Recording with Line 6 Pod XT Live

[Superhuman]

Fuck the POD. IF it takes an extra year of saving up to get some decent gear, do it. In the mean time you can 'get by nicely' with some inexpensive Boss pedals (you'll probably also get better tone). For twice the cost of an XTPro you can get a used Triaxis on E-Bay... of course you'll have to save up for another two years then to get the Simul-Class 2:90 poweramp... the prices are outrageous but the quality IS excellent.
If you're serious about getting a pro sound, then don't waste your money on products that don't cut it. I finally got my rig together (all from E-Bay) and I ended up trading a whole load of crap items for less than I originaly bought them for.
Best way to do it: make a list of your favorite guitarists (tone is the factor). Go to their websites and check out their rigs. Eventually you will find common pieces of hardware and should be able to piece together a rig with the help of sites like this one. What you won't find in any pro rig with kick ass tone is a POD (you may see the Line 6 Vetta or some pedals like the DM4) for all of the reasons above.

 

[Ed Dixon]

Best way to do it: make a list of your favorite guitarists (tone is the factor). Go to their websites and check out their rigs. Eventually you will find common pieces of hardware and should be able to piece together a rig with the help of sites like this one.

As a general rule duplicating the gear or pros will not result in you getting their tone. While gear helps, tone is more about ability than gear. Countless posts discuss this subject.

Ed

 

[Superhuman]

Point taken, 95% of tone actually comes from the hands. You won't sound like Steve Vai even if you play through his rig on his guitar. BUT, if you want to get world class tone it does help to look at pro setups (even just for ideas on where to place hardware in the chain). My point is that it depends on what you are really looking for a) a serious guitar rig for creating something of release quality or b) something for making fun home demos.
Unfortunately you tend to get what you pay for, which is real kick in the nuts for most talented guitarists who can't afford good gear in the first place. My philosphy is to just hold out untill you get what you really want rather than wasting time and money on haf-assed gear that doesn't help you achieve your ultimate goal.
Also I have a pet hate for the PODxt. I tweaked it for months and never came close to the sound I wanted. My rig cost me thousands and it took a long time to get the gear together but I've nailed the tone I always wanted, which makes it worth the wait.

 

[HomeMadeHitShow]

I haven't read all the other replies but my opinion is that the POD XT Live works great for the home musician. It does not seem to satisfy the purists and tone guys though. I am a late blooming home musician and I simply love it, what I can get with headphones and direct recording for a relatively small price is outstanding.

I understand though the people with more experience with real gear can probably get better sounds with other equipment.

 

[Ed Dixon]

Also I have a pet hate for the PODxt. I tweaked it for months and never came close to the sound I wanted. My rig cost me thousands and it took a long time to get the gear together but I've nailed the tone I always wanted, which makes it worth the wait.

It does take some effect to get a POD to sound like you want. I've been using one for some years now and am very happy with both recording and live sound.

My first introduction to POD gear was based on a recommendation of a professional guitar player/singer who used POD gear. We played as the opening act for them, and also helped them with some basic setup issues for the hall we knew well. He looked at what I had and suggested that as a simpler approach. I've never looked back since then.

Many find that POD type gear works best with pure power amps and PA speaker cabinets. Getting a good tone via a guitar amp is harder.

Ed

 

[Zaphod B]

In truth, I don't understand why some people have such a hard time getting a good tone out of a Pod XTL. I can understand how someone (like Superhuman) might have a very specific tone in mind that a Pod or other modeler can't deliver.

I have played with tube amps my whole career (my current amp is a vintage Matamp 100-watt GT-100 into a 2 X 12 cab with Celestions) and have found that if you cannot afford a whole truckful of amplifiers, you will be limited to those sounds that a specific amp excels at. I never had that kind of money when I was performing a lot (doing cover work almost exclusively), and so I was always working with compromised sound.

