POD XT (regular) and VAMP

[g123]

Ok guys due to tone and recording problems, I was recommended to buy the Pod XT (http://www.line6.com/podxt/)
Anyways, I wanted to know a couple of things:
1. If there is great Metal Tone for Metallica/Megadeth/Pantera/Maiden and such. I heard that there's a Mesa Boogie preset and I was wondering if it gives a metal enough tone.
2. If the other presets and amps are good and worth the money.
3. If there's a USB plug in for direct to PC recording. I want to record wiuth good quality and I was wondering if the sound of the PODXT is good when plugged into the PC.
4. How do you hear the POD? Do you connect it to the Amp like an effects pedal like: guitar>POD>amp? And if I could hear it through the amp does the amp affect the sound or does the POD sound the same on most amps (but its different on diff. guitars I know).
5. Pretty stupid question, but do I need to connect the POD to the amp/PC to hear or could I plug headphones or hear through the POD itself?
6. Is the POD more suited to what I need more than the VAMP?

Thanks guys for reading, please help me because I am going to buy this soon.

 

[GandLMan]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

1. Not sure If it has a great metal tone, anyone ive talked to about this guy though says that the XT is one of the better sounding modelers, unfortunately I dont play metal, so I dont know about that one
2. Once again, heard good things
3. There is USB out on the POD XT, this is for direct recording. The quality, im not sure but the spec's should be listed.
4. You can go guitar>POD>Amp, however you are stacking preamps that way, it will work but can be tougher. Ideally its either guitar>POD>Poweramp>Speaker, or guitar>POD>Effects Return(of guitar amp), or guitar>POD>DI Box>PA System. For other options check out the atomic reactor, ask around here as I know some guys use it, do a google search and check it out, great idea.
5. There should be a headphone out on the POD
6. Never tried a Vamp, some guys love em here, some dont, once again, wait till all the guys chime in.

Ty

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

I've used PodXT at home with headphones and through a computer. Nice tones. The presets weren't really my cup of tea but I improved them.

I've used it record it through USB and I think that I got a nice sound.

 

[g123]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

OK thanks, but I only have an Ibanez amp 15w, will it affect the sound of the POD if I plug my guitar>pod>amp? And can I use guitar>pod>usb and then use the speakers as a...speaker? Will it sound good?

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

Ok guys due to tone and recording problems, I was recommended to buy the Pod XT (http://www.line6.com/podxt/)
Anyways, I wanted to know a couple of things:
1. If there is great Metal Tone for Metallica/Megadeth/Pantera/Maiden and such. I heard that there's a Mesa Boogie preset and I was wondering if it gives a metal enough tone.

Hell yeah! This is where the PODxt truly excels IMO. Some of the models you will enjoy are:

- Treadplate Dual: Mesa Dual Rectifier (old 2-channel version)
- Brit JM Pre: Marshall JMP-1 pre-amp
- Brit JCM 800: Marshall JCM 800 (a really good one too!)
- Solo 100: Soldano SLO-100
- Spinal Puppet: a Line6 Original with a killer metal tone

2. If the other presets and amps are good and worth the money.

The PODxt is probably the best value-for-money guitar gear item I have ever bought. I'm not much of a metal player, but there are others in there that are PERFECT for what I like to play. Some of my fav's are Plexi Variac (Marshall Super Lead Plexi with a Variac, like early EVH), Cali Crunch (Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC), Blackface Twin (1965 Fender Twin Reverb), and Match Chief (Matchless Chieftain). The effects sound amazing too. You can spend all day tweaking this thing coming up with cool sounds, and when you do, there are a TON of presets for you to save them in.

3. If there's a USB plug in for direct to PC recording. I want to record wiuth good quality and I was wondering if the sound of the PODXT is good when plugged into the PC.

Yes there is a USB interface, and yes the quality is very good for recording. The USB is also used for backing up your presets to the PC, or for adding new ones. Line6 has a website where you can share presets with other PODxt users.

