Recording with Line 6 Pod XT Live

[clutterbilly]

Apart from getting a good tone out of the POD XT live for studio gigs it's very handy to use it for live gigs as well. My Soldano is resting in the barn and I'm rested because I don't have to carry the thing around every week over and over again anymore. My ears and the band's ears are pleased with it as well because amps are pretty damn noisy on stage, not even mentioning how pleased the soundguy is with the POD and it's straightness! No more fuzzy overloaded bass tones anymore because the stage it made out of wood, just the same tone, over and over again. I have a studio gig tomorrow and I even refuse to bring a real amp to these sessions anymore. The POD is set up for the job in 10 minutes (straight into the mixing table) and always sounds the same! Of course the sound comes from the fingers but after being a professional guitarplayer for quite a while I really can say that Line6 makes my life easier and I'm glad that I don't have to pay for that with less sound quality. And indeed, it's hard to make the POD sound well over an amp, just plug it into the mixing table and use the speaker simulation. The result will please you.

 

[lpdeluxe]

The POD's quietness made it a treat to record. I use phantom powered condensors, mostly, and they are all noisy, and after a recording session I always spend a couple of hours doing NR on the tracks. Recording with the POD unbalanced line out, there was **0** noise. I mean, not "only a little bit" but NONE.

 

[CoolCat]

exactly, exactly on the their all just tools.

i like the old purist Fender pure-tube sound too...but not for every meal.

but luckily...we don't have to be "either or" do we?..it can be both?
last i looked at the Home Recording Rules book, section 25.04 pg 312...

it clearly states :

"using both methods, direct, simulated, flangy-whacked or purist form, either tube or solid state is allowed when recording guitars."

 

[Editor]

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

Can you give me some tips on how to hook up a Pod Xl to an amp? (I've never actually used one)

I hear there are 2 RCA jack outputs (R & L)?

I have a Behringer DI box--would that help anything?

 

[CoolCat]

The POD's quietness made it a treat to record. I use phantom powered condensors, mostly, and they are all noisy, and after a recording session I always spend a couple of hours doing NR on the tracks. Recording with the POD unbalanced line out, there was **0** noise. I mean, not "only a little bit" but NONE.

whats your setup? POD xt or 2.0 or rack mount??
guitar, cables, how far away are you form the recorder etc...?

i'm using a single coil stratocaster and i seem to get the typical, buzzing from mine. one of the reasons i tried it was for the noise gate and compressor.

 

[Ed Dixon]

Can you give me some tips on how to hook up a Pod Xl to an amp? (I've never actually used one)

I hear there are 2 RCA jack outputs (R & L)?

I have a Behringer DI box--would that help anything?

Your choice usually include:

1. Front guitar input
2. Effect return connection
3. Direct to a power amp

Choice 1 is usually the most difficult to get a good tone from, as guitar amps are set for guitar input and not a POD.

Chocie 2 works well for many. It basically uses the guitar amp like a power amp.

Most have the best luck with choice 3 and PA type soeakers. You can do direct to the amp, via a mixer or via a direct box. Each produce about the same result.

Ed

 

[Editor]

Thanks for the help Ed