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Bass POD Pro LIVE XT...Real World Review

#222
Hi Charles,

My signal route is bass> podXTpro> Trace V4 combo. The bass volume is about 3/4 up (extremely loud output plus I like a bit of extra on tap) which goes into the pod front panel input. The patch volume is as loud as it can be when matched with the other pre-sets, and the master output half way up (this gives my input level to my amplifier the same level as my bass would do direct).

The XT goes from the analogue model output into the input of my Trace. The EQ on the trace is always flat (it just sounds so sweet). That is basically it for amplifier use. PA and IEM settings are different but just the obvious (XLR out or headphone jack).

I just found this really interesting article Invalid Link Removed it seems to conclude that an effective 'true bypass' can be achieved to an extent, but to use the term in this case is a bit of a misnomer because the pod isn't wired in the same sort of way, and in any case the differences are minuscule enough to require a spectrum analyser. I can tell absolutely no difference through my rig, and I am a bit of an audiophile perfectionist geek with my gear!

If you wanted an excuse to STOP you buying one, sorry to spoil it!! Get your wallet out!
 
#224
Aharon said:
http://line6.com/support/thread.jspa?messageID=143752𣆈

I have the same issue. Line6 monkey always says my POD is 'not connected' when it is. And according to VISTA driver search, there are no drivers for the POD on my entire hardrive.

help :crying:
Click to expand...

That's weird... and it's registered & set up correctly?

I have a regular podxt live rather than the bass pod so that might make a difference but if it helps... my driver version is 3.3.3.6 (usb firmware v. 1.12 and flash memory v. 3.01) and my computer (that runs vista...) detects it okay.
 
#226
The USB vista driver thing is really disturbing. It does not make me a happy customer even though I have made it work (much to Vista's displeasure). There are already a boat load of posts on Line6's web site complaining about this but it doesn't seem to be doing much good. It seems that the Bass Pod XT Live is the only product that doesn't have Vista drivers and I'm not sure why. Don't get me wrong this thing is the bomb but I can't imaging trying to set it up without using the Line 6 Edit program and the manufacturer should support their product.

I've seen a couple of comments about the Wah functions of this thing. I don't have a groovy bass wah to compare it to but if you want to have a listen to how it sounds with some other stuff added in feel free to have a listen.

Invalid Link Removed

I checked my settings on this
Lots of Gate
A little Compressor
British Bass with the 4x12 Green 20's for the amp
Screamer on the Stomp (100% Drive)
Hi-Talk on the Mod about 30% mix
Wah Engaged and Moving
Lots of Really Intoxicated Metallica fans in the Bar Including the Band.
 
#227
TechZilla said:
The USB vista driver thing is really disturbing. It does not make me a happy customer even though I have made it work (much to Vista's displeasure). There are already a boat load of posts on Line6's web site complaining about this but it doesn't seem to be doing much good. It seems that the Bass Pod XT Live is the only product that doesn't have Vista drivers and I'm not sure why. Don't get me wrong this thing is the bomb but I can't imaging trying to set it up without using the Line 6 Edit program and the manufacturer should support their product.

I've seen a couple of comments about the Wah functions of this thing. I don't have a groovy bass wah to compare it to but if you want to have a listen to how it sounds with some other stuff added in feel free to have a listen.

Invalid Link Removed

I checked my settings on this
Lots of Gate
A little Compressor
British Bass with the 4x12 Green 20's for the amp
Screamer on the Stomp (100% Drive)
Hi-Talk on the Mod about 30% mix
Wah Engaged and Moving
Lots of Really Intoxicated Metallica fans in the Bar Including the Band.
Click to expand...

thats a cool bass sound, a more 'futuristic' sounding cliff burton tone.

personally, I swear by the amp360 head with the 360 1x18 cab. crystal clear clean sound, ideal for my bright clanky aggressive stingray tone.

how did you get it to work on vista? did you go via midi or something?
 
#228
Aharon said:
thats a cool bass sound, a more 'futuristic' sounding cliff burton tone.

personally, I swear by the amp360 head with the 360 1x18 cab. crystal clear clean sound, ideal for my bright clanky aggressive stingray tone.

how did you get it to work on vista? did you go via midi or something?
Click to expand...

***Disclaimer
This solution makes no warranties expressed or implied. Use at your own risk.
***
The problem seems to be with the java version not the actual driver. So I uninstalled the java runtime version that actually works with Vista. Installed the WinXP drivers then installed the Line 6 Edit program allowing it to install the required Java version. ***Warning*** This will break your Vista machine as far as any other java based programs are concerned including any Java web applications you go to, But it did allow the Line 6 edit installation to complete. When my pod is connected Vista will switch off the Aero interface but it will detect the pod and run Line 6 Edit and it will connect and work as expected with the pod. This also seems to mess with some other stuff like RDP connections (if you know what those are then you’ve probably figured this out by now) but only when the pod is connected via USB. The worst side effect of this is the wrong Java version being on your computer, but if that’s not a big deal to you then USB connection to a Bass POD XT Live is possible. That being said Line 6 has the responsibility to its customers to provide compatibility to its customer as technology changes. If you check out their site like I’m sure you all do then you will notice that our particular product seems to be the only one that does not have updated drivers. Please complain to them with all your might because this workaround is not an acceptable solution only a workaround that may or may not work. ***see disclaimer.

