Cant deny that the Axe Fx sounds better, but not $3000 better. Im just a bedroom guitarist, Ill hold onto my Pod! Thanks for showing me how good it still is!
Just use the Two Notes Wall of Sound or two notes torpedo with your pod to change the cab irs I currently do this and it sounds better than any axe I played. That's the only thing holding back the pods are the stock Cab IRs.
The amount of detail and the quality of the midrange of the AxeFX are astonishing, but I think the Pod sits incredibly well in the mix. They are both excellent units, and I like how the Pod, despite its age, is still capable of such good performance
They both sounded really good. We are so spoiled today. We have so much great sounding gear at every price point. When I started playing it cost a lot of money to buy a real amp and a bunch of pedals then hoped you got the ones you liked and could figure it out. You didn't just press a few buttons and change it; you spent a lot of money. We didn't have Google to show us what to do.
Agreed, if it was bumped just a bit, it would have been very close in overall quality. The sounds without the backing track ("solo'd") are better suited to the comparison as well. That POD sounds pretty impressive though, damn, for the price??!?!?
I've got a pod HD500, which is the floor version of the rack one. I use it on stage and I don't feel the need to upgrade my gear. For sure the Axe FX sounds better (newer technology of modeling, better converters and so on), but in my opinion the POD has still something to say nowdays. It's all about tweaking! If you spend the time to tweak and experiment, you can really create kickass sounds with it.
Unpopular opinion, but I actually really didn't like the Axe Fx, the pod sounded way better to me. It sat in the mix way better, the Axe fx stood out in a bad way
Theres definitely a fullness missing. I'm sure if I added an EQ it would help. The EQ on the amp settings doesnt do much to the tone though suprisingly!
The HDpro's are ONLY good as long as you are able to setup your own IR'rs just like you said. I had one and I hated it. At least Line 6 realized this and added external IR capability to the Helix models!
@@eduardodestri7058 no one is saying it's better than the fractal, if you can read, i said it sounded better in the samples he was playing, if it were to be mixed with in with a track. pay attention
I definitely think it's worth it. I do agree the IRs are the weak point, and the HD sounds a lot better with decent IRs recording or through a real cab. I just got a fairly decent deal on a PowerCab Plus and I am really looking forward to trying that out with it's built in cabs (hopefully improved from HD) and also it's IR loading capabilities. I already had the Pod HD500x but used prices on those are in the $200 - $250 range, used price on PowerCab Plus $500 - $600 range, that puts total price of that setup at $700 - $850. That is the price of just the foot controller for the Axe FX III.
They both sound really good in their respective elements honestly. The pod tone has a good scooped type of metal sound while the axe fx has the mid boost quality to it. It's really just preference from there. Both have good quality as long as you use a great IR and or really good cab 👍
That could be solved with a good eq....they aren't far off but yes, the AxeFX has way more mids. This is probably even solvable in the boxes themselves, but maybe hes just comparing raw patches of amps ? I dunno
Tough Call. The switch is the only jarring part. After a few seconds my ear gets used to the tone shift and it sounds fine... until the switch. I think the Line6 lacks mids and the AXE FX has too much mids. But the difference is not as wide as the price difference.
That, and if you wanted to get that mic on cab sound that he is using with the Axe Fx, you can load an IR that sounds like it. I personally stay away from that sound.
Would be curious of using the radar with the headrush frfr 1x12. It's only about $350 new. I have the hd500x and I have the mooer brown sound 3 and I dont know If i want to use a 2z12 cab or the frfr 1x12. Currently just using the fx return of a joyo zombie to power the pod or the mooer pedal
As a Pod HD500x user, I can say there is a value mostly for the price. I got into it late because for years I was more than used to my pod X3 presets until it ultimately died; and I managed to get two of those as b stock from a store with 500€, around the same i recently paid for the HX Stomp I use for recordings, and having a spare is always good. As for sound it requires some tinkering; even compared to my past Line 6 experiences, I found myself spending more time and fx blocks on EQ with high gain models to get it to work the way I wanted it to. As for the IRs yes, Line 6 rarely gets them right but I managed to get better results doing some dual cab presets (thanks to a rather comprehensive guide I found online) rather than using an external IR loader. It might just be me but something doesn't work right with the pre Helix modelling they did and external IRs. Besides the price, I feel it's a well built unit compared to past ones, the amp and fx selection isn't huge but covers pretty much anything with good results, preset switching is pretty fast and in a live setting it's hard to tell the difference with newer or more expensive modellers. So yeah, if it costs around 200/250€ it's a great option for a live workhorse unit that will get the job done and can be considered expendable in case of heavy damage or theft
Dude, awesome comment! Thanks so much for contributing your insight. I agree with you 100% And I think it's really cool that they can be had for that low price. I know a handful of guitar players (typically older guys) who are just now realizing what's happening with these units, and it's so cool that they can get into this world without having to put up a large investment. I think everyone wins!
I'm looking at a Pod HD Pro myself and this helped a lot. At first I wanted an Axe Fx 3 but I can't justify the price of one. They're great modelers but they're still way to overpriced imo. Pod HD Pro is probably the most affordable solution for me.
