Dec 14, 2011 7:24 AM
POD Farm and Propellerhead Reason - What can I upgrade, what do I need?
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I realize that Reason comes with a minimal set of Line6 guitar and bass amps already. They mention upgrading to POD Farm on their website, but I can't find anything clear on what to buy. So, some questions:
1) I saw a Reason 3rd-party refill today mention that effects from POD Farm are usable within Reason. Is this true? How would this work (eg. "Use the POD Farm plugin in another host, or standalone, to create tone presets, and the Reason Guitar Amps effect can load them", or "The Guitar Amps interface in Reason allows you to select and tweak effects directly").
2) I have no Line 6 hardware, nor do I need any for any other purpose. All I want is a software option with more effects, definitely to upgrade Reason and, if it costs no more, to use standalone or as a VST plugin in other hosts. What do I need to buy? Do I need the iLok version (I have one, so no big deal).
http://line6.com/support/thread/67296 suggests that all I need is model packs. How would I install those and get them to work within Reason, again without using any additional hardware except perhaps the iLok? I can't even see how to buy model packs for the computer or iLok through your online store.
you'd just need to buy pod farm and the model packs and install line6 monkey.
line6 monkey will authorize the additional models.
pod farm is required to use the model packs i believe, with the exception of using the model packs with the pod XT series.
How would I buy the model packs? In the Line6 online store, I have to choose the hardware for which I'm buying the model pack. Choosing computer or iLok gives me this message:
"Your selected device is either not compatible with anything in this category, or already includes everything in this category."
Also, I still don't know how I'd use the effects within Reason.
To any Line 6 employees reading this: an FAQ on exactly how to expand the Line 6 effects in Reason would be much appreciated! I'm not the only one with questions like these.
pick any device... won't matter because the model packs will belong to your account and not the device...
they used to belong to the device... i think the store needs a bit of an upgrade...
a hint though...
check different devices... different devices have different prices and specials...
you might be able to save a few bucks if you poke around.
also... model packs NEVER work with an ilok.
Hah, ok, I used to own a POD XT a few years ago that I'd upgraded with a model pack, so I wa probably still thinking the old way.
Thanks for solving that part of it. Last thing: do I create tones in POD Farm and tell Reason to use those patches? Do I run POD Farm standalone at the same time as Reason and the effects are handled that way (if so, that would limit to only using one effects chain, yes? I'd assume you can't open multiple instances of POD Farm) Or, does having POD Farm installed provide a way to access the POD Farm interface from within Reason, either by expanding the existing Guitar Amps and Bass Amps plugins or by creating some new POD Farm device that I could use instead?
there's a whole list of videos at the bottom of this document that might help:
http://line6.com/support/docs/DOC-2065
i may be confused though... i think you need to use the record addon in reason for these...
maybe that's the part we're missing... ?
Thanks, I'll take a look at those.
In Reason 6, Record no longer exists, and Reason is now a proper DAW in a single product. So whatever worked in Record should now work in Reason 6.
thanks for clearing that up.
Alright, I've got most of this figured out. You download and authorize POD Farm (meaning you can't use any effects from the free trial version in Reason), create your tone, save the tone preset, and load that into the Guitar Amp or Bass Amp effects in Reason. Effects can be loaded this way, though you can't change effects settings within Reason.
My only question now is what the difference is between the iLok and Computer versions. I already own FX Junkie from a previous Line 6 hardware purchase. I'd assume that if I had an authorized version of POD Farm at the moment, and not just the free trial, it would work correctly, but it seems that Reason is looking for authorization and not even letting me use anything that's in the POD Farm trial but not also in the stock Guitar Amp effect in Reason (eg. I can't use the MXR Phase 90 in Reason, but there are a few amps that I can use because they'd be there even if I hadn't installed POD Farm at all). Boo to being forced to pay for something you might not want to use something you already own.
Anyway, what I'd like to know is this:
1) Are there any authorization restrictions on the Computer version of POD Farm (eg. you can only install it a set number of times)? If so, the iLok version is more appealing.
2) Will the iLok version work flawlessly with Reason? If there's authorization nonsense, I'd consider the iLok version over the computer version (despite not being able to use my model pack), or even just buy the platinum version, but it would, of course, have to work in Reason.
1. There are a basic default number of authorizations initially, but we can help you if your computer network grows. So in reality, no... just contact us (case-by-case basis solution) and any of us Moderators will be more than happy to assist once we verify your account info and software history on the backend.
2. iLok POD Farm licenses have worked in the past without any issue. We also provide technical support for U.S.-based Propellerhead software customers (we're Propellerhead SE's U.S. Distributor to the dealers). I think the real question is whether you have other software programs that utilize the iLok authorization scheme or not. For example, several of my friends are using a multitude of 3rd party RTAS Plug-In FX software from various companies that all require iLok license/authorization. In their case, it seemed logical to go with an iLok license type so they can consolidate multiple licenses onto 1 physical iLok USB key.
FWIW, I personally don't use iLok licenses. But yes, the underlying function of the POD Farm license is to allow you to access what additional amp models you might have tied to your Line 6 USB device OR your Line6.com account. The .l6t patches can also be opened up in Propellerhead's Reason "Line 6 Amp" effect module as Read-Only. The modification/edits need to be done in our POD Farm software application (as you already know).
Or, if you're okay with going the "old school" approach of WYHIWYG (what you hear is what you get), you can always have POD Farm open in standalone mode with a .l6t patch open that you can make real-time parameter changes while recording... but you'll capture (in Reason 6) whatever it is that you're hearing. Obviously this isn't the same as modern-day "record a dry signal and make tweaks later" approach. But this would afford you more real-time control of your guitar sound.
Excellent. I ended up going the computer route, and not the iLok, since to get all the effects models I wanted, I'd have had to get Pod Farm Platinum. If only the iLok version let you use models (or there was a discount to get Platinum based on the model packs you had). And of course, everything works fine in Reason!
Thanks for the help, both of you!
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