I have a major tip to share with all fellow Line 6 POD X3 users.
Bass tones having cabinet/mic simulations on them are typically not ones you would want pumping out of your live bass speakers or cabinets. Be sure to disable "cabinet simulation" effects on units that feature it when their output destination is to actual bass speakers or cabinets! That is, unless you like distant, mic-phased, blurry tones through a speaker box that would make them even more so.
The trick with the POD X3 is two-fold:
1) Set the Output Mode to something other than "Match/Studio Direct"
"Match/Studio Direct" is suited for direct recording or monitoring through a full range system. A real live bass amp/rig is neither those. "Match/Studio Direct" is the default for POD X3's and most people do not even know to change this.
2) Set the amp model's CAB parameter to "NO CABINET" and ROOM parameter to 0%
The CAB + ROOM parameters impart cabinet/mic/room simulations that you do not need or want when going through a real live bass speaker/cabinet.
Many people have described the sound of POD's through a real amp as sounding "dead", "dark", "lifeless", "unrealistic" because they still have the effects of cabinet/mic simulations in place when going through those types of speakers/cabinets. The cabinet/mic simulations are best suited for direct recording or monitoring through a full range system. This is why some people claim that PODs sound best through PA's, powered monitors, etc., but through a real amp, not so much!
Some POD X3 sound samples of both WITH and WITHOUT cabinet simulation effects can be found here:
http://www.zinfanus.com/svt
Cheers!
Bass tones having cabinet/mic simulations on them are typically not ones you would want pumping out of your live bass speakers or cabinets. Be sure to disable "cabinet simulation" effects on units that feature it when their output destination is to actual bass speakers or cabinets! That is, unless you like distant, mic-phased, blurry tones through a speaker box that would make them even more so.
The trick with the POD X3 is two-fold:
1) Set the Output Mode to something other than "Match/Studio Direct"
"Match/Studio Direct" is suited for direct recording or monitoring through a full range system. A real live bass amp/rig is neither those. "Match/Studio Direct" is the default for POD X3's and most people do not even know to change this.
2) Set the amp model's CAB parameter to "NO CABINET" and ROOM parameter to 0%
The CAB + ROOM parameters impart cabinet/mic/room simulations that you do not need or want when going through a real live bass speaker/cabinet.
Many people have described the sound of POD's through a real amp as sounding "dead", "dark", "lifeless", "unrealistic" because they still have the effects of cabinet/mic simulations in place when going through those types of speakers/cabinets. The cabinet/mic simulations are best suited for direct recording or monitoring through a full range system. This is why some people claim that PODs sound best through PA's, powered monitors, etc., but through a real amp, not so much!
Some POD X3 sound samples of both WITH and WITHOUT cabinet simulation effects can be found here:
http://www.zinfanus.com/svt
Cheers!