Came across this vid because I came across the floor mode of the line 6 for sale for $200. So looking at vids lol. Nice playing and I think I’m this vid I prefer the darker tone of the line 6 over the axe fx.
I have a POD HD Pro X rack, and it's honestly kick-ass. If you use external IR's, it's something you can EASILY get by with in the studio or gigging. Sure, the Fractal may have a SLIGHTLY better sound, but for the cost, not even close, the POD is WAAAAAAYYY better value.
I have the pod HD pro X with no cabs active in the presets and I use a Mooer Radar in the output of the Pod HD Pro X ... problem solved and for the sound difference with AxeFX III or Helix, I will keep my 1000$+ price difference to buy something else thank you :) Yes the cab simulations from the POD HD Pro X can be lacking when compared to more expensive and "modern" modelers, but honestly, in the mix live, it doesn't make much of a difference. In the studio, that's another story, this is why I have integrated the Mooer Radar in the chain.
I found that the best tone I got out of my hd500x when I had one was to set the gain lower than what I usually use on a real amp, and throw a real life overdrive between the pod and the guitar. Also utilize the low pass filter.
i've owned/gigged Helix/kemper/AxeFX/GT1000 but still love the sounds and flexibility of my old HD Pod Pro in my little recording rack. i jam on it all the time thru my reference monitors and still think it's delays sit better in a stereo mix than anything.
I strongly believe that with a little understanding and commitment, this HD Pro can still be used creatively with external IRs. by the way, are there still any Line6XTPro users too? they are really cheap nowadays
I think it's fair to say that the thing that has come a long way in the last 5-7 years is cab modeling and custom IRs. I think all the physics being modeling in amp modeling has been pretty damn good for a long time.
as you can see i multiple videos a pod with external IR sound preddy good. The problem with this unit has always been the ir, i use, torpedo wall of sownd and damn, thats good. At the moment my main rig is a tow notes le lead with analog gear, but sometimes is fun to mess around and see what you can get
POD HD, for it's price, would be amazing if it had IR. Imagine if the next gen of modelers will come and the current one, like Helix, that already has IR and no limitations will be really cheap used.
Thanks for this! I'm about to buy a pod HD pro, from my experience with the flextone 3 plus (or whatever) and the pod X3 pro, you can get some really killer sounds out of the older stuff! but in this case I really think the pod made a great rund for its money! I liked how it kinda beefed the tone up!
@@TaylorDanley How about a video utilising the extra tools of the pod to bring it closer to the external IR? I mean, it has like a slew of eq modules, parametric, studio, graphich etc and a very decent overall post eq (global in the output section). AND, something rarely used, the studio compressor model can be put after the chain to punch even more. The downside is prone to feedback if very loud obviously (the compressor doing its work...) but man the difference it makes in the mix is worth experiment it. They are oh so close with the same IR obviously. What do you expect when you essentially apply a 2000 spot eq on both...1700 worth of difference? Not in the very slight. But live is the ultimate judge. Nice riffage, keep on.
They sound pretty good live. I did play with a band that used one recently, and I thought the guitars sounded small and thin... HOWEVER that could have been the power amp, mix engineer, etc.
Kinda torn. The AFX3 captures the full spectrum of tone, which makes it flexible. The HD however is already the tone that my own ears are inclined towards shaping the tone by dipping mids. But my beef with the HD had always been that it lacks the depth of parameter controller assignment that even the POD X3 had. So the HD for me always lost to the X3 Live in terms of overall usability despite having better sounds. The AFX2 in that regard was also still better than the HD.
In the mix Axe fx III seems a bit better I mean more precise but ...HD PRO still kicking..Im sure that while playing AxE FX iii WILL MUCH BETTER...thank you Taylor...and cheers
Great video The pod does not suck the axe fx 3 just has much better mids high and lows. The algorithm for eq and saturation is newer so it has more detail wothout that digital hollowness that the older tech had. I bet if you tried to do a tone match inside the session they could both get super close.
I feel like you just did such a good job describing something I couldn't! It's almost like some of the information just isnt there with the older modelers, especially in the extreme low and extreme high end. I wonder if I could get them close, I hadn't considered because I figured the tech was so far apart in terms of sonic reproduction. Thanks for the comment, as always! 🙌
@@TaylorDanley many thanks the explanation i gave is due to your examples being very high quality, we can actually hear those changes. I have seen tone matches done using a voxengo plugin (can't remember what plugin) it can get some modelers close. I feel like the line 6 could get very close but not all the way since like you said the information just is not there. especially in the clipping section.
Line 6’s biggest problem is ir’s, they just never get them 100% right. Other than that they sound really good so if you run it through an ir loader you’re in the money
I have the Pod HD Pro and still have my AxeFx Ultra. Even the Ultra sounds great still. The Pod Pro shines when going through my Red Box 5 IR loader. For what i do i really don't need the Axe 3. If i had the money would i buy one? Of course.
