Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: kellar on July 24, 2008, 04:28:57 PM
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I need a little advice here. I am looking to buy a multieffects/modeler unit for home use, mainly for recording and jamming out at home. Problem is, I have no idea what is worth buying. I was thinking that a Line 6 Pod might be perfect, but I have never even tried one out. Not to mention, what is the difference between the pocket pod, 2.0, etc?
Basically, I am looking for something at a decent price, around 100 euros or less. It does not have to be a big crazy unit with a whole bunch of cr@p on it that I will never use. I just want something that can give me great tone so that I can do some quality recording.
I will likely be playing into my computer. The only amp I have right now is my Cube 20X, and I am not even sure if I can play it through that. So, I will likely be playing it through my computer speakers. Of course, being able to use headphones with it is also essential.
So, any suggestions?? :P :P
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in your price range, the good sounding easy to use Vox ToneLab Desktop might seem tempting... but DON'T DO IT! :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Behringer V-Amp 2??
I had one and I could get some cool tones out of it on my computer
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in your price range, the good sounding easy to use Vox ToneLab Desktop might seem tempting... but DON'T DO IT! :lol: :lol: :lol:
I am guessing that the VOX has some issues? I think I read your post a few days ago.
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in your price range, the good sounding easy to use Vox ToneLab Desktop might seem tempting... but DON'T DO IT! :lol: :lol: :lol:
I am guessing that the VOX has some issues? I think I read your post a few days ago.
Exactly, I had some reliability issues. After some research it seems I am not alone with this model.
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I will heed your advice and stay away from the Vox! :lol:
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I think the Pocket Pod sounds ideal.
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That's what i was leaning towards Twinfan, but what's the difference between the different POD models?
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I've got a POD 2.0, I think you can still get them. It's not bad, it introduced me to modelling, and blew my mind at what you can do without an amp when I first got it.
It's got line outs, headphone, and midi. If your soundcard/wotever has midi, you can use the edit program for tone management- much easier than using the knobs).
Last time I was on the Line6 forums, there still seemed to be Line6ers that still prefer the old POD 2.0 sounds.
I've also got a POD XTLive, I've never used the POD 2.0 since I got it, I much prefer the XT tones. The XTlive is the floor version of the XT and has lineouts, headphone and usb (you can record direct through this, though I've never tried it, and use the edit program for tones) it also has a Variax connection which is why I got it.
I didn't upgrade to the X3Live when it came out, nor do I know whether you can still get the XTLive and if it's price came down.
When the Pocket POD came out, quite a lot of Line6ers were a bit miffed at it. They felt it was a bit plasticky, and a backwards step - I understand it's got the POD 2.0 architecture, and therefore the POD 2.0 tones. Not sure what ins and outs it's got, but it must have lineout and headphones at least! I don't even know how much it costs.
Line6 also have options where your PC ends up being the actual modeller - same models as the XT architecture I believe. Never checked those out though, I wanted a stand alone unit to plug into a desk and studio monitors.
Finally, I moved to a VOX Tonelab LE. This is the next generation on from the SE (of which the Desktop was a "desktop" version). As far as I'm aware, you can't get the SE/Desktop new anymore. I've had the LE, which is a floor unit for a couple of months. I got it for £179 new, and I haven't switched on a Line6 unit since!!
The Vox has less amp/cab models than Line6's XT, and therefore is a lot easier to use from the outset.
They all need a fair amount of effort on your part to learn how to get the best out of them, but they all make usable sounds - the VOX quite quickly for me (but that might be because I'd already learnt one modeller). If you give any a try out, don't go by the presets: the presets on all of them are utter @rse!!! More so on the VOX I'd say - but it's all personal taste isn't it? :lol:
With the current offerings from both Line6 and Vox, if I had to choose, I'd take the VOX, definitely, it sounds more alive and responsive to me. I personally wouldn't buy any of them second hand though - and that's been reinforced for me by the woes that gWem has been through recently :(. But do bear in mind that the VOX you can buy now is not the one that was having the probs...
Hope that helps a bit... :D
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yeah will go with that have had pod stuff xt etc..great but a bit of a jack of all trades,
VOX LE lthe sounds are far more natural sounding, pod ended up sounding a bit digital in comparison.
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Great info Andy and exactly what I needed to know. :D
A floor unit is a bit more than I actually need and far from what I am willing to spend. I am leaning heavily on a pocket pod right now. It seems to be the same as the 2.0, just smaller. For 99 Euros, it won't set me back anyway. I just need a desktop unit that sounds decent to hook up to my laptop.
Being that everyone seems to agree that the Vox sounds better, I certainly wish they had a desktop unit like the pocket pod. (At least one that doesn't break) :(
Thanks!!
