Bass POD Pro LIVE XT...Real World Review

[BigMikeW]

BigMike.....that is an awesome design for the pedalboard...I would like to see it when finished!!
T

Thanks. Still more design work to do. Not sure on sending both a dry DI and "effected" DI to FOH. If I go to the trouble of setting up the patches why not use them 100%? You know.

Also still working on the mini rack portion of the board. seeing if I can compact it a bit more. Maybe place the DI and Aphex (if I even use it) inside the elevated mini rack area, thus making the board smaller.

I probably going to get the board down to a uniform size that'll fit a Stompin' Grounds case OR have one made like this....

Portable, not to heavy, wheels, handle, secure, locks, road tough. Additional space under board for cables and other thing.

 

[adrian garcia]

Thanks Tommixx for the review! i just returned from Sam Ash where i took back a Boss GT-6 hat just wasn't doing it for me. I mentioned that i wondered if the xt Live would be better suited and they replied with a "we'll get one from the back! " so downstairs on my couch sits one- they are good about me trying stuff out at home with time.. I am glad i read this review before i pontentially threw this aside without a fair chance- i need something to dr. my sound straight into the foh board in a new show i am playing, i also need a nice pre to beef up the bass signal going to my "bro-tools" le system- so i hope this unti will give me enough to justify the purchase... thanks again for taking the time to write !!- peace, Adrian

 

[Baron]

How do you have the POD configured in the efx loop of your Thunderfunk? Do you use the reamp option or just bypass the amp models?

I run a Focusrite ISA220 channel strip into a Stewart 2.1 and El Whappo and have been seaching high and low for a one box solution for switchable efx and eq modifications to add to the ISA. I have always considered the POD stuff as slumming it a bit on the tone side, but your well done review has opened my eyes.

Could I run the 24/96 digital out from the ISA to the POD 24/96 in, reamp, into my Stewart 2.1 and El Whappo and still retain most of the gorgeous ISA tone? Would the POD provide sufficiant level to the the 2.1? Would the POD sound "digital" without something like your Demeter warming it up before the amp?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[tommixx]

Baron.....yes I think you could use it that way.....you could also try going from the POD to the Focusrite or Focusrite to POD and see which sounds better.......the question would be do you want to process your sound through the Analog Focusrite and THEN to the POD or do you want to use the Focusrite to "fine tune" and warm up the POD? I am familiar with the unit and in fact have a pair of 110's and a 430.....I haven't used the POD into another pre or vice versa yet but I don't see any reason why it would not work as long as you are mindful of how you set up your gain stages.....Good Luck and don't be afraid to try it every way you can....you will KNOW when you hit the right combo.......

Peace,

T

 

[Baron]

Baron.....yes I think you could use it that way.....you could also try going from the POD to the Focusrite or Focusrite to POD and see which sounds better.......the question would be do you want to process your sound through the Analog Focusrite and THEN to the POD or do you want to use the Focusrite to "fine tune" and warm up the POD? I am familiar with the unit and in fact have a pair of 110's and a 430.....I haven't used the POD into another pre or vice versa yet but I don't see any reason why it would not work as long as you are mindful of how you set up your gain stages.....Good Luck and don't be afraid to try it every way you can....you will KNOW when you hit the right combo.......

Peace,

T

Thanks... It just so happens I have a Summit tube DI/pre lurking in my studio that would sit well after the POD. I'll start w/ ISA - POD Summit and mix and match from there until I experience joy or total sonic frustration. Thanks agian....

 

[adrian garcia]

well, i spent a little time with this thing and i already like it better than the Boss GT6B - i dig the compression and just touched the tip of the iceberg on the models, but what is still leaving me lacking is the effects- i cannot understand why they would put a zillion filters and synths in this thing and they track like crap, at least for me they are. Also the octaver is less than stellar. It's a well laid out machine, but why not better effects?- a zillion distortions again but just one model of a mutronIII with not all the functions- i cannot undertand why a $70 Digithech Synth Bass Wah tracks octaves better and has a better envelope than what they out here...???
so i am still undecided, if it has a decent octaver, synth or even envelope, i would be all over this... and i refuse to keep it an ADD a digitech, this is too expensive to be adding a stomp box pedal- so it could very well be back to the sto'- get an Avalon U5 for my little studio ( i LOVE those things! ) and a Digitech BSW and that's it - but i am still digging so who knows what i'll find?

 

[tommixx]

Hey Adrian......I have to go along with you there....so far the effects are for the most part leaving a little to be desired......to say the least....like you if I could get a good chorus, octaver and Mutron that is full and tracks well it would have been money well spent.......So far I have not had the success that I have with the other modeling....I am commited to keep trying though and see what happens......I also agree that the Boss is no where near this in terms of the overal sounds available....as I said, the LA2A model is really very good.....

