POD vs Genesis 3 vs GNX3, etc.....

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kevzmusic
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Kevzmusic

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Hi,

I've been using the Line 6 POD (for my PC recording only) the past year or so......and it ain't BAD, not as good as "real" amps of course...ie: the sound is kinda THIN, etc.....but for $250 bucks whatdya expect :-)

Anyhow,

I was wondering how the Digitech Genesis 3 compares to the POD, as it seems pretty much it's closest rival, price-wise, functionality, effects, etc..?

Also, I was reading about the more expensive Digitech GNX3 processor, which on paper looks/reads rather good...(as I want to upgrade my effects capability)...so, I'd like to hear from a few folks who've actually tested it...,

coz, with so many similiar products out there today - it's difficult to know which is the "real' deal....

I'm not into doing 'live' gigs these days, just working/creating projects in a home studio environment...

any suggestions/advice would be great...

FANKS!!!

10 - 4, over...

KEV
 
Well, Kev... then I guess me and DarkCide are your men... ;)

The Genesis 3 smokes the POD. Period.

Why?
  • The Genesis 3 (hereafter called the G3) responds better to your playing dynamics, and if you back up your guitar's volume knob, it works more like a real amp-less gain but still *balls*...
  • The G3 has WAY better effects and the whole fx-section is more comprehensive
  • The G3 doesn't sound as 'dirty' as the POD. Its cleaner sounds are WAY more convincing.
  • The G3 has better AD/DA converters, a higher sampling rate, a digital output, the whole WARP/Hypermodel-function and looks better too.

And all of this at pretty much the same price! (Give or take $20-40)

Really, try it for yourself, using the same guitar and headphones in the store... The POD will make different guitars sound a bit alike, whereas the G3 leaves your original tone intact.

check www.digitech.com for some patch-libraries. They have some mp3's posted there with pretty good sounds of the G3.
 
OK,

I've had the Genesis 3 in my grubby little hands for about three days now....(I've hardly put the guitar down - I'm a big kid with a new toy kinda thing :-)

I thought I'd get a demo model from my local Long & Mquade music store to compare with my POD....

AND......

The G3 'is" definitely much "quieter" in the unwanted *NOISE* department, mainly due to the SPDIF digital connect to my OMNI studio....which is nice.

YES, the G3 certainly has a lot more sounds, effects, etc..., than the POD....and the ability to "customize" the presets, amps & cabs "is" also a far more versatile feature too.....

BUT, so far....

I have found that just about *ALL* the available sounds (and I have tried tons) .....seem to be so "processed"....far more "synthetic" sounding than the POD....

Even when adding reverb, chorus, delay or whatever....it's real hard to loose that fakey, modelling 'feel'.., especially on the rock/metal settings (high-gain, rectifier, Brit Stack, etc....)

The *clean* sound settings, IMHO, have a better, authentic quality to them.....

I really like some of the features on the G3...but, the POD has a *warmer* feel to it......I'm really into FLOYD, and creating a Gilmour type lead sound....which is almost impossible with the G3...(and I've been trying bloody hard - believe me :-)....but very easy with the POD...

Some say that the POD sounds kinda "THIN", which I agree it does, compared with a *real* amp of course....but this G3 is 'plastic' in it's tone......

I've re-recorded several tracks with the G3 in some of my tunes, and then compared them with the original POD guitar tracks...and I much prefer the POD sound, for both warmth & tonal quality...

I will give it a few more days of testing, etc... - before I make MY mind up...as the G3 does look a lot superior "on paper"....but so far, I just ain't getting the SOUNDS I want....

Also, the "effects" modes are somewhat awkward LED-readout-wise.....because there are so many options available...that finding the right combinations, etc..., takes a lot of messing around...and sometimes the unit doesn't respond in the manner that the manual says it should :-(

So far - I prefer the POD.....

I'll keep ya updated...

LEV
 
That's weird, Kev. When I tried the G3 in the store with the Clean Tube amp and the Blackface model, it gave me a total organic sound. Maybe, because you've gotten used to the sound of the (to my ears muddy and dirty POD), you're misstaking the G3's clarity for a thin sound.

I thought the POD DID have some decent rock and metal sounds, and yes, they're easier to get at the POD, because the POD compresses the signal more, hence given a better metal sound quickly. But you just gotta visit the Genesis 3 patch library online... (http://www.digitech.com/cgi-bin/soundcom.pl?menu=patches&product=Genesis3)
Especially look out for the guy named Talal; he made some really good sounds (Judas Priest, Rhythm, Lead, Solo).
Beware for the dude called Tonal Fusion, his mp3-encoding is crappy, his playing could use some 'blues' and his idea of good sound is dull...

Or you can keep both, using the POD for rock/metal stuff, and the G3 for clean/jazz/country/bluesy stuff. Variety is the spice of life, they say... (too bad the POD's spice doesn't appeal to ME much...)
 
hey there

I'd definitely have a look at the Behringer V-Amp 2. I bought one a few days ago. I never liked the POD (because its sounds lack some 'power', especially the clean ones) and I still think a real amp is what you need when playing live because these modelers sound like recorded amps and not like amps - perfect for homerecording.

Like I said the POD's downside are its clean/crunchy tones - crap to me. The Behringer does a much better job (for my ears) there; the bluesy sounds are killer, really.

There are not so many effects - but they're quite fine (and to be honest: you don't really need more)... I really like that reverb. Connecting the V-Amp to your PC and using the free downloadable software allows you to customize the effects some more and combine them in different ways.

Go to www.v-amp.com - there's a link to some nice samples. and oh... I forgot; the v-amp is about half of the pod's price.
 
