What do you think of the PodXT for home recording?

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HangDawg said:
I guess I'm just spoiled because I do my home recording in a detached garage. The only thing that bleeds into the house is kick drum if I'm tracking drums. And you can't even hear that if you are in the far end of the house watching TV. I feel sorry for y'all that have to resort to PODs and the like. :(
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My buddy had an unused detached garage. I tried to talk him into making it into a studio/jam space. Instead, they tore it down and put up a basketball hoop Fool!!! :)
 
Ronan said:
Yo Monsoon,

I have added enough about my dislike for the Pod on this thread so I will not add any more, but let me talk about my love of tube amps.

Decent tube amps love to be driven hard and sound great when you crank them up. A decent tube amp sound great cranked, but many are still pretty cool at lower volumes (not Marshalls) and still better than almost any solid state amp I have ever used and miles ahead of any Pod sounds I have ever heard.

One of my favorite amps of all time is the Rivera TBR2-SL. Its stereo, 160 watts a side with 21 tubes of pure glory that can knock houses over when you crank it, but it also sounds really good at low volumes low enough that you can have a conversation over the amp with out raising your voice. I am talking about high gain sounds with long sustained notes etc. Low enough volume that you could record in an apartment with out an iso booth.

Rivera also made the TBR1-SL which is only 60 watts a side but the same amp. I have seen a few of them around used for $600US. If you found something like this and bought a small 1-12 cab, for about $750 (less than you are talking about spending on the Vetta II) you can have one of the best guitar amps ever built, that you could use to record in an apartment. It will blow away the Line 6 amp and you will be able to sell it for what you paid for it in 3 years (I will never sell mine!!). I say all this assuming you do not live in a place like Australia where its tough to find gear.

Also it does not cost $1500 for a iso booth for guitars. If you are handy with tools you can build one out of $50 worth of MDF (meduim density fiberboard) and insulation from Home Depot. It will not silence a super lound amp but if you have an amp that sound decent at modest volumes you can get it low enough where it will not even bother room mates or family in the same apartment. It could be small enough to fit under a big table.

I do not hate Pods because I am a purist. Its because I love records and great sounds. The day a Pod equals a half decent real amp in terms of sound, flexiblility, responsiveness to a players feel and financial value I will pick one up and start using it.
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You don't have to convince me that tube amps are better. I'm with ya. And, I haven't quite given up on getting a nice tube amp. Just sometimes I get frustrated at my situation and it seems that the easiest solution (though not my preferred solution) would be something like a vetta. I'm in no hurry and I want to do it right, so I'm taking my time. I do have an advantage over some in that my setup is in a basement instead of an apartment (no irriated neighbors right next door and my family, when sleeping, are two flights up).

Suggestions like what you offered in this post are VERY helpful (sounds like a good topic for a separate thread). I guess I also need to do a little more digging on the iso booth situation before giving up on that.
 
Ronan said:
I do not hate Pods because I am a purist. Its because I love records and great sounds. The day a Pod equals a half decent real amp in terms of sound, flexiblility, responsiveness to a players feel and financial value I will pick one up and start using it.
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Ronan, I don't think you understand. Not everyone has the ability to use real live tube amps for recording. It's just not feasible for most HOME recording applications.

Trust me, I'd much rather use my Marshall for recording than a Pod, but if I did, I'd have to find a new place to live.

We're all aware how much you don't like them, but they are a reality as long as tube amps require loud volumes to record.
 
SilverSurfer said:
Ronan, I don't think you understand. Not everyone has the ability to use real live tube amps for recording. It's just not feasible for most HOME recording applications........
We're all aware how much you don't like them, but they are a reality as long as tube amps require loud volumes to record.
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Did you read the paragraphs above the line where you quoted me? the point of it was that you do NOT need really high volumes to make many tube amps sound good. Im my expereince I have found that tube amps sound better when they are cranked up loud, but a tube amp at a low volume will still be far superior to a Pod. And I am talking about playing the amp at the volume you probably play your home stereo or your TV durring a good action movie.

I have nothing to gain by ranting against the Pod except for the fact that my wacko rants might get some recordist to be a little more creative and work a little harder to make better recordings. Actually I think most of the people that refute my statements do not really read them (I know they are long and probably boring). I never get why people are buying Pods when you can buy a used boogie pre amp for about the same price.
 