With very little time and effort I am able to get very convincing tone from a variety of amp models with the XTL. As to whether the "Variac Plexi" model sounds *exactly* like a pumped-up 1968 Marshall Super Lead - who cares? If that model gives me a tone that is what I want for a particular application, that's all that matters. The XTL (and I'm sure other modelers would, as well) gives me versatility that I could never have dreamed of.

 

[mixmkr]

I find the people that bash those that use "modelers" usually never post any examples of their fine tone either. They basically rely on someone elses sound instead and say..."see!". And, much of the time, those same people are the ones trying to emulate someone else and not be creative and original on their own. Like it was said earlier, why would I want to copy a rig that someone else uses, even if I like their sound? It seems if I have enough ability to at least hear what is decent or not, and know a tad about equipment, that I could start from scratch and use whatever equipment I might think is necessary to get the sound I am looking for. I don't "have" to use a Les Paul and a JCM800 to get a convincing sound. If I want to "jump on the wagon" and have that be THE sound that I want, then it is just an easy matter to open up the wallet and go pick one up.

Additionally, the "naysayers" also seem to bash modelers because they don't think they emulate realistically. I am not going to disagree with that, because I have never really tried to emulate a specific amp/setup. Rather instead, I just tried to get a good sound. If it was similar to something like a tube amp or whatever, then I chaulk that up to MY personal influences and what I like in sound. NOT that I was trying to replicate something. However, having the tag of "modeler" makes it almost impossible for people to get past that idea and try to use something like the XTlive for JUST getting a good sound....NOT to emulate.

I recently bought a GT-8 and like the fact that it allows for two amp settings to be used at once. Unless I run a Roland Jazz chorus in tandam with a Hi-watt stack, I would never get a sound like that as an example.

Oh well. lots of chuckles at the people that say you can't.

 

[mixmkr]

Best way to do it: make a list of your favorite guitarists (tone is the factor). Go to their websites and check out their rigs. Eventually you will find common pieces of hardware and should be able to piece together a rig with the help of sites like this one.

This is exactly the reason why originality in contemporary music seems to be in a decline. Just follow that pack, or fall back on a "sure thing."

With this attitude, I don't think you'll see a "new" Jimi Hendrix at all. Maybe in 10 years, we will even all sound the same!! oh boy!!

 

[astoebe]

I find the people that bash those that use "modelers" usually never post any examples of their fine tone either. They basically rely on someone elses sound instead and say..."see!". And, much of the time, those same people are the ones trying to emulate someone else and not be creative and original on their own. Like it was said earlier, why would I want to copy a rig that someone else uses, even if I like their sound? It seems if I have enough ability to at least hear what is decent or not, and know a tad about equipment, that I could start from scratch and use whatever equipment I might think is necessary to get the sound I am looking for. I don't "have" to use a Les Paul and a JCM800 to get a convincing sound. If I want to "jump on the wagon" and have that be THE sound that I want, then it is just an easy matter to open up the wallet and go pick one up.

Additionally, the "naysayers" also seem to bash modelers because they don't think they emulate realistically. I am not going to disagree with that, because I have never really tried to emulate a specific amp/setup. Rather instead, I just tried to get a good sound. If it was similar to something like a tube amp or whatever, then I chaulk that up to MY personal influences and what I like in sound. NOT that I was trying to replicate something. However, having the tag of "modeler" makes it almost impossible for people to get past that idea and try to use something like the XTlive for JUST getting a good sound....NOT to emulate.

I recently bought a GT-8 and like the fact that it allows for two amp settings to be used at once. Unless I run a Roland Jazz chorus in tandam with a Hi-watt stack, I would never get a sound like that as an example.