Peace,

T

 

[BigMikeW]

Baron.....yes I think you could use it that way.....you could also try going from the POD to the Focusrite or Focusrite to POD and see which sounds better.......the question would be do you want to process your sound through the Analog Focusrite and THEN to the POD or do you want to use the Focusrite to "fine tune" and warm up the POD? I am familiar with the unit and in fact have a pair of 110's and a 430.....I haven't used the POD into another pre or vice versa yet but I don't see any reason why it would not work as long as you are mindful of how you set up your gain stages.....Good Luck and don't be afraid to try it every way you can....you will KNOW when you hit the right combo.......

Peace,

T

I would agree on using anything analog AFTER the POD. If I had a nice tube pre I'd definitely use it.

Call me stupid or dumb but I love the warmth of the SansAmp stuff. Very tube like even in the way it reacts. That warms up the POD. Also, the Aphex stuff kind of brings a lot of life to the POD. For me anyway.

 

[Baron]

Hey Adrian......I have to go along with you there....so far the effects are for the most part leaving a little to be desired......to say the least....like you if I could get a good chorus, octaver and Mutron that is full and tracks well it would have been money well spent.......So far I have not had the success that I have with the other modeling....I am commited to keep trying though and see what happens......I also agree that the Boss is no where near this in terms of the overal sounds available....as I said, the LA2A model is really very good.....

Peace,

T

Is there a rack unit that has good filters and synth bass sounds other than the Eventide Orville ($$$$)? That's really what I'm looking for..... It really defeats the purpose of great gear when you put a zillion cables in line with different loads. I guess one could get a bradshaw rack or something like it, but that's taking complexity to a new level.

Repeat; must remind self that an ampeg B15 and Fender did an awful lot of good throughout bass history

 

[adrian garcia]

when i was picking up the Pod- i eyeballed a TC Electronic G Major- but i am not sure about the filters or envelopes in it- it is a guitar unit, so it could be a gamble- i really like the TC eletronic stuff, though

 

[tommixx]

TC is good stuff.....I don't know specifically about the G Major but in general a LOT of guitar effects can be used for bass.....I am a BIG fan of Eventide.....very good stuff...I have an Orville and a 3500......I have used the TC 2290 for choruses on bass for years and it will always be the best there is for that.....Unfortuantely, it seems that we bassists are not on the top of the list of development ideas at most companies....

Peace,

T

 

[adrian garcia]

t.....Unfortuantely, it seems that we bassists are not on the top of the list of development ideas at most companies....

Peace,

T

no lie, in my limited capacity, i can in 5 minutes lay out a plan for a fx unit that would KILL for bassists- do away with all the silly effects, i mean, i think we all agree on which they are- keep the distortions for those who want it, cool- and some wild stuff for whom may want that, BUT... how about a USABLE envelope filter- one where you can mix the dry and fx signal so you dont lose your bottom ( the Pod does not have this as far as i can see , along with a poor Mutron model )
a synth that actually tracks such as the one in the Deep Impact ( again the dry, wet mix option on that was lame, but the tracking was ok ) or the Digitech BSW which actually tracks and octave as well as i have heard including EBS, and has a synth that actually tracks as well, and modes 2 and 7 have a wet/dry mix function! does anyone know if this is included in the Digitech BNX3 ?
the chorus , the compression and the modeling on the Pod Live are happenning, but the effects lack. Bummer ... i don't see these fx gettng any better so i have doubts as to the life expectancy of the Pod live in the Garcia household- i did find out that a decent compressor is quite usable. Damn , i am out of effect units to try, except for the BNX3 , but i have a feeling that it wound SOUND as clean as the Pod...
i still have my V bass , but man that thing is huge and the pickup is ugly!

 

[bigBbass451]

all this reading about this POD stuff has got me thinking. I'm now contemplating getting one. I just a few questions thought. Would it work as a preamp for a bass setup (bass to POD(rackmountable one) to poweramp to speaker)? Are the amp and cab models as good on the POD as the PODxt? that's all. THANKS!!!

 

[BigMikeW]

all this reading about this POD stuff has got me thinking. I'm now contemplating getting one. I just a few questions thought. Would it work as a preamp for a bass setup (bass to POD(rackmountable one) to poweramp to speaker)? Are the amp and cab models as good on the POD as the PODxt? that's all. THANKS!!!

Yes, Yes and Yes.

 

[BigMikeW]

no lie, in my limited capacity, i can in 5 minutes lay out a plan for a fx unit that would KILL for bassists- do away with all the silly effects, i mean, i think we all agree on which they are- keep the distortions for those who want it, cool- and some wild stuff for whom may want that, BUT... how about a USABLE envelope filter- one where you can mix the dry and fx signal so you dont lose your bottom ( the Pod does not have this as far as i can see , along with a poor Mutron model )
a synth that actually tracks such as the one in the Deep Impact ( again the dry, wet mix option on that was lame, but the tracking was ok ) or the Digitech BSW which actually tracks and octave as well as i have heard including EBS, and has a synth that actually tracks as well, and modes 2 and 7 have a wet/dry mix function! does anyone know if this is included in the Digitech BNX3 ?
the chorus , the compression and the modeling on the Pod Live are happenning, but the effects lack. Bummer ... i don't see these fx gettng any better so i have doubts as to the life expectancy of the Pod live in the Garcia household- i did find out that a decent compressor is quite usable. Damn , i am out of effect units to try, except for the BNX3 , but i have a feeling that it wound SOUND as clean as the Pod...
i still have my V bass , but man that thing is huge and the pickup is ugly!