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Ronan said:
Did you read the paragraphs above the line where you quoted me? the point of it was that you do NOT need really high volumes to make many tube amps sound good. Im my expereince I have found that tube amps sound better when they are cranked up loud, but a tube amp at a low volume will still be far superior to a Pod. And I am talking about playing the amp at the volume you probably play your home stereo or your TV durring a good action movie.

I have nothing to gain by ranting against the Pod except for the fact that my wacko rants might get some recordist to be a little more creative and work a little harder to make better recordings. Actually I think most of the people that refute my statements do not really read them (I know they are long and probably boring). I never get why people are buying Pods when you can buy a used boogie pre amp for about the same price.
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I am sure the people using Pods that have spent a lot of time trying to match the sound of a tube amp would disagree that they aren't working hard OR being creative. In fact, just the opposite is occuring. They HAVE to be creative and work hard to get a similar-to-tube-amp sounding tone.

I'll crate my 4x12 up the stairs and cut the watts on my Marshall to 1/2 and see if I can record without getting thrown out. I doubt it. Maybe it's the achillies heel of my marshall but you need to hit 5 on the dial for the power to really brown the tone out. If I run it below 5 it just isn't the same.

There. For those who think that I think Marshall doesn't have any problems, you are mistaken :) No two sound alike and some sound better at certain volumes than others.

I think using an isolation box is the only true alternative for those wanting true tube amp sound at a volume/power setting that works - without gettng thrown out.

Ok, that's a good project for me. Build my own darn isolation box!
 
I have read this thread with increasing incredulity at the bigoted views expressed.

I have played guitar for 36 years pro, semi-pro and rank amataur. Now I play for fun and enjoyment. And I home record too.

The POD XT is a piece of kit like any other and is a god-send to peeps who need a wide range of tones and emulations without the expense, space, and noise that the real McCoys would take up.

Like any other piece of kit, it can be made to sound awful (usually by ignorance or taste...whatever that is...Lol :D ). I have had a load of amps over the years and some of them were terrible sounding...or could be.

Here's a link to a piece of music that was made with a POD XT for all the electric geetar sounds: Select>TV Projects>page 2> Royal Gardens:

http://www.davidlowemusic.com/
It may not be to everyones taste but it did its job and is a good example of what can be achieved using it.

BTW, for those who do own OD XT's, make sure you check out the Line 6 Webbie for those updates. 48 amps and 62 fx now ;) And an improved EQ.

Personally, I have had more fun that I can say from my POD XT, worth every penny I paid for it. I love it as much as any Marshall, Fender or Vox that I have owned, but use it in a different way and enjoy the challenge of finding new tones from it. It does need setting up right , but once done, its a great piece of kit for live, recording...or just jammin :D

Don't forget to make music! :cool:
 
where the pod is passible is right where your using it. thin, chimey, effected picking parts a bit buried in the atmosphere of that type of tune. especially with the sample "type" drum sound/groove you're going after. (it all sounds nice)

where the pod srtuggles IMO is in all the semi dirty clean type tones with little or no effects, and 70's rock/vintage (stones) type riffs...... the metal tones seem to work best for pods IMO due to how difficult it can be to record walls of rectumfires/marshall sounds. (the new metal stuff)

I just cant count on a pod to deliver the all important vibe!..its too slick, and too hi-fi. nowhere near the way a guitar was ever meant to deliver its feel!

IMO as always!
 
Wow this post has obviously gotten WAY out of control but hey thats Guitarplayers for you,yes I'm one also...So let me add to the madness,I was originally a V-amp user.You all remember the very first one Behringer came out,the blue crappy ass plastic unit.Well,I went out and bought a POD XT,First off It was like reading a manual to Fly an Airplane and so were the controls,Secondly I brought it back after a week of debating hmmm,I don't know should I keep it?Do I like it?Also It was ugly as all hell not for nothing,then I said the F*** with it/I brought it back,Bought The V-Amp Pro(That Rackmountable 1 w/Digital Out) and as far as Computer Recording in your living room/Bedroom goes I Never Looked back,It's easy to use,sounds VERY convincing.True Nothing compares to miking up a real nice Tube Amp or whatever you like BUT when you have to be confined to a place where thats just NOT an option and for $200 you can't go wrong with a V-Amp PRO!!! http://songplanet.com/leadgtrplayr The last 4 songs were done with The V-AMP PRO,The 1'st 2 were done with Amplitube(SOFTWARE)
 
