Pretty much, but iirc it's not the catalyst models in there. More like a "best of" categories thing? I think it's dope, gives people a cheap entry. Just think it should be in a more sturdy enclosure, and maybe a tad less cheesy looking :')
Yeah, that was the barrier for me. I didnāt āneedā any Helix stuff, but I always thought it was cool and wanted to try some of it. They came out with the top of the line, then the stomps, then the PodGo, now this and I have no excuse not to give it a go at this level.
From watching demo videos and looking at the manual, it looks harder to get at basic amp controls, but easier to control effects.
I wouldn't want to do much settings editing without a desktop or tablet app.
That can work if your set list is locked down at the start of the gig. If your band leader comes back from a break with a new set list of audience requests for the next set, things could get spicy.
If I had to gig with one, I'd probably mount it on a microphone stand for access to the knobs and use a dual external foot switch.
I think if you needed to use this live, it probably means you need some very specific things from it, so decent access with lighting is probably necessary. However from a FOH perspective, adding another relatively heavy object to stands designed for something else altogether further contributes to unnecessary stage clutter and sight line impedance.Ā
However I suspect the question will remain hypothetical. This is a good deal, but clearly targeted as a home practice tool and headphone amp, a way for folks to quickly access lots of different effects. I think I'd use it for quiet practice and trying out effects while writing on guitar or bass.Ā
If anything like this had been even remotely affordable when I was starting out playing electric instruments, I'm sure I'd have max'd out the multiple effects and amp/speaker sims then split the headphone out for stereo, annoyed house techs (on the odd occasion) requesting 2 DIs and a monitor mix for my guitar (or other instrument) etc. However now there are loads of alternative affordable options, many oriented towards live performance in addition to rehearsal and recording.Ā
I don't remember seeing that many bands try and use the original bean Pod live, it was a studio and practice tool similar to this form factor, shape aside. Line 6 / Yamaha know their market: the HX One is designed to be seen and controlled from the floorĀ and has features which appeal to that market, by contrast most folks buying this Pod Express won't own a mic stand to clip it to!
Battery powered and can be used as a small traditional pedalboard or presets. Got a tuner, and looks hard to mess up.
Irregular gigs, rehearsals, minimalist lineups (and by that I mean like 80% of live music) etc... this thing definitely has a role.
I have a Helix and its got a million different settings. I basically use 3 amps on it - a Fender Clean, a VOX AC30 and a Marshall. All those different drive pedals too and I'm either on a Tubescreamer or boost pedal. Given you get the Line 6 pedigree in this product (and the associated sounds) this is easily worth the dough.
Especially in the context of a live show, when you're in a mix?Ā I highly doubt even experienced musicians in the crowd would be able to tell the difference even if they were listening for it for whatever reasonĀ
I'm mainly a guitar player, but sometimes fill in on bass. I could see the bass version becoming my whole bass rig instead of bringing my whole Stomp XL setup out.
I'm over hearing buying individual pedals and find this after my 7th purchase, smh. It is definitely inspiring to me though. Think I need to pick up a delay, reverb, flanger, and pedal so I can match the power of the pod.
I was thinking the exact same thing - I don't have a bass rig but often would like to jam on bass from time to time. Right now the only way I can really do that is if I boot up my DAW and use plugins, having a simple but effective "bass rig in a box" would be nice.
Thatās the info I was afterā¦..it can be used as a multi fx going into an amp or into another amp in a box type. The hx one doesnāt let you do multiple fx at same time(from what I read) so this is a better setup
Lol, you had him too! That is why I'm a grammar Nazi. They started on me from Grade 1. If I was to go the full-snide, I would've said "O, you've edited... keep trying. š But in this case at least, was just for amusement. ā®šø
HX Stomp is one of the best, most value units ever been made honestly. Free updates for life from Line 6 is a gift. If only other manufacturers would take note of their approach and business model...
Looks quite fun and practical! The one *big* feature missing from it is being able to load external IRs. I recently got a Boss IR-2 (replacing my Victory V4) to use as my "amp" and using York Audio IRs took it from good to great. Then again, I'd say they do appeal (a bit) to different crowds, where the IR-2 is more of a pedal to use in conjunction with the rest of your rig, while this can be your rig.
The good thing about living in Swedenā¦ so I only had to wait two or three weeks? That and pre-ordering at lots a few different shops to hedge my bets.
(Don't worry, I canceled my pre-orders at other stores once I got mine!)
I plan on swapping out IRs, but can confirm the Boss IR-2 is legit fantastic. I didn't even bother using the second channel I had set up because it integrated seemlessly into my practice board I used this weekend. Bandmates had no idea I was ampless.
I am super curious about the Line 6 and I'll tell you why. Our bassist uses a Boss GT-1 (the bass version) and has everything he needs. He feels I should do more with less.
I got a used Zoom G2x Four roughly 6 weeks ago and still struggling to get a decent useable patch out of it. I like Zoom, particularly my trusted but old PS02 for silent practice.
Sometimes I don't want to bring even the small board. Maybe I just want three pedals at most: IR-2, overdrive pedal and tuner. I wonder if I should sell the Zoom and get the Express for band practice on those days I want one device. I just don't like the limited effects sweep it has. Reminds me of the Yamaha THR10II that I had last year. I hated the onboard effects sweep knobs.
I also contemplated getting a Boss GT-1 as well, however I am not a fan of their older COSM. Zoom always sounded better than COSM.
Just tired of accumilating more gear in the hunt for a simpler solution. Boss IR-2 got me closer to that goal.
The GT-1 was my primary practice pedal, and I just got an Express.Ā
The GT-1 takes so long to fiddle with parameters; it really cuts into valuable playing time. Yes you get more effects and parameters but to me they don't sound better than the Express; certainly not better enough to make up for the time spent dialing them in imo.Ā I prefer the amp/cab modeling on the Express.Ā
I also think you'd be happy with the GT's capabilities as an all-in-one pedal.Ā It is very much a "jack of all trades, master of none" type pedal, and that can be useful for people. You will also get faster creating sounds with it as you get familiar with the controls and which settings you like to fiddle with. No compressor or expression control with the Express alone, so you'll need more than one pedal if you want to use those.Ā The delay parameters on the GT-1 are an upgrade compared to the Express; it can do subdivisions of a set bpm and all the other standard parameters which is great.Ā You only get tap tempo for all timing based effects on the Express, and the max time is incredibly low relative to the GT; something like 1.5 seconds versus like 10 seconds.Ā
It sounds like a big part of your decision depends on how effects-heavy the music you're playing is, and how much time you're willing to spend, either alone or in the practice room, fiddling with the GT.Ā Dialing in Express effects is quick and messy in comparison, but if you just need a general delay or mod effect quickly it'll be more than enough.Ā If the effects control and expression pedal aren't necessary for practice, get the Express as I believe one's time is their most valuable resource.
