POD X3 Pro - Line 6 Finally Gives Us What We Want?

[monkey man]

Maybe to a degree, but I dunno - they have added a ton of new amp models and FX over the years, and there was definitely a noticeable improvement in sonic quality going from the 2.0 generation to the xt models. I will be curious to see if the new converters and better processors have a noticeable effect in the X3 series.

They may have increased the resolution (esp. of inter-snapshot interpolation?) of the convolution engine too, RA.

Do you think we've given it long enough to assume they're done with the bass series? I'd be one of those you mentioned who would indeed save money, MIDI ports, desk channels and DAW inputs, so it'd be fine by me. Do bass players need more than 28 amps these days? LOL

I hear you on that issue. Line6 (and Roland and Sansamp, etc.) seem to think that the only thing that four 12" speakers in a single cab does is cause a phase issue that adds that peaky, mid-range bite. I have an old GP100 that I love but their "stack" model should be labeled "whack" model. They all seem to exaggerate that (in my experience) subtle off-axis phase effect to the point where everything starts to sound the same. I prefer the speaker emulation of my old Red Boxes to that.

I agree that many emulations over the years seem to have relied on phase-shifts as principle tone identifiers. Knarly, small, twisted tones many of them were IMHO.

After trying to make my POD play nice with tube power amps for quite a while in a live setting, I recently started just running it into a Crown power amp and a little Yamaha floor monitor. It's much easier to dial in a consistent tone now.

I stumbled across some posts from gospel/worship guitarists not too long ago who swore by the POD beans. They'd run 'em direct and use a wedge or two for monitoring. All claimed that it did wonders for stage levels, which in many of those bands is critical as they often comprise many members and choirs are usually on hand too.

Makes sense to me. If I were playing guitar live, I'd certainly give it a go. You'd think that consistency of sound would be easier to achieve this way than when micing a cab up in different venues each time. (Just MHO)

I also recently started recording my POD via USB and using it as my input device for guitar tracks. It seems silly with Mytek converters sitting in the same room. But I think the POD actually sounds better when you bypass its DA.

Makes sense too; I wouldn't expect a huge difference though, especially with the X3.

Sometimes it's nice to record a track with cab emulation on and then record another pass with it off and mix to taste. The two don't stomp all over each other that way.

Makes sense - the skinny and fat combo - ideally a smiley scoop on one side and a mid-range band pass on the other, IMHO. Try it if you haven't already.

Oh yeah, and to get back to Mr. Monkey's OP: I kind of feel like Line6 has largely been involved in a game of repackaging Amp Farm technology for the last ten years or so. I mean most of their changes at this point seem to be stuffing more of the same into a package that's cheaper to build.
just my opinion,
Wayne

Looks that way to me too, Wayne, although I think L6 has done just enough in other departments to get away with it. I've refused to buy in to all extras so far though, and the X3 Pro sounds like it includes all those "model packs" and plenty of stomp boxes, so the wait may well have been worth it. The MIDI ports, VariAxe input, live dry split and sysex-dump capabilities of the new unit will determine whether or not I stick with my old PODs. If this unit is the last ever from L6 to feature MIDI ports, it'll likely be the last L6 unit I buy, period.

[bongo_x]

...(I have heard though that if you turn up your studio monitors and bring the guitar near them you can get this feedback too, but haven't tried it)...

You can also touch the monitors to the guitar body, just as you would your speaker cabinet. This works really well but is a little different sound, just like touching to your speaker cabinet is.

I often split the guitar to the big amp in the live room and a little amp in the control room, then use the little amp to induce feedback. You can even use those little plastic amps and hold them really close to the guitar, or even touching it for different types of feedback. This is sometimes more controllable and reliable than actually getting out in front of your big amp, where you sometimes have to change the tone to get the feedback you want. You can add pedals or gain to the little amp and not change the big one.

bb

[monkey man]

Wha?... so if I ripped the mini-amp and speaker out of my organ grinder and strapped 'em to my wrist I could be Jungleville's answer to Steve Lukather? That is what you're saying, right?

[MasonAtom]

Howdy everyone... brand new to DP, I just picked up DP6 a few weeks ago but haven't really had the chance to figure out how to use it yet. Thought I'd weigh in on this though...

so, getting back to the original post

The X3 Pro seems like a pretty cool gizmo, it's got all the perks that the previous Pod Pro was lacking.

I used to use amp sim plugins when I first started home recording because I had the ever-present "my 100 watt Marshall sounds like crap at a low volume" problem. I rectified that by building some low wattage (2 and 5 Watts) amps that you can get a huge recorded sound with without going deaf and pissing off your neighbors.

L6 does make some nice tools for sketching songs though. I use the Gearbox plug-in when I'm hashing out new ideas. I can get 90-95% of the way there to a good guitar sound with their stuff... but in the end I always go back to mic'ing up my amps for the final takes. That last 5-10% is the clincher to me.

I don't want to sound like I'm totally dissing L6 - just saying that it's not the solution for the way I work. I've heard tons of great recordings from other guitarists using GearBox or Pods, many of which you'd never know didn't use a real tube amp. However for myself I find that I can't get the proper "feel" out of their products. They just seem a little inflexible to me, the touch dynamics are harder to get at...

Their Bogner and Diezel models are pretty good though. Also like Big Bottom and some of the Engl stuff. The cleaner stuff (Tweeds, etc) just don't have the fantastic touch response of the real thing to my ears (and fingers). I can't stand any of their bass models. IMO Amplitube SVX blows away Line 6 for bass, but L6 beats Amplitube's guitar models for overall sound and definitely for variety.

I do use Gearbox or Amplitube for recording guitar solos and such. I am actually a big believer in "whatever tool works for the job at hand", it's just when it comes to a heavy rhythm guitar, I gotta go with a real amp.

I've also done some side-by-side testing of the old Pod Pro rackmount run through a tube power amp into a Marshall 4X12 compared to a Mesa Boogie Dual Rect and Marshall JCM900. Sitting in the room and hearing the direct comparison... wow the Pod sounded like crapola compared to the Mesa and Marshall. Maybe the X3 Pro will sound better in this context. Personally, I can't see using this stuff as your preamp in a live gig. But then again, whatever tool works. We all have a different way of interacting with our gear and for some people the Line 6 stuff is spot on for their vibe.

Mason

Oh, so by way of introduction I'll include a link to one of my band's songs that I recording using ton of different tools for guitar and bass:

Left to Swing by Tiny Man Inside

Main rhythm guitars are all through my "TMI Cyclotron" homebuilt 2W 6SN7 push-pull guitar amp.

Intro and outro finger tapping parts recorded DI using Gearbox (Bogner and Diezel models). Nomad Factory phaser applied as well.

Flanged guitar and clean-ish guitar solo in middle breakdown section recorded with a Vox Tonelab. I love throwing the acoustic emulation on top of an amp model with the Tonelab, makes for some interesting sounds...

Clean 5/4 triplets recorded DI using Amplitube (THD bivalve clean setting).

Bass guitar recorded DI using Amplitube 2 bass model and Amplitube SVX.

Song was recorded and mixed in Tracktion and mastered by our drummer in Digital Performer. This is one of the first songs I've ever recorded and mixed, so sorry if the production level isn't up to the standards around here. I gots a ton to learn.

[monkey man]

Thank you for that, Mason.

I agree with your apparent approach. I've not been fortunate enough to ever have owned a guitar amp. Unfortunately budget dictates supremely here, so an all-in-one solution for guitar and bass, and one that always works glitch-free (ie, not a plug), is what I'm aiming for.

Given this scenario, the X3 Pro would seem to be the ticket, at least thus far.