Using a PODXT

[Horus27Soilworker]

I am trying to get a really good rhythm sound out this bad boy, and my experiences are hit and miss.

I have a whole bunch of patches, but I would really like a thicker sound. Ala "The Chainheart Machine" sound, or perhaps a "Godless Endeavor" style sound.

Any ideas? Suggestions?

 

[SickBoy]

Search this board, there are tons of topics about getting this and that sound from podxt...

 

[Exocaster]

I have a whole bunch of patches, but I would really like a thicker sound.

Any ideas? Suggestions?

- Turn up your mids. You'll need more mids dialed in on the XT than you would on the equivalent real amp, in my experience.

- Boost it. Seriously, hit your XT with a real boost pedal. TS9, 808, SD-1, etc. Tweak the tone controls as necessary. See above comment on mids. A TS-style OD will give you a big mid hump and attenuate your highs and lows. I've found a boosted Pod XT sounds and reacts more like a real amp. So kick on your boost and tweak from there.

- The 4 band parametric EQ is your friend. A 4 band parametric with adjustable Q is a very powerful tone shaping tool. You want fat tones? Learn it, live it, love it.

- Layer those tracks. Switch up mic models, too. Take a patch that uses the on-axis 57 model. Duplicate it, switch to the U67 model and track the same part again with that. Or use the off-axis 57. Layer a brighter, more cutting sound with a fatter, darker tone for additional girth.

- Don't be afraid to use a tone you wouldn't normally use on its own for layering. The Line 6 Chemical X, Marshall Plexi Variac, Marshall Jubilee and Bogner Ecstasy models are all kinds of thick and have enough gain to get heavy. They may not have the agression you want on their own, but they'll fill out your mids like nobody's business. Slap a Recto/Diezel/5150/Uberschall model over the top to bring the metal, and you're good to go.

Hope this helps.

 

[Horus27Soilworker]

Thanks for the advice guys, I've been trying to record a riff for the past two days and I can't get it to become audible because it sounds like mush.

I've also been keeping an eye on my gain, drive and EQ but nothing seems to work. It's been driving me absolutely insane.

 

[derfbonker]

What are your settings?

 

[Metaltastic]

And do you have the metal shop pack?

 

[Horus27Soilworker]

I do, but nothing seems to work. I've been working on this all day too, and I'm getting very frustrated because I've used the 5150, updated recto, jcm 800 and it doesn't work at all. Everything sounds like mush and gets drowned out with the drums I've programmed. The notes are all blurred and nothing is accented.

 

[crosstalk]

Another option you might try is to turn on the Tubescreamer in the PodXT. I use it quite often in my patches. I'd like to try that TS9 in front of the Pod sometime. I go to the 5150 quite often. A lot of the models don't quite do it for me. They're either all top end or not near enough top end. However, tweaking the amp, cab, mic and possibly turning on the TS9 usually gets me in the ballpark if not closer to home plate of a sound that I like. I don't always get the 'best' tone, but I generally don't have trouble with it being mush and lost against the drums. Good luck!