4. How do you hear the POD? Do you connect it to the Amp like an effects pedal like: guitar>POD>amp? And if I could hear it through the amp does the amp affect the sound or does the POD sound the same on most amps (but its different on diff. guitars I know).

The PODxt is designed to be a complete guitar amp+effects system. It is primarily designed for studio work, and is an excellent practice tool since you get all these huge amp sounds at low volumes. At home, I plug mine into a Behringer mini mixing board, which feeds into a DigiDesign MBox (for recording) and a pair of Samson active studio monitors. I also use headphones when I want to be quiet.

As for the second part of your question, I have been struggling with using the PODxt live for a while now. A regular guitar amp will colour the sound of the PODxt, and therefore some of the presets that sound good direct won't sound the same at all in your amp. The best luck I had was plugging it into a Yorkville keyboard amp. Do a search for my thread entitled "Using a digital modeller live" for more info.

5. Pretty stupid question, but do I need to connect the POD to the amp/PC to hear or could I plug headphones or hear through the POD itself?

It has a headphone jack built in. You can hook it up to pretty much anything though: a stereo, studio monitors, a PA, etc.

6. Is the POD more suited to what I need more than the VAMP?

I have never tried a VAMP, but they appear to be very similar to a POD. I like my PODxt so much I have had no reason to try other modellers.

I hope that helps you. Best of luck!

 

[Neeradj]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

Do not buy the V-amp! Believe me the POD beats it hands down! I've had the Vamp 2 for about a year and didn't like it. The sound was very "plastique", flat and dull IMO. don't get me wrong you can get good sounds out of it, but every model lacks dynamics. That's why two other guys I know sold theirs and one of them is using a Vox Tonelab now. The POD XT is great, perhaps I'll get me one myself some day if my other recording plans don't work out

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

Yeah, a PODxt will kick the crap out of a V-amp2, and I own one. I'm going to upgrade to an xt when I get the cash, however.

For a good metal tone, get the XT, the amp model pack, and run the 5150 model with a tube screamer model infront of it. Run the pedal with the tone at a neutral setting, level almost full, and gain at anywhere lower than 9 o clock. It'll sound insanely killer.

 

[g123]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

Oh great guys I think I'll go with the PODXT. Now the only problem is how I will listen to the POD and only the POD. The amp will color the sound..I don't have a preamp/cabinets andI barely know what they are lol. I guess I could use my headphone but I donb't realy like all the wires while playing. But maybe I could listen through the PC speakers? If I get awesome speakers will the sound be good? And how much does a preamp/cabinet cost (minimum) if it is needed, and will it coor my PODsound? And could you please post a pic to the preamp/cabinet?

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

Dunno about the Pod, but the V-amp has 2 outputs - one to go into the PC or mixing desk, and one for an amp or monitor so you can hear yourself (if your PC speakers aren't up to much). My V-amp is pretty good; not as good as a Pod, but a good bit cheaper.

Having re-read your post... if your PC speakers and soundcard are very good, then it'll sound ok that way. Your amp will colour the sound a bit, but it doesn't have to be much if you just put it in clean and set the EQ all to the middle.

 

[g123]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

Ok good, I guess that I need a preamp or cabinet? So how much do those things cost at the very least just to get good tone ONLY from the POD?

 

[Animal]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

Ok good, I guess that I need a preamp or cabinet? So how much do those things cost at the very least just to get good tone ONLY from the POD?

Since the POD is a preamp in itself, what you'd need is a POWER amp so that the signal coming out of the POD can be amplified into a speaker cabinet.

You could probably find a decent 1x12" speaker cabinet for around $100-$300. I would look on the second-hand market and find one equipped with a celestion or eminence speaker.

