Line 6 PodXT vs. Line 6 PodXT Pro

[Executioner213]

Is there a difference between the two besides one being a kidney-bean and one being rackmountable...and the price ($299 vs. $699)?

I'm interested, especially after hearing the shit Mendel does with one...but I want to know if it's worth it just to get the pod or if you really get an extra $400 worth of options?

 

[Machinated]

I have an XT Pro, and I couldn't imagine using the regular bean shaped XT. There is no difference in sound between the 2 units. The difference lays in the I/O's. XT Pro has digital ins and outs SPIDF and AES/EBU (up to 96kHz), as well as both balanced and unbalanced outs, an FX-loop, Un processed out, and line in, aswell as MIDI.

Having these can make a nice makeshift reamp box out of the XT, but the real benefit is with the amount of connection options. I suppose it depends on how you are planning on using the XT, and what you want it for, but being able to use all of these Outputs at once is definately a benefit for me.

 

[Kazrog]

XT Pro is overpriced. USB is the only digital I/O that I need, and all POD XTs have that. The USB port can cover all of the other I/O functions that you have on the rack, including unprocessed out. But you're better off with a Radial J48 DI if you want a DI box... I've done A/B tests and the POD XT sucks as a DI.

 

[JeffTD]

I would never use the XT as a DI, but the SPDIF might come in handy if you didn't want to take up a mic track with it.

I would also never, ever use the XT's USB for anything but messing with tones.

 

[Kazrog]

I would never use the XT as a DI, but the SPDIF might come in handy if you didn't want to take up a mic track with it.

I would also never, ever use the XT's USB for anything but messing with tones.

Dude, what's wrong with the USB?

 

[JeffTD]

It forces you to use the POD as a soundcard, which I don't like - I prefer just plugging it into my interface.

It also gets pretty crap latency - mine was comming in at 15m/s on input.

That, and I find when run through a better set of converters, it sounds a ton better.

But ultimately, you can't really record a DI track with it via USB, and since that's all I've been doing lately, I haven't bothered with USB.

 

[Kazrog]

It forces you to use the POD as a soundcard, which I don't like - I prefer just plugging it into my interface.

It also gets pretty crap latency - mine was comming in at 15m/s on input.

That, and I find when run through a better set of converters, it sounds a ton better.

But ultimately, you can't really record a DI track with it via USB, and since that's all I've been doing lately, I haven't bothered with USB.

Hmm, your DAW should let you have multiple sound sources. I have my 828 Mk II set as the master clock source, and I have the POD XT set up as an additional sound source. Set your samples/buffer to 256 or 128 and you shouldn't have a latency issue.

Since I don't care about doing final recordings with it anymore, though, I just use the analog 1/4" line out. Sounds just as good as the digital honestly... no matter what, it's still a POD XT, it's fizzy, and I will always replace it later with a miked cab.

 

[JeffTD]

You know, I don't remember being able to do that in Nuendo, but I haven't tried it in Logic.

But yeah, I think we have the same view on it.

 

[Pman]

do you pod-people usually use the output of the pod for recording or connecting it to a cab and micing it?

 

[Kazrog]

do you pod-people usually use the output of the pod for recording or connecting it to a cab and micing it?

Direct recording. Why mike a cab if you're just using a Pod? If you've got a tube amp, it will sound better than the Pod. The whole benefit of the Pod is the convenience.

 

[JeffTD]

I just record it as a reference track, and reamp the DI track later. That, or for quick scratch tracks to get an idea down, but I wouldn't mic a POD through a cabinet.