Why Does My Pod X3 Sound So Wildly Different To My Pod 2.0

[marktinley]

I recorded some stuff using a Line6 AMP with Duran Duran in the early two thousands and people constantly ask me "how did you get that guitar tone"

 

I simply plugged the amp into Pro Tools using S/PDIF

 

And so, I decided I needed the same tones at home

 

I bought a UX2 - it sounded okay but didn't have the wooden punchy tone I was looking for

 

Made sense to buy a POD

 

Go for the latest one right?

 

I have spent several years puzzling over the fact that I simply shoved the AMP I used on MANUAL and tweaked a bit and got a great sound

 

Finally I decided to go and buy a second hand Pod Pro

 

I also bought a POD 2.0 for my living room

 

Some maniac had reprogrammed them, so I loaded the factory patches into both of them

 

Both these units sound great (as far as I can tell, roughly the same)

 

But then thinking it would make more sense to use the X3 in my living room so I can plug a USB lead in and use it as an audio interface, I just swapped them round

 

I just dumped the POD 2.0 factory patches in my X3

 

It sounds TOTALLY different

 

The POD 2.0 sounds a lot like a guitar amp

 

The X3 sounds nothing like a guitar amp

 

Some of the patches are vaguely similar

 

Most of them are wildly different

 

I have no doubt this has been asked before, but can someone tell me where I can find a set of patches for the X3 that make it sound like a POD 2.0

 

And another thing

 

The basic models in the POD 2.0 seem to be missing? or just renamed? in the X3

 

I bought the X3 because I thought it did everything the POD 2.0 could do and it did some extra things

 

It wasn't even cheap

 

I mean what is it? 

 

It is not really a POD at all if it can't be a POD 

 

And surely it's all just software?

 

Could someone please explain!

 

Thanks

 

Mark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Triryche]

The POD X3 uses a totally different algorithm to generate tones.

Not sure how you transferred them from the POD 2.0

 

here's a compatibility chart

 

http://line6.com/support/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_id=476

[Charlie_Watt]

You should be able to make the X3 sound like the Pod 2.0 but not with the same patches.

[db0451]

Please consider not putting every tiny sentence on a new line for no logical reason. That post hurts my eyes.

 

On a more related subject, the reason they differ is that they are different devices. Before I expand upon that point, and aside from the possibility that you did not convert the patches from the 2.0 properly, ensure that you have the X3 set up for the correct method of output: direct to computer/desk/PA or the pre/power input of a combo/stack. The manual explains this.

 

It wasn't even cheap

I cannot muster sympathy. It is your responsibility to research the similarities, differences, and other capabilities of something like the X3 before spending hundreds of pounds on it. There are plenty of videos, forums discussing both units alone and specifically in comparison, and of course the manuals and other official materials. There is no shortage of information to check before buying. By jumping in blind, you bring all the risks on yourself.

 

I mean what is it? 

 

It is not really a POD at all if it can't be a POD

Nonsense. Yes, it is a POD. No, it is not the same POD. What would be the point of that? Again, researching it beforehand would have amply proved this.

 

And surely it's all just software?

Yeah. Different software.

[Charlie_Watt]

The X3 has much more processing capability than the 2.0  It even has Dual tone capability which allows two independent signal paths.  When the capabilities are so different, it's not practical to make the old technology patches sound the same on new hardware.  It's a lot of work to get good sounding patches though.  Most of the ones that come with the X3 just plain stink.

[Tony-N]

The POD 2.0 sounds a lot like a guitar amp

 

The X3 sounds nothing like a guitar amp

The X3 (and XT which I own) captures the whole recording chain much better than the 2.0 does, in my opinion.

I always thought the 2.0 sounded plastic and boring and didn't have the upper detail I wanted.

 

I bought the X3 because I thought it did everything the POD 2.0 could do and it did some extra things

Newer algorithms don't always retain the sound from the previous algorithms. Sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes not, it's a matter of taste in the end.

Maybe you should check out the POD HD version, it might do it for you. It's good but I still actually prefer the XT over the HD...but that's me.

