Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: eighteen-0-nine on July 18, 2012, 11:09:38 AM
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I'm looking at getting a new POD to bedroom record and wondered what people thought of these?
I hear the POD HD has 10 times more information about the amps making them seem more realistic, and I wondered would the HD be the clear choice then?
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It's good but it's not a clear choice by any means. The new stuff from Boss is also good, as is the Digitech RP1000. Those three seem to be the market leaders at the moment but they're all good in different areas. When I researched mine I could have got any of them but the RP1000 seemed to be best for me but that doesn't mean it would be the best option for you.
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In my experience, the POD series are great for easy recording. They give you lots of effects to play around with, and lots of amps, and the sound is decent. This gives you tons of "fun" recording stuff, and you can try out different styles on the fly - something that's really hard to do normally. Recording quality is also pretty decent - especially with how easy these things are to setup & record.
However, if your looking for an "amp replacement", don't look at the pod. I don't even really like their effects in front of an amp - 90% of them sound really fake.
Again, if its just for bedroom recording, and fun times, highly recommend. I've had a "pocket pod" ($100 or something on musicians friend) that I've used for a few years now - that thing is awesome! I always bring it with me if I'm going over a friends or something and I'm going to be bored, sometimes we go down to the lake and I like to bring it with me as well. Hook up some headphones, bring your trash guitar, and some good times can definitely be had very easily.
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Id say the Pod HD is the best non rack modeller on the market currently.
If you fancied something rack the Eleven Rack is awesome (better than the axe FX IMHO) and they appear on ebay for around £500 occasionally one went for £430 the other week.
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I'd love the eleven rack, but I've only got around £500 for a interface and a set of monitors. I'm only going to be using it for home recording. I'm strictly valve when live.
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Well this is pretty rubbish. The HD 300/400 users get more features at the moment. They have 29 amp models compared to the HD 500/Desktop.
"To thank the POD HD300 and POD HD400 users who have been waiting so patiently for this update, you’ll be the first to experience five brand-new HD guitar amps. Three of them are based on* the distinctive clean, crunch and overdrive tones of the beastly Soldano® SLO100 amp, a new benchmark of modern high-gain tone. The other two—Line 6 Doom and Line 6 Epic—are fire-breathing, high-gain originals designed to scorch anything in their paths.
The update also delivers two amps based on* the Normal and Bright inputs of the legendary Marshall® “Plexi” 1959 Super Lead 100-watt amp. They provide the classic cascading crunch of this historic English head."
The 500/Desktop doesn't get the Slo models, only the Plexi models :(
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Well this is pretty rubbish. The HD 300/400 users get more features at the moment. They have 29 amp models compared to the HD 500/Desktop.
"To thank the POD HD300 and POD HD400 users who have been waiting so patiently for this update, you’ll be the first to experience five brand-new HD guitar amps. Three of them are based on* the distinctive clean, crunch and overdrive tones of the beastly Soldano® SLO100 amp, a new benchmark of modern high-gain tone. The other two—Line 6 Doom and Line 6 Epic—are fire-breathing, high-gain originals designed to scorch anything in their paths.
The update also delivers two amps based on* the Normal and Bright inputs of the legendary Marshall® “Plexi” 1959 Super Lead 100-watt amp. They provide the classic cascading crunch of this historic English head."
The 500/Desktop doesn't get the Slo models, only the Plexi models :(
I imagine they'll get added in.
The 500 was the only one getting updates for a long time. I've read a lot of posts from angry 300/400 users.
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maybe the 500 already has the SLO's?
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Unfortunately no. As Toe-Knee said, it's probably a treat for the other users. But hopefully the HD Desktop will get it.
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They will get it. just wait for a bit like the HD300/400 owners did. When the 500/Pro/Desktop gets updated, it will probably come with a few more than this.
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I'd love the eleven rack, but I've only got around £500 for a interface and a set of monitors. I'm only going to be using it for home recording. I'm strictly valve when live.
Avoid PODs all together. Fizz city. I'd get a decent interface (e.g. saffire 24/40) and then use LePou plugins, sidestepping the POD completely.
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Wouldn't using plugins cause strain on my CPU though? I have an i3 2310M Laptop with 4GB ram.
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Wouldn't using plugins cause strain on my CPU though? I have an i3 2310M Laptop with 4GB ram.
you wont have an issue at all with that spec.
Just so long as you have a good asio input signal you will be fine.
I have to disagree though the POD HD is a whole level above the free vst amps that are available. I've tried the majority of them. the LePou ones especially as I head a lot of good things but they sounded worse than the podxt imho.
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So what would you recommend then? A Saffire 6/M-Audio interface with Peavey Revalver, Amplitube, Guitar Rig, etc, etc; or just the Pod HD?
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Well if you like the sound of VST amps get a Saffire or Tascam US interface and use those.
But I would personally go for the HD500. If you check on youtube Ola Englund did a comparison with the axe FX II and it certainly held its own.
Also if you go with the HD you can still use the VST amps if you so choose as it functions excellently as an ASIO interface
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That's a very good point. I guess the POD HD will bring the best of both worlds together :)
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I have to disagree though the POD HD is a whole level above the free vst amps that are available. I've tried the majority of them. the LePou ones especially as I head a lot of good things but they sounded worse than the podxt imho.