Power amps tend to be expensive pieces of equipment especially if you want to go all tube. Marshall used to make solid-state power amps under the 'valvestate' series name and from what I've read, they are good and won't colour your preamps sound. There are still some floating around on the second hand market for around $100-$400, depending on what model you get.

Here's one currently on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38075&item=7334114605&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Or if you want to go for a tube marshall:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38075&item=7334070576&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Mesa Boogie's 20/20 or 50/50 tube power amps are also supposed to be very good tube power amps, even though you'll be handing over much more cash going the tube way.

So yeh, you might be find yourself spending much more money than you originally anticipated because a POD is basically a preamp unit.

I'm currently in a similar situation to you. I have a Yamaha DG-stomp which I plug into the effects return of my Hughes & Kettner ATS sixty amp which makes it sounds a bit thin and lifeless. I have a homemade 1x12 speaker cabinet equipped with a Mesa Boogie Black Shadow speaker which hasn't seen any use yet because I don't have a power amp to run the DG-stomp into. I'm still deciding whether I should get a solid-state or tube power amp. I'm hoping that a Mesa Boogie 50/50 power amp will show up soon on the Australian Ebay for a reasonable price.

Another option could be to find an amp that has an effects loop and plug into the return jack. This could result in a less punchy and thinner tone though.

You can plug a POD into your computer to hear it but you'll have have your computer on everytime you want to play it. Also, it won't be as fun playing it out your little computer speakers. They'll distort easier and you won't be able to play at jamming volumes.

The POD would be perfect for your recording cover projects but I assume you want to be using for playing at louder volumes, jamming, practicing etc.

I think you could get one, use it for recording and then save up for a power amp and cabinet later if you want to use a POD for non-recording purposes.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

Ok good, I guess that I need a preamp or cabinet? So how much do those things cost at the very least just to get good tone ONLY from the POD?

You need a power amp, not a preamp. There are actually quite a lot of ways you can amplify a POD. Again, search for my thread on this board called "Using a digital modeller live". There are a lot of good ideas in there.

For practicing at home, you can either use the headphones, or plug it into a stereo. You don't really need a loud amp unless you're playing with a band or playing a live show.

Good luck!

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

And... if you want to power it live, get yourself an Atomic Amp for it. I use 2 in stereo with killer results. Used the XT and Atomics quite a bit on some records recently too.

 

[g123]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

Ok guys, how much does a decent poweramp bran new? That doesn't color my tone and is cheap? Like 100 or something, will that work? Can I just use speakers and it will souind good? Thanks for posting guys.

 

[Animal]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

Ok guys, how much does a decent poweramp bran new? That doesn't color my tone and is cheap? Like 100 or something, will that work? Can I just use speakers and it will souind good? Thanks for posting guys.

I'm not sure if there even are power amps made for guitar amplification that can be found new for around 100. If there were, they'd probably be junk.

 

[Rotten Guitar String]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

For practicing at home, you can either use the headphones, or plug it into a stereo.

Yep, plugging into the AUX input of your stereo sounds pretty good.

I just use headphones most of the time

 

[stratvox]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

Hey buddy ma nishta na. I have a pod 2.0 and love it. But... If you are looking for a nice practice tool and recording tool check out a TECH21 Trademark 10 AMP. Its a small practice amp with an XLR output for recording and it does KILLER Marshall tones and Mesa tones. Also does Fender. Not as versatile as POD, of course, but it sounds amazing as a practice amp at low volumes. I have 2 kids and I can jam in the next room and not wake anyone. Check out the reviews at the LEs Paul Forum

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

If you buy a poweramp, do not buy a guitar power amp. Instead you need some full range speakers and a not coloring poweramp.

That's what L6 says, but some people do seem to be happy with other kind of gear as well. It won't sound bad with a guitar amp, I've tried it myself, but it isn't what it's meant for.

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

what are these Atomic Amp things that I keep hearing about with pods?

 

[Animal]

Re: POD XT (regular) and VAMP

http://www.atomicamps.com/