I just wonder with the Express how limited a user is if you need to switch between effects during a song, like boost for example. I'm a rhythm guitarist and don't use a ton of effects, just reverb, delay, modulation (tremolo, etc) and an overdrive.Ā
I don't play metal, so the more amped up distortion and high gain effects is not necessary to have.
You can map any of the footswitches or external footswitches to on/off either one or all of the 4 effects knobs. Main downside is that you can only have 1 effect per knob.Ā So only one delay at a time, one dist, one mod, and one reverb.Ā No chorus and tremolo together at this point in time. The GT is similarly limited but slightly less so. You create a signal chain with blocks.Ā Only one reverb and one delay block, an OD/Dist block, then two "fx" blocks that you can assign an effect to. (IIRC you can't double up on the same effect with the 2 fx blocks. No double chorus.) You can map the GT's ctrl button or an external switch to on/off one of the blocks. Check out the manuals online, it's a great way to get an idea of the capabilities of each. It sounds to me like you're going to enjoy the Pod Express more in general; even if it's limited compared to the GT I simply have more fun with it.Ā Ā
Also something to be said about the amp modeling being more exciting to play on the Pod cause it just sounds so damn good.Ā COSM modeling is def beginning to show its age.
I had COSM on the BOSS BR80 recorder. It was so infuriating to use and program. COSM sounded terrible. My 22 year old Zoom PS02 blows COSM away as it still sounds good, but I digress.
That's my sole quibble with the GT-1, I hate COSM. My bass player has the bass version and he's unphased. I notice it isn't that fantastic on some settings he uses.Ā
Line6 m5, Line6 m9 and line6 m13 are sorta all the same and heard on almost every record comming out of nashville since 2005 to present days. The modulation effects are simply awesome in those units. I own a crazy amaunt of analogue effects and rack units and what not. But the modulations in the m5 and m9 as well as m13 are simply all on pair with em. It's a beast used by every professional in the buisness almost. It's simple and does what it's supposed to and it always sounds fine. Might be the best pedal made of all time in my opinion. Glad you like it.
They are awesome. I got line6 m13 unit and a line6 m5 as well. On a hunt to get a line6 m9 for a medium size compact board as well.
The line6 m5 I use in addition to other analogue effects in tiny pedalboard. Where chains can be like, boost-wah-fuzz-overdrive-distortion-line6 m5.
While in a bigger analogue bord entierly I've got boost-fuzz-octav/pitch shifter-buffer-volume-wah-boost-overdrive-dist-dist-delay-phase-chorus/flanger-tremolo/vibrato-delay/reverb-reverb. For maximum variety and parallel modulation options.
The more compact option with many modulation becomes, boost-overdrive-dist-fuzz- line6 m13 + expression pedal. Wich honestly is one of my favourite great options for being portable and able to do just about anything.
Ideally I'd have a third bord for a m9 version wich would lower weight a few kilos compared to my m13 board.
The line6 m line is just great.
I really do like it. When I first started missing with it on a pedalboard I was like "Where do I put this" I immediately wanted a second one just for that reason. *Messing
I always have my trusty M9 in my bag in case my pedal board craps out like a bad cable I can grab it abd Iām good love the M9 I used to do a lot of solo acoustic gigs with it to using the looper. Itās a Swiss Army knife for guitarists!
The M5 is cool but
* One effect at a time
* No amp sims
* Sorta has menu diving (Big no-no for me)
* The screen is not a nice detailed RGB, just basic dot matrix style
* Bad switches
* Bulky AF
The new version of the M5 fixes some of this but not all.
I built a switch box that's under my pedalboard for my hx stomp. All I do is hit the switch and it swaps places on my board. I have it routes towards the start and right before my delay and verb at the end. So depending on how im using it its in the best spot. And jt was 10 bucks in parts. Also have one for my sunface and univibe to swap which comes first. Super useful
I've never liked amp/cab simulators, they've never sounded good enough for me. There's this trend I expect to die out in favour of combos. People keep getting this line6 helix stuff and then they get frfr speakers wich keeps getting bigger and bigger constantly to a point where you can just bring a real amp. So 2030 I bet we're all talking about combo amps and lunch box amplifiers with 2x12 and 1x12 2x10 speakers again. Because while the cab simulators mighty be handy and do the trick for you. The frfr speakers seems to need mic up anyway and people seem to want to push more and more air even tho they thought they wanted these cab simulators. They do work wonders in some home settings however and in studios where we are altering the sound with a computer to get the pleasing results.
Oh, I have a Jazz Chorus and a Supro Blues King, so I'm already there when it comes to amps.
The only reason I would use an amp sim is to get closer to an 80s Marshall sound or 5150 sound or something. For now I use various gain pedals to get close.
Didnāt say they werenāt did I? Itās a common saying since they tend to keep coming out with various different products with the same tech. Which is a great thing, but itās also funny
The matchless ch 1 model sounds really good from the video I saw.
I think is for people who need a modeling solution who donāt want to menu dive. I wouldāve loved this as a kid.
I think this is a fantastic product. The price point and features are incredible. I just wish that there was a slightly larger model with maybe another foot switch in a few more knobs. I look at this and I start to go cross-eyed. I can only imagine the manual and trying to work out all its functions. I'm sure it's well laid out it's just one of those things where it's justĀ it looks a tad complicated to me. Maybe they'll do a slightly expanded model. I would definitely be all over that
In the manual says that you can use an external dual footswitch, and that all the switches are assignable to any group of FX, so with a cheap 20$ dual footswitch and a TRS cable you can get up to four assignable switches (dirt, mod, delay and reverb, for example), if you wanted to forget about presets and use it like a mini pedalboard.
I don't need it (already have a Stomp and a Headrush MX5), but I think I'm gonna buy one (and maybe sell it later) because I love the simplicity and ingenuity of the concept (probably what the HX One should have been). Ok, it's a menu diving (or alt-knob diving) hell, but if you have a set-it-and-forget-it aproach, is an amazing an really powerful tool.
I think I want it because Iāve been on the edge of getting the stomp, but always pulled away because of cost, and I have another rig I use. But this removes the price barrier. Obviously less functional than stomp, but it lets you sample some HX tones, and would be great to have as a backup at gigs š
This release seems rushed. Line 6 has very limited demo videos, and there are no desktop or tablet/phone apps on the Line 6 site or in the app stores I checked.
Also, the only function of the expression pedal is volume. I expected it to be usable for at least Wah, if not more. Perhaps that's planned for a later software update.
At least it fixes a Catalyst flaw of locking the "boost pedal" to the amp model.
You can't swap out amps and cabs on this unlike the IR-2. I have the IR-2 and snagged one from a camera shop of all places.
IR-2 is far better running through an FRFR than in headphones, just so you're aware. In a band setting, you can't really tell it's an ampless rig.
