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775 Views 9 Replies Latest reply: Aug 12, 2011 7:23 PM by BuleriaChk RSS
BuleriaChk Just Startin'
BuleriaChk
21 posts since
Nov 6, 2007
Currently Being Moderated

Aug 5, 2011 5:53 PM

No Visual Level Indicators in Pod HD Bean LCD screen?

I already own a PodXT with all the model packs, but I had abandoned Line 6 for my GT-10 a couple of years ago

However, I also just upgraded to Pod Farm 2.51. and it ocurred to me that there are no visual level indicators in the PodXT.

 

1. That said, much against my better judgement, I just ordered a Pod HD Desktop, which will arrive here next week.  After reading the manuals, I don't see any level indicators for the Pod HD Bean either, or did I miss something.  And if not, why not (seems such an obvious thing to avoid overdriving the preamps)....

 

2.  I am somwhat disappointed by the lack of an aux in in the bean.... luckily, most of my amps have an aux in, but still......

 

3. There doesn't seem to be a way to monitor wet, but record dry (other than SP/Dif which requires another interface.  Seems kind of dumb....

 

Oh well, I have 45 days from when it arrives to ring it out, but these caveats don't give me a warm, fuzzy feeling about my purchase.....

  • silverhead Expert Line 6 User
    silverhead
    9,592 posts since
    Apr 1, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    Aug 6, 2011 6:00 AM (in response to BuleriaChk)
    Re: No Visual Level Indicators in Pod HD Bean LCD screen?

    BuleriaChk wrote:

     

    ....

     

    3. There doesn't seem to be a way to monitor wet, but record dry (other than SP/Dif which requires another interface.  ...

    You can do this by using the HD Bean dual path capabilities. Set up one path for your wet signal and one for your dry. For the dry path do not use any amp or FX - just allow the input guitar signal to pass straight through to the Outputs. Then use the mixer to seperate the paths (one full L and the other full R). In your recording software, select only the dry path for recording.

    • BuleriaChk Just Startin'
      BuleriaChk
      21 posts since
      Nov 6, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Aug 6, 2011 8:57 AM (in response to silverhead)
      Re: No Visual Level Indicators in Pod HD Bean LCD screen?

      Hi, Silverhead,

       

      Excellent answer, thanks; I hadn't thought of that (since the PodXT doesn't have dual channels).  I guess I could get a mono line in through the XLR (sort of), come to think of it....  and use a limiter if I am really worried about input levels....

       

      While I am waiting for the HD, I am revisiting my PodXT, and actually really like it a lot....  it does have a different "feel" than the GT-10, but they complement each other well.  I am hoping that the HD will be even better, but it will be a luxury I think, since the XT seems good enough (especially with Pod Farm 2.51) for my applicatiions for all practical purposes....

    • BuleriaChk Just Startin'
      BuleriaChk
      21 posts since
      Nov 6, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Aug 9, 2011 11:11 AM (in response to silverhead)
      Re: No Visual Level Indicators in Pod HD Bean LCD screen?

      Hi again,

       

      Regarding your suggestion, since I can separate the paths into L/R channels, that means I can use the Pod HD as a simple interface device, and even use my PodFarm VST modules in my DAW (e.g., use the guitar HD models in the left channel, and straight thru to vocal preamps in the VST.  (Or run straight thru in the guitar channel, and use the PodFarm guitar models...  (i.e., I can use my Pod HD/Pod Farm essentially as a PodX3 in my DAW if I run straight thru channels in the HD ....;-)

       

      Lots of alternatives, it seems, the more I think about it..... may be overkill......

      • silverhead Expert Line 6 User
        silverhead
        9,592 posts since
        Apr 1, 2009
        Currently Being Moderated
        Aug 9, 2011 12:41 PM (in response to BuleriaChk)
        Re: No Visual Level Indicators in Pod HD Bean LCD screen?

        That's correct. Bear in mind, though, that if you are using your Pod HD strictly as an audio device for Pod Farm you could use a much less costly audio interface for this purpose with Pod Farm 2.5. The Pod HD has much better amp modeling which you are not taking advantage of if you pass your dry guitar signal to Pod farm for processing.

         

        But yes, it is an alternative.

        • BuleriaChk Just Startin'
          BuleriaChk
          21 posts since
          Nov 6, 2007
          Currently Being Moderated
          Aug 9, 2011 4:30 PM (in response to silverhead)
          Re: No Visual Level Indicators in Pod HD Bean LCD screen?

          Actually, what I'm kind of hoping is the MIDI will drive the GUI of PodFarm as a control surface....

          Also, I'm not using the HD as STRICTLY an interface, since I plan on using it live (I am sitting when I play, with the Pod on a tabletop), and it has a mic input.  So I envision using it by itself or with a laptop (since the HD has no vocal processing yet - but I'll have to check that....

           

          Anyway, it will be here day after tomorrow, so I can begin experimenting.  I think the REAL bottom line is if the Tube Preamp effect and reverbs are better than Pod Farm or the XT.... (I'm not interested that much in the amps...), so the X3 may be a better choice....

           

          Anyway, I'll report back, and thanks for the insights........ 

