How to hook up PODxt to PA?

[J Moose]

Re: How to hook up PODxt to PA?

I still haven't seen a real, technical explanation as to why you can't plug a balanced +4 line direct into the PA. All I've seen so far is "that's not how its done".

If you're going to call me a dumbass, at least explain why I'm a dumbass.

Heheheheheh


:stooges:


I thought I had kinda explained it...

You kinda answered it yourself too!


It's not that a +4dB line level signal CAN'T be plugged straight into a console... because it CAN, that's why desks have balanced line inputs...but truthfully they're just not used much outside of 'recording' enviornments.

Live shows are fairly hostile enviornments and it's just way WAY easier all around to shove the output of anything linelevel into a direct box for a multitude of reasons...

Impedance is one of 'em.

Running high impedance signals over a long distance say a coupla hundred feet is like inviting the Gremlins to that bash you threw when your parents left town for a week during your Sophmore year of high school.

You'll loose a whole lotta top end & the chances of picking up stray radio or electrical signals shoots WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY up.

Ponder the tonal difference between having a 50 foot cable connecting 'yer Strat to the Marshall wall of death and swapping THAT with a 10 foot cable...

Big difference right?!

Let's multiply it.

The other side of the coin (in a live enviornment anywhoo) is basic connectivity.

In a "pro" live rig just about everything is on an XLR including all the stage box connections. On the flip side of the stage box there could be anywhere from one to three consoles in a BIG BIG show...

FOH (front of house, where the show is mixed for the sheeple); monitor world for the 'stage' mix and maybe a seperate recording rig located in a truck or an entirely different & isolated room within the venue.

For that sole reason it's really "best" to have all signals from the stage be mic level rather then a mix of line & mic... who's got what mispatched where?

In the case of a mispatch sending line level up a mic level channel would be SUPER bad since line level is about 10,000 times louder then mic level...

(Which %^&%*(&@#()*@Q$ channels are line level again!!!!!????!?)


I hope I don't need to explain THAT scenario in much detail...


XLR connectors have a whole bunch more surface area where it counts then a 1/4" connection which is good.

XLR's also 'lock' into place... greatly reduces the chance of some dope stagehand yanking something when he trips over a cable during the flugalhorn exchange halfway through the drum solo...



Did that help at all?

 

[J Moose]

Re: How to hook up PODxt to PA?

by the way I am running a xt live. So I shoudn't run it into a DI? I am confused. Can I use regular guitar cables from the Pod to the DI?

What kinda outputs are there on the POD?

Is there an XLR output (3-prong mic) labeled "DI" or is it a regualar old 1/4" output?

If it's the former, then ANY soundmonkey anywhere will be able to plug right into the POD with nothing more needed, and if they can't figure THAT out well....

You're gonna need a WHOLE lot more help then any of us could offer!!!

In other words, you won't need a direct box since the POD already has one built in.

If it's a 1/4" output then you'll need a direct box and the soundtech will plug their cable into that.

FWIW, even if you have the ability to run in stereo all you really need is the one side, typically the left.

Most PA's (from the 300 seat clubs to the 30,000 arena's) are run in mono.

 

[Johnny L]

Re: How to hook up PODxt to PA?

okay guys, no need to fight, I am the one that needs help.

by the way I am running a xt live. So I shoudn't run it into a DI? I am confused. Can I use regular guitar cables from the Pod to the DI?

Maybe, i should email line6...

you guys that have one...how do you hook it up to a pa, or do you use it thru and amp?

I run mine through a DI box into the PA and make sure I have some guitar in my monitor mix. Makes it so we don't have to mess with mic placement and allows me to carry my entire "rig" in one duffel bag and one guitar case.

You'll want to run a standard 1/4" cable - shorter is better - from the L/Mono out on the back of the XT Live to the DI; set your "AMP/LINE" switch to LINE, and I usually have the output dimed, controlling my level with the expression pedal.

...anybody else here running an XTL for gigs?

 

[G&Legacy]

Re: How to hook up PODxt to PA?

on line 6s website, it says that you can use TRS to XLR into the snake with no need for a DI..maybe a possiblity...

 

[guitarded]

Re: How to hook up PODxt to PA?

on line 6s website, it says that you can use TRS to XLR into the snake with no need for a DI..maybe a possiblity...

I think it depends if you have the XT Bean model which has balanced outputs or the Live Floor model which doesn't.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: How to hook up PODxt to PA?

Did that help at all?

Yes it did, and it appears we are sort of both right.

On the one hand, TECHNICALLY speaking you can hook the PODxt direct to the snake/board with a balanced TRS to TRS or TRS to XLR. This is not just me - the manufacturer suggests this is ok as well.

(btw. the PODxt's output is a low impedance signal when the output is on 10 ... you can attenuate it up to high impedance by turning the output level down)

On the other hand, in the real world, that's probably not going to happen, simply because the PA's aren't set up to accomodate that, and sound guys don't want to deal with the extra confusion.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: How to hook up PODxt to PA?

I think it depends if you have the XT Bean model which has balanced outputs or the Live Floor model which doesn't.

This is correct.

 

[G&Legacy]

Re: How to hook up PODxt to PA?

Well thanks for trying to help, but I think I am returning the PODxt. I just got my 59 bassman reissue fixed and I got a Rocktron Zombie distortion pedal, with that and my Jeckyl and Hyde pedal, I got some awesome tones out of this setup at practice today (which I am really happy about). So I have no need for the PODxt live. I am going to get a stompbox tuner and noise gate instead...

 

[LesStrat]

Re: How to hook up PODxt to PA?

Before we got individual monitoring stations/IEM's, I used the following setup when using the POD:

Guitar-->Dynacomp-->POD xt LIVE-->Direct box-->mixer

I also used the hi-z output from the direct box to send a signal to a Hartke B30 bass combo that I used as a guitar monitor.

 

[guitarded]

Re: How to hook up PODxt to PA?

Too bad you can't keep it. Pod's can be a lot of fun. I tried using one in live situations for a while but in the end, it did work out as good as I hoped. I still would not give up my POD. I use it a lot for headphone practice, and if I have to make a quick recording to share ideas, I can always go to it.

Well thanks for trying to help, but I think I am returning the PODxt. I just got my 59 bassman reissue fixed and I got a Rocktron Zombie distortion pedal, with that and my Jeckyl and Hyde pedal, I got some awesome tones out of this setup at practice today (which I am really happy about). So I have no need for the PODxt live. I am going to get a stompbox tuner and noise gate instead...