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They do but is £159 slightly more than a pocket pod size *L*
http://www.dv247.com/invt/53114/
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Thanks, but just a bit more than what I am willing to spend. Actually, quite a bit more. :lol:
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Do you want a modeller + FX all in one?
If not, there is the TC electronics G (which one !) Major I think. on offer @ Thomann recently.
Then you can record from cube?
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Yeah, pretty much looking for modeling and effects. I will check out the Thomann website though. Thanks.
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lol, G Sharp. What is it with G!
http://www.thomann.de/gb/tc_electronic_gsharp.htm
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the pocket pod is ok for budget recording but the tones are a bit fizzy i found. (see my bands page, agony of the incarcerated was pocket pod myspace.com/hadeschariot)
i think it was bought for around £60 but that might have included some kind of trade in, it has inout, output, headphones and runs on batteries!
most of the sounds are directly modelled from existing artists but we only ever used the As I Lay Dying one. its alright, but the pod 2.0 which i use is much better for an exgtra 30 quid or so.
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Thanks man. Uhhh, by the way, you guys rawk! :twisted:
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I'm glad adamjowens posted ^
I wasn't too sure about the pocket POD and how "editable" the patches were - but I suspected it was less adjustable than the 2.0 itself.
Although I've stopped using the POD 2.0 (at the moment - you never know :wink:) I would wholeheartedly recommend one as a first modeller if your budget doesn't stretch further. I just did a quick search, and found you can get them new for the £85 mark (not sure what that is in euros...).
I found the effects a lot more flexible in the XT than the POD 2.0, and easier to use (and easier to use than the VOX at the moment actually) - but when I'm actually recording, I tend to use the effects in studio software instead, I use the modeller to give me the basic guitar/amp track. However, I'm NOT a big effects guy!
If it's only for recording, it might be worth checking out the Line6 Toneports - it looks like you can get at XT tones at a much reduced cost. But you'd need the PC switched on to use it (I believe) and other than that, I know VERY little about them myself (what amp models are included for the price, and so on)
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I'm glad adamjowens posted ^
I wasn't too sure about the pocket POD and how "editable" the patches were - but I suspected it was less adjustable than the 2.0 itself.
Although I've stopped using the POD 2.0 (at the moment - you never know :wink:) I would wholeheartedly recommend one as a first modeller if your budget doesn't stretch further. I just did a quick search, and found you can get them new for the £85 mark (not sure what that is in euros...).
I found the effects a lot more flexible in the XT than the POD 2.0, and easier to use (and easier to use than the VOX at the moment actually) - but when I'm actually recording, I tend to use the effects in studio software instead, I use the modeller to give me the basic guitar/amp track. However, I'm NOT a big effects guy!
If it's only for recording, it might be worth checking out the Line6 Toneports - it looks like you can get at XT tones at a much reduced cost. But you'd need the PC switched on to use it (I believe) and other than that, I know VERY little about them myself (what amp models are included for the price, and so on)
Thanks for that AndyR. The Toneport is not something that I had previously thought of. The only thing with the Toneport is that it seems to be for recording purposes only via PC. I guess I would like to have the option of plugging the thing into an amp, like you can do with the POD.
Right now I am thinking about the POD 2.0, or pocket POD. I am by no means an effects guy either, actually the exact opposite. But, it would be nice to have something around the house that is small and easy to record decent tunes with.
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My recommendation is the POD 2.0 then :D
I'd also recommend downloading the manual and having a read http://line6.com/support/manuals/ (http://line6.com/support/manuals/). You'll find the other models on the same page, and a menu at the bottom that takes you to other categories like Toneport.
I didn't explore the Toneport stuff for roughly the same reason as you - I couldn't face having to turn on the PC everytime I wanted to play the geetar!!
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My recommendation is the POD 2.0 then :D
I'd also recommend downloading the manual and having a read http://line6.com/support/manuals/ (http://line6.com/support/manuals/). You'll find the other models on the same page, and a menu at the bottom that takes you to other categories like Toneport.
I didn't explore the Toneport stuff for roughly the same reason as you - I couldn't face having to turn on the PC everytime I wanted to play the geetar!!
Thanks man!! :D
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I know this is a bit out there, but my advice would be a Boss MicroBR!! I have a TonelabLE which I gig through a Marshall 2553 Jubilee series rig - sounds awesome! I bought the MicroBR as a recording tool, but it has now become my main practice set-up.
It has some pretty usefull built in sounds
You can load it with MP3s and jam along
You can record stuff
Recordings can be uploaded to the pc for editing/mixing
I know it was never intended as a practice tool, but I find it really versitile. I'm not hunting for a 'killer' tone from the BR - the TonelabLE gives me that - but it's small sounds fine and it fits in your pocket.