          • Rowbi Expert Line 6 User
            Rowbi
            7,745 posts since
            Nov 25, 2006
            Currently Being Moderated
            Aug 10, 2011 5:41 AM (in response to BuleriaChk)
            Re: No Visual Level Indicators in Pod HD Bean LCD screen?

            BuleriaChk wrote:

             

            Actually, what I'm kind of hoping is the MIDI will drive the GUI of PodFarm as a control surface....

            Also, I'm not using the HD as STRICTLY an interface, since I plan on using it live (I am sitting when I play, with the Pod on a tabletop), and it has a mic input.  So I envision using it by itself or with a laptop (since the HD has no vocal processing yet - but I'll have to check that....

             

            Anyway, it will be here day after tomorrow, so I can begin experimenting.  I think the REAL bottom line is if the Tube Preamp effect and reverbs are better than Pod Farm or the XT.... (I'm not interested that much in the amps...), so the X3 may be a better choice....

             

            Anyway, I'll report back, and thanks for the insights........ 

            well I'm not 100% sure but I thought that the bean didn't have all the MIDI functionality that the HD500 has.  there's no MIDI ports on the HD bean, and while it could go over the USB cable, I'm just not sure how much midi it will pass to POD Farm 2.5 (which does respond well to MIDI).

             

            As such, in the true sense of a control surface for POD farm, that';s not what it's meant to do.  if you want a midi control surface for POD Farm, there are likely many things out there that can do it well... I'm not so sure about the bean though.

             

            Just going back to your initial thread, it does sound a little like you're twisted your own arm to buy the HD Bean... is it really what you need?

             

            As far as your comment about the X3.... the X3 tones are better than the XT by a little bit, but the X3 tones and FX aren't as good as the POD HD amp tones and FX.  on a true FX point of view, the POD HD would be the better machine than all previous PODs or POD Farm.....

            on amp sims there's a debate where the POD HD is better with less amp models that are all higher quality, or the X3 which is lesser quality but more amps to choose from.  for me the quality wins out, but you're not after amp models so I wont talk about this any more.

             

            hope this helps you make up your mind

             

            Cheers

             

            Rowbi

            • BuleriaChk Just Startin'
              BuleriaChk
              21 posts since
              Nov 6, 2007
              Currently Being Moderated
              Aug 11, 2011 12:57 PM (in response to Rowbi)
              Re: No Visual Level Indicators in Pod HD Bean LCD screen?

              The Pod HD Bean arrived this morning, and I've been checking it out for a couple of hours.  I REALLY wish it had a couple of "flat" preamp models.... e.g. A Tube Preamp, or Neve Model, or even a "FRFR" Amp module as in Pod Farm.  I can use the Tube Drive in the Distortion, but I would really like more tone color control there....  I guess I can introduce an EQ module, but still --- I would like to access the controls using the default knobs..... especially for a preamp in the vocal channel..... in guitar/mic mode......

               

              The HD seems much more solidly built than the X3 bean I auditioned some time ago - and the "upgraded" models of the amps relative to the XT jumped right out at me; whatever they were (in my limited experience), they certainly were different.....  OTH, I doubt if I'll use any of these models in live performance.............

               

              But I do want the mic input for performance control, and I'll probably keep the HD in the hope that they'll include at least one vocal preamp in their next upgrade (if there is one).....

               

              I like the screen.  I STILL wish it had an aux in.....

              • BuleriaChk Just Startin'
                BuleriaChk
                21 posts since
                Nov 6, 2007
                Currently Being Moderated
                Aug 11, 2011 9:11 PM (in response to BuleriaChk)
                Re: No Visual Level Indicators in Pod HD Bean LCD screen?

                To be perfectly clear, I am not an electric guitarist trying to make a 2x4 sound interesting, but a nylon string (Flamenco) guitarist trying to enhance the sound of a high end Takamine TC132SC with a CTP-2 Preamp and Palathetic pickup, so I don't need much, and any such unit will react way differently with my instrument than an electric guitar. I am also going into an acoustic (FRFR) amp, so a little bit of distortion/reverb goes a long way, and I am after very subtle clean to light crunch effects, mostly the former.  EQ Flat.  So these units are overkill in many ways, but they still have value.

                 

                In any case, as Rowbi hinted, I don't think the PodHD is for me after all at this point, so I'm returning it.  I've been working with it all day; the main reason is the lack of preamp models I use most often, and the amp models are not that much use to me.  I may revisit this issue in a couple of months, but I think I'm going to spring for an X3, since I am really used to PodFarm by now and I believe the X3 syncs well with that.....

                 

                Thanks to all,

                 

                Chuck

                • BuleriaChk Just Startin'
                  BuleriaChk
                  21 posts since
                  Nov 6, 2007
                  Currently Being Moderated
                  Aug 12, 2011 7:23 PM (in response to BuleriaChk)
                  Re: No Visual Level Indicators in Pod HD Bean LCD screen?

                  ...So I went looking for an PodX3 at my usual online vendor(s), only discover that it wasn't there!  All of a sudden it has been discontinued.  I found one on EBay for $275, and in the meantime I unpacked my GS-10, and I am REALLY surprised how good the GS-10 sounds (for me).  I had forgotten about it, and it has all the I/O (except it doesn't have dual channel) I'll ever need.  Fun!

                   

                  So I'm going to leave this forum and go bug the guys on the PodX3 forum in a week or so....:-)

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