I have a Line 6 xt and a Boss GT-1. I find xt more touch sensitive, GT-1 much easier to adjust and better when connected to guitar combo's return/power amp input. Decent tones with both units.
Neither one sounds very good to me. the boss pedalboard is more modern but still sounds like old tech. boss needs to upgrade still selling the same pedals from 20 years ago with those metallic sounding trebles
surprisingly easy to pick which is which. Unless you are after the boxy old-school sound, the new gear is way ahead... personally on a Fractal FM9 although I do like my regular amps too.
Something occurs to me. Why don't you run the presets without their respective IRs/Amp sims and use what you've got on the computer? That should be interesting. Thanks for the video. It's good to look back on the old tech and see that it's still current in many ways.
I recorded a cover of "Lovesong" by the Cure for my wife in 2004. I used only the Line 6 POD Pro and Bass POD Pro for the guitar and bass sounds. It sounded so great. My nephew who is a signed artist and does music for a living thought the tones I got were incredible. He was amazed I got them from those two preamps. It was the first time I ever recorded on something bedside a boombox or a 4 track. I played everything myself. It turned out pretty good. I still have both units and they are a go to for things where I am not looking for extremely high gain. I have added distortion pedals before the preamp and it sounds very good. I have the Line 6 POD pro not the XT. I like it. The Boss unit is very nice.
@2:00 Should note that (and I didn't find this out until recently) the POD can be completely controlled through MIDI, so you don't actually need that old software to access most of the POD's additional features. There's a PDF on line 6's website that has a list of all the MIDI CC values and what you can control. Most interfaces have MIDI ports and most DAWs can set up custom MIDI CC controls, and there's hardware MIDI pedals that can do that as well.
It's cool to get advice like this from someone who plays guitar well. There's Some Silly Screaming UA-cam channels out there telling people if they don't use the amp models they use and change them every 1-2 years they are falling behind as musicians. Well done man.
Some of the companies use some of the exact same IR's and effects as their previous unit and add new ones due to the increased storage, I no longer buy the gear I want, I only buy the gear I need.
The GT-1000 sounded better. But I would ask the question why that is. Is that actually because the amp simulation part is just overall better? Or might it be the Cab IRs that are superior on the GT-1000? Since the Cab is the most important part of a guitar tone, I would try the units with 3rd party IRs and compare them that way.
It sounded different. For sure. Personally, it was always glossy and sounded like a mixed guitar. Which is cool sometimes, except when you want it to sound like a guitar through an amp by itself. Obviously the answer is own both.
My boy has a decent studio and it has all the bells and whistles. From tube amps to modelers, he swears by the 11 rack. He has a rack full of them. Every time he sees a good deal on one he grabs it. I’m terrible at technology so tube amps are more my pace and have a few killer ones. I love them so that’s all that matters for me.
I still have a few Guitar Player magazines from the 1990s, and most people today would be surprised how many of the rock and metal bands and producers said in interviews that they recorded tracks or whole albums using the original kidney bean Pod or one of the various later versions. You've been hearing the Pod for years without knowing it.
I had the kidney bean to start with but then bought the 19" rack from a friend as he was selling it cheap, I sold the kidney bean to a friend and he still uses it to this day, That little fellow was the best value X quality effects unit I ever bought, you got studio quality modelling and effects for very little money.
The L6 Vetta runs 2 pods at once, and somehow it’s a unique beast that sounds years ahead… I always found my kidney bean pod xt rather thin compared to my vetta. Now I use headrush but i still kept my vetta because it’s THAT sweet
I noticed that, too many YTbers just knock out the same boring old pentatonic lick as fast as they can and you don't really hear anything to make a conscious decision.
Nice video, I still use my podXT for practice in the evening, got it 20 years ago. I want to correct your statement about using it on a computer. I am using Windows 10 and I have no issue controlling the pod from the computer interface. It is indeed dated and require the use of some old version of java, once sorted, it works just fine and it is a lot easier to manipulate everything through the app instead of the device. It does not matter what equipment used when playing the guitar, just find a sound that you like and use it to play; there are enough settings in these old devices to generate a large palette of sounds.
I find the Pod XT pro is still hard to beat for gently crunch sounds (just on the edge of breakup). It's also easy to use the extra EQ effect to beef up the bottom end. Good video, the issue I have with the latest Boss modellers is the lack of amp models!
did something similar to this with my old Digitech RP80 and my Helix. Honestly, I could definitely hear and feel a difference. That being said, I can honestly say I was surprised that the Digitech sounded as good as it did.
They have come a long way. The POD sounds like a typical old school modeler and buzzy, like a bee hive and cheap! The modern modelers and algorithms and sound and sound soo much like a real amp. The cleans are closer between units, so the focus and difference is always on the distorted sounds. The BOSS over the Line6 by a mile, but if you go further to the Atomic or Fractal or Helix which use better algorithms, you get an even better sound.
I’m still using an eleven rack and feel no need to upgrade it. It sounds great and the feel is good. Soon I’m going to buy a Mooer radar for the FX loop so I can have extra IR’s but it’s certainly not a necessity.
I have a L6 XT floor live and had an early Fractal. Got a profit on the sale of the AxeFx during Covid and figured out how to make the older gear sound better. I bought a Mooer Radar for improved amp sims IRs. I also put an ART tube preamp in the loop to thaw out the sound. Then I went through all of the presets and tweaked them. Mostly turning the insanity down.
Aun conservo mi Line 6 Pod XT Pro Rack, también uso Neural DSP... and FENDER AMERICAN ELITE STRATOCASTER HSS SHAWBUCKER SUNBURST, excelente combinación..😌
I was correct on ever blind test, so I’d say that’s a testament to the development of modeling technology. The line6 was definitely proved to have some useable tones though! Good job on the video.
Good comparison. Sure, sound has chaged in 20 nearly years, what also has changed is the feel of a modeler to an almost realistic feel of an analog amp/pedal.
I have the bean version of the POD and you nailed it pretty well, it sounds like it has a high and low pass filters, which kind of makes it sound a bit mid rangey. It's a shame they were so aggressive with the filters, could've sounded a bit better.