Adrian, I LOVE the EBS Bass IQ. Sweet little box man. So funky and you keep the bottom for the most part.

 

[adrian garcia]

Adrian, I LOVE the EBS Bass IQ. Sweet little box man. So funky and you keep the bottom for the most part.

Mike, last time i had a stop box setup it was the EBS Bass IQ, the EBS Octaver and the EBS Unichorus, great stuff!- those are basically the 3 effects I am most interested in. The Digitech Bass Synth Wah, for $70 ( the EBS effects, even at my dealer cost are very expensive ) it does a great Envelope, and in some modes , it allows for blending with the dry signal (YES!) and has an octave effect that tracks as good if not actually better than the EBS- but i agree and i am a fan of the EBS stuff- had a Classic pre for years that i wish i had not sold.
I dont want an over complicated pedal board that will discourage me from taking it to gigs, but for the in-ear show i am doing- i really need to send that boy in the FOH a smokin signal- that dude needs all the help he can get, i heard a mix cd the other day.. where's the bass? i was pissed, he even managed to make the Sadowsky sound kinda wimpy.. great guitar tone, though, and up in the mix.... i guess we know where he is coming from... soundmen...

 

[BigMikeW]

Mike, last time i had a stop box setup it was the EBS Bass IQ, the EBS Octaver and the EBS Unichorus, great stuff!- those are basically the 3 effects I am most interested in. The Digitech Bass Synth Wah, for $70 ( the EBS effects, even at my dealer cost are very expensive ) it does a great Envelope, and in some modes , it allows for blending with the dry signal (YES!) and has an octave effect that tracks as good if not actually better than the EBS- but i agree and i am a fan of the EBS stuff- had a Classic pre for years that i wish i had not sold.
I dont want an over complicated pedal board that will discourage me from taking it to gigs, but for the in-ear show i am doing- i really need to send that boy in the FOH a smokin signal- that dude needs all the help he can get, i heard a mix cd the other day.. where's the bass? i was pissed, he even managed to make the Sadowsky sound kinda wimpy.. great guitar tone, though, and up in the mix.... i guess we know where he is coming from... soundmen...

Use the POD then. Although I agree on the Mutron so far. No digging it. We'll see. I like all the options and am finding some VERY good tones. My last little Direct/FOH rig was the SansAmp Programmable, Demeter Compulator, Bass IQ and a Radial JDI. Sounded great. Maybe that would work for you too?

 

[Kelly Lee]

Thanks for the review tommixx.

I have been saying the same thing about the ART Nightbass SE for years. Its not a plug-n-play kinda unit as well. I know the the Pod is years ahead in technology but my Nightbass still does everything I have ever needed and done it well. After all its just a tool and better yet, I know how to use it.

I'm sure if alot of people really gave the Pod (or Nightbass for that matter) a chance I'm sure most would find its a very useful tool.

 

[fourstringbliss]

I AM SOLD.......I HIGHLY recommend that if you are looking for a flexible, programmable, tone tool, check it out.....IT WILL NOT BE FOR EVERYBODY and if you think it sucked thats OK......this is all my opinion and LINE 6 did not make this for everybody.....Personally, I KNOW that somebody will use this on a hit record that you will hear in the next 6-12 months and you will never know the difference!!!!! All you will hear is the tone......TRY it you may like it.....

Tommixx,

Great review! I appreciate honesty about products.

I'm seriously thinking about selling my Jazz and getting one of the Variax Basses. I find myself wanting more than one bass sound, but I don't have the kind of money (or space) to own more than one bass. I have watched the movie on the Line 6 website and if it sounds half that good I'm sold. I figure if I can get a good Jazz and P-Bass sound it'll be better than just having a Jazz bass. Plus, eventually I'll be able to download new bass sounds and hopefully improved original preset sounds. I still have to try one in person, but I'm sure it'll be great.

After that I will definitely be getting the Bass Pod XT Live! A modellers heaven - a modelling bass with an amp modeller where you can program presets for the bass and the amp and the cab and the effects into one patch on the BPXTL, and then change the whole setup with one foot tap! I love the idea of being able to change my whole sound in between songs with just a foot tap!

 

[J Posega]

I've been tossing around the idea of picking up the POD Live, Rocktron Blue Thunder, or some other feature-packed processor for quite some time now. I like the idea of the POD Live being right there at my feet, instead of needing all kinds of extra doohickies to control stuff. Maybe in a couple months I'll pick one up, give it a try.