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3985 Views 6 Replies Latest reply: Oct 20, 2009 6:29 PM by varelita RSS
varelita Just Startin'
varelita
6 posts since
Jul 4, 2008
Currently Being Moderated

Aug 31, 2009 2:26 PM

Pod X3 Live amplification question...

Hi, I have a Line 6 Pod X3 Live, and I wonder wich is the best system to amplify it on stage or/and in the rehearsal room. I have 3 guitar amplifiers (Marshall, Vox, Fender) and it seems that it's not the best solution to plug in a guitar amp.. I think the best way will be a pair of active speakers, but not sure. I hope someone can help me...Could someone recommend any tip, brand or model?.

Regards

Alejandro Varela

  • guitars69 Iknowathingortwo
    guitars69
    424 posts since
    Jan 27, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Sep 4, 2009 3:02 PM (in response to varelita)
    Re: Pod X3 Live amplification question...

    I use a power amplifier and 2 2x15 PA cabs as backline for my band's Pod X3L, Pod XTL, and Bass Pod XTL.

     

    Frankly, we've gone with in ear heaphones and are doing WAY better than before.  We practice with heaphones and a Roland V-kit so when we hit the stage I just bring my mixer sans speakers and run the headphone cables.  The $20-30 JVC Marshmellow headphones work awesome.  We had some Shure SLC3's and they really couldn't handle the bass level.  We could get a good seal but when all the instruments hit the headphones just "farted out."  The marshmellows handle it with ease.

     

    If you really need speakers, I would recommend a 1x15 powered speaker.  It'll be compact enough to transport and cover a full frequency response.  The lack of external power amp will make setup really easy and you can set it anywhere you need.

     

    I've only had a couple shows where we could hear ourselves well using speakers though.  Those were professional shows (like opening up Rockfest 7.5).  The rest of them have all brought me to using headphones.  You can just ask for some bass through the monitors to "feel" the music.

    • varelita Just Startin'
      varelita
      6 posts since
      Jul 4, 2008
      Currently Being Moderated
      Sep 4, 2009 3:54 PM (in response to guitars69)
      Re: Pod X3 Live amplification question...

      Thanx Guitar69 for your answer, but I haven't things clear yet.

      Talking about speaker...You said you used a power amplifier and 2 2x15 (Brand, model) and then you recommend me a 1x15 powered speaker (wich one?). Talking about headphones...how you make the other musicians to hear your play, I suppose by a floor monitor via the soundman...

      Had anyone there tested the Atomic Gear? It has a good reputation, but I am not sure to buy it, and it's very difficult 'cause they sell it only in Europe...:(

      Well, I have more dudes than solutions, but I hope we can help ourselves to fix the problem. Thanx for your effort and good luck!!!

      • guitars69 Iknowathingortwo
        guitars69
        424 posts since
        Jan 27, 2007
        Currently Being Moderated
        Sep 8, 2009 1:06 PM (in response to varelita)
        Re: Pod X3 Live amplification question...

        My speakers are just some cheapo $300 pair from Ebay.  Nothing special to write home about but they work.  I don't have a recommendation for a speaker in particular.  Try Mackie I suppose.

         

        As for the headphones, we all use headphones through a mixer.  Everyone runs into a DI that splits the signal.  I use mic splitters for the vocal mics too.  One send goes to the house for the live mix.  The other send goes to my own mixer.  I then use some compressors, EQ, reverb and whatnot to mix our own set and send to a cheap 4 channel headphone amp.  If I invested a little more I could do separate mixes for each of us but that's overkill.

         

        It doesn't look nearly as cool as a full stack behind you and if you're using real drums it's probably not the way to go unless you have a bunch of mic splitters to feed in some drums.  However, we can hear ourselves WAY better, don't have the hassle of a monitor mix being bad, can practice in my condo virtually silently, can record every practice and set if we want, and all play much better due to our ability to hear and play live the same way we practice.  If needed, we'll pump some bass guitar and bass drum through the floor monitors at a show to feel the bass.

         

        Atomic is pretty sweet.  I've tried one out but not at rocking levels.  I'd be just as happy with a large wattage solid state or even tube power amplifier for headroom and a PA cab though.

  • BriHar Just Startin'
    BriHar
    118 posts since
    Feb 9, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Sep 21, 2009 7:09 AM (in response to varelita)
    Re: Pod X3 Live amplification question...

    Since the X3 is emulating a specific Amp/Cab combination, you don't want to pump this through some other physical combination - it just won't sound right. Like playing a Fender Bassman through a Marshall guitar amp - it's not going to sound like the fender Bassman, it's going to sound like miking a Bassman through a Marshall!

     

    So, the solution is to play through a wideband amplifier (i.e. an amp which has a fairly flat and wide frequency spectrum) such as almost any Keyboard Amp or PA system. (This is where Solid state comes into it's own - remember, the tube sound is part of the emulation happening in the POD - you don't need it in the Amp).

  • Antsanc82 Just Startin'
    Antsanc82
    3 posts since
    Sep 8, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 19, 2009 12:44 PM (in response to varelita)
    Re: Pod X3 Live amplification question...

    Alejandro,

     

         I am a guitar player for the past 10 years and have recently sold all my analog pedals to get the x3 live. I love this ting it sounds great through everything. but what I will tell you is that I don't really like the way it reacts with powered speakers. I have a 1988 fender twin that I play through and as long as you spend the necessary time tweaking the sounds to fit your amp it's going to sound great. but again you have to spend the time on it. I'm sure you can run it through a power amp and speaker set up and it'll sound great. that's what I used to do 6 years ago when using my pod 2.0 I ran it through a mesa boogie 50/50 and a 2x12 recto cab from mesa and it was clean and high gain glory! so in sum if you spend time with no matter what set up you have you can always find the "sweet spots" to your set up's tone. line6 have developed all this new gear for exactly that. effects and equipment that sound good no matter what the situation. hope this helped. take care

     

    regards,

    Anthony Sanchez

  • varelita Just Startin'
    varelita
    6 posts since
    Jul 4, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Oct 20, 2009 6:29 PM (in response to varelita)
    Re: Pod X3 Live amplification question...

    Thank you very much Anthony (and the above answers in this topic).

    I recently discoverd to plug my POD X-3 Live through the return line of my JCM-900 amplifier. I must admit it's sounds great in my band¡s rehearsal room. I like it. I am dedicate to produce the sounds I like to play in my songs....

    Maybe the questions should be now...the sound I heard in this configuration....will be the same it will sound on the P.A. or in the final recording take?

    Hmmm, I´ll keep you ilustrated...

    Anyway...any tip, we'll be wellcome!

    Best Regards!

    Alejandro

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