Anyone had experience with the Line 6 Pod HD & X3?

[eighteen-0-nine]

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?

[Slartibartfarst42]

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.

[Sonolin]

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.

[Toe-Knee]

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.

[eighteen-0-nine]

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.

[eighteen-0-nine]

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 :(

[Toe-Knee]

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.

[blue]

maybe the 500 already has the SLO's?

[eighteen-0-nine]

Unfortunately no. As Toe-Knee said, it's probably a treat for the other users. But hopefully the HD Desktop will get it.

[metale]

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.

[Kenose]

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.

[eighteen-0-nine]

Wouldn't using plugins cause strain on my CPU though? I have an i3 2310M Laptop with 4GB ram.

[Toe-Knee]

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.

[eighteen-0-nine]

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?

[Toe-Knee]

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