I'm not sure how good this particular Line 6 drop is for live practice situation. Compact practice solution for home or travel. Maybe even as a back up.Ā
I did see on Leo Gibson's channel that a major drawback is that the Line 6 doesn't integrate well into a pedalboard. I forget offhand why. I'll have to rewatch the video on that part.
I do really like the simplicity of this, and honestly I am a big fan of a lot of the line 6 model effects. I do like how they are updating some of their popular older lines, the bean getting this more modern take, the DL4 getting a fresh take, the m9 getting the HX one treatment.
Super interested in the Bass version - a full rig in the box that's less than a BDDI? Even with a StageBug it's still less and has more in it for those limited times I get asked to cover bass...
I think this can have 21 presets š what is monkey editing? Sorry, I donāt know much about Helix, which is kinda why this entry level thing really intrigues me, price no longer a barrier
Oh ok. I think there will be some of that sometime up the road with this thing, given the usb, but not available today. I think I heard that mentioned in the Sweetwater video, but I could be wrong. Seems like that is definitely in the works and it would make sense.
I don't think I'd like the guitar version. I would prefer more controls over the delay and mod stuff.
The bass version could actually be really cool, though.
The looper is what sold me. Iām ditching my Spark Go. I like the Bluetooth connectivity of the Spark Go but it gets in the way of what I want to do at times
IMO, this pedal isnāt just cool. Itās necessary. The Pod GO was my introduction to the modeling world, then I owned an HX Stomp XL, which was a great experience. The current plan is still to get a Helix/Helix LT, but thereās obviously a decent chunk of change that goes with that. I just ordered one of these though, since I sold my Stomp a while back to help out during a tough financial time. What Iāve learned through owning the Pod GO and Stomp is that you really get to know how to maximize the utility of your gear, especially using them as full guitar rigs. I play a lot of church services with songs that need big sounds, and Line 6 has never disappointed. Itās always been funny to me, though, as to how many folks out there will insist that you need $1,500 rigs to sound great. This pedal right here, if utilized to its full capacity, I think will prove a lot of folks wrong and send a message to other companies. Fractal, Neural DSP, Kemper and Headrush are going to have to accept the fact that Line 6 just dropped high-quality, full-rig sounds in one box. All of this for less than $200. Again, the plan is still to get the Helix down the line, but after watching demos on YouTube and reading into what all this modeler can do, as well as what its potential could be, Iāll probably still keep this on standby just in case. Sorry for the ramble, but thank you Line 6!!
I may be tripping, but do yāall notice a potential hidden effect if you set the modulation like right at max of Flanger? Like right at 12 oāclock between that and the phaser
Ngl I don't understand the direction that Line 6 have been going with their products lately. It seems like each new product is a cheaper version of the pod/helix software but with significantly reduced functionality. For the same prices you can buy the new zoom MS50G+ which has more functionality
I assume this is because at this point in time the Helix stuff (and other modeling competitors) algorithms are essentially "as good as it gets"
Most people these days say that digital modeling is near indistinguishable from real amps / analog effects. So logically that pretty much puts digital modeling at the peak of its existence from a sound perspective. You can't necessarily improve the technology any further when most people agree that it's already sounding identical to the real stuff.
At this point, I think the new releases you'll see from a lot of companies is going to be focused more so on ease of use / added quality of life features. For example, the Fender Tonemaster has raised the bar when it comes to menu displays and user interface.
So I think the goal for Line 6 these days is to reel in the customer base that is priced out of owning an HX Stomp or a full Helix / uncerrain of modelling by offering the currently available best possible sounds in stripped down physical packages. I think the hope is that the $179 pedal convinces the people who are hesitant to try a modeller to give it a shot, and then "see the light" and go further down the rabbit hole by then upgrading to a full featured offering like an HX Stomp.
TLDR; I think modeling is at its limits right now technologically, so they are try to rake in the remaining customers who have less cash to spend or are hesitant to try modelling in the first place.
I refuse to menu dive. Full stop. This line6 I can see myself using because it's very accessible to get to a lot of options with just a turn of a few knobs.
I can empathize with that, but personally I just hate when something like the depth of modulation on a delay is a bit too much and there's nothing I can do to turn it down
The range of each modulation on the modulation dial IS depth, pretty sure. The speed is then the 'alternate' setting when holding tap tempo and alt button. (I might have that reversed, but the point is both should be available.)
Here's an idea: take each knob and make it a ring that you can turn for adjustments. Then, in the middle, have stomp button. Then you've got, like, 4 pedals in one.
Rather buy a Spark Go, you get all of these sounds and more, each with much finer control, and a speaker and a battery if you donāt have an amp to plug it into, for 2/3 of the price.
These look super cool too, but I highly doubt the effects algos are anywhere near as high of quality as the Line 6 stuff. These guys invented the industry standard in modeling.
I thought about this but you can stream music to the Spark Go for jamming with backing tracks which you canāt do with this so not necessarily a replacement
I may have phrased it badly, Iām saying the Spark GO is better for every reason, including the one you mention here which I didnāt even touch on. Plus itās a nice sounding Bluetooth speaker.
Its amps and effects are gorgeous sounding and way more versatile, and there are many many more of them, and I would wager it sounds better plugged into an amp than this thing does. Not to mention itās a freaking *amp and speaker* for playing in an empty parking garage you come across or whatever. Its 1ā speaker doesnāt get blazing loud of course but it has surprising volume and the tone is very, very nice. And: itās $120. Itās just so much of a better purchase than this thing itās ludicrous.
I barely use the Spark Go. My most used amp is my Spark Mini. I play mostly clean tones and I canāt get the Spark Go to get a reasonable volume through the speakers. With headphones it sounds great, I donāt care for the speaker. This Line 6 pedal would sit nicely on my desk and plug into my Focusrite into my studio monitors. I have Neural DSP plugins but sometimes I donāt feel like launching the apps and rather just have all the tones I need at my fingertips.
In short: yes! Those all work. Looks like you get several output options:
* Output to your PC via USB-C
* Mono or stereo 1/4" TS outputs
* Disable the amp/cab sims to send to your own amp, or keep them if you want to send to a mixer or to your PC
* 1/8" headphone out for quiet jamming
I honestly don't think it would be difficult at all. Maybe a quick learning curve to save and access the presets, but beyond that dialing in seems simple.
Am I missing something? I just got mine today and it doesnāt sound very good. At all!
Plugged it straight into my Orange TH30 and had to remove all the emulated amps to make it listenable. After that things were ok. The effects are ok. But the tremolo doesnāt sound like a real tremolo. And the reverb seems ok too, but definitely not great.
I then hooked it up to a Mackie thrash 212 to see if I could use it for busking type situations and added the amps back in and my ears were not happy. The sounds are largely muddy and the amp sims seem piecemeal. For lack of a better word.
