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Up to Discussions in Praise & Worship Band Musicians
3165 Views 15 Replies Latest reply: Apr 6, 2010 11:02 AM by GeeTah RSS
Hydrophish Just Startin'
Hydrophish
35 posts since
Jul 5, 2006
Currently Being Moderated

Mar 17, 2010 2:56 PM

Best Portable Backup Solution for Direct-to-Board?

I'm interested in purchasing something small, lightweight, preferably able to fit into my guitar case as a backup for my POD X3L should it ever die on stage.  Doesn't have to be fancy and could even have a single tone with a volume knob for that matter.  It just has to get me through service.  I've been looking at the Pocket POD series, but it doesn't have an XLR out, so it would take a few minutes of fumbling around and digging out a DI to run it to the board in an emergency.  I also like the portability of the new Electro Harmonix .22 Caliber head, but it requires a speaker cab to plug it into.  Any other ideas out there?

 

Thanks,

phish

Tags: pocket_pod
  • BigChas52 Expert Line 6 User
    BigChas52
    2,143 posts since
    Mar 12, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Mar 17, 2010 3:11 PM (in response to Hydrophish)
    Re: Best Portable Backup Solution for Direct-to-Board?

    I was going to suggest a DigiTech Bad Monkey pedal, but you would need a DI for that too.

  • Hey_Joe Iknowathingortwo
    Hey_Joe
    606 posts since
    Jan 24, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Mar 17, 2010 4:39 PM (in response to Hydrophish)
    Re: Best Portable Backup Solution for Direct-to-Board?

    All I can think to suggest is a DI box like the link below.

    I don't think there is much out there that has XLR Outs that is small enough.

    You may have to add something like this to the Pocket Pod or a Digitech pedal with the cabinet emulation circuitry.

    http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/DI100.aspx -- at $39.00

    I just chose the Behringer box for lowest price and size.

    • mlfowler Just Startin'
      mlfowler
      10 posts since
      Apr 27, 2009
      Currently Being Moderated
      Mar 19, 2010 1:43 PM (in response to Hey_Joe)
      Re: Best Portable Backup Solution for Direct-to-Board?

      I don't go with a backup, though now I'm starting to wonder, even though I did lose all power to my old effects board once. My church use the Behringer DI's for all the instruments that need them. In the four years we've had them - bearing in mind that we pack them up and drag 'em out every service - we've never had one of them develop a fault. Currently I just take the left 1/4" jack from my PODxt into one of the DI's and I've always been happy with what I hear back through the fall backs. I've also got a Pocket POD which I use at lunch and on holidays and I'm very happy with it too. True it's hard to just add chorus at the spur of the moment, but as a basic emergency amp it's more than up to the task. In fact I've now convinced myself to take it along to the next service!

      • Stratotron Just Startin'
        Stratotron
        121 posts since
        Mar 13, 2007
        Currently Being Moderated
        Mar 19, 2010 2:23 PM (in response to mlfowler)
        Re: Best Portable Backup Solution for Direct-to-Board?

        Since we are on the subject.

        My actual backup for the X3L right now is an XTL, and has been that way for a year now. Occasionlly, I fire the XTL up but I am so far away from having the X3 patches in it..I am planning around June to drop the hammer on an X3 rack mounted version with the FBV board. At that point the X3L becomes the backup.

        Here is my rationale;

         

        The control panel can be closer to eye level and within reach for editing on the fly. (Which I do on occasion)

        When setting up patches at home, I have to set my X3L on a music stand, and navigate it with my hand while playing to check for balance and the such. once again it puts the control panel at eye level and the foot contoller on the floor.

        I like the inputs on the face.

        I like the power supply built in to the unit.

        I will do all of the editing in the rack mounted rig and save the patches to the X3L, so I will always have an accurate up to date backup.

         

        Concerns;

        The FBV cable. I have no experience with this type of cable, but I have grown to trust Line 6, so I'll just make sure that I have a backup.

        The cost! Seriously, if the POD stuff hadn't been so life changing for me, I would no even consider spending the ducketts for this rig. After playing through the X3L for a year now, I don't know how I played without it in the past. It was like I used to play in black and white and now I get to play in Technicolor.

         

        Anyway, Blessings on you all. I have the weekend off muiscally.

         

        Keith and Kristyn Getty are playing a free concert at a local church tonight, wifey and I are going with a couple of friends. Sweet inspiration!

         

        PTL.

         

        Strato.

  • ZemanG2 Just Startin'
    ZemanG2
    65 posts since
    Nov 23, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    Mar 17, 2010 6:56 PM (in response to Hydrophish)
    Re: Best Portable Backup Solution for Direct-to-Board?