"Sound", and all things that make up a sound (ie. tone etc.) are all
subjective. What one person likes is not necessarily what another person
will like. It all depends on the particular "sound" one is trying to achive.
If the gear you have will achive that sound, it's the right gear for you.
If it won't, than it's not the right gear for you. But... just because a
piece of gear may not achieve the particular sound you are trying to
acheive doesn't necessarily make it "junk". In fact, most great guitar
players have several different pieces of gear they will lug into the
studio when recording. Why do they do that when they could afford
"the best". Because there is no "best". That's why. There are different
sounds they like for different applications. So... they plug into whatever
particular piece of gear will achieve the particular sound they want at
that time. I think the "gray area" in this discussion evolves from brands
like Roland and Line6 claiming accurate modeling. And in fact sometimes
even giving there programs "names" that sound like or suggest that you
can acutally dial up an exact replica of something else with a simple twist
of a knob or push of a button. Not true. Not yet anyway, and maybe never.
Perhaps if they ever do get to that point, they will call the technology
cloning instead of modeling. Anyway, buyer beware.. if you buy a PodXT or
any other piece of "modeling" gear, don't expect that it will do everything
that the highly unqualified Guitar Center salesman says it will do.
Having said all that, I think the PodXT is a great piece of gear in the sense
that it does produce it's own great, quality sounds at a fair price.
And after all, what other criteria should one have when considering gear?
If you have used the PodXT, you may discover that you like or don't like
the sounds. But if you don't, it doesn't make the unit junk. It just means
it's not right for you. Keep in mind that a podXT will sound like a podXT.
It will not sound like a tube amp (genuinely) or any thing else exactly.
I am not in love with the podXT, but I could never call it "junk". It's not.
On a side note... musicians and engineers always love to use the
phrase "there are no rules". Of course that all flies out the window once
they make up their mind about their own preferences. Everyone finds their
favorite and becomes an instant "gear snob". The best information I have
gotten form this board is from people who talk in terms of what a particular
piece of gear will do or won't do. Or... if you are seeking a particular "sound"
and people have great suggestions as to how to achieve that particular
sound. In other words, anything that constitutes good advice or guidance
is helpful. As opposed to things that constitute critisism of someone else's choices.
 
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XXXDiablo said:
"Sound", and all things that make up a sound (ie. tone etc.) are all subjective.
On a side note... musicians and engineers always love to use the
phrase "there are no rules". Of course that all flies out the window once
they make up their mind about their own preferences. Everyone finds their
favorite and becomes an instant "gear snob".
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Well said, good post :) A voice of reason. :cool:
 
Paul881, that was a nice little song.

People who deny the Line6 technology are simply being ridiculous. Personally I have seen the guitarist for Blue Oyster Cult, the guitarist for the late John Entwistle, and the guitarist for Zebra to name a few use Line6 processors for amp simulation in live shows.

Again, if anyone wants to hear the Variax/PODXT combination in action check out my songs HERE.

All songs done in the quiet of headphones late at night, no garage needed. ;)

Note: My version of Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) should be done very soon, so clicking the banner will not load the mp3 just yet. And as will all my songs, the vocals are a work in progress and need work. :p
 
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Snouter said:
Paul881, that was a nice little song.
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Glad you liked it...it was used for a mainstream BBC production called Royal Gardeners. David Lowe is a Music Producer of wide talents. He has had a couple of #1 Chart hits in the last few years as well as producing a dazzling array of BBC, film and tv work. As you can see from his website.

Royal Gardeners used Stylus for the beat, Absyth for the synth and a Baby Taylor for the acoustic guitars. The electric geetar was a Fender Strat via a POD XT. The biscuits (cookies for our American friends) that were consumed during the recordings were Hob Nobs. :) I can even tell you the colour of the shirt that the guitarist wore that day ;)

The tune was co-written by Paul White, Editor of Sound On Sound Magazine. The old POD's were noisy and I didn't like them very much, no more than my old Zoom. But the POD XT, especially with the latest firmware, is a different ball game. Still can't do the heavier sounds, the big sounding chord strikes from the 70's...but its getting there.
 