I can't even put this one down to opinions. You're doing it wrong. You only have to spend 5 minutes youtubing, nevermind the experience of both I've had myself, to know this is wrong.
Oh, and you'll definitely want to use cab impulses if you get the POD, because their stock ones SUCK.
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I have to disagree though the POD HD is a whole level above the free vst amps that are available. I've tried the majority of them. the LePou ones especially as I head a lot of good things but they sounded worse than the podxt imho.
I can't even put this one down to opinions. You're doing it wrong. You only have to spend 5 minutes youtubing, nevermind the experience of both I've had myself, to know this is wrong.
Oh, and you'll definitely want to use cab impulses if you get the POD, because their stock ones SUCK.
Well sounds are just one aspect. I also want to know how they feel, which is a hard thing to judge unless off youtube. And I always hear about impulses, but what actually are they?
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What do you mean by feel? Dynamics or what?
Impulses are .wav files that are used as a virtual representation of the cab. They essentially cover a large chunk of the recording phase, so a good impulse will be much superior to the stock cabs you get with POD, amplitube etc.
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What do you mean by feel? Dynamics or what?
Impulses are .wav files that are used as a virtual representation of the cab. They essentially cover a large chunk of the recording phase, so a good impulse will be much superior to the stock cabs you get with POD, amplitube etc.
I mean how the amp responds to your touch. Kind of like the difference between a touch sensitive keyboard and a cheap Argos one lol.
I'll definitely check out the impulses though. Sounds interesting.
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Well, they're both digital and there's no 'amp' involved, so you're barking up the wrong tree if you're expecting lots of dynamics and bass 'sag' etc that you'd get from a real combo. Let's be realistic; although impulses have really helped, you won't just be able to dial a great tone in straight away. It will teach you a lot about eq, though. Hell, for anyone to get a decent tone from a POD they're doing well in that area!
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Well, they're both digital and there's no 'amp' involved, so you're barking up the wrong tree if you're expecting lots of dynamics and bass 'sag' etc that you'd get from a real combo. Let's be realistic; although impulses have really helped, you won't just be able to dial a great tone in straight away. It will teach you a lot about eq, though. Hell, for anyone to get a decent tone from a POD they're doing well in that area!
I used to own a POD XT, so I know exactly how much tweaking will be required. I love my valve amps, just money's an issue atm. Just after something to home record with. Obviously not expecting the real deal. Just some cool gadgets :)
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You'll like impulses, they're so much better than stock cab sims.
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I have just bought the HD500. And to put it into context, I have owned the original POD bean, a PodXT, a VOX Tonelab, a Zoom G9 and a Digitech GSP1101 in the past, as well as owning and building a variety of classic tube amps and clones, including AC30, JTM45, Marshall 1987, Marshall 2204, etc. So, anyway I think I have a half decent ear.
I'll say that the HD500 is quite easily the best modeller I've owned. Especially for all those slightly breaking up and lower gain tones, which are absolutely cracking.
The cab sims are much better than the XT's and in fact all the other modellers I've tried. Still not awesome, but pretty good, and really very varied. If you can't find a cab sim to work on the HD then you're not trying. Ultimately I'd rather mic a cab, but for silent recording I'm still impressed.
The stomp box models are also a huge improvement on any of the other units I have owned.
I have never played an AxeFX or an eleven rack.
I will also say that, when paired up with the Line6 DT25, the HD500 is utterly, utterly phenominal.
So completely believable in it's dynamics and everything. I played it side by side with a new Vox Ac15C1 the other day and the Line6 absolutely nailed the same tone.
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I have to disagree though the POD HD is a whole level above the free vst amps that are available. I've tried the majority of them. the LePou ones especially as I head a lot of good things but they sounded worse than the podxt imho.
I can't even put this one down to opinions. You're doing it wrong. You only have to spend 5 minutes youtubing, nevermind the experience of both I've had myself, to know this is wrong.
Oh, and you'll definitely want to use cab impulses if you get the POD, because their stock ones SUCK.
I know people can get good sounds. They just don't work for me. They're far too grainy. But in general modellers and simulations even the axe fx left me completely unimpressed.
They just don't do it for me. I'm strictly an amp man. I can dial in and record a far better tone in less than a minute including micing up than I can in hours messing with vsts.
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I have just bought the HD500. And to put it into context, I have owned the original POD bean, a PodXT, a VOX Tonelab, a Zoom G9 and a Digitech GSP1101 in the past, as well as owning and building a variety of classic tube amps and clones, including AC30, JTM45, Marshall 1987, Marshall 2204, etc. So, anyway I think I have a half decent ear.
I'll say that the HD500 is quite easily the best modeller I've owned. Especially for all those slightly breaking up and lower gain tones, which are absolutely cracking.
The cab sims are much better than the XT's and in fact all the other modellers I've tried. Still not awesome, but pretty good, and really very varied. If you can't find a cab sim to work on the HD then you're not trying. Ultimately I'd rather mic a cab, but for silent recording I'm still impressed.
The stomp box models are also a huge improvement on any of the other units I have owned.
I have never played an AxeFX or an eleven rack.
I will also say that, when paired up with the Line6 DT25, the HD500 is utterly, utterly phenominal.
So completely believable in it's dynamics and everything. I played it side by side with a new Vox Ac15C1 the other day and the Line6 absolutely nailed the same tone.
Glad you're liking it and you have found something that works for your current situation.