Great video. As a user of the XT/X3 line for close to 20 years I can recognize it's sound even through processing, but still I'm surprised it can still do wonders today. Unfortunatelly it's biggest issue, which kind of plagues even modern Line6 units, is the sub par IRs. Adding even a free IR and loader in a recording while bypassing the speaker simulation makes that old POD sound at least on par with the cheaper modern alternatives, a true testament to the great work they did on those units. Though I have to say I found the Gearbox editor to be quite user friendly, even if visually dated now, compared to the Boss interface which to me is a bit confusing; but this is just me being a Line6 user for so many years that I feel at home only in theri design philosophy
Hi Stefanos, thanks for watching the video! I’ll be trying some IRs because many people mentioned it. I also think the POD still sounds good. I’ve had trouble getting the gearbox editor to work and found it very clunky compared to a modern editor like the app with the boss unit so I just never use it. No doubt this is just user preference though!
@@Jestersage An IR is esentially a capture of an EQ curve of a specific cab and mic placement. It can't be modified in a way of cab sim like switching mics or their placement but, in most cases it sounds more natural.
They both sound great. The lesson that I learned from watching this is that basically any decent modeler made in the last 10 years and onward basically are really perfectly fine and we can stop chasing the latast and greatest because it's already here. I'm getting a Line 6 Pod HD Pro X for Xmas. That was released in 2012 which would make it 11 years old and the thing still sounds great and can be had for $300. Might upgrade to a helix at some point or a used Axe FX II or something.
Both sound good! 🙂 We all know that new gears pretend the best more and more , it's illusion! I own Line 6 Pod 2.0 with the floorboard and it still totally works and sounds good, however I've bought Nux Cerberus, cause more handy. But I use Pod as a spare, no way to resell it!
I own a processor that sits in the middle of these two: a Line 6 HD500X floorboard. They did such an amazing job on that thing; it's very thorough. I've compared it to my actual tube amp and the difference is so minute. You're talking like 10%, where the amp has a certain compression going on. The processor benefits from that difference, particularly with high gain tones. Plus, some of the amp models on there are so dead-on, having owned some of these amps myself. The Plexi, the Uberschall, the SLO, Hiwatt, The Mesa (it's a Recto, but feels and sounds much more like a Mark series). I can go straight into the unit, set up a tone and feel totally confident gigging with just that. I don't even feel a need for IRs with it since some of the cabs on the unit are actually really good when you experiment with what cab goes on what amp model youre using, the virtual mic choices, and using some creative EQing in some cases. In a recording, you absolutely cannot tell I'm not using a real amp...this thing is miles above the old Line 6 bean tones.
I preferred the rhythm of the blues track with the POD but the Boss lead tone had more presence and sat better in the track, I am biased though as I have the POD and still use some patches from it, I used to use the amp modeling as a back up to my 1973 WEM Dominator MKII, however, I got sick of lugging it around and taking the valves out when transporting it and then having to fit them again and so I used the POD for gigs, I no longer gig and use a VOX Valvetronix VT40X modelling amp at home but still use the POD for some of the effects.
It's almost impossible for me to hear the differences when the guitar is in the mix. By themselves is where I tend to get really, really picky. I've used the pods, axe effects (up to the II), Kemper, Tone X, Neural DSP, Helix the boss stuff and more. I work for an awesome guitar store so that's how I got to try just about everything. We just got in Blackstars new amp modelers in this last Friday as well. I personally use Neural DSP cause I found it so easy to use and I like the interface. AS LONG AS YOU THINK IT IS COOL AND YOU LIKE THE TONES YOU ARE GETTING FUCK ALL THE NEGATIVITY AND FANBOYISM! It's about having a good time and expressing yourself. I've also played a LOT of tube amps both good and bad. Or rather ones I liked and didn't like and I most likely wouldn't be able to call the ones I didn't like out in a mix.
I've found 1 cab on the Line 6 Helix HX stomp that is awesome! No IR needed!! same on the old Line 6 Pod rack mounts there should always be 1 cab, most come with 15-16 cabs all blow except for one! Same on my old Behringer V-Amp Pro there's always 1 cab that's pro sounding you just got to find it. What guitarist don't realize is when you import 3rd party IRs when you put it in your parallels path it will pull down more of your DSP power. IR is subject to the talents of the individual capturing the IR, if it goes over 1K it significantly pulls down your core DSP, so don't be so sure the IR you got is optimized and captured correctly. Most times they're not and the end user suffers in poorer latency and tone. Tip: When you find that one golden cab that's indigenous to the units presets you retain full DSP power and that cab will almost always sound spectacular with every amp selection. Most of the IR's created is a money grab system, wastes your time and tries to take your money. Never pay for one look for free IR's, but again it's a crap shoot. I advocate units need to be as much standalone as possible. I'm studying to become an auto engineer as well as being a pro guitarist, I love studying about DSP chips, audio algorithms, audio simulation technology, programming and computer science and audio motherboards etc. I'm currently studying about "Ares architecture" I collect these older L6 rack mount units and log and study their DSP history, there's little secrets you can do to dial in killer lead tone presets, deals with "presence" how to set your "lows" and the golden spot for "Highs" on the cab settings. Also Helix adds "Highs" and "Lows" adjustments to software sims FX pedal on many selections, so those have to be set to match the cabs as well as setting Decay's correct on the FX to match that of the Noise Gate settings. Also correct "impedance" is important and has to be on correct setting and most guitarists run their "threshold" way to high, becomes a tone robber of latency, sustain and resonance. @@blakestone75
Still have my 20yr old RP200 but about a decade or so ago the volume randomly jumps up and down as you turn the knob, so good way to deafen yourself. Been meaning to see if I could repair it but never had (not a simple pot swap).
I took up guitar again 5 years ago after many years. I started with the rp150 and a crate 15 and now have much more expensive gear for home use. Was I just as happy then with my sound? Yeah, I think so. Tot ziens!
Both sound really good. Great chops, too. The Boss sounded consistently brighter to me--is it possible to dial in the the Pod to make ot sound like the boss? I have a line 6 M9 that I run for delay and modulation, and it still rules.
