Who here can't stand PODs?

[Jester700]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

I'm no big POD fan, but I like some modelers a lot - I have a ToneLab ($180 used) and Zoom G2 and they sound great to me going through my studio monitors. But then, I don't think that they need to match a specific amp. How can I when I think some classic amps don't sound that great? I just want a good sound, whatever the "model" is. And I can get it with these. I hope to pick up a GNX3000 soon as well...

 

[Coin]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

I had a Guitar Pod and I really didn't like it. It made everything sound very tacky and electronic, very 80s. Same with the Boss GT6, and with Guitar-Rig on the PC. I'm down to using individual FX pedals now XD

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

In a Nutshell (Echoing the general consensuses) Great recording tool, All the tones and sounds you could ever want from one unit. But totally lacks the feel of a good tube amp. For me feel is very important to my sound. I've dialed up some killer tones with my Guitar port and recorded them. Then I recorded a real amp on the track next to it... The real amp always seems to win.:13: I think? mainly Cuz' I just play better though a good amp?

 

[sosomething]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

I NEED my PODxt. I literally couldn't live without it. I write and record music constantly, and most of my best work is done when turning up an amp to any serviceable kind of recording volume is simply not an option (apartment dweller). It's invaluable to me for that reason, and the fact that I can store countless tones and effects and call them up on the fly via Guitarport when I need them means that "creative time" doesn't get compromised by "engineering time."

In real studio settings I won't use one - I use mic'd amps. PODs typically don't mix convincingly with real amplifiers either. Also, no POD will ever replace my live tube rig, but they're totally different tools for totally different jobs.

That said, there is a definite learning curve to modeling gear as many have already stated. They all have their own quirks and flaws, though many of those can be corrected with some deeper editing of the settings.

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

soso, on the contrary, I think the POD works very well when blended with real amps. I do that quite often. Sometimes that linear tone stands out between the a wall of say Marshalls. Again it's a matter of knowing how to get what you need out of it.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

I get what I need, and there are TONS of features I haven't even explored (e.g., cabs & mics & placements).

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

I get what I need, and there are TONS of features I haven't even explored (e.g., cabs & mics & placements).

Exactly....

It's one of the things I think alot of new players need to experience: just tweaking and turning and getting sounds and making something new and different and unique.

The amount you learn doing that is just phenomenal.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

How long, really, does it take you to dial in one tube head? Now, how long would you expect it to take to dial in multiple models on a Line6?

I'd wager that those who most often negatively criticize the PODs have never taken the time to sit down and properly tweak the EQ settings. It took me forever to fine tune the tones on my modeller, and I've had it for a year. Shoot, as long as I've had it I'm still not sure that I'm 100% of the way there. I think that users too often assume that modellers are plug and play devices that require no tweaking of knobs, and as a result don't find a good tone because they never look.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

soso, on the contrary, I think the POD works very well when blended with real amps. I do that quite often. Sometimes that linear tone stands out between the a wall of say Marshalls. Again it's a matter of knowing how to get what you need out of it.

Perhaps it could be serviceable in a pinch, but given the choice I'm always going to want to stick a microphone in front of a speaker in the studio.

Sure, the POD stands out, but it does it with what sounds to me like a very disembodied, digital quality. Cool to some, but give me real air moving every time.

 

[Matt Blackett]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

Perhaps it could be serviceable in a pinch, but given the choice I'm always going to want to stick a microphone in front of a speaker in the studio.

Sure, the POD stands out, but it does it with what sounds to me like a very disembodied, digital quality. Cool to some, but give me real air moving every time.

To each his own, but plenty of tracks by King's X, Big Wreck, and Rammstein are the product of modeled tones mixed with amp tones and they sound HUGE. I think it's exactly because the digital sounds don't sound exactly like the amp tones, and vice-versa.
Having said that, my favorite tones of all time were recorded with a mic on an amp. I'd do that too, but I'm not as good as those guys.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

To each his own, but plenty of tracks by King's X, Big Wreck, and Rammstein are the product of modeled tones mixed with amp tones and they sound HUGE. I think it's exactly because the digital sounds don't sound exactly like the amp tones, and vice-versa.
Having said that, my favorite tones of all time were recorded with a mic on an amp. I'd do that too, but I'm not as good as those guys.

One of the factors no one seems to mention is that both the guitar and the player have a HUGE effect on it.

I'm constantly downloading patches that are supposed to sound like one thing, and in the samples they publish it's dead-on, but with my axe and in my hands it just isn't close.

It's the same with tube amps....

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

Well said Skarekrough!

 

[sosomething]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

One of the factors no one seems to mention is that both the guitar and the player have a HUGE effect on it.

I'm constantly downloading patches that are supposed to sound like one thing, and in the samples they publish it's dead-on, but with my axe and in my hands it just isn't close.

It's the same with tube amps....

Ain't that the truth! I've stopped looking for specific tones on customtone.com for that reason entirely. 90% of the tones I find on that site have entirely too much gain to respond well to my playing. I imagine they sound dead-on to the authors, but my hands usually disagree.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

Skarey has nailed it. I cannot improve on his comments.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

I want to pick up a Keyboard amp soon so i can use more modelers like combo amps... Even thru i'm not going to replace my tube amps anytime soon with digital i would love to play around with the PODXT and the Vox Tone Labs.....

 

[tone?]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

Although i have a VHT, POD's and other good modelers are awesome tools for recording.
Most people i think dont know how to mic and record guitar tracks well and stuff like the POD does it great right out of the box. That is why it is real tough to tell the difference in a recording if something is a modeler or tube. Trust me it will be tough to tell the difference.

No one said that they will be Halen's next choice to go on stage with.
They just are what they are.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

I really need gt my @$$ in gear, cos I've really found some great direct tones lately with my POD XTL.

I made a couple of clips using windows sound recorder, but there's a lot of hiss (from the pickups and the monitor), and for some reason it skips at times...like a record...can't figure out why. Need to get it recorded right.

Here's a link to one (first clip at the top) where I was wasn't much concerned about playing well as much as I was trying to get a tone (as you'll be able to tell :laugh2: )

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

Jeff the skipping is probably a buffer underrun on your computer, which means it can't process the input fast enough to lay it onto the disk..

 

[JeffB]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

Jeff the skipping is probably a buffer underrun on your computer, which means it can't process the input fast enough to lay it onto the disk..

K...so would "normal" recording software fix such a thing?

It never "skips" when I record my atomic directly through the laptops built in mic.

 

[InstituteOfNoise]

Re: Who here can't stand PODs?

Could be the soundcard and processor. May be the software. Using the built in mic as opposed to the soundcard input may have less latency issues.