    Good luck! If you were an acoustic player there are options from Fishman to Takamine but sadly you are going to need a direct box, unless you are also a Variax player, if you are then just use your XPS box as a Direct out and you will save some cash there. If you are lucky enough to find a newer pedals they have a ground and lift etc. But you may want to check out Behringer's verion of a POD they give a left and right 1/4" option that you could use a y cable xlr for a try. best of luck finding an affordable fix. Also electroharmonix has a bass pedal that has a gain, verb etc plus a direct out, nothing fancy no amp 's but you can get some sound out of it. It is called metaphors I think

    • Stratotron Just Startin'
      Stratotron
      121 posts since
      Mar 13, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Mar 18, 2010 8:05 AM (in response to ZemanG2)
      Re: Best Portable Backup Solution for Direct-to-Board?

      If it were me....

      I would opt for the POD 2.0, reason = I purchased a 2.0 for my office to practice on break and lunch and really liked the editing and navigation. The problem for me was no CD input so (sadly) I returned it to GC for a pocket POD. I like the pocket POD much and it certainly works for practicing during lunch through headphones. So if I were to set up a backup system to carry in my guitar case it would be a 2.0 a 1/4" patch cable and a DI box. That would all fit in a guitar case. The other thing that eliminates many of the other pedals is power supply. If you are trying to get up and running in short order, having something that will run on batteries is a huge plus.

       

      Since a chain is only as strong as the weakest link, I do carry a backup X3L power supply. Many times, in my experience, when a device has failed, it has been the power supply. An X3 power supply is something like $24.95 .

       

       

      Blessings and good luck.

       

      Strato

  • forresal Just Startin'
    forresal
    163 posts since
    Aug 11, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    Mar 18, 2010 10:52 AM (in response to Hydrophish)
    Re: Best Portable Backup Solution for Direct-to-Board?

    It doesn't help with the XLR issue, but I've heard a lot of good things about the Pocket POD (like those above) as backups.

     

    I know a few players who have a small jam board with an M9 and Pocket POD for direct access.  Sounds good to my ears and I may even jump on that bandwagon.  My X3L just offers way more than I need and its tweakability too complicated for me to grasp.  I love the tone and potential, its just over my head.

  • ZemanG2 Just Startin'
    ZemanG2
    65 posts since
    Nov 23, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    Mar 18, 2010 4:35 PM (in response to Hydrophish)
    Re: Best Portable Backup Solution for Direct-to-Board?

    Straton is right on, though I thought the power issue wouldn't really exist in America. Here in Japan I either have to lug my transformer with me or else! And that is mainly because I use my board to power my vaxs. However since switching to regular guitars I've not experienced that problem. So you know Japan is 100V, but the back up power supply is a good idea. Currently I am trying to find a good rechargable solution for my variaxs, So if anyone has a good idea other than 6 rechargeable batteries, let me know. Pretty much they would be emergency use but would like them to last longer than the 6 AA.

     

    But the benefit of the POD is using POD farm. FOr me I love the interface so much more than gearbox, though if you are having a hard time understanding X3L you have to use gearbox it makes life so much easier. But the POD farm allows you to get a better visual of what you are doing, so you might like that. As far as the XLR issue, just grab a box there are not any small portable ones with XLR sadly.

     

    For my acoustic I am looking at getting a Fishman Aura 16 or a Takamine box with a cool tube in it, mainly because I am very tired of luggin this board  around when I want to just be acoustic with some extra. For electric I will always carry it around but for a back up I will probably get a POD and use the xps box as a D/I .

     

    Anyways blessings on ya!

  • GeeTah Just Startin'
    GeeTah
    109 posts since
    Oct 17, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Apr 6, 2010 11:02 AM (in response to Hydrophish)
    Re: Best Portable Backup Solution for Direct-to-Board?

    Easy deal. You need an ART (Applied Research and Technology) Tube Pre. $50 on your doorstep. Runs on a standard 9v wall-wart (which is included). Has quarter and XLR ins and outs. Fits easily in your gig bag, backpack, cable pack, Gtr. case, whatever. Selectable gain on the input and output side, it'lll drive and vary the output to suit anyone.

     

    We have three (yep, THREE) X3 Lives at every performance and we keep one of these handy and ready just in case. It's just a backup and again, it doesn't do anything but give you a bit of gain and drive, but it'll get you through a show for sure. Sounds like you're just playing through a basic Fender Blues style amp with no effects... just good ole tube drive. Kinda a cool sound, in a vintage, retro kinda way...

     

    Hey check it out, for $50 and a 30 day no-hassle return, you can't go wrong.

     

    http://www.zzounds.com/item--ART127

     

    Rock on.

     

    GeeTah

    Eph. 5:19!

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