HangDawg said:
The guy asked our opinions of the POD sound. I said it sounds like ass. I asked for a sample with someone using a POD preferably attempting something on the heavy side. I'd like to hear it and find out how they got decent results. No takers. I also never said my sound was unbeatable. That was you spouting off crap. I also didn't resort to making funny alterations to people screen names.

Grow the fuck up.
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Hey, I have a sample with pod 2.0. Give the song 'liquid shadows' a listen.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/4/tavaresprojectmusic.htm
 
;)

I'm using that with my PodXT for my redo of my cover. I'll post it when I am done and you guys tell me what you think of the Pod then.

Again, if I had a choice, I'd use my Marshall but for now, the Pod is the best alternative.
 
HangDawg said:
That's pretty decent. Still has that highly processed sound but that's ok. I think POD users need to trade patches more often or something. The EVH variac in SilverSurfers post sounds pretty good too.
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HANGDAWG, don't get me wrong, nothing sound better than slo -100 cranked or a jcm 800 blaring through a 4x12 or 2 2x12. But there are some decent sounds to be had with pod. They take alot of tweaking sometimes and extra eqing. Other times I can get a sound in 15 mins.
Next time, i'll be recording with supercharger gto (into pod for effect only) and into 20/20 power amp. This has given me a real warm tone. I had to build an insulated box and come up with all kinds of ways to mike it up. Very time consuming and imprecise but it is working after that I may go back to the pod. Who knows. Thanks for listening!
 
ISO Boxes dampen your sound. And are certainly not an accurate
representation of the speaker you are putting in it (if that's what your
seeking). An ISO booth on the other hand CAN work if it is big enough to
allow the speaker to produce it's full frequency spectrum and not run into
a standing wave problem. A box is a good concept, but will not produce the
same sound as the speaker will outside of the box. You would probably have
much better luck in your home studio going direct into your recorder with
your PODXT. That's what it is designed for, and that's how it will work best.
Building an ISO box may be a waste of time if you already own a PODXT.
Besides, guitar players shouldn't handle power saws. ;) The PODXT has some
great sounds. If you don't like the sounds, than it is not the unit for you.
But... it is definitely a quality piece of gear. I have been in lots of Pro studios
within the last year and I can tell you that just about all of them had both
a PODXT and Bass PODXT in the rack. Must be a reason.

Once again... musicians and engineers always love to use the
phrase "there are no rules". Of course that all flies out the window once
they make up their mind about their own preferences. Everyone finds their
favorite and becomes an instant "gear snob". The best information I have
gotten form this board is from people who talk in terms of what a particular
piece of gear will do or won't do. Or... if you are seeking a particular "sound"
and people have great suggestions as to how to achieve that particular
sound. In other words, anything that constitutes good advice or guidance
is helpful. As opposed to things that constitute critisism of someone else's choices.
 
You're right and I was skeptical about building it but was desperate to get a more organic and different sound. Quite honestly I have found it. It won't replace my pod but will add to
 
Great! That's the whole idea isn't it? To find the sounds we are looking for.
I am glad the box worked for you. I have a few myself. But I have learned
to rely more and more on my pre-amp/direct recording style. Sometimes
it takes a while to learn how to tweak your "machines" into shape and find
the right sounds. But once you get the hang of it, you will find them very
diverse and fun to use. And the PODXT [for example] is very capable of
producing some nice, big, toneful sounds. Don't let the die hard, gear
snobs tell you it's junk. Like I said in an earlier email though, the PODXT
sounds like the PODXT. It will not duplicate anything else exactlly.
It's not a cloning feature, it's a modeling feature. But that in itself doesn't
make it less of a unit. It simply makes it different.
In fact, if you look at it from the perspective of the original question in
this thread; "What do you think of the PODXT for Home Recording?" with
the emphasis on Home Recording. MOST home recording enviorments
require things like electronic drums, direct guitars etc. etc...
So, the PODXT is a GREAT choice. Good luck!
 
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