Welcome visitor, it's time for something way different this time. Take a look at the images above: this maroon, kidney bean shaped device; called the "POD", is designed, and built by Line 6. It's about the size, and weight of a substantial, hardbound book.
Note that the exterior features both rotary knobs, and a mercifully restrained set of push buttons with digital display. Notice that the shot of the interior looks a little different than the back end of one of our Amps. There are no tubes on either side of that green board...we looked. Line 6 takes great pains to explain that POD is a software driven device. There's a propriatary software chip which feeds one dedicated Digital Signal Processing chip: They're the "meat, and taters" of this device. This DSP chip has the ability to handle about as many comands in a second, as a Cray super computer of ten years ago.
That out of the way, it's time to consider this unit on its merits. Debates on pedigree, raw materials, and tradition will be put on a back burner for now. Countless accounts, articles, and postings will swarm around this piece re: the above. We thought: let's stick with POD's value, sound quality, and usefulness. You know: How does the thing sound, and is it worth what you have to pay for it? Here goes:
Look, up in the sky...is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's Super POD! Hey kids, check it out: Ya gets your cabinet simulator, ya gets 16 Amp emulations, (some pretty classy ones too), on a rotary pot; with goodies like a Dumble Combo, inside the thing, (if you're in the mood, and capable of reading directions). Now add in your headphone Amp, a load of presets, as well as being able to select, and tweek the dickens out of the Amp model selections. And if you order after midnight yesterday, you get 16 effects to go with any of the Amp Models, they can all be tweeked by knobs too! (Just like home, plus most on-board effects can be combined). There is an absolute minimum of that hideous banking up, pushing some knob, and "now continue to press enter while stroking yourself", crap. Yet medium core; (and beyond) computer afficianados can take advantage of the MIDI interface, for total control of their sonic wet dreams. (PC and Mac compatible).
Line 6, has patented a lot of technology here, like "AIR", which is a well integrated direct recording output. The signal, cabinet, speaker, and microphone emulations have been designed to work together, and it shows. Of course you can just plug this thing in; before your Amp, or Amps, (it's stereo), so knock yourself out! Amps modeled here include a selection of the legendary Voxes, Marshalls, Fenders, Boogies, Tweeds, and you can combine multiple Amps: Finally...an "Amp Cabin" for the working man! Effects include Flangers, Tremolo, Compressor, Delay (to 3.5 seconds), Swell, Reverbs, (slap to large halls), and Fuzz Box. You can also use your favorite pedals in the signal chain too. User friendly "twist knobs" control: Output Level, Drive, Bass, Mid, Treble, Channel Volume, Reverb, and Effect Tweek.
A fair trial: Let's start with this critical point: The samples below represent the POD's emulation of how certain Amps & effects would sound after, they were recorded in a good studio. Assume you're listening to a CD of various tones, not a live, unrecorded Amp in your rehearsal space. Let that sink in for a second. Consider that there has been a bit of compression, and limiting added, nothing unusual there. You can also turn off the POD's "AIR" switch, and play through your Amp live. However; this group of samples is 100% Line 6 technology, uncolored by our other gear, recording technique, or microphones. Someone also played notes on a guitar, so you could hear the thing. It would also be good to factor this in, if you're listening to these samples through tiny computer speakers, and a ten Watt sound card, while A/B-ing the POD with your live Marshall half-stack. Some information is being lost on the POD's side.
The verdict: This unit; especially at the modest $300 price point, is a remarkable buy. The sound quality is excellent on many of the Amps, we thought the more modern sounds were particularly well done. The tone is very good most of the time, Line 6 must have obsessed on keeping the tonality warm as they could get it. No relentless highs here; so when you back off your volume controls, the tone, and saturation change to a surprising degree, pick sensitivity exists, (to a degree), and you can inflect notes for fun, and profit. Most of what we thought to consider showed careful attention to psychoacoustic detail, and at least modest evidence of how great tube Amps function, and sound. How close is the sound quality? We went off the deep end with a load of sound files below. Please; judge for yourself. In this reporter's humble opinion: If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, than Line 6 has fashioned some seriously flattering efforts into the POD.
For younger/newer players only: What convenience, versatility, and value: An emergency back- up Amp, you can always take along... A decent back-up rack, or a rack; outright, for those on a budget. You can patch this through various Amps in a pinch. You just blew your combo Amp's one speaker at a recording? Go direct. One or two emergencies, and it's paid for. Need a big sound in the small clubs you're starting to work, the POD will provide some neat sounds in a tiny club, at very low volume, that's a real plus on week nights, when lots of places are half empty.
One for the road: So, should I consider selling my Amp now, you may ask? Heaven forbid! Your personal, tweeked out rig is like your friend. All the years, the miles, the songs, hey...nothing sounds like your rig, that's impossible! And, you can't sell your friend, man..forget it. This reporter fell on some real hard times once; I lost everything, and had to give up a way early, Soldano 100, (it had a two digit serial number), hand made by Mike Soldano. I sat there and cried, and never forgot it. That experience, and needing to return to the things one loves and cares about, is a major factor in beginning the crazy Tonefrenzy site: Some constructive effort to create a place where those interested could experience a moment or two, of the old, odd, charming, extraordinary, emerging, and well loved noisemakers. (Those within our budget anyhow).
Don't shoot the messenger, please! Fellers, and gals, this technology is like a new kid on the block, and he's been woodshedding his ass off, and well...he's slowly getting better, every year. No, the POD can't replace your sublime treasure Amp. However; straight up, if you don't hear a few patches that could pass for our beloved gear after it's been recorded, then you're just being a spoiled sport, and maybe even fooling yourself. Check it out.
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