Line 6 POD farm plugins - kiddy's toys?

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pure.fusion

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Hi all,

I've been using the POD farm VST plugins that came with the POD X3. I don't hang out with musicians or engineers so I need some scope from you guys.

When I use the compressor, delays and reverbs do I assume that these are the lowest quality crap I can add to my sound? Where do these software products stand in the whole scheme of things? .. and they're below par, in what ways do they not do a good job?

... and what about the SIR plug in. Where does this stand?

Any info appreciated.

Cheers,
FM
 
That is key. I just recorded an album for a band that had crappy gear. I can't seem to get anything good from their tracks with the mic'd tone, nor the direct through sims that I have. I am actually sending the direct tracks to a guy that I am mixing a project for in Germany. He has great guitar tones from a PODX3. Hopefully it is just not crappy playing/guitars that are the problem.
 
Ahh, well the answer is yes. *I* like the sound - I wouldn't know anything different.

I was just interested in knowing if the sound I've come to like was punishment to a studio engineer's ears! Just curious at the quality of the Line 6 plugins.

Cheers,
FM
 
I would have to say that it would depend on what tone you are after. Good tone to you, is good tone, no matter what gets you there. An engineers job is to get you the tone you want in a mix, when combined with other instruments. How it relates to a whole mix, is something that gets lost in translation sometimes.
 
Tone? I was more referring to the compressor, de-esser, reverbs etc. They seem to have less options than other plugins or real life products but this may not mean they're sub-par.

I noticed some shocking clippping type noise the other day and tracked it down to the VST compressor. Made me wonder if I'm working with 'crap' or not.

FM
 
Well, all of which you mentioned, is a part of 'tone'. You can add whatever you want from whatever plugin you wish. The end result of great tone is a matter of trial and error. The player, instrument, gear, and viability of the Lave Lamp provided, all have more to do with tone than the make of the simulator you are using. Trust me, I have been through so many different setups, I can't even count. A good player can sound good through a piece of crap Crate practice amp. A crappy player can sound like crap on the rig that gods built. There are more variables than just the effects that are available on a particular piece of gear or software.

Use them, and learn what works for you. ;)
 
compression and eq can be done in the DAW, so I wouldn't really count that against an amp sim. Actually, for a while I was using my POD xt for recording (not the best tone, but it works in an apartment). Now I use amplitube free. Neither have compressors or eqs (that I know of or use). I think if you're getting good tone and it sounds like what you want it to sound like then it's fine. Compression and EQ can come later.

Basically, even if it isn't the greatest, if you like it it's fine...maybe down the road you'll hear it and realize your tastes have changed or your ears have developed and it now sounds like garbage, then start looking for other options. Plus if you post some mp3s in the clinic, people will tell you if it sounds fake or not...just don't mention it's a sim or else they'll jump all over it...ignorance is bliss.
 
the plugs are pretty good (I love the vocal pre-amps)....theres a lot of free plugs that are pretty good....its how you use them thats important
 
It depends on what the plugs were designed to do. If the compressor plug you are talking about is an emulation of a compressor/sustainer pedal, you don't want to use that for vocals, or really anything that isn't a guitar. It's not the same thing as a compressor plugin that would come with your DAW, and it's not meant to be.

But the bottom line, as other people have said, if you like what the plugin does, then it's good enough to make you happy. So that means it is of enough quality or usefulness to do what you are asking of it.
 
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