What goes well with POD ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TomK
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TomK

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I recently bought a POD (upgraded to POD 2) to get back into home recording. My last setup was a ZOOM 9001, Korg A3, and a Tubeworks Realtube Overdrive pedal. I think sometimes that gave me a better sound than the POD. Not to say that the POD is bad, it's just that I guess I need more that the POD to get a great sound, or at least to get greater flexability. Does anyone have any suggestions for equipment that works well with the POD? I'm thinking about getting a Tubeworks pedal again, or something similar. I believe I might need some kind of multi FX too, but I don't want to go overkill (like GT3 + POD might be too much?).
 
You say you recentley bought a POD, make sure you spend enough time with it to actually undertstand each button, knob etc to get the optimum sound that you want. The POD floorboard offers greater flexibility, the POD (pro at least) has a stero effects loop so you can add your favourite stomp boxes. If you have the POD, your pedals you could not live without (including the floorboard) and a nice amp, you should be set up.
 
In the Studio . . .

Firstly -
Give yourself some time with POD - keep it simple. If you start adding things - you start adding unwanted noise.

If you're in the middle of a heavy mix and you are not sounding "hot", you will go thru hell and high water if you got a bunch o' shit between Pod and the mix.
 
When I first got my POD I too was not all that impressed with it, but after many hours of tinkering I get the sounds I want.

I do not use any amplifiers with it I plug it direct into the soundcard in my PC in "direct" mode. You should get the same effect running into your amp clean if you aren't already. You just need to spend some time getting to know your POD.

I went a little overboard and got me a "GT-3" also. Mixing the 2 together kicks ass.
 
Can I be Frank ?

Give up on tones, leave that to the masters. Just play.

Frank
 
Forget the tones?

What if you are a one man band? Who's going to mix the tones? Who the hell are the masters? There are no masters in this game, there are only people who have mixed more and know a few tricks.

Thats pobably what the poor guy wants to know, is how to get a tone.

Forget about the tones?

Isn't that like 99.9% of the guitarist's life, looking for the perfect tone?

Forget the tones?!?!?

What the hell kind of advice is that? Useless advice if you ask me.

Damn! I feel sorry for the first guy named Frank that I run in to.

Earaugh!! Alcohol make me talk big!! :P

[Edited by DeathspazM on 09-10-2000 at 00:41]
 
What goes well with POD?

I usually like a little red wine and a small salad. Maybe some ice cream for dessert.

Or some boiled bass strings with spaghetti sauce is another favorite.
 
Ok, I guess it's not as easy to use as it looks, with all those knobs and all. Still, so far I do think it sounds harsh and metallic, and that distortion on higher notes sounds awful. Perfect for rhythm and most riffs, but not solos. I'll work on it.
 
Hey Tomk,

What kind of speakers are you runing it through, this may be part of the problem.
 
Yeah, and it really helps to read the manual. The controls work differently depending on the amp model you choose. Also, remember to always twist the channel volume knob and then turn it to full blast EVERY time you change amp models. The channel volume knob is stupid in my opinion, and shouldn't even exist.

You might also try running the POD into a nice preamp. I sometimes run it through my Tube MP to get a bigger sound (or to reduce the noise). This works for everything really. I have a SansAmp Bass Driver DI box and I ALWAYS run it through my Tube MP because it sounds like shit on its own.

To *really* appreciate the POD, you need to play through a Peavy Studio Pro amp for approximately 10 years. :)

Slackmaster 2000
 
Tube MP? I have a Tube MP! I'll try that out.

ABout the speakers, I use danish Dali hifi speakers, high quality, full-range. Maybe too good high frequency response?
 
Tomk,

Don't confuse too good, for too much high frequency.

If the high frequency were too good, the pod would also sound too good!!
 
Hey Tom,

Be sure to check out the Line 6 website: http://www.line6.com
Their site is fantastic. It is a must to check out their tone library. You can download different guitarists' tones. Many of them are very good. I think you will find this helpful. By the way, I also use various rack multi effects for more delays and more control, but not often. I really have found that I can do quite a bit with the POD using the Soundiver software and the Line 6 Tone library. And I agree with how important it is to use their manual.

Peace, Jim
 
bball,

I guess you're talking the "give up on tones" statement. Just kinda lay there and nobody took a bite :)

I agree with you to a large extent, but Ithink it's something that no good player can truly ignore. Becoming good is inxtricably entwined with sounding good, because tha's largely what defines great players -- they "sound good." But this is not equivalent to "killer tone" -- it has as much or more to do with touch, phrasing, a quality of conversation, breathing, whatever words you want to use... if you have that stuff, the tone thing is easy.

-AlChuck
 
AlChuck -
That is kind of what I meant. If you keep playin- I believe the tones will come. Many of us are never satisfied with our tones, but that doesn't keep us from our life's work - undaunted we ramble on. And what may not sound so great to me or you, might blow the next guy away. I sure as hell didn't mean to ruffle any feathers with that one.

I think Miles said it best about tone. "If I ever lose my tone - I will walk into the sea and die."
 
Slack hitsit on the head with the poor Channel Volume implementation

Slack: That's a firmware issue, that channel volume bug.
 
Doc, I thought it was a "bug" too, but the instructions explain things well enough. The channel volume exists so that when you're switching between amp models, you don't blow anything (like your ears). It recommends that you twist the channel volume knob and crank it to full volume each time you pick a new model.

Personally I'd rather be responsible for turning down the master output level when switching amps. It's too easy to forget to turn that stupid channel knob up.

Slackmaster 2000
 
Instead of channel volume, I would rather have a pan control, that would be much more usefull!!
 
I agree with bb. The tones will come in time. Worry about making great music and the tones will come on their own.
 
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