I bought that line 6 unit when it came out, it was a nightmare for me trying to program it for gigs since I played right into the board with in ears for monitors.... to be fair I probably didn't spend enough time with it. Years later I used a Boss GT 100 straight into the board thru a DI box and got much better results...
Hey I got all the guesses right. Well I did have pod at some point in my life and now boss sy1000 I’m still waiting for the boss to release new ME series tho Tried all multifx but I still prefer the sound of the effects in boss.
I reckon Line6 X3 live has also great sound and now lots of those 20 yo boards are quite cheap. What is important that sound for the player is not only what we hear but feeling how does it responds to changes in our playing.
Very Cool and useful Video !! I still have my Line 6 POD XT PRO . And I'm quite happy that you proved it to still be currently up to par with the more recent Modelers . The one thing that always screwed up my Recordings with my Guitar Tracks with the POD was the Levels . I didn't realize until about 6 months ago that there was an Input Pad for Higher Level Pickups to bring down the signal . Now I'm getting Amazing tones . Thanks for doing this Video , Dude !! Hope you're doing well and staying safe . 🎸
The line 6 software isn’t meant to be used that way anymore. They have drivers for the big editing softwares like logic and garage band. Although the Apple m series are not supported
The POD was incredible when it was new. I played an XT Pro with a floorboard (and then an XT Live, less to carry) from about 2004-2012. The big difference for me was when the POD HD500 came out - it was so much more dynamic, and the "feel" was much more amp-like. I always wished Line 6 and Boss would collaborate on one - at the time, I wished they would put the POD HD500 in the Boss GT100 housing. The POD HD series footswitches were hot garbage, but Boss stuff is physically bombproof. I need to try a GT1000 - I always thought the older Boss modelers felt a bit artificial, but haven't tried the newer one. My next modeler likely won't be a Line6 unless the successor to the Helix is amazing...when I needed to replace my HD500, I ended up just getting a cheap used 500X since I was happy with my tone I've been tweaking for years and couldn't justify the price difference to a used Helix to myself when it's gotta be getting close to being replaced.
I kind of established a sound and tone that I liked long ago. And it seems that whenever I get a new pedal I try to get it to sound like I used to sound. 😅 For reference, my first talk processor was a Digitech GSP 21. When that quit working, I went to the Line6 XT live. When that quit working I went to the HD 500/HD 500 X. That's when I stopped upgrading. Once again I kept trying to program the sound that I was used to.
Hi Navid, thanks for watching. I thought about doing that but wanted to compare the stock units. But since more people mentioned it I might have to do that in the future!
Yes, most older units are not too bad, except for the speaker simulation (which is the most important part). Combining them with a IR-based speaker sim, they may not be as good as a modern unit, but definitely usable.
@@thewaldfe9763 I use a very old korg AX1500 with an cheap external IR loader (Cube baby) and it sounds brutal. The built in cabinet simulations are useless.
Ive got a boss gx100 a while back .. .. and it definitely feels ldifferent. From my boss gt6 2004. . The GT6 is totally usable today ..I've used it in gigs and it rocks .. till just a year back .. but it had issues so had to go in for the boss gx100 The GX100 has i think has that 40 % better tonal quality in the preamps and effects .. that translates even better in the band mix .. And of course you have to know how to work on the tones to get the best results. ... That's for any processor .
I have owned my Line P.O.D. 2.0 since 1986 and love it so much. I waited too long to get the floor controller for and so I bought a used Line 6 Floor POD Plus. The fact that the software has not been updated in 15 years does not bother me and it works - eventually the programmers get it right! Never tried any BOSS multi-effect unit and I do not trust my aged rock'n'roll ears and Google's compression to make a comparsion - they sound the same to me.
But the Boss pedal had better sting play tonality. The Line 6 Pod sounded a bit better on the chording. I would love to hear more of them together in a mix.😎
i would take any device that can load third party impulse responses...quality impulses (i like york audio ones) make all the difference in the world even when it comes to old units that are supposedly outdated....
I could definitely tell that the newer Boss sounded better but yeah the Pod after all these years was not bad. (I own a Boss Katana Go and a Line 6 Pod Go, both of which are excellent. I also own a 100w Marshall that never gets played because i cant get the volume much beyond 1!)
To give context - XTC used the old POD stuff on loads of sources. Not just guitars. So anyone dismissing it is way off the mark. The BOSS unit dounds good. Seems EQ on the POD could get most of that tbf. Now in case anyone thinks I'm too pro POD - I've had two Bass POD / XT overvthe years and never found a real point for them. Much preferring the analogue Sansamp BDDI or Behringer near copy.
They both sounded almost alike, maybe playing with the eq would get them to sound almost exactly alike. Good stuff, you are a lucky man to have both units!
thank you for the video it was great, I just bought yes in 2023 Line 6 POD Farm 2.5 with a UX2 computer interface and would like to say that the software although old is still way better than hunt and pecking for tones one that rack mount you showed us, I realize it's not the same as the UX2, but I also have the POD X3 and can't stand that interface, it's basically a toy for adolescent teenagers, ha ha
I had two pods, loved them but the boss sounds way superior, not that much for the cleans. for sure the irs make a huge difference but not only that. the amp simul as well. I'm digging the boss ir200 many for the ins but hv just bought a hx stomp. I am just starting comparing both. nice video ;)
Absolutely the most noticeable part. And for me it really does sound and feel like I’m playing through an amplifier in another room mic’d up when playing the GT-1000
I'm a service technician. these units work supurbly. However, if they break you are screwed. They can't be fixed. So have fun with them while they work.
I have and still am using the DIGITECH GNX3 from 2004....well it has dated tones atleast in terms of metal distortion....but to see the glass as half full I've gone through all the presets and tweaked it after listening through a headphone, through my amplifier and through a Sony Stereo (that's right a normal Sony HiFi Stereo) ....as a result of extensive hearing and tweaking....i found a middle ground that I'm content with so that at any given point, i can DI the output it with confidence whether on stage or connect to my audio interface and record....i get vintage, classic retro tones and decent alternate rock stuff.....not modern metal which i really want..... I'm planning to save up for a year and pick up a combo of GT1000 core and Amplitube ToneX pedal...... My dream at this point would be to be gifted a Fractal FM9.....that is the apex guitar processor for me....