[marktinley]

It's a lot of work to get good sounding patches though.  Most of the ones that come with the X3 just plain stink.

 

This is where I got to with the device.

 

When I bought it someone told me the new DUAL TONE Pods didn't sound as good as the old ones and because all my other software simply builds on earlier sounds and gets better (we right music right and rely on these devices to deliver a congruent sound) like Pro Tools of LOGIC the system evolves and the sound library stays roughly the same!

 

Anyway I thought "no, I have the latest and greatest" and then I struggled like hell to make it sound good.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love all the FX - GearBox and PodFarm are great but something about the tone on the X3 sucks.

 

The POD 2.0 has an instant dialability which is totally missing from the X3.

 

I want to grab knobs and tweak.

 

The X3 gives the illusion of this being possible and then switching an amp model is all about digging around menus.

 

On the POD 2.0 the design of it is such that I can switch amps and compare etc while making a sound.

 

It just sounds like a guitar and an amp.

 

Totally brilliant.

 

Why take something brilliant and mess it up?

 

The X3 of course is a fabulous bit of music technology but it is not as music friendly.

 

I will go and read the Tone File PDF now but my guess is the next thing I will be asking is...

 

Anyone want to buy a POD X3 ;/)

[marktinley]

Okay so my guess is that the POD 2.0 has cabinet and microphone emulation in hardware somewhere which is why it has a mechanical switch?

 

It probably works like my ADA microcab

 

While the POD X3 seeks to emulate this circuit with additional digital processing

 

The POD X3 is basically an all DSP based system and is no different to the Pod Farm software I have on my Mac

 

What I don't understand is why the models could not be remodelled

 

 

I think for me though it is about instantly finding classic amp tones and being able to reach out and tweak them

 

 

When I am playing the guitar I want to do completely the opposite of what I do in my role and an engineer / producer

 

I want to feel at the sound and make it change to suit what I am playing, to make my playing more expressive

 

And digging through menus is the fastest way to kill that spark of creativity

 

Still can't decide which one will end up in my living room

 

Thanks for the replies

 

Kind regards

[marktinley]

Having been through absolutely everything in fine detail the main reason the POD 2.0 and the POD X3 sound so very different is because the POD 2.0 has A.I.R. which I like the sound of...

 

While the POD X3 attempts to model variations of microphone/speaker placement.

 

A.I.R. automatically fits into my sound and pleases my ears on all the guitar tones.

 

I can never quite get the room model to sound authentic and it simply annoys me.

 

If anyone at Line 6 knows which microphone sounds most like the original A.I.R. and/or the distance setting for the room, it would be extremely helpful.

 

I was hoping that the A.I.R. percentage right relate to something magical, but sadly it doesn't.

 

Many thanks,

 

Mark

[Triryche]

I wouldn't over think it, if the 2.0 does it for you then go with it.

 

The PODxt and POD X3 absolutely use A.I.R., and IMHO it is "beyondo" compared to the 2.0.

 

There are way more tones you can extract out the xt and X3.

 

But I've seen several other users post about liking the 2.0 more than the X3, most of them felt it had a warmer sound.

[marktinley]

I always over think things ;/)

 

I can tell you what is missing from the X3 and so far I have not been able to replicate it

 

THUMP

 

The POD 2.0 sounds like I am standing next to a cabinet even though the sound is coming from my HIFI

 

The POD X3 sounds like a very slick amp / guitar emulator and I am sure it is accurate but it sounds more like an amp which has been miked up

 

So maybe the POD X3 is more accurate, from a technical perspective

 

I always baulk in the studio at what engineers thing is a great sound and want my guitar in the control room to sound like the amp and not like an amp with a 57 (whatever) on it

 

The POD 2.0 fails at sounding like a miked amp admirably

 

And it sounds like I am standing next to the cabinet

 

THUMP

 

It's probably in the EQ curve but it is definitely missing from the X3 and again, having to dial it in on every patch is annoying

 

I have decided the obvious solution is to keep both of them ;/)