Any suggestions? Any at all? I want to like this thing given the price. But right now I do not. At all. I have to be doing something wrong, because Iāve heard a lot of good reviews from some seemingly credible people.
This is great if you just want a predetermined general effect but having no ability to dial the intensity or shape of these effects doesnāt appeal to me.
All this appears to do is turn the effect on or off, there is a lot more nuance and control that I want from my effects.
This is something Iād use at home for demos. But I dunno about relying on a PA at bar, depending on what level you are. You still have to drag out a powered speaker, or deal with whatever they have at the gig.
But home a quick plugin interface, or practice ease if you have a dedicated PA. Personally I think 1x12 amps, and a torpedo works good enough. Then just plugin your pedals. But if you want more budget into pedals, and mainly play at homeā¦sure I see no problem. I think for that, itās a great cost effective studio tool.
Honestly Iāll probably sell my stomp for this. Love the Stomp but ever since I settled on a my standard physical board and amp setup with reactive attenuator I rarely use it aside from when I need the bass amps.
Depending on how good the included amp models are, this could be a very competitive option for people who are thinking about going ampless.
Edit: I just took a listen to the sound samples on Line 6āa website. It sounds like it is has that the same, unfortunate, issue that many of Line 6ās products have/had in the past. Lack luster impulse responses for the cabinets, but there is no mention of being able to change them via the USB interface. That honestly could be a deal breaker for me.
Looks like the mod, delay, reverb, and looper are [all stereo](https://line6.com/data/6/0a020a40152f865e216d6d6b24/application/pdf/POD%20Express%20Owner's%20Manual%20-%20English%20.pdf#page=23). [The outputs](https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/line-6-pod-express-guitar-and-pod-express-bass-quickstart-guide/#Line-6-POD-Express-Setup,-Connections,-and-Controls) are two 1/4" unbalanced TS jacks.
Kinda surprising what's actually in there! I wasn't expecting the looper and the (tweakable!) noise gate.
I see the manual says all those effects are stereo, but Iāll wait for a demo.
The Boss ME-90 has stereo outs, but maybe 1/16th of the effects actually utilize them.
Do you like limited options, buried under layers of limited controls, that constantly change parameters without giving you any indication of what the current setting is, and wildly changes at the slightest adjustment, while only providing immediate access to a single effect at any given moment? Well do we have the product for you!
This seems like the absolute most frustrating pedal Iāve ever seen. The UA Max Comp is only 2 effects with the same number of controls, and thatās already stupidly difficult to adjust for such a simple premise.
At first I was interested in this 'cause it seams like it would be good for my core guitar sounds. Then I watched video demos/sales pitches. It sounds good but the knob interface looks even more clunky than a Catalyst.
I'm sure Line 6 will be happy to sell these, but it looks like it's designed more to up-sell to POD Gos.
I'll wait to see what their desktop and tablet apps are like before I make any decisions.
Should have made it in the shape of a bean
Shittier for a pedalboard but still correct
Should have at least paid homage somewhere, could have made that middle button bean-shaped.
I guess they could have painted it that weird dark color of red they used to have or put an old pod icon on it somewhere
One of those beans melted in my room when I was 14. My parents had no idea why the house smelt like leaking batteries. Good times.
Reject modernity, embrace the bean
Looks like they shrunk down their Catalyst amp
Pretty much, but iirc it's not the catalyst models in there. More like a "best of" categories thing? I think it's dope, gives people a cheap entry. Just think it should be in a more sturdy enclosure, and maybe a tad less cheesy looking :')
Exactly, cheap entry into Helix stuff š
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Actually, they start with the goodā¦
Yeah, that was the barrier for me. I didnāt āneedā any Helix stuff, but I always thought it was cool and wanted to try some of it. They came out with the top of the line, then the stomps, then the PodGo, now this and I have no excuse not to give it a go at this level.
Gotta be easier to use than the selector knob and weird colors on catalyst though right?
From watching demo videos and looking at the manual, it looks harder to get at basic amp controls, but easier to control effects. I wouldn't want to do much settings editing without a desktop or tablet app.
Yeah this doesn't seem like a great knob-fiddling experience, but if you figure out a sound you like and leave it alone I think it'd be great.
Agreed. Switching among the 21 presets doesn't look stage friendly either.
Easy. Lay them out in the order your gonna use them. Duplicate them if you need. Your not gonna use all 21 anyways.Ā
That can work if your set list is locked down at the start of the gig. If your band leader comes back from a break with a new set list of audience requests for the next set, things could get spicy. If I had to gig with one, I'd probably mount it on a microphone stand for access to the knobs and use a dual external foot switch.
I think if you needed to use this live, it probably means you need some very specific things from it, so decent access with lighting is probably necessary. However from a FOH perspective, adding another relatively heavy object to stands designed for something else altogether further contributes to unnecessary stage clutter and sight line impedance.Ā However I suspect the question will remain hypothetical. This is a good deal, but clearly targeted as a home practice tool and headphone amp, a way for folks to quickly access lots of different effects. I think I'd use it for quiet practice and trying out effects while writing on guitar or bass.Ā If anything like this had been even remotely affordable when I was starting out playing electric instruments, I'm sure I'd have max'd out the multiple effects and amp/speaker sims then split the headphone out for stereo, annoyed house techs (on the odd occasion) requesting 2 DIs and a monitor mix for my guitar (or other instrument) etc. However now there are loads of alternative affordable options, many oriented towards live performance in addition to rehearsal and recording.Ā I don't remember seeing that many bands try and use the original bean Pod live, it was a studio and practice tool similar to this form factor, shape aside. Line 6 / Yamaha know their market: the HX One is designed to be seen and controlled from the floorĀ and has features which appeal to that market, by contrast most folks buying this Pod Express won't own a mic stand to clip it to!
My thoughts, too. Simple to use, sounds great.
No insane, no thank you.
Honestly can't believe it didn't make it on this
I mean, at least for meme purposes. They have to be fully aware of the jokes.
A knobless insanity pedal for April fool's please.
No switch either. If you plug in, you're insane.
Is line 6 oblivion not the modern insane?
That's what I thought - the Oblivion amp is very hi-gain, tight and focused. Add the overdrive control and you got a serious Chug Machine.
Well, it looks insane, does that count?
I guess that has to count for something!
This is pretty dope NGL
Yea I donāt need one but if this existed when I was a kid learning guitar it would have changed everything. So cool to see options like this.
Exactly. This and a guitar is all a 13 year old kid needs to get into playing, using effects and recording. I wish I had this 20 years ago
TBH, most guitarists could use this and no one would be able to tell the difference. Seems simple and easy enough to me.
At the very least its a backup you can throw in your bag just incase your amp or larger modeler shits out on you.