I enjoyed this. It is hard for me judge not knowing how the audio was recorded.. knowing UA-cam tends to condense and EQ audio.. and I'm listening on my phone.. With all that said.. the Boss seemed to have more presence and treble. The line 6 seemed more authentic to what the plug ins were supposed to copy.. but the boss was EQ'd to be in a more modern mix. 2 examples of the line6 sounding more authentic.. although not necessarily better was the marshall and money 4 nothing.. Boss seemed better for a mix. You didn't mention axe FX. Curious if you tried one. I have an old behringer v amp that I thought was better than the line 6 stomp back in 2007.. I used it as my main amp and recording up until Nov 2011. It is put away as a last resort back up
I think BOSS Gt1000 uses IR cabsim, and POD uses old technology cabsim, the difference in distorted tones are very noticeble)))) Try to disable POD cab section and use IR
I can hear the XT every time. The distortions all, has this weird sustain on them, and the "tube" algorithm has this very distinctive sound to it that loops. Anyone that has used one for a while will learn the pattern in its distortion very quickly.
The GT-1000 sound so much better it isnt even funny, the POD sound pretty grainy, its certainly not the worst modeled sound i have heard though. It might make a big difference to use the POD with IR´s instead, speaker emulation wasnt great back then. That said i still use my old Boss GT-Pro from 2005 as my main preamp for live and rehearsals (use amp sim plugins for recording) but that is with a tube power amp and a traditional guitar cabinet and this sounds great, the GT-Pro never sounded very good using line in though since the speaker emulation is pretty poor.
As an owner of almost all the pedals mentioned, it's a difference from the 90's until now. If you aren't particular, you would choose an older unit, used pod or even GT1000, but the new modelers are from another world especially the Helix, more effects, Amps, cabs, and (preamps) than the others and in your face and surrounding effects engulfing the entire room. Some amps like GSG100 and Elmsly will blow your face off at 3 on the volume scale and unbelievable cleans. The multiple tones are plentiful. And I did not Cover My Variax Standard yet.Its like 55 having guitars in ONE....
Amp modelers are fine,the variax guitar modeler,a definite no,your playing the exact same guitar no matter what you make it sound like,it’s not like having multiple guitars at all lmao
On some parts they pretty sounded identical. Others IDK if I would better, just different. Especially in the mix. I know some musicians listen with their eyes, but I think what musicians need to do is listen like the audience. I think musicians would rethink how they view all this.
Im allways a BOSS Fan, in my opinion they have the best sounding FX Boards. But the Line 6 is also very good and I agree that is another shape of sound and it’s absolutely great too…for Recording different wishes very useful! I made this days a Tutorial for the 20+ year old BOSS BR-864 Digital Recorder is the GT-8 or GT-6? And it’s Sounds allways very good, when you tweak the Model Cain to your guitar, very good to made a complete Demo in a unbelievable FAST WAY to store your idea in a complete song! I got this unit for more than 20 Years and I play mostly Metal and Rock. For my Amp I use the GT-100 …I can find not that big difference between this GT-100 and the GT-1000 …mmh? Nice Video Mate!
Did you get the line6 software to run on the newer windows? I own a POD 2.0 and the software just freeze. Basically I just need a place to store the patches. that's all
Shows that Line 6 has been an industry leader for modeling and continues to do so cause the Helix is astonishing with what it can do. Can't wait to see what comes next.
Let me know in a comment which unit you thought sounded the best. Do you think the old stuff is still good enough?
I have a Line 6 xt and a Boss GT-1. I find xt more touch sensitive, GT-1 much easier to adjust and better when connected to guitar combo's return/power amp input. Decent tones with both units.
Neither one sounds very good to me.
the boss pedalboard is more modern but still sounds like old tech.
boss needs to upgrade still selling the same pedals from 20 years ago with those metallic sounding trebles
surprisingly easy to pick which is which. Unless you are after the boxy old-school sound, the new gear is way ahead... personally on a Fractal FM9 although I do like my regular amps too.
Something occurs to me. Why don't you run the presets without their respective IRs/Amp sims and use what you've got on the computer? That should be interesting. Thanks for the video. It's good to look back on the old tech and see that it's still current in many ways.
@@Jayteaseepiirturi I’m releasing a video soon about that! Thanks for stopping by.
i never got a decent sound out of my xt pod(s). tried 3 different ones. i never got a BAD sound out of my pod 2.0's. the 2.0 STILL sounds great.
Old stuff still very useable especially for cleans!
I agree! And I even still like some of the drive sounds.
Ala' that forgotten Clon-clone Monkey Pedal that these dweebs online caused to surge on Reverb.
@@hon8177 Would love to try it but never did!
I recorded a cover of "Lovesong" by the Cure for my wife in 2004. I used only the Line 6 POD Pro and Bass POD Pro for the guitar and bass sounds. It sounded so great. My nephew who is a signed artist and does music for a living thought the tones I got were incredible. He was amazed I got them from those two preamps. It was the first time I ever recorded on something bedside a boombox or a 4 track. I played everything myself. It turned out pretty good. I still have both units and they are a go to for things where I am not looking for extremely high gain. I have added distortion pedals before the preamp and it sounds very good. I have the Line 6 POD pro not the XT. I like it. The Boss unit is very nice.
@2:00 Should note that (and I didn't find this out until recently) the POD can be completely controlled through MIDI, so you don't actually need that old software to access most of the POD's additional features. There's a PDF on line 6's website that has a list of all the MIDI CC values and what you can control. Most interfaces have MIDI ports and most DAWs can set up custom MIDI CC controls, and there's hardware MIDI pedals that can do that as well.
True, but man...that is another rabbit hole! haha.
It's cool to get advice like this from someone who plays guitar well. There's Some Silly Screaming UA-cam channels out there telling people if they don't use the amp models they use and change them every 1-2 years they are falling behind as musicians. Well done man.
Thanks for stopping by and I completely agree! I personally love old and/or cheap gear. There are some real gems out there.
Some of the companies use some of the exact same IR's and effects as their previous unit and add new ones due to the increased storage, I no longer buy the gear I want, I only buy the gear I need.
