, but, if not, I have a tried method for a decent bass sound.

Again, thanks for your thoughts.

MK

 

[DaveO]

You know, I have no idea why I didn't think to ask how you were tracking right now. Sounds like what you're already doing should give you pretty nice results if the bass patch you're using is a good one.

Actually, depending on the type of music you're recording you could probably get some nice results even without the bass patch, just going from your bass to the mixer to the recorder. I've never used that line of Mackies but if I remember correctly the VLZ preamps in your mixer were supposed to be pretty nice for the price, fairly transparent and with lots of headroom. But as I said, that's just my recollection so someone correct me if i'm off bass (yeah, the pun was intended )

And even if you do get really nice results already, it's always worth trying different methods to see what you can add to your palette. Be sure to check in after you experiment a little bit. I'm curious to hear what kinds of things you try and how well they work.

 

[MK-Ultra]

Yeah. The Mackie was a slight step up from an ART Tube MP, which coloured everything 'mud' colour. I was actually surprised that direct into the VS via the Mackie sounded as nice as it did. The early VS machines have been known for being difficult to get a decent bass sound, but I managed it ok.