Wanna hear the Line 6 POD XT Live?

[Scott Peterson]

Nothing fancy, no tricks. Just what I am playing through nowadays.

The key to this pedal is the 4-band post-EQ; with it I can make the tones I dial in just sound perfect for my ear and needs. Well, almost better than perfect; like I was mixing out on the board. I know how to mix, I know how to EQ and I know what I want. Now.... well, I can just GET it. No sweat.

This is all out of context, just dry guitar with no other instruments. But you'll get the overall picture of what I like anyway.

Melancon Custom Artist -> VHT Valvulator -> Line 6 POD XT Live recorded direct digitally via USB out.

Sounds a lot like this:
Click here to hear the Melancon Custom Artist/POD XTL (http://128.121.187.118/MelanconXTLiveTasteTest.mp3)

No outboard post EQ/Compression or effects -except out of the XTL. No tricks after I cut the clip. Just cut it and output the mp3.

For the digital hater's out there; don't listen *for* "digitis"; listen to the feel, the life, the bounce, the tone. I am really liking this setup.

0:00
The clip starts with my Melancon on the neck SC and a Fender Bassman Clean with the way. Then you'll hear it clean, with chorus, and delay.

1:31
Vox AC-30TB tone. Volumes up/down. Ranges of tones.

2:47
Marshall Classic Rock Tone - a bit darker, but it cuts very well.

4:12
Diezel Modern Rock Tone. Big full tone. Takes up some space sonically.

5:09
Soldano Modern Rock Tone. RAWK! Different tilt on the modern rock thing, cuts and fits in denser mixes or with other guitar tones in a rock format.

5:36
Bogner XTC - Modern Rock Tone. Big chewy rock tone; works well for most anything. Takes up a fair amount of sonics.

6:02
Marshall JCM 800 - A very useful heavier Marshall'esque tone that works well in classic rock or modern rock type of stuff.

6:29
Mesa Rectifier - Modern rock tone for the Creed/Bizkit stuff. Has good bass definition but still leaves room for the kick and bass player.

8:03
Back to clean. Faded out with the volume pedal.


Nothing over the top; and I did the clip this way not to highlight my playing, but to show a tiny touch of what I am doing with this pedal. It does SO much more; it'd take hours to demo it properly.

I really dig this thing.

[John Cowan]

Holy Crap...First observation is that this even beats the PodPro. Sounds like they got the chorus right too on this one. Can I ask what difference the Valvulator makes in the chain?

And thanks for more GAS.

JC

[twitch]

My biggest question and concern would be how does it hold up at higher volumes ina band setting? That is where digital amps have failed me in the past. At higher volumes, the sound quality was greatly comprimised, and things sounded mushy. The guitar did not mix in well with the other instruments and would not "cut through" when I needed it to.

This was a few years ago, and digital gear has evolved since then, so I am curious if this is a problem for you.

[Scott Peterson]

My biggest question and concern would be how does it hold up at higher volumes ina band setting? That is where digital amps have failed me in the past. At higher volumes, the sound quality was greatly comprimised, and things sounded mushy. The guitar did not mix in well with the other instruments and would not "cut through" when I needed it to.

This was a few years ago, and digital gear has evolved since then, so I am curious if this is a problem for you.

Honestly; it is the EQ. With the 4 band post EQ onboard this thing (semi-parametric) it CUTS well.

I redid the original post and clip; check it out.

It is again, out of context, but I don't do tones to impress myself or sound pretty on thier own. Similar to your statement; digital amps didn't have the cut or body of a real amp.

I'll stand right here and say this does. And mean it.

[Bill Niersbach]

Scott,


Were these jsut factory presets or did you modify them all ? If they are presets then I can say its about time they started making some excellent tones right from the factory. My GT6 has some great sounds in it also, but it takes a little bit of adjusting from the factory settings...which is why I like all the knobs vice the mystic buttons you had to hit on the digitech one I owned.

Anyhow, excellent demo of right out of the box sounds.

[twitch]

I'm listening to the updated clips now. Did you put the Counting Crows in there for me? ;) I made a comment on the gear page that they really aren't my cup of tea.

I'll take your word for it that it cuts through in a live band setting. Certainly your clips sound great. I doubt anyone would peg it for "digital". I think there has beena lot of progress in this arena.

[Scott Peterson]

Scott,


Were these jsut factory presets or did you modify them all ? If they are presets then I can say its about time they started making some excellent tones right from the factory. My GT6 has some great sounds in it also, but it takes a little bit of adjusting from the factory settings...which is why I like all the knobs vice the mystic buttons you had to hit on the digitech one I owned.

Anyhow, excellent demo of right out of the box sounds.

Those are not out of the box sounds; I have created each of them completely from scratch after sussing the unit out for a few weeks.

But thanks for the kind words.

[Scott Peterson]

I'm listening to the updated clips now. Did you put the Counting Crows in there for me? ;) I made a comment on the gear page that they really aren't my cup of tea.

I'll take your word for it that it cuts through in a live band setting. Certainly your clips sound great. I doubt anyone would peg it for "digital". I think there has beena lot of progress in this arena.

I didn't put the counting crows in there for you, but hey, there you are. :D

Thanks for the feedback.

[Scott Peterson]

Holy Crap...First observation is that this even beats the PodPro. Sounds like they got the chorus right too on this one. Can I ask what difference the Valvulator makes in the chain?

And thanks for more GAS.

JC


Thanks!

The Valvulator adds back the interaction between the tube input and the guitar's pickups. It adds harmonics and overtones for sure - you can see it clearly on the waveform - but the *feel* is what I like the best. Just like real amp. A real GOOD amp. :D

[Thomas Hebert]

Hey Scott- thanks for the clip. Does one need the valvulator is they are planning to use the Live XT plugged into the front of a good tube amp. Would the amp alone bring back some of the 'feel', or do you still need the valvulator even if you have it going into a tube amp?

Thanks-

[Scott Peterson]

Hey Scott- thanks for the clip. Does one need the valvulator is they are planning to use the Live XT plugged into the front of a good tube amp. Would the amp alone bring back some of the 'feel', or do you still need the valvulator even if you have it going into a tube amp?

Thanks-

Well, it depends. I'd say try it first without and see if you like it. If you feel it is "flat" feeling; you need the Valvulator. If you feel it is great, then you don't. :D

IMHO it is the loading on the pickups and the dynamic nature of tubes that create that feel. It is not the amp as much as the input section. IMHO and I know others disagree. Feel free to do so. Or not. :D

[Scott Peterson]

The Patches I created and used above.

When you are checking them out, note that the key is the Post EQ. I have the output on the XTL to "Studio Direct".

Everything done on these presets was done for my needs; try them out.

My Patches for the XTL (http://128.121.187.118/SDPetersonLine6PODXTLPresets.zip)

[Anders Destium]

It sounds great, the effort you put in the patches has really panned out IMO :)

I have a POD XT for about a year now, and at home it just does everthing I want at a "neighbour friendly" volume ;)

[tmoore]

That Soldano tone does in fact RAWK.

Good stuff. I hope to be doing some 'Riff Tracking' with a guitar port in the next month or two. If I hit it off with the DMA, an XT live may be the next step.
I'm a little bummed about your use of the Valvulator. It begs the question, have DMAs arrived or not? I'm pretty much a 'three knob tube snob', a.k.a. simpleton, so plugging an extra gizmo into the 'gizmo to end all gizmos' may be too gizmoey for me. ;)
We'll see.
Thanks for the excellent post. Very helpful.