The GT-1000 sounded better. But I would ask the question why that is. Is that actually because the amp simulation part is just overall better? Or might it be the Cab IRs that are superior on the GT-1000? Since the Cab is the most important part of a guitar tone, I would try the units with 3rd party IRs and compare them that way.
Back then I haven't even heard about Cab IR, only digital Cab Sim (whatever that is) or the Analog Cab Sim (ie SansAmp and Condor Cab Sim).
The boss one is specially made for the IRs they put it with it’s one of the quirks but it’s how it was designed
It sounded different. For sure. Personally, it was always glossy and sounded like a mixed guitar. Which is cool sometimes, except when you want it to sound like a guitar through an amp by itself.
Obviously the answer is own both.
Likely more DSP too.
At 7:00, the Pod sounded really good with distortion!
I still use my Avid 11 rack, and it still sounds great.
Yes! 11rack Is a great sounding unit. I Always compare 11r vs modern Vst and It still sound great!
11r was way ahead of his time …too bad avid dumped it …
My boy has a decent studio and it has all the bells and whistles. From tube amps to modelers, he swears by the 11 rack. He has a rack full of them. Every time he sees a good deal on one he grabs it. I’m terrible at technology so tube amps are more my pace and have a few killer ones. I love them so that’s all that matters for me.
I Still use theLine6 POD every day and liked it very much
Amazing how good that pod was
I still have a few Guitar Player magazines from the 1990s, and most people today would be surprised how many of the rock and metal bands and producers said in interviews that they recorded tracks or whole albums using the original kidney bean Pod or one of the various later versions. You've been hearing the Pod for years without knowing it.
I had the kidney bean to start with but then bought the 19" rack from a friend as he was selling it cheap, I sold the kidney bean to a friend and he still uses it to this day, That little fellow was the best value X quality effects unit I ever bought, you got studio quality modelling and effects for very little money.
The L6 Vetta runs 2 pods at once, and somehow it’s a unique beast that sounds years ahead… I always found my kidney bean pod xt rather thin compared to my vetta. Now I use headrush but i still kept my vetta because it’s THAT sweet
Line 6 is still sounds up to date and at some points lays in the mix even better than Boss. Thanks
Nice comparison! Very informative! Keep it up.
I sometimes break out my Boss Gt8, it's fun to listen to patches you made years and years ago
I appreciate the way you demo. Not spending to much time and using note and chords spacing that lets the them resolve.
I noticed that, too many YTbers just knock out the same boring old pentatonic lick as fast as they can and you don't really hear anything to make a conscious decision.
Nice video, I still use my podXT for practice in the evening, got it 20 years ago.
I want to correct your statement about using it on a computer.
I am using Windows 10 and I have no issue controlling the pod from the computer interface.
It is indeed dated and require the use of some old version of java, once sorted, it works just fine and it is a lot easier to manipulate everything through the app instead of the device.
It does not matter what equipment used when playing the guitar, just find a sound that you like and use it to play; there are enough settings in these old devices to generate a large palette of sounds.
I like the demo on 5:20.
You are on the way to make good radio friendly music.
Great vid mate. I have recently sold my 20 year old Zoom 8080 and bought an Ampero Stomp II. It is night and day difference i have to say.....
I find the Pod XT pro is still hard to beat for gently crunch sounds (just on the edge of breakup). It's also easy to use the extra EQ effect to beef up the bottom end. Good video, the issue I have with the latest Boss modellers is the lack of amp models!
Man I used to love that POD 😊 The “insanity” mode was my favorite on the spider amp too 😂
did something similar to this with my old Digitech RP80 and my Helix. Honestly, I could definitely hear and feel a difference. That being said, I can honestly say I was surprised that the Digitech sounded as good as it did.
Wow that old Line 6 with the red case brings back so many memories
They have come a long way. The POD sounds like a typical old school modeler and buzzy, like a bee hive and cheap!
The modern modelers and algorithms and sound and sound soo much like a real amp. The cleans are closer between units, so the focus and difference is always on the distorted sounds.
The BOSS over the Line6 by a mile, but if you go further to the Atomic or Fractal or Helix which use better algorithms, you get an even better sound.
I’m still using an eleven rack and feel no need to upgrade it. It sounds great and the feel is good. Soon I’m going to buy a Mooer radar for the FX loop so I can have extra IR’s but it’s certainly not a necessity.
Same here.
Absolutely
I have a L6 XT floor live and had an early Fractal. Got a profit on the sale of the AxeFx during Covid and figured out how to make the older gear sound better. I bought a Mooer Radar for improved amp sims IRs. I also put an ART tube preamp in the loop to thaw out the sound. Then I went through all of the presets and tweaked them. Mostly turning the insanity down.
I got a pod xt pro and it's set to stereo on my audio card, although I also have an Ampero 2, I still love rack units.
I'd like to hear that Boss next to a Fractal Audio.
Sure thing! If you just send me a fractal I’ll do the comparison.
Aun conservo mi Line 6 Pod XT Pro Rack, también uso Neural DSP... and FENDER AMERICAN ELITE STRATOCASTER HSS SHAWBUCKER SUNBURST, excelente combinación..😌
I was correct on ever blind test, so I’d say that’s a testament to the development of modeling technology. The line6 was definitely proved to have some useable tones though! Good job on the video.
Good comparison. Sure, sound has chaged in 20 nearly years, what also has changed is the feel of a modeler to an almost realistic feel of an analog amp/pedal.
I have the bean version of the POD and you nailed it pretty well, it sounds like it has a high and low pass filters, which kind of makes it sound a bit mid rangey.
It's a shame they were so aggressive with the filters, could've sounded a bit better.
I am using my old digitech RP10 currently with a 8 string LTD on a lamp amplifier and it is so good.
Great video. As a user of the XT/X3 line for close to 20 years I can recognize it's sound even through processing, but still I'm surprised it can still do wonders today. Unfortunatelly it's biggest issue, which kind of plagues even modern Line6 units, is the sub par IRs. Adding even a free IR and loader in a recording while bypassing the speaker simulation makes that old POD sound at least on par with the cheaper modern alternatives, a true testament to the great work they did on those units.