Yeah :-)

It seems to ME that guitar processors are about as "subjective" as nearfield monitors - WE all have our different preferences, and opinions, etc....

I agree, the G3 does have a much bigger variety of sounds & effects available...BUT, apart from the "clean" presets (which do sound good)...all the others have that "raspy" Billy-Gibbon's type of feel to them......

I've noticed that IF you customize any of the regular ROCK presets (ie: change the amp/cab models, plus add a few effects - then end result is very similar, no matter which preset you start with.

I also tried altering a few of the warmclean presets, adding a modern-high gain amp model, 4 x12 cab, a few effects - but this still ended up giving a raspy, almost rectified result.....

I will keep on pluggin' at it for a couple more days......but,
apart from the "effects" department - I think the POD is much better....

Keep ya posted :-)

KEV
 
Just remember

Genesis 3 for clean
POD 2.0 for crunch

and life will not be that complicated.
 
Yeah maybe....

BUT, I would like one processor that does both - por favor :-)

I was thinking that maybe there's something a lot better in the $600-800+ range....Had a look at the Digitech GNX3 and the BOSS GT-6 also....but these just appear to be a more fancy version of their lower priced models....

Are there any up-market "amp/modelling processor units" out there at the moment....maybe a pro rack type, etc???
(similar to the Line 6 POD Pro)

Just wondered....

10 - 4, over...

KEV
 
I have a friend with a Boss GT-6. The advantages to my V-Amp are the expression-pedal and the fact that you can model your own amp (that'll be great... NOT)... and a ton of effects that you don't need.

I think the amp models do not sound a tiny bit better - I'd even say they sound a bit synthetic.
 
KEV! And others... Yesterday I went to a store that carried the POD and the Genesis 3. They hooked them up, through a Yamaha 02R desk and Genelec 1029 monitors (the really small ones). And when I tried the Genesis 3, it lacked the presence that it gave me before. Also the gain with the "modern hi gain" model wasn't sufficient. I DID get a decent metal-tone by combining a blackface with a rectifier. But still, it had some muddiness I could not get rid off. Ofcourse the signal-chain was so-so, not even using my own guitar. Today I'm gonna visit another store, where they have the V-Amp2, Genesis 3 and POD. I'll bring my OWN headphones and my OWN guitar.
Yesterday really got me doubting the Genesis 3. After that, I played the POD, and it shared the same muddiness, but still, the POD's 'modern hi gain' (Soldano pre) RULES. That amp sim makes up for the rest of the POD's flaws. Since I keep hearing that the
V-Amp2 is like the POD, but 2x as good at 1/2 the price, I'll give that a thorough workout as well. And the cool things about the V-Amp are:
-LED-rings
-ENGL Savage amp sim.
Next year I'm gonna buy the real deal: the Engl Savage Spec. Edt. 100W tube amp, so it would be nice to have an amp simulator that does that....
 
Hey Speedy :-)

Mucho thanx for taking the time to test the units...it's always great to get other folks first hand opinions....

Next time you are in a pro store, try out the POD Pro (and Rocktron Replitone MP - IF they have one)....and tell us what ya think of those....

Cheers mate!

KEV
 
Hey Kev. I just got back from a big store in Rotterdam (2nd largest city in The Netherlands).
Anyway, I brought along my OWN guitar (Ibanez S540 FM TTS) and my OWN headphones (Sennh. HD265 Lineair) and I'm happy to report my last (bad) impression of the Genesis 3 was 'untrue'. It probably had to do with a complete sucky signal chain.
Anyway, they didn't have the POD Pro at hand, so I only tried the Genesis 3 (now for the 3rd time) and the Behringer V-Amp 2.
All the things that I thought that sucked about the Genesis 3 YESTERDAY were made up today. Enough gain, no muddiness, I even made the Rectifier sound heavy metal (roll off some low and boost mids). All the things I loved about the Genesis 3 when I tried it the 1st time were there again.

Anyway, about the V-Amp2:
-It's noisier than the Genesis 3. When engaging the noise gate in the +10 range (10-15) it will cut your attack, so response sucks.
-The clean sounds weren't as convincing as with the G3.
-It has much more high-gain sounds than the G3, but the G3 wins in the crunch-dept.
-Most sounds have a slight artificial 'soul'...
-I heard this really high pitched noise, beep, whatever when playing with my single coil pick up. (probably around 10-12 kHz)
-The Modern Hi gain and savage Beast sound a lot alike.
-The Modern Hi Gain and British Hi Gain are the coolest high gain sounds (same with the POD).
-AFAIK the effects weren't totally bypassable. When turning fx level down, I could still hear a sort of flanging sweep (with the high pitched noise)

Overall it is a cheaper rip off of the POD, but given its price and more reverb types, I'd buy it if I totally loved the POD... but since my love with the Genesis 3 is (re-)established... ;)

Anyway, I'd like to know what people think about the Sansamp PSA-1. The Genesis 3 is €450 in Germany (€550 in Holland! :mad: ) and the the PSA-1 is €700. Is it worth it?

I want some cool crunch sounds, some cleany surf sounds and lots of (old) metal sounds...
 
Hey Speedy,

Thanx for the insight, etc....

I used to spend many weekends in Holland when I was a teenager (16-19)....Amsterdam was a great place to party back in the mid-70's...and a whole lotta FUN!

but, that's another story :-)

"cheers"

KEV
 
Correction, the Sansamp PSA-1 is €792 at MusiciansFriend and even €899 at MusicStoreKoeln... :mad:
so much for Tech21...
€900 is gonna buy me a 2nd handed JCM800 + cab! Maybe I buy the PSA-1 once my studio has a lot of customers, but until then I think I have to manage with the Genesis 3...
 
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