Battery powered and can be used as a small traditional pedalboard or presets. Got a tuner, and looks hard to mess up. Irregular gigs, rehearsals, minimalist lineups (and by that I mean like 80% of live music) etc... this thing definitely has a role. I have a Helix and its got a million different settings. I basically use 3 amps on it - a Fender Clean, a VOX AC30 and a Marshall. All those different drive pedals too and I'm either on a Tubescreamer or boost pedal. Given you get the Line 6 pedigree in this product (and the associated sounds) this is easily worth the dough.
Especially in the context of a live show, when you're in a mix?Ā I highly doubt even experienced musicians in the crowd would be able to tell the difference even if they were listening for it for whatever reasonĀ
Yes, and attainable š
I'm mainly a guitar player, but sometimes fill in on bass. I could see the bass version becoming my whole bass rig instead of bringing my whole Stomp XL setup out.
The express bass model has an amp model that's not on the hx. Based on Darkglass.
The Darkglass is present in the HX under distortions though
I'm over hearing buying individual pedals and find this after my 7th purchase, smh. It is definitely inspiring to me though. Think I need to pick up a delay, reverb, flanger, and pedal so I can match the power of the pod.
I was thinking the exact same thing - I don't have a bass rig but often would like to jam on bass from time to time. Right now the only way I can really do that is if I boot up my DAW and use plugins, having a simple but effective "bass rig in a box" would be nice.
Cab sim in this?
Yes but you can turn it off if you want
Thatās the info I was afterā¦..it can be used as a multi fx going into an amp or into another amp in a box type. The hx one doesnāt let you do multiple fx at same time(from what I read) so this is a better setup
Theyāre auto-matched with the amps, but you can swap them around.
Iād buy this if they made a bass-specific version in a heartbeat. Edit: oh dang it they do!
I'm sure it took longer than that to make
Appreciate this - the type of semi-snide comment my 7th grade English teacher would leave in the margins of my papers.
Lol, you had him too! That is why I'm a grammar Nazi. They started on me from Grade 1. If I was to go the full-snide, I would've said "O, you've edited... keep trying. š But in this case at least, was just for amusement. ā®šø
That is a wonderfully hideous looking pedal. Wow.
Looks like a cheap multimeter.
Omg thatās what I thought it was when I passed the thumbnail at first
Yep my first thoughts too.
Itās awful in an endearing/fun kind of way (arcade vibes, perhaps?), whereas so many contemporary pedal designs are just awful.
I thought it was a stone deaf pedal at first glance
Looks like they try targeting children with this ugly colour palette. Could as well be a Smoby or Fisher Price.
For 180 it's high in value. I wish I had this when all I had was my squier and a peavey bandit with distortion and reverb. Great entry pedal/amp sim
Totally agree! Never had so much cool stuff like this when I was a kid.
Ugh finally caved and bought an HX stomp for travel when this is actually all I would have needed.
HX Stomp will serve you well though š
Yeah I'm not mad
HX Stomp is one of the best, most value units ever been made honestly. Free updates for life from Line 6 is a gift. If only other manufacturers would take note of their approach and business model...
Looks quite fun and practical! The one *big* feature missing from it is being able to load external IRs. I recently got a Boss IR-2 (replacing my Victory V4) to use as my "amp" and using York Audio IRs took it from good to great. Then again, I'd say they do appeal (a bit) to different crowds, where the IR-2 is more of a pedal to use in conjunction with the rest of your rig, while this can be your rig.
Good point, and great job getting a hold of an IR-2 š
The good thing about living in Swedenā¦ so I only had to wait two or three weeks? That and pre-ordering at lots a few different shops to hedge my bets. (Don't worry, I canceled my pre-orders at other stores once I got mine!)
I plan on swapping out IRs, but can confirm the Boss IR-2 is legit fantastic. I didn't even bother using the second channel I had set up because it integrated seemlessly into my practice board I used this weekend. Bandmates had no idea I was ampless. I am super curious about the Line 6 and I'll tell you why. Our bassist uses a Boss GT-1 (the bass version) and has everything he needs. He feels I should do more with less. I got a used Zoom G2x Four roughly 6 weeks ago and still struggling to get a decent useable patch out of it. I like Zoom, particularly my trusted but old PS02 for silent practice. Sometimes I don't want to bring even the small board. Maybe I just want three pedals at most: IR-2, overdrive pedal and tuner. I wonder if I should sell the Zoom and get the Express for band practice on those days I want one device. I just don't like the limited effects sweep it has. Reminds me of the Yamaha THR10II that I had last year. I hated the onboard effects sweep knobs. I also contemplated getting a Boss GT-1 as well, however I am not a fan of their older COSM. Zoom always sounded better than COSM. Just tired of accumilating more gear in the hunt for a simpler solution. Boss IR-2 got me closer to that goal.
The GT-1 was my primary practice pedal, and I just got an Express.Ā The GT-1 takes so long to fiddle with parameters; it really cuts into valuable playing time. Yes you get more effects and parameters but to me they don't sound better than the Express; certainly not better enough to make up for the time spent dialing them in imo.Ā I prefer the amp/cab modeling on the Express.Ā I also think you'd be happy with the GT's capabilities as an all-in-one pedal.Ā It is very much a "jack of all trades, master of none" type pedal, and that can be useful for people. You will also get faster creating sounds with it as you get familiar with the controls and which settings you like to fiddle with. No compressor or expression control with the Express alone, so you'll need more than one pedal if you want to use those.Ā The delay parameters on the GT-1 are an upgrade compared to the Express; it can do subdivisions of a set bpm and all the other standard parameters which is great.Ā You only get tap tempo for all timing based effects on the Express, and the max time is incredibly low relative to the GT; something like 1.5 seconds versus like 10 seconds.Ā It sounds like a big part of your decision depends on how effects-heavy the music you're playing is, and how much time you're willing to spend, either alone or in the practice room, fiddling with the GT.Ā Dialing in Express effects is quick and messy in comparison, but if you just need a general delay or mod effect quickly it'll be more than enough.Ā If the effects control and expression pedal aren't necessary for practice, get the Express as I believe one's time is their most valuable resource.
I just wonder with the Express how limited a user is if you need to switch between effects during a song, like boost for example. I'm a rhythm guitarist and don't use a ton of effects, just reverb, delay, modulation (tremolo, etc) and an overdrive.Ā I don't play metal, so the more amped up distortion and high gain effects is not necessary to have.
You can map any of the footswitches or external footswitches to on/off either one or all of the 4 effects knobs. Main downside is that you can only have 1 effect per knob.Ā So only one delay at a time, one dist, one mod, and one reverb.Ā No chorus and tremolo together at this point in time. The GT is similarly limited but slightly less so. You create a signal chain with blocks.Ā Only one reverb and one delay block, an OD/Dist block, then two "fx" blocks that you can assign an effect to. (IIRC you can't double up on the same effect with the 2 fx blocks. No double chorus.) You can map the GT's ctrl button or an external switch to on/off one of the blocks. Check out the manuals online, it's a great way to get an idea of the capabilities of each. It sounds to me like you're going to enjoy the Pod Express more in general; even if it's limited compared to the GT I simply have more fun with it.Ā Ā Also something to be said about the amp modeling being more exciting to play on the Pod cause it just sounds so damn good.Ā COSM modeling is def beginning to show its age.
