Hi Folks, I just had some questions regarding studio recording with the POD HD. I literally just got the POD HD Desktop version this past Saturday afternoon and used it in the studio the following Sunday afternoon (yesterday), despite not sitting down with the unit AT ALL prior to taking it to the studio with me. I was able to get a decent sound (we were just scratch tracking so I wasn't too concerned with getting a finalized tone), with just the blackface double model and the hiway 100 model. I only had the amp model with default cab and mic settings for each running. All of my effects came from an M13 in between my guitar and the POD HD - I was using the 1/4" outs with TRS cables into a snake that was run to the mixer/pro tools set up. I haven't had a chance to really get into the POD and mess with things and make sure that the output setting is even correct (studio/direct), I guess yesterday I just assumed it was set to studio output by default. Late last night I did all the available updating and got the edit software, etc.; so now I'm ready to start tweaking away.

I intend to emulate my M13 effect settings on the POD so that for recording purposes everything is relatively self contained (with the exception of an external volume pedal and occasional Barber Tone Press between my guitars and the POD). I use mostly Telecasters (though I do use a Strat and Les Paul sometimes too), but they vary in pickup configuration - for example two of them have typical 60's style lower output single coils, but the other two have vintage 70's Wide Range Humbuckers which are a bit on the hotter side of the fence (because of this, I'll probably do most of my tweaking with the wide range humbucker equipped guitars since they'll represent the highest input signal I'm likely to ever hit the POD with). Pretty much all recording I do at this particular studio will involve the same scenario I described above as far as the 1/4" outs into a snake into the mixer/computer - I will be recording at this studio periodically for at least the next 5 to 6 months so I want to set my POD up with this in mind.

My absolute primary concern is avoiding digital clipping at all costs, both within the POD internally and upon output (though I think the engineer will let me know if my output signal is too hot; but I'd like to avoid that issue in the first place). I am not a high gain player (blues, r&b, indie, brit pop, ambient stuff), and intend to set my amp patches up primarily as clean to semi-clean amps with overdrives generally being handled by the internal overdrive/distortion models. I will only ever use this POD for recording purposes and would love to hear the suggestions experienced studio users have for setting my levels correctly within the POD to avoid digital clipping. My only previous experience with a POD has been with the XT models and the POD HD is quite a different animal...Any advice for this newbie?