4CM Low-Latency Low-Noise solution: (previously posted by me on another forum, may be useful for many pod users out there) I found out that the pod's fx loop send introduces more noise and more latency compared to the normal line out of the pod. So I found out a way to reduce both noise and latency introduced by the pod's fx loop when using 4CM, if you don't care about hitting your amp's fx loop with a stereo signal. The basic idea is: pre-amp signal on Right channel (Path B) (with wah, compression, distortion effects) / post-amp signal (with reverb, delay effects) on LEFT channel (Path A). (Do not switch Path A and Path B, otherwise you will get more latency, since the pod processes path B before path A).
Now: 1) Set input 1: Variax, input 2: Guitar (using same, this method doesn't work at all, we need discrete signals) 2) Don't put any effect in pre-path. 3) Put every pre-effect (wah,comp,dist..) on PATH B (lower), and pan the mixer full to the right. 4) Put an FX loop block (be careful, it must be TURNED OFF! It works, and doesn't add noise and latency as when it's turned on!) and after it, every post/loop-effect (delay, reverb..) on PATH A (higher), and pan the mixer full to the left. (If you turn on your FX loop block, you will hear more latency! But now you don't need it. That's the first reason why this solution is better than the standard 4CM routing) 5) Cable routing: - Guitar cable in pod's guitar in input - Run a cable from pod's Right line output to your amp's guitar input. - Another cable from your amp's fx loop Send to your pod's fx loop Return. - Last cable from the pod's Left line output to your amp's fx loop Return. 6) To have overall unity gain and less noise as possible, I use: - Pod's master volume to 100% so my guitar sounds like it's directly plugged into my amp - Guitar In switch set to normal - 1/4" Out switch set to amp - Fx loop switch set to Stomp if you want less noise possible and attenuate your amp (I get wonderful sounds at low volume with this on!!!). Set it to Line if you want to have the same volume as the pod was not in the amp's fx loop, but you will have a little more noise. - Mixer settings at +4db for my pre/right signal and 0db for my post/left signal. This is the same as the "normal" 4CM method, but splitted in 2 separate signals (Up=before preamp, Down= after preamp) and gives you the best SNR and the shortest latency you can get out of the pod! The same patch can be used, disconnecting both send and return cables from the amp's fx loop, to have the best signal from the pod when using it just in front of the amp.
To use pod's pre and full amp models with the configuration shown before, just set up a patch with input1: guitar, input2: same and an amp block in pre-path position, then pan one of the amp's paths (they're both full stereo paths!) to the left so you will send it to your power amp, remembering that path B gives you less latency also in this case and adjust mixer gain as desired. So the best way to set up a pod model patch when using my 4cm cable routing is: amp pre-path->path A muted, path B fully panned to the left.
There's only one little drawback: if you set input1 as I do, you will not be able to use the tuner. What I do is create another patch or tune my guitar with my amp model patches (in which I use input1:guitar, input2: same). Use input settings:"preset" to achieve this.
Hope this helps.
Paolosev91
Feel free to copy this method on other forums and threads! Since Line6 built a great pedalboard, but with a quiet cheap fx loop, I think that a lot of users will benefit from this.