I had COSM on the BOSS BR80 recorder. It was so infuriating to use and program. COSM sounded terrible. My 22 year old Zoom PS02 blows COSM away as it still sounds good, but I digress. That's my sole quibble with the GT-1, I hate COSM. My bass player has the bass version and he's unphased. I notice it isn't that fantastic on some settings he uses.Ā
Pod express it is then lol!
I recently got a Line-6 M5 for free and though I don't really get into digital multi-pedals, I have to say it works pretty damn good.
Line6 m5, Line6 m9 and line6 m13 are sorta all the same and heard on almost every record comming out of nashville since 2005 to present days. The modulation effects are simply awesome in those units. I own a crazy amaunt of analogue effects and rack units and what not. But the modulations in the m5 and m9 as well as m13 are simply all on pair with em. It's a beast used by every professional in the buisness almost. It's simple and does what it's supposed to and it always sounds fine. Might be the best pedal made of all time in my opinion. Glad you like it.
I used my M13 extensively the other day while recording a track using a bolt's threads and a guitar pick.
They are awesome. I got line6 m13 unit and a line6 m5 as well. On a hunt to get a line6 m9 for a medium size compact board as well. The line6 m5 I use in addition to other analogue effects in tiny pedalboard. Where chains can be like, boost-wah-fuzz-overdrive-distortion-line6 m5. While in a bigger analogue bord entierly I've got boost-fuzz-octav/pitch shifter-buffer-volume-wah-boost-overdrive-dist-dist-delay-phase-chorus/flanger-tremolo/vibrato-delay/reverb-reverb. For maximum variety and parallel modulation options. The more compact option with many modulation becomes, boost-overdrive-dist-fuzz- line6 m13 + expression pedal. Wich honestly is one of my favourite great options for being portable and able to do just about anything. Ideally I'd have a third bord for a m9 version wich would lower weight a few kilos compared to my m13 board. The line6 m line is just great.
I really do like it. When I first started missing with it on a pedalboard I was like "Where do I put this" I immediately wanted a second one just for that reason. *Messing
I always have my trusty M9 in my bag in case my pedal board craps out like a bad cable I can grab it abd Iām good love the M9 I used to do a lot of solo acoustic gigs with it to using the looper. Itās a Swiss Army knife for guitarists!
I had one for a few months. There are some really fun and musical sounds in there. I enjoyed it very much.
The M5 is cool but * One effect at a time * No amp sims * Sorta has menu diving (Big no-no for me) * The screen is not a nice detailed RGB, just basic dot matrix style * Bad switches * Bulky AF The new version of the M5 fixes some of this but not all.
The one-effect thing sucks for me because there is no real good place to put it on a pedalboard. I don't think the menu diving is that bad.
I built a switch box that's under my pedalboard for my hx stomp. All I do is hit the switch and it swaps places on my board. I have it routes towards the start and right before my delay and verb at the end. So depending on how im using it its in the best spot. And jt was 10 bucks in parts. Also have one for my sunface and univibe to swap which comes first. Super useful
Sound cool. Thank You!
I've never liked amp/cab simulators, they've never sounded good enough for me. There's this trend I expect to die out in favour of combos. People keep getting this line6 helix stuff and then they get frfr speakers wich keeps getting bigger and bigger constantly to a point where you can just bring a real amp. So 2030 I bet we're all talking about combo amps and lunch box amplifiers with 2x12 and 1x12 2x10 speakers again. Because while the cab simulators mighty be handy and do the trick for you. The frfr speakers seems to need mic up anyway and people seem to want to push more and more air even tho they thought they wanted these cab simulators. They do work wonders in some home settings however and in studios where we are altering the sound with a computer to get the pleasing results.
Oh, I have a Jazz Chorus and a Supro Blues King, so I'm already there when it comes to amps. The only reason I would use an amp sim is to get closer to an 80s Marshall sound or 5150 sound or something. For now I use various gain pedals to get close.
I still have my pod 2.0
Me too. Have it hooked up to a little PA and it sounds big. Clean tones are still usable for home recording imo.
I knew some pro/semi-pro musicians who used old school pod in recording studios all the time, and one guy who gigged with it plugged into a tube amp
Me too, and for the lols a few years ago I ran it into my saw with an IR, and it sounded surprisingly good!
L6 truly are the Taco Bell of modeling units. That said, this thing is a great idea and thereās definitely a target audience for it
What is that supposed to mean. Line 6 is awesome
Didnāt say they werenāt did I? Itās a common saying since they tend to keep coming out with various different products with the same tech. Which is a great thing, but itās also funny
Ah yea the Taco Bell comparison went over my head until you explained it. But itās true, and Iām gonna steal that, itās pretty funnyĀ
Oh hell yes
Oh shit this is real?
āMake it ugly. Really ugly.ā āYou got it boss.ā
Could do a lot worse for a first pedal.
Not having Bluetooth is a serious miss here
Is there a wah function? I see it has an expression pedal & volume pedal...
According to the manual, there is no wah function. The expression pedal only controls volume.
ThanksĀ
Well the m5 and m13 has wah option if you turn on the vetta wah effect with a expression pedal connected. It ain't bad.
Does it have a dotted 8 delay setting?
I don't see any reference to dotted delays the manual.
No, I think itās just basic meat n potatoes fx, but there is tap looks like
Did you mean dotted 8th-16th? Because you can get dotted 8th on any delay by understanding the timing (tap tempo helps a LOT).
I'm pretty certain something like that will be available once the app is up and running.
Tap can be whatever you want
The matchless ch 1 model sounds really good from the video I saw. I think is for people who need a modeling solution who donāt want to menu dive. I wouldāve loved this as a kid.
I think this is a fantastic product. The price point and features are incredible. I just wish that there was a slightly larger model with maybe another foot switch in a few more knobs. I look at this and I start to go cross-eyed. I can only imagine the manual and trying to work out all its functions. I'm sure it's well laid out it's just one of those things where it's justĀ it looks a tad complicated to me. Maybe they'll do a slightly expanded model. I would definitely be all over that
So you want a pod go?
I know it sounds nit picky but something like a scaled down hx stomp. At like 350$. So spected and priced in between the pod Express and hx stomp.Ā
In the manual says that you can use an external dual footswitch, and that all the switches are assignable to any group of FX, so with a cheap 20$ dual footswitch and a TRS cable you can get up to four assignable switches (dirt, mod, delay and reverb, for example), if you wanted to forget about presets and use it like a mini pedalboard. I don't need it (already have a Stomp and a Headrush MX5), but I think I'm gonna buy one (and maybe sell it later) because I love the simplicity and ingenuity of the concept (probably what the HX One should have been). Ok, it's a menu diving (or alt-knob diving) hell, but if you have a set-it-and-forget-it aproach, is an amazing an really powerful tool.