Oh well. lots of chuckles at the people that say you can't.

we use a POD XTLive at my church for practicality reasons, and I can get some ok stuff out of it. I did take it home for a week and played around with it recording wise and didn't like it very much at all. It's not that I can't get a usable sound, it's that I can get a much better sound using my bassman or my marshall...i suppose you could say that it is all opinion though. either way i don't think you should generalize about people who don't like modelers...if i wanted to i could easily make generalizations about those who use them too...(such as they never have used good amps or that they can't hear a good tone....but i know that isn't true for everyone)

and the whole thing about using them to get a good sound, not emulate....it's ok i guess, but the whole purpose of POD is to emulate other sounds, that's why the settings have names like "Tweed Bassman" or "Plexi Lead."

finally, i think the main problem with the POD's is that they aren't pushing any air and sound a little like plastic. I made our music coordinator do a side by side comparison (at my church) with settings the other guitarist and I had made on the POD and putting a mic on a valvestate amp. Those listening thought that the POD sounded like plastic and that the miced amp gave a much more live, true guitar tone. So it isn't really even that the POD XTLive can't copy tonal characteristics of an amp, it's that regardless of how much the tone sounds good, it's kind of muddy and in a tin can compared to playing through an amp (were talking about the attack and things like that). At this point however it makes more sense for us to use the POD (we will switch eventually).

realize that these are my opinions, I'm sure there are some that may prefer the tone they can get on a POD XTLive and that's fine with me. I would even say really it's not bad at all for recording purposes.....but given the choice between a decent amp and a modeler, i will choose the amp every time (unless some circumstance doesn't allow me to....such as a need for something quiet in an apartment).

 

[Dogman]

Here's my first mix on this song. It's pretty basic, and needs a bunch of work, but the intro guitars are all direct, no eq or anything. The ones in the song have some of the highs rolled off, and they are a mixture of direct, and mic'd. Listen mainly to the intro guitars, as they are just straight up POD.....

Shades Of Grey

 

[Gorty]

And tone you have Dogman!
Sweet!
I love it!

Some will say it is somewhat saturated, but who cares! It's a bitchin rhythm sound for a heavy tune!

 

[mixmkr]

and the whole thing about using them to get a good sound, not emulate....it's ok i guess, but the whole purpose of POD is to emulate other sounds, that's why the settings have names like "Tweed Bassman" or "Plexi Lead."

Maybe Line6 developed the POD for that purpose, but be a little creative I am suggesting and take it further. Did Marshall design an amp for Hendrix to turn all to 10 in their beginnings? I don't think so.

and if they labeled it #1, #2... sound instead of "tweed", etc.. wouldn't it be harder to gauge what the sound catagory even is?

oh well...


Not bad Dogman.... a little bright, but ok.

One thing I find is that much of the direct in stuff lacks the "space" around it. Put a nice room ambience on it...not so you hear the effect, but some little tweaking goes a long way.


and Valvestate??... yuck!! lol!! Isn't that just Marshall's version of a POD in a amplifier cabinet? just kidding of course, but I think there is a hint of truth there!!

 

[mixmkr]

finally, i think the main problem with the POD's is that they aren't pushing any air and sound a little like plastic..

oh...just wanted to add. I am running a Roland GR33 synth and a Boss GT-8 directly into our PA at church, and believe me, I am pushing some air...!! like 105-110dB (at a couple of meters of course...but a solid 100+dB in the front row.)

I also use a Peavey 130 classic chorus as a monitor amp, and you'd be supprised at the sounds this modeler/ss amp puts out. However, I usually don't run the amp up to keep the stage volume down. It is more or less a backup when the sound crew forgets to put me in the monitor mix!

What I think you meant, and I totally understand this, is that you need a nice 4x12 cabinet to "wimper" a bit a make the trousers flap a little, to get a nice "full" sound. As a Ampeg V4 stack owner, I understand that theory quite well!

 

[gatholonobs]

Never go direct

Never go direct unless there is some reason why you can't run a speaker.

 

[mixmkr]

Never go direct unless there is some reason why you can't run a speaker.

why is that, gath?

 

[Superhuman]

Originally Posted by Superhuman
Best way to do it: make a list of your favorite guitarists (tone is the factor). Go to their websites and check out their rigs. Eventually you will find common pieces of hardware and should be able to piece together a rig with the help of sites like this one.