Though I have to say I found the Gearbox editor to be quite user friendly, even if visually dated now, compared to the Boss interface which to me is a bit confusing; but this is just me being a Line6 user for so many years that I feel at home only in theri design philosophy
Hi Stefanos, thanks for watching the video! I’ll be trying some IRs because many people mentioned it. I also think the POD still sounds good. I’ve had trouble getting the gearbox editor to work and found it very clunky compared to a modern editor like the app with the boss unit so I just never use it. No doubt this is just user preference though!
What is the difference between speaker/cab sim and IR?
@@Jestersage An IR is esentially a capture of an EQ curve of a specific cab and mic placement. It can't be modified in a way of cab sim like switching mics or their placement but, in most cases it sounds more natural.
They both sound great. The lesson that I learned from watching this is that basically any decent modeler made in the last 10 years and onward basically are really perfectly fine and we can stop chasing the latast and greatest because it's already here. I'm getting a Line 6 Pod HD Pro X for Xmas. That was released in 2012 which would make it 11 years old and the thing still sounds great and can be had for $300. Might upgrade to a helix at some point or a used Axe FX II or something.
I like both. I think overall the Boss is a little more detailed, but Line 6 can still do the job just fine! Great vid
I'm using a Boss GT-Pro into a Win 11 PC through USB to Guitar Rig's Control Room Pro for cab IRs back out to a Harmon Kardon 5.1 Receiver.
Both sound good! 🙂
We all know that new gears pretend the best more and more , it's illusion!
I own Line 6 Pod 2.0 with the floorboard and it still totally works and sounds good, however I've bought Nux Cerberus, cause more handy.
But I use Pod as a spare, no way to resell it!
I own a processor that sits in the middle of these two: a Line 6 HD500X floorboard. They did such an amazing job on that thing; it's very thorough. I've compared it to my actual tube amp and the difference is so minute. You're talking like 10%, where the amp has a certain compression going on. The processor benefits from that difference, particularly with high gain tones. Plus, some of the amp models on there are so dead-on, having owned some of these amps myself. The Plexi, the Uberschall, the SLO, Hiwatt, The Mesa (it's a Recto, but feels and sounds much more like a Mark series). I can go straight into the unit, set up a tone and feel totally confident gigging with just that. I don't even feel a need for IRs with it since some of the cabs on the unit are actually really good when you experiment with what cab goes on what amp model youre using, the virtual mic choices, and using some creative EQing in some cases. In a recording, you absolutely cannot tell I'm not using a real amp...this thing is miles above the old Line 6 bean tones.
I preferred the rhythm of the blues track with the POD but the Boss lead tone had more presence and sat better in the track, I am biased though as I have the POD and still use some patches from it, I used to use the amp modeling as a back up to my 1973 WEM Dominator MKII, however, I got sick of lugging it around and taking the valves out when transporting it and then having to fit them again and so I used the POD for gigs, I no longer gig and use a VOX Valvetronix VT40X modelling amp at home but still use the POD for some of the effects.
It's almost impossible for me to hear the differences when the guitar is in the mix. By themselves is where I tend to get really, really picky. I've used the pods, axe effects (up to the II), Kemper, Tone X, Neural DSP, Helix the boss stuff and more. I work for an awesome guitar store so that's how I got to try just about everything.
We just got in Blackstars new amp modelers in this last Friday as well. I personally use Neural DSP cause I found it so easy to use and I like the interface.
AS LONG AS YOU THINK IT IS COOL AND YOU LIKE THE TONES YOU ARE GETTING FUCK ALL THE NEGATIVITY AND FANBOYISM! It's about having a good time and expressing yourself.
I've also played a LOT of tube amps both good and bad. Or rather ones I liked and didn't like and I most likely wouldn't be able to call the ones I didn't like out in a mix.
I completely agree with you! If you like the tone, the tone is good.
@@IshredGuitarso instead of an IR what do you prefer to use for speaker sim?
I've found 1 cab on the Line 6 Helix HX stomp that is awesome! No IR needed!! same on the old Line 6 Pod rack mounts there should always be 1 cab, most come with 15-16 cabs all blow except for one! Same on my old Behringer V-Amp Pro there's always 1 cab that's pro sounding you just got to find it. What guitarist don't realize is when you import 3rd party IRs when you put it in your parallels path it will pull down more of your DSP power. IR is subject to the talents of the individual capturing the IR, if it goes over 1K it significantly pulls down your core DSP, so don't be so sure the IR you got is optimized and captured correctly. Most times they're not and the end user suffers in poorer latency and tone. Tip: When you find that one golden cab that's indigenous to the units presets you retain full DSP power and that cab will almost always sound spectacular with every amp selection. Most of the IR's created is a money grab system, wastes your time and tries to take your money. Never pay for one look for free IR's, but again it's a crap shoot. I advocate units need to be as much standalone as possible. I'm studying to become an auto engineer as well as being a pro guitarist, I love studying about DSP chips, audio algorithms, audio simulation technology, programming and computer science and audio motherboards etc. I'm currently studying about "Ares architecture" I collect these older L6 rack mount units and log and study their DSP history, there's little secrets you can do to dial in killer lead tone presets, deals with "presence" how to set your "lows" and the golden spot for "Highs" on the cab settings. Also Helix adds "Highs" and "Lows" adjustments to software sims FX pedal on many selections, so those have to be set to match the cabs as well as setting Decay's correct on the FX to match that of the Noise Gate settings. Also correct "impedance" is important and has to be on correct setting and most guitarists run their "threshold" way to high, becomes a tone robber of latency, sustain and resonance. @@blakestone75
I've been using my Digitech rp500 for the last 15 years. Great tones and easy editing. Nothing wrong with it. ❤
Still have my 20yr old RP200 but about a decade or so ago the volume randomly jumps up and down as you turn the knob, so good way to deafen yourself. Been meaning to see if I could repair it but never had (not a simple pot swap).
I'm still using my RP1000 for my videos and I hope it lasts forever.
I took up guitar again 5 years ago after many years. I started with the rp150 and a crate 15 and now have much more expensive gear for home use. Was I just as happy then with my sound? Yeah, I think so. Tot ziens!
Great Video, I love this kinda of super nerdy stuff
Both sound really good. Great chops, too. The Boss sounded consistently brighter to me--is it possible to dial in the the Pod to make ot sound like the boss?
I have a line 6 M9 that I run for delay and modulation, and it still rules.
I bought that line 6 unit when it came out, it was a nightmare for me trying to program it for gigs since I played right into the board with in ears for monitors.... to be fair I probably didn't spend enough time with it. Years later I used a Boss GT 100 straight into the board thru a DI box and got much better results...
Thanks for stopping by! I must say I am partial to how the boss units work too. But when I only had the POD is was always happy with it.
Yamaha DG stomp and amps are still doing great stuff. I love it.
Hey I got all the guesses right.
Well I did have pod at some point in my life and now boss sy1000
I’m still waiting for the boss to release new ME series tho
Tried all multifx but I still prefer the sound of the effects in boss.
I found on my gt1 the default patches were horrible but could be made to sound amazing with just a few tweaks.
The L6 sounded a little nasally on the OD tones, but I like the clean quite a bit.
I still have a vetta 2 and a Mesa dual. Love both!
very good test cheers from buenos Aires
My brother has a Pod HD Pro (I think it’s slightly newer, but still pretty old now) and it sounds great.
I reckon Line6 X3 live has also great sound and now lots of those 20 yo boards are quite cheap. What is important that sound for the player is not only what we hear but feeling how does it responds to changes in our playing.
Very Cool and useful Video !! I still have my Line 6 POD XT PRO . And I'm quite happy that you proved it to still be currently up to par with the more recent Modelers . The one thing that always screwed up my Recordings with my Guitar Tracks with the POD was the Levels . I didn't realize until about 6 months ago that there was an Input Pad for Higher Level Pickups to bring down the signal . Now I'm getting Amazing tones . Thanks for doing this Video , Dude !! Hope you're doing well and staying safe . 🎸
The line 6 software isn’t meant to be used that way anymore. They have drivers for the big editing softwares like logic and garage band. Although the Apple m series are not supported
The POD was incredible when it was new. I played an XT Pro with a floorboard (and then an XT Live, less to carry) from about 2004-2012. The big difference for me was when the POD HD500 came out - it was so much more dynamic, and the "feel" was much more amp-like.
I always wished Line 6 and Boss would collaborate on one - at the time, I wished they would put the POD HD500 in the Boss GT100 housing. The POD HD series footswitches were hot garbage, but Boss stuff is physically bombproof.
I need to try a GT1000 - I always thought the older Boss modelers felt a bit artificial, but haven't tried the newer one. My next modeler likely won't be a Line6 unless the successor to the Helix is amazing...when I needed to replace my HD500, I ended up just getting a cheap used 500X since I was happy with my tone I've been tweaking for years and couldn't justify the price difference to a used Helix to myself when it's gotta be getting close to being replaced.
I kind of established a sound and tone that I liked long ago. And it seems that whenever I get a new pedal I try to get it to sound like I used to sound. 😅
For reference, my first talk processor was a Digitech GSP 21. When that quit working, I went to the Line6 XT live. When that quit working I went to the HD 500/HD 500 X. That's when I stopped upgrading.
Once again I kept trying to program the sound that I was used to.
Hi Mitchell, the content is a super one. have you thought of using an IR with the line 6 unit keep the cabs turned off?
Hi Navid, thanks for watching.
I thought about doing that but wanted to compare the stock units. But since more people mentioned it I might have to do that in the future!
@@mitchellvanvliet Thank you for the consideration. Looking forward.
Yes, most older units are not too bad, except for the speaker simulation (which is the most important part). Combining them with a IR-based speaker sim, they may not be as good as a modern unit, but definitely usable.
@@thewaldfe9763 I use a very old korg AX1500 with an cheap external IR loader (Cube baby) and it sounds brutal. The built in cabinet simulations are useless.
Ive got a boss gx100 a while back .. .. and it definitely feels ldifferent. From my boss gt6 2004.
.
The GT6 is totally usable today ..I've used it in gigs and it rocks .. till just a year back .. but it had issues so had to go in for the boss gx100
The GX100 has i think has that 40 % better tonal quality in the preamps and effects .. that translates even better in the band mix ..
And of course you have to know how to work on the tones to get the best results. ... That's for any processor .
The ol kidney bean is still a headphone rig and I've used it for running straight into my 8 track.
I have owned my Line P.O.D. 2.0 since 1986 and love it so much. I waited too long to get the floor controller for and so I bought a used Line 6 Floor POD Plus. The fact that the software has not been updated in 15 years does not bother me and it works - eventually the programmers get it right! Never tried any BOSS multi-effect unit and I do not trust my aged rock'n'roll ears and Google's compression to make a comparsion - they sound the same to me.
@@SweetPablo972 Oops, number and dates are HARD
Digitech 2101 is my go-to for, what is now, classic guitar tones.
But the Boss pedal had better sting play tonality. The Line 6 Pod sounded a bit better on the chording. I would love to hear more of them together in a mix.😎
i would take any device that can load third party impulse responses...quality impulses (i like york audio ones) make all the difference in the world even when it comes to old units that are supposedly outdated....
I could definitely tell that the newer Boss sounded better but yeah the Pod after all these years was not bad. (I own a Boss Katana Go and a Line 6 Pod Go, both of which are excellent. I also own a 100w Marshall that never gets played because i cant get the volume much beyond 1!)
To give context - XTC used the old POD stuff on loads of sources. Not just guitars. So anyone dismissing it is way off the mark.
The BOSS unit dounds good. Seems EQ on the POD could get most of that tbf.
Now in case anyone thinks I'm too pro POD - I've had two Bass POD / XT overvthe years and never found a real point for them. Much preferring the analogue Sansamp BDDI or Behringer near copy.
They both sounded almost alike, maybe playing with the eq would get them to sound almost exactly alike. Good stuff, you are a lucky man to have both units!