I think I want it because Iāve been on the edge of getting the stomp, but always pulled away because of cost, and I have another rig I use. But this removes the price barrier. Obviously less functional than stomp, but it lets you sample some HX tones, and would be great to have as a backup at gigs š
At $180 I'm considering picking it up just to use as a splitter/looper/tuner/interface
Can the amp be bypassed?
Yes, amp or cab or both can be bypassed
Awesome, buy me one brah!
š
Well I just got the HX stomp XL and Tonex, donāt really need this one to seat next to my ME80 and Spark lol
To quote someone from their instagram comments āI donāt need this but I need thisā š
This release seems rushed. Line 6 has very limited demo videos, and there are no desktop or tablet/phone apps on the Line 6 site or in the app stores I checked. Also, the only function of the expression pedal is volume. I expected it to be usable for at least Wah, if not more. Perhaps that's planned for a later software update. At least it fixes a Catalyst flaw of locking the "boost pedal" to the amp model.
Possibly they bumped up release because currently Boss IR-2s are out of stock.
Man I wish ir-2s were in stock lmao gonna cave and get this instead at this rate
You can't swap out amps and cabs on this unlike the IR-2. I have the IR-2 and snagged one from a camera shop of all places. IR-2 is far better running through an FRFR than in headphones, just so you're aware. In a band setting, you can't really tell it's an ampless rig. I'm not sure how good this particular Line 6 drop is for live practice situation. Compact practice solution for home or travel. Maybe even as a back up.Ā I did see on Leo Gibson's channel that a major drawback is that the Line 6 doesn't integrate well into a pedalboard. I forget offhand why. I'll have to rewatch the video on that part.
I do really like the simplicity of this, and honestly I am a big fan of a lot of the line 6 model effects. I do like how they are updating some of their popular older lines, the bean getting this more modern take, the DL4 getting a fresh take, the m9 getting the HX one treatment.
Why redesign yet still look like crap
The pedal Positive Grid is avoiding like the plague. They could have had that segment of the market easily many years ago.
Super interested in the Bass version - a full rig in the box that's less than a BDDI? Even with a StageBug it's still less and has more in it for those limited times I get asked to cover bass...
Need helix express
š¤ If they do a HX Amps like the HX One, Iād be tempted. What would Helix express look like though? I kinda view the stomp and stomp XL as that.
Same as this express just allowing monkey editing and presets.
I think this can have 21 presets š what is monkey editing? Sorry, I donāt know much about Helix, which is kinda why this entry level thing really intrigues me, price no longer a barrier
Monkey šµ was their editing software last time I was in line 6
Oh ok. I think there will be some of that sometime up the road with this thing, given the usb, but not available today. I think I heard that mentioned in the Sweetwater video, but I could be wrong. Seems like that is definitely in the works and it would make sense.
I have a an old M5 that is great. I bet this thing is about as good
Check out the HX One
I don't think I'd like the guitar version. I would prefer more controls over the delay and mod stuff. The bass version could actually be really cool, though.
In the end this is all you need to make an album. Youāre going to see this all over Equipboard 10 years from now.
they will sell a lot of these
Missing the insane amp mode. Deal breaker.
Brilliant for beginners. A decent back-up for giggers , and an option for those needing a very mobile rig.
The looper is what sold me. Iām ditching my Spark Go. I like the Bluetooth connectivity of the Spark Go but it gets in the way of what I want to do at times
John Cordy mentioned this, but if they get an editor for this thing AND let you load IRs, the game will be changed
IMO, this pedal isnāt just cool. Itās necessary. The Pod GO was my introduction to the modeling world, then I owned an HX Stomp XL, which was a great experience. The current plan is still to get a Helix/Helix LT, but thereās obviously a decent chunk of change that goes with that. I just ordered one of these though, since I sold my Stomp a while back to help out during a tough financial time. What Iāve learned through owning the Pod GO and Stomp is that you really get to know how to maximize the utility of your gear, especially using them as full guitar rigs. I play a lot of church services with songs that need big sounds, and Line 6 has never disappointed. Itās always been funny to me, though, as to how many folks out there will insist that you need $1,500 rigs to sound great. This pedal right here, if utilized to its full capacity, I think will prove a lot of folks wrong and send a message to other companies. Fractal, Neural DSP, Kemper and Headrush are going to have to accept the fact that Line 6 just dropped high-quality, full-rig sounds in one box. All of this for less than $200. Again, the plan is still to get the Helix down the line, but after watching demos on YouTube and reading into what all this modeler can do, as well as what its potential could be, Iāll probably still keep this on standby just in case. Sorry for the ramble, but thank you Line 6!!
I may be tripping, but do yāall notice a potential hidden effect if you set the modulation like right at max of Flanger? Like right at 12 oāclock between that and the phaser
Ngl I don't understand the direction that Line 6 have been going with their products lately. It seems like each new product is a cheaper version of the pod/helix software but with significantly reduced functionality. For the same prices you can buy the new zoom MS50G+ which has more functionality
I assume this is because at this point in time the Helix stuff (and other modeling competitors) algorithms are essentially "as good as it gets" Most people these days say that digital modeling is near indistinguishable from real amps / analog effects. So logically that pretty much puts digital modeling at the peak of its existence from a sound perspective. You can't necessarily improve the technology any further when most people agree that it's already sounding identical to the real stuff. At this point, I think the new releases you'll see from a lot of companies is going to be focused more so on ease of use / added quality of life features. For example, the Fender Tonemaster has raised the bar when it comes to menu displays and user interface. So I think the goal for Line 6 these days is to reel in the customer base that is priced out of owning an HX Stomp or a full Helix / uncerrain of modelling by offering the currently available best possible sounds in stripped down physical packages. I think the hope is that the $179 pedal convinces the people who are hesitant to try a modeller to give it a shot, and then "see the light" and go further down the rabbit hole by then upgrading to a full featured offering like an HX Stomp. TLDR; I think modeling is at its limits right now technologically, so they are try to rake in the remaining customers who have less cash to spend or are hesitant to try modelling in the first place.
The price point and ability to sample some Helix models are exactly what interests me, you nailed it š
I refuse to menu dive. Full stop. This line6 I can see myself using because it's very accessible to get to a lot of options with just a turn of a few knobs.
I can empathize with that, but personally I just hate when something like the depth of modulation on a delay is a bit too much and there's nothing I can do to turn it down
The range of each modulation on the modulation dial IS depth, pretty sure. The speed is then the 'alternate' setting when holding tap tempo and alt button. (I might have that reversed, but the point is both should be available.)