P.S. for IT Pros out there U NO "JAVA IS THE DEBIL"
debil.jpg
 
#230
Funny you should mention that - on my XT pro the input pad switch makes the bass sound like it is 'breathing' when I play. Basically a small amount of white noise when I dig in. I went through every part of my signal until I tracked it down. Fortunately I do not use it with my two basses, but at the time I was playing a very hot output bass and discovered it then.
 
#231
I fired mine up with my G&L ASAT and it was putting out a much hotter/more aggressive signal into my amp than what I had remembered. "Sweet!" was my first impression. Then I went through quite a few presets to lower the output to stop my amp from clipping. I decided to check the pad switch and it was evident that I had initially set everything up with it engaged, even though it wasn't. Now it won't disengage no matter the setting. Kind of frustrating. I don't want to get to a gig & have it decide to re-engage, screwing up all my tone parameters.
 
#233
I've tried to read through this thread and find an answer, but everything began to blur together at about page three... :confused:

I have a Bass PodXT and a Yorkville 400w 210 combo. How should I connect my BPXT to my amp? If I run my bass through the BPXT and then into the amp's input, should I cancel the speaker emulation? If I run it through the FX return should I use speaker emulation or not?

How do you do it?
 
#234
fourstringbliss said:
I've tried to read through this thread and find an answer, but everything began to blur together at about page three... :confused:

I have a Bass PodXT and a Yorkville 400w 210 combo. How should I connect my BPXT to my amp? If I run my bass through the BPXT and then into the amp's input, should I cancel the speaker emulation? If I run it through the FX return should I use speaker emulation or not?

How do you do it?
Click to expand...

Yes, it is best to turn the speaker emulation off. Take it out of Studio mode and switch it to "live w/horn or live w/o horn".
 
#236
fourstringbliss said:
into the amp input or FX return?
Click to expand...

Depends on what you are looking to do!

I you just want to use the power amp section of your amp go into the FX return. If you want to use the Preamp of your amp go into the input. I have used it both ways. The key is to make sure you set the POD up correctly. If you go into the preamp choose the setting for front of amp. If you choose FX Return choose the setting for that, I can't remember exactly what it is called. It will not hurt anything to toggle through all the different settings and choose the one that sounds the best. Good Luck!

Peace,

T
 
#239
I bought the first version of the line 6 bass pod when they first came out. I have never been a fan of just plugging into the front of the amp. The character of that tone really varies depending on gain. So I bought the line6 bass pod on a Friday night and by Sunday night I was ready to throw in the towel and just give up. It was too complex and there were too amny options and the stock patches all sucked. But I stuck with it and now I always use it. I have found that the bass pod is not for those who want a clean Eden type sound. If you want that then just plug into an Eden amp. Also I don't like the pod for over the top insane distortion either. But for a gritty retro dirty tone the line6 bass pod is good. I find that making 4 presets for myself pretty much meets my needs with the bass pod.

Currently my pedal board looks something like this ...

pedal.jpg


I run several effects parallel. The bass pod and the Marshall are for dirty tones and the mxr and the vt bass are for cleaner tones. When I blend all of those effects together then I get the tone that I want.
 
#240
Ric5 said:
I bought the first version of the line 6 bass pod when they first came out. I have never been a fan of just plugging into the front of the amp. The character of that tone really varies depending on gain. So I bought the line6 bass pod on a Friday night and by Sunday night I was ready to throw in the towel and just give up. It was too complex and there were too amny options and the stock patches all sucked. But I stuck with it and now I always use it. I have found that the bass pod is not for those who want a clean Eden type sound. If you want that then just plug into an Eden amp. Also I don't like the pod for over the top insane distortion either. But for a gritty retro dirty tone the line6 bass pod is good. I find that making 4 presets for myself pretty much meets my needs with the bass pod.

Currently my pedal board looks something like this ...

pedal.jpg


I run several effects parallel. The bass pod and the Marshall are for dirty tones and the mxr and the vt bass are for cleaner tones. When I blend all of those effects together then I get the tone that I want.
Click to expand...

I think my next step is going to be getting one of those Sansamp VT bass pedals. All I really want is warm and articulate bass tones. I'm probably not EQ'ing things correctly, but all I seem to get out of the Bass PodXT is either warm and muddy or clear and bright - I want warm and clear! I'm going to try using the Alembic model with the EQ set flat and then place the 6-band EQ behind it so I can adjust the sound for more clarity.
 

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