Thanks for stopping by! I'll be playing with some EQ and IRs to make them sound alike even more. I'll make a video about this soon.
thank you for the video it was great, I just bought yes in 2023 Line 6 POD Farm 2.5 with a UX2 computer interface and would like to say that the software although old is still way better than hunt and pecking for tones one that rack mount you showed us, I realize it's not the same as the UX2, but I also have the POD X3 and can't stand that interface, it's basically a toy for adolescent teenagers, ha ha
I had two pods, loved them but the boss sounds way superior, not that much for the cleans. for sure the irs make a huge difference but not only that. the amp simul as well. I'm digging the boss ir200 many for the ins but hv just bought a hx stomp. I am just starting comparing both. nice video ;)
Thanks for stopping by!
I've heard there is an improvement in FEEL if not in sound… Would you agree with this?
Absolutely the most noticeable part. And for me it really does sound and feel like I’m playing through an amplifier in another room mic’d up when playing the GT-1000
Great video man 🤘
I'm a service technician. these units work supurbly. However, if they break you are screwed. They can't be fixed. So have fun with them while they work.
I like my Digitech GSP1101s :D
I have four of them
I have and still am using the DIGITECH GNX3 from 2004....well it has dated tones atleast in terms of metal distortion....but to see the glass as half full I've gone through all the presets and tweaked it after listening through a headphone, through my amplifier and through a Sony Stereo (that's right a normal Sony HiFi Stereo) ....as a result of extensive hearing and tweaking....i found a middle ground that I'm content with so that at any given point, i can DI the output it with confidence whether on stage or connect to my audio interface and record....i get vintage, classic retro tones and decent alternate rock stuff.....not modern metal which i really want..... I'm planning to save up for a year and pick up a combo of GT1000 core and Amplitube ToneX pedal...... My dream at this point would be to be gifted a Fractal FM9.....that is the apex guitar processor for me....
It’s hard tô believe that an unity só old still can be that good 😮
I enjoyed this. It is hard for me judge not knowing how the audio was recorded.. knowing UA-cam tends to condense and EQ audio.. and I'm listening on my phone..
With all that said.. the Boss seemed to have more presence and treble.
The line 6 seemed more authentic to what the plug ins were supposed to copy.. but the boss was EQ'd to be in a more modern mix.
2 examples of the line6 sounding more authentic.. although not necessarily better was the marshall and money 4 nothing.. Boss seemed better for a mix.
You didn't mention axe FX. Curious if you tried one.
I have an old behringer v amp that I thought was better than the line 6 stomp back in 2007.. I used it as my main amp and recording up until Nov 2011.
It is put away as a last resort back up
Woow eu também tenho uma RG08 LTD Sakura Blast!
I think BOSS Gt1000 uses IR cabsim, and POD uses old technology cabsim, the difference in distorted tones are very noticeble)))) Try to disable POD cab section and use IR
I'm holding out for a Gorilla GG20 modeling unit
I can hear the XT every time. The distortions all, has this weird sustain on them, and the "tube" algorithm has this very distinctive sound to it that loops. Anyone that has used one for a while will learn the pattern in its distortion very quickly.
Any big difference between the two could be rectified with a Boss GE7 or a graphic EQ plugin, it feels like.
Great video. Thanks.
Interesting, good job!
Both sound good on the money clip
Zoom 707 ii..20 yrs old as well 😊
What about a digitech rp1000? I bought one new in the box at a garage sale yesterday. Hadn’t had time to look at it yet.
i show just how good the xt pro was and is.
i still use mine
The GT-1000 sound so much better it isnt even funny, the POD sound pretty grainy, its certainly not the worst modeled sound i have heard though. It might make a big difference to use the POD with IR´s instead, speaker emulation wasnt great back then. That said i still use my old Boss GT-Pro from 2005 as my main preamp for live and rehearsals (use amp sim plugins for recording) but that is with a tube power amp and a traditional guitar cabinet and this sounds great, the GT-Pro never sounded very good using line in though since the speaker emulation is pretty poor.
They sounded different, but I wouldn't say one was better.
Nice video dude.!
"POD is a 20 years old kit"
oof. Yet another thing to remind me my age
Thx for doin the review...
As an owner of almost all the pedals mentioned, it's a difference from the 90's until now. If you aren't particular, you would choose an older unit, used pod or even GT1000, but the new modelers are from another world especially the Helix, more effects, Amps, cabs, and (preamps) than the others and in your face and surrounding effects engulfing the entire room. Some amps like GSG100 and Elmsly will blow your face off at 3 on the volume scale and unbelievable cleans. The multiple tones are plentiful. And I did not Cover My Variax Standard yet.Its like 55 having guitars in ONE....
Amp modelers are fine,the variax guitar modeler,a definite no,your playing the exact same guitar no matter what you make it sound like,it’s not like having multiple guitars at all lmao
@@tommilitello198 that's your take on it, which is fine. I disagree. I'm creating....
Does the boss 1000 have USB out to go into a DAW and act as an amp sim or is it just a multi effects pedal?
They both sounded pretty good. The boss is clearer than the Line 6. Yet, the Line 6 still held up over time.
I completely agree!
On some parts they pretty sounded identical. Others IDK if I would better, just different. Especially in the mix. I know some musicians listen with their eyes, but I think what musicians need to do is listen like the audience. I think musicians would rethink how they view all this.
Im allways a BOSS Fan, in my opinion they have the best sounding FX Boards. But the Line 6 is also very good and I agree that is another shape of sound and it’s absolutely great too…for Recording different wishes very useful!
I made this days a Tutorial for the 20+ year old BOSS BR-864 Digital Recorder is the GT-8 or GT-6?
And it’s Sounds allways very good, when you tweak the Model Cain to your guitar, very good to made a complete Demo in a unbelievable FAST WAY to store your idea in a complete song! I got this unit for more than 20 Years and I play mostly Metal and Rock.
For my Amp I use the GT-100 …I can find not that big difference between this GT-100 and the GT-1000 …mmh?
Nice Video Mate!
Hi Mitchell, how do you go about connecting this pod xt pro to your computer?
Did you get the line6 software to run on the newer windows? I own a POD 2.0 and the software just freeze. Basically I just need a place to store the patches. that's all
I like distortion on the old device and clean sounds on the new.
Old amp modelers are like old amps, they will have their own unique characteristics.
Shows that Line 6 has been an industry leader for modeling and continues to do so cause the Helix is astonishing with what it can do. Can't wait to see what comes next.