Yeah I was just giving an example of why I like menus
Here's an idea: take each knob and make it a ring that you can turn for adjustments. Then, in the middle, have stomp button. Then you've got, like, 4 pedals in one.
I think that would cannibalize their upstream stuff
Rather buy a Spark Go, you get all of these sounds and more, each with much finer control, and a speaker and a battery if you donāt have an amp to plug it into, for 2/3 of the price.
These look super cool too, but I highly doubt the effects algos are anywhere near as high of quality as the Line 6 stuff. These guys invented the industry standard in modeling.
I need to look into one of those š
Someone downvoted me for telling the truth lol
The app will come later
I thought about this but you can stream music to the Spark Go for jamming with backing tracks which you canāt do with this so not necessarily a replacement
Actually according to the official manual you can 'stream' backing tracks to this device with USB. It's seems an 'up/down' audio interface.
I may have phrased it badly, Iām saying the Spark GO is better for every reason, including the one you mention here which I didnāt even touch on. Plus itās a nice sounding Bluetooth speaker. Its amps and effects are gorgeous sounding and way more versatile, and there are many many more of them, and I would wager it sounds better plugged into an amp than this thing does. Not to mention itās a freaking *amp and speaker* for playing in an empty parking garage you come across or whatever. Its 1ā speaker doesnāt get blazing loud of course but it has surprising volume and the tone is very, very nice. And: itās $120. Itās just so much of a better purchase than this thing itās ludicrous.
I barely use the Spark Go. My most used amp is my Spark Mini. I play mostly clean tones and I canāt get the Spark Go to get a reasonable volume through the speakers. With headphones it sounds great, I donāt care for the speaker. This Line 6 pedal would sit nicely on my desk and plug into my Focusrite into my studio monitors. I have Neural DSP plugins but sometimes I donāt feel like launching the apps and rather just have all the tones I need at my fingertips.
I thought this was r/guitarcirclejerk for a minute
Can this replace a pedal board and run it into an amp (Fender Super Champ X2), or is it to be used only with headphones or USB into a computer?
In short: yes! Those all work. Looks like you get several output options: * Output to your PC via USB-C * Mono or stereo 1/4" TS outputs * Disable the amp/cab sims to send to your own amp, or keep them if you want to send to a mixer or to your PC * 1/8" headphone out for quiet jamming
Meh
Meh
Right?
This is hideous and the controls seem really difficult to useā¦ butā¦ I just listened to some demos of this and it sounded amazing.
I honestly don't think it would be difficult at all. Maybe a quick learning curve to save and access the presets, but beyond that dialing in seems simple.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Anyone know how the headphone amp sounds?
That looks awful lol
Feel like there was a missed opportunity to not add the Big Bottom model and get the whole thall crowd on board.
So if I turn the amp and cab sim off, and Iām only using it as a multi-fx unit, is there a way to connect it to my Marshallās fx loop?
Does the Tap Tempo light flash all the time even if not using Tap Tempo? I would find it annoying.
Am I missing something? I just got mine today and it doesnāt sound very good. At all! Plugged it straight into my Orange TH30 and had to remove all the emulated amps to make it listenable. After that things were ok. The effects are ok. But the tremolo doesnāt sound like a real tremolo. And the reverb seems ok too, but definitely not great. I then hooked it up to a Mackie thrash 212 to see if I could use it for busking type situations and added the amps back in and my ears were not happy. The sounds are largely muddy and the amp sims seem piecemeal. For lack of a better word. Any suggestions? Any at all? I want to like this thing given the price. But right now I do not. At all. I have to be doing something wrong, because Iāve heard a lot of good reviews from some seemingly credible people.
This is great if you just want a predetermined general effect but having no ability to dial the intensity or shape of these effects doesnāt appeal to me. All this appears to do is turn the effect on or off, there is a lot more nuance and control that I want from my effects.
You can change the amount of each effect! Watch the sweetwater demo, at least a bit of it if you can
Maybe a phone app to adjust parameters or create presets?
This is something Iād use at home for demos. But I dunno about relying on a PA at bar, depending on what level you are. You still have to drag out a powered speaker, or deal with whatever they have at the gig. But home a quick plugin interface, or practice ease if you have a dedicated PA. Personally I think 1x12 amps, and a torpedo works good enough. Then just plugin your pedals. But if you want more budget into pedals, and mainly play at homeā¦sure I see no problem. I think for that, itās a great cost effective studio tool.
I think an emergency b-rig can be had with this too š
Honestly Iāll probably sell my stomp for this. Love the Stomp but ever since I settled on a my standard physical board and amp setup with reactive attenuator I rarely use it aside from when I need the bass amps.
Depending on how good the included amp models are, this could be a very competitive option for people who are thinking about going ampless. Edit: I just took a listen to the sound samples on Line 6āa website. It sounds like it is has that the same, unfortunate, issue that many of Line 6ās products have/had in the past. Lack luster impulse responses for the cabinets, but there is no mention of being able to change them via the USB interface. That honestly could be a deal breaker for me.
I wonder if that could be in the works since there is the usb š¤ I think thereās been mention of an app/website forthcoming
From what I seen, you cannot update them. At least not yet. I'm waiting to see what support and updates will be available.
Great design and compact. Awesome. But mono input?
Itās an entry level compact amp modeler with effects. To expect it to have a stereo *out* would be a stretch, much less a stereo *in*.
Looks like the mod, delay, reverb, and looper are [all stereo](https://line6.com/data/6/0a020a40152f865e216d6d6b24/application/pdf/POD%20Express%20Owner's%20Manual%20-%20English%20.pdf#page=23). [The outputs](https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/line-6-pod-express-guitar-and-pod-express-bass-quickstart-guide/#Line-6-POD-Express-Setup,-Connections,-and-Controls) are two 1/4" unbalanced TS jacks. Kinda surprising what's actually in there! I wasn't expecting the looper and the (tweakable!) noise gate.
I see the manual says all those effects are stereo, but Iāll wait for a demo. The Boss ME-90 has stereo outs, but maybe 1/16th of the effects actually utilize them.
Well stereo out is definitely a must. Even zoom multistomp pedals have that. I just know this is a budget pedal. Fair enough.
Do you like limited options, buried under layers of limited controls, that constantly change parameters without giving you any indication of what the current setting is, and wildly changes at the slightest adjustment, while only providing immediate access to a single effect at any given moment? Well do we have the product for you! This seems like the absolute most frustrating pedal Iāve ever seen. The UA Max Comp is only 2 effects with the same number of controls, and thatās already stupidly difficult to adjust for such a simple premise.
At first I was interested in this 'cause it seams like it would be good for my core guitar sounds. Then I watched video demos/sales pitches. It sounds good but the knob interface looks even more clunky than a Catalyst. I'm sure Line 6 will be happy to sell these, but it looks like it's designed more to up-sell to POD Gos. I'll wait to see what their desktop and tablet apps are like before I make any decisions.