This is exactly the reason why originality in contemporary music seems to be in a decline. Just follow that pack, or fall back on a "sure thing."

With this attitude, I don't think you'll see a "new" Jimi Hendrix at all. Maybe in 10 years, we will even all sound the same!! oh boy!!

Read my second post man, you get "ideas" on what to string together by looking at pro rigs. No matter what you do you won't sound like Vai, Satch or whoever even if you have exactly the same gear. The fact is the POD is good for home stuff but not for making release material. I've been playing guitar since I was 16 and I'm 32 now. The longer I've been playing the more I scrutinise tone as it I've found that it directly affect technique (slight tweeks can bring out full range harmonics that would otherwise never be heard - if you can hear you're own music exactly the way you want it to sound then your overall ability does increase slightly). That's why a lot (not all!) of players who have been playing for longer veer away from the POD line. Don't get me wrong, it all comes down to technique, style of music and the sound you want. As far as other similar products go, I find the Digitech GNX series to have a more "ballsy" sound. Eg. you can actually hear each chop on the Rectifier settings reverberate through your chest.
If you really want to see the air vibrating try a Triaxis through a Simul-Class 2:90 through 4x12 cabs! It's taken me years but here's where I get my tone from:

Triaxis (preamp)
Simul-Class 2:90 (poweramp)
Eventide Harmonizer 3000 D/SE (effects processor)
ISP Decimator (noise reduction)
Palmer PDI-03 (for late night home recording)

As you can see it contains a hodge podge of gear used by well known guitarists. Stick it all together and you get a unique sound that kicks ass.

I'll post a link to some tracks in two weeks after my next studio session for anyone interested in checking the tone.

Not trying to antagonise anyone or their love for the POD series, no matter how much I experimented with it or what patches I downloaded, it never came even close to the sound I wanted. If it works for you then stick with it BUT do try out some dream gear to make a comparison - you may just decide to start saving.

 

[Ed Dixon]

The fact is the POD is good for home stuff but not for making release material.

That is your opinion, but not a fact.

One of the original customer bases for POD gear was professional recording studios. They have them because they generally work well and are easier to deal with than other gear.

Lots of pros use POD gear, just like almost any other brand of quality stuff.

POD is well suited to either environment, but each player has to decide what they want and how to best use it. There is no one size fits all with music gear.

Ed

 

[lpdeluxe]

Second Mr Dixon

I am about halfway through recording a group where the guitarist uses a POD in the studio. When he brought it in, he was apologetic (being a Fender tube amp player) but he immediately dialed in some very nice tones, complementing the acoustic rhythm guitar.

If you heard it you would not say "Oh my God, that's awful! It must have been recorded with a POD!" No, you would have said, "That is some soulful guitar playing...."

They are all tools, guys.

 

[Ed Dixon]

Gear choice is based on very different criteria for different players. Some guys I see are more interested in looks that sound. They want that full Marshall stack look, and anything else is considered less good. Others are interested in using specific gear, because someone else used it. Still others just want something that produces the sound they want and meets other criteria.

I’ve been playing live for over 40 years, so my needs have changed. Moving heavy gear when I was 35 seemed easy. It’s not that way now. I care nothing about appearance, but only sound and whether it can be easily transported.

I used to play a PRS Custom 24, which was a great looking guitar. I now play a Line 6 Variax, which is butt ugly, but produces a much wider range of sounds with zero noise.

I used to have dual 2x12 slant cabinets and two 6 space racks full of stuff. For live use, I now use a 15” floor monitor, an XTL, and a 4 space rack with power amp and guitar synth gear. I still have the other setup that now never moves from the church location where it is used. When I play other places, I take the XTL setup which is 1/3 the weight and size. I don’t get any complaints on tone with either setup.

Ed

 

[Zaphod B]

They are all tools, guys.

Exactly. :thumbup: