Community: Message List

Re: Pod 500 HD - Suggestions to Line 6; some thoughts after using it since release

support@line6.com — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:24:12 GMT

Thanks for the extensive reply! a lot of good tips in there!
I will definitely check out the links!

I think I was meaning the input impedance simulation when I said cable simulation, doesn't it simulate different cable lenghts?

In terms of the simplicity, I think the POD 300/400 are more alike what I'm asking for, however, I always end up buying the high end stuff cause I don't want to compromise in terms of quality and functionality. I used to be a tech nerd, but I have become less fond of knobs with time, now I mostly want a really transparent sound from the effects section to make justice to the sounds of my guitars and amps. I love how you can program the expression pedal to affect multiple parameters simultaneously, that's the kind of programmability I like (and use this function live also)! But I don't want to have to fiddle with settings not vital to the sound I'm trying to create, such as output settings since I don't have a clue on what the difference is between them, or input impedance simulation for that part either (now I know where to read up on that though=).
Overall I'm a satisfied POD user and want to help in making the POD a better product, even for people like me that want's all the functions, but also want simplicity at the same time, and that's why I'm writing here!

Thanks again for the reply, I will actually print your post and test out the suggestions!

Re: Pod 500 HD - Suggestions to Line 6; some thoughts after using it since release

support@line6.com — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:46:04 GMT

I have had some problems with loosing prescense when running the 4CM. Currently I'm using the POD in the effect loop only to avoid all that wiring that could steal tone. I have always liked to be able to tweak a lot of settings to experiment, but with time I have become a bit weary of having to tweak 200 knobs to get that sound. I have also had the benefit of having friends with different multieffect pedals and have been able to compare them all in depth. Overall the POD compares well, but leaves a bit to wish in terms of simplicity and effect quality (the flanger for instance). Some effects are great, such as the delay's which I like.
There is still something about the POD that makes me like it, and that's why I'm writing in this forum, just share my thoughts!

Re: Pod 500 HD - Suggestions to Line 6; some thoughts after using it since release

support@line6.com — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 20:35:40 GMT

Holeshot1982, I do believe most products out there have room for improvement, and so does the HD 500. I'm nevertheless a satisfied POD user, and the reason

why I'm writing here is that I want the POD to become even better product, I want to contribute to the community surrounding Line 6 with my thoughts since I want to help them improve their products for the next generation of multieffect pedals. I know that there are a lot of conflicting views regarding how the POD should be like, but this is my view. I don't need credibility to express my oppinion.

Pod 500 HD - Suggestions to Line 6; some thoughts after using it since release

support@line6.com — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:47:01 GMT

I have been an owner of line 6 equipment for about 6 years, some of the stuff I've owned include the Variax 700, POD, POD XT as well as their latest edition POD 500 HD.
Just as with other music equipment I have owned, I have discovered both the good things, as well as the less good things.

The stuff I like about the pod is interconnectibility with other equipment such as the JT Variax series, and also the line 6 monkey which is a good tool to keep your drivers and hardware

up to date. I will mostly focus on the things that I'm less content with, hoping that line 6 will read this, as well as other posts bringing up the topic and maybe listen to their customers.

My first suggestions is making future versions of POD easier to use, BOSS have grasped this and I think their stuff is more user friendly. I will return to this below.

Second: the different output settings
I have no clue about what the different output settings do, or why we should even need them. The signal coming in from the guitar and out to the amp should be as transparent

as it is with TC electronics G-system. Two outputsettings should be enough, Amp/live and Studio/record. The different frequency/focus settings are just stupid, If I want the tonal character to change I will use an EQ or any other effect! The POD shouldn't color your sound in anyway unless you want it to. I guess you POD 500 HD users know what I'm talking about. Basically the master volume should be bypassed when in amp/live mode to keep the output level from the POD exactly the same as when it entered the POD. Transparency is the key word here.

Third: Tone quality

I think some of the amp models are good for recording, especially the dual rectifier and the hiwatt amp! The problem when using the POD live though, is that it steals tone from your guitar, especially when using the effect loop in a four cable setup. I always use high quality cables, and never user longer cables than necessary, even though I experience some tone loss, more than compared to for instance BOSS GT10. I'm not fully aware of how the cable length simulation works, if its always on or only in Studio mode, but if it is always on I would want an option to turn it off completely.

Most of the effects are useful, even live. Some of the effects would need to be re-worked though. The smart harmony is the worst, it is useless, I can't help but comparing with the GT10 which is in the same price range, but sounds way better when comparing the smart harmony. The flanger effects doesn't appeal to my ears either. Overall I think many of the effects has too many settings. For users that are coming from the analog realm it can be kind of intimidating with all these options (even for me). I'm not a tech nerd, I don't care about how many settings you can fiddle with, I just want to be able to setup a good sound fast, even though that would mean having fewer settings to fool around with, make an "advanced" menu for those kind of users who like to be able to tweak every setting. For the overdrives and distorsions I'm also missing a bit transparency. I have a TC electronics Nova drive which has just the right amount of knobs and is transparent enough to allow the tonal character of the guitar to really shine through. I have tried to find a good overdrive in the POD to use live as a slight boost for solos, but I think all the overdrives in the POD color the sound too much. Also a solo boost effect would be great, which just increases the output by a user defined amount of db.

This is just some of my thoughts, the main things I want to see in the next POD is tonal transparency and ease of use. I think a portion of the ease of use, would kind of come automatically with

higher quality effects, that would decrease the need of having to tweak parameters to get a sound good. Regarding simplicity and ease of use; some of the best sounding phaser stomboxes out there have just one knob and a on/off switch, Line 6 should learn from that.

Overall I like the products that Line 6 do, but just as with other brands there is always room for improvement!