Can't get over how good the older unit sounds. Getting a Pod HD Pro X used for Xmas because it sounds great. I started out on a Boss GT-3, GT-5, and GT-8. Sold the GT-8 many years ago. I really can't stand boss effects any more because they are extremely vanilla. This will hold me over until I decide if I want to buy a used axe fx II or one of the other rack mount effects units like the helix and whatever else there is.
Great video! I got a POD HD Pro X for 4CM. I have a Mooer Radar if needed. The 5150 model is terrible so I use my AMT P-1 but the Fireball is really close. When I get tired of the amp sims it will still have a place in my Rack as a effects unit w/ all the crazy stuff it can do that my TC Elect Gmaj and Intellifex LTD can't.
Line 6 Para costar mucho menos dinero. Pues siento que la diferencia es poca en sonido. Si obviamente el Fractal es Brutal pero comparado con factor precio Line 6 lo hace muy bien. Aunque siento que realmente no debio de hacer este video. Debe colocar productos similar costos y gama. Fractal se lo lleva por mucho a Line 6 aunque insisto Line 6 digamos es una alternativa muy buena para nosotros los guitarristas de Latino America que algunas veces no contamos con el recurso de comprar un Fractal.
la diferencia de audio no es mucha, pero ademas de que tenes que perillear para acercarte, la verdadera diferencia esta en la emulacion de la valvula, la dinamica y como responde. en el pod esta como mas esteril, por la vieja tecnologia que trae. por ahi tendria q haber comparado con digitales actuales del mismo precio, como la hotone ampero, mooer ge200, etc.
Thanks Taylor, what do you think about the use a POD with an IRs Loader? I think we dont have infomation about that how you can improved you old gear or like you can aprovech this old units prices and build a funtional gear. I have an idea, I like build something with a TC Electronic G System an IRs Loader and a good Preamp just in the buget. What are you thinks about?
The POD HD series is not the best in the world but they still hold there own and will always be a killer choice for an amp modeler and even in this day and age it still sounds pretty decent especially if your poor like most people! So I say the pod hd still rules bottom line.
Love this shoot out Taylor. It's super frustrating that the POD has such a great sound when you use an IR. I never even considered running it directly through my power amp into a cab. Maybe I'll give that a go. 🤔
@@TaylorDanley Yep, checked it out and it sounds pretty decent. My main rig is the Helix Rack so I can't say it holds up, but it's definitely a backup option! btw, love your content man. Subscribed.
I prefer by far the Axe fx, the thing has more mids and more clarity, I think it is way better than the POD HD. On a side note I absolutely LOVED the riff on 5:18, specially in the axe fx version. Killer! Congrats!
Thank you so much! 🙌 I know, the more I compare, the more I appreciate my axefx 3! It is just really something else. I think the PODHD is still really cool though, and hopefully some people out there will use it and love their tones!
The opposite oppinion would be that the axe-fx is muddy as fuck. And it is lol. However you can say that the pod lacks in mids in opposition. And it does. here,...both can be adjusted. Where the real catch is that they actually have the same clippinh character through the same IR and pretty much the same signal level. I have to say here that the pod hd is somewhat lower in volume than the axe-fx 3 .wav. The axe-fx III is cool...where it rubs me on the wrong way is how much of an asshole its creator is,...with so many great solutions nowadays you can actually get similar to identical results and NOT give your money where you think they don't count. It's something that shouldn't bother me but it does and in the end of the day makes me focus on the negative aspects of the axe-fx III clips...as I tried to show you can go vice versa in both ways to insult a sound lol. By the way, I followed the a/b again without looking while typing and they actually seem like 98% the same stuff lol... Oh, best live sound of any band I've seen were annihilator with helix who would've knew. Worst (for the DI crew) were machine head with axe-fx but they weren't bad...
It’s very difficult to judge quality differences in high saturated metal tones. Plug a tele , play slightly breaking up tones and play some music where dynamics matter. Then you’d notice that gear has evolved a lot more than you think.
I know all this video did was tell us the pod can do what the axe fx can when it comes to metal with a simple eq tweak. they were so close it was just a lack of mids in the pods sound. when i had my eyes closed i realized more than anything that i didnt care which was which and by thinking it was just 2 guitarists with different taste in eq and they both sounded great.
I can confirm, nowdays the dynamics became so much better, obviusly axefx III is really good, but the 500x sound as good as the first one, in the mix maybe just more need to tweak and use external ir. But for every genre of music is possible to hear that, considering first digital amp sim distortion, they were awful, nowadays almost everithing middle upper level sounds usable
The axe effect is miles leaps and bounds ahead of that pod pro x2 or x3. Fractal literally shits on every other modeler kempers used to be It but they sound nowhere near as good as fractals now. The setting you have sounds like you put to much mids on it. But people realize you’re hearing this off RU-vid it’s compressed and makes things sound the same the feel and tone and sound of a fractal is way better
The POD sounded a bit scooped, otherwise i might have prefered its sound if it had more mid, i almost prefer it as is to the Axe, i feel the Axe sounded a bit grainy in this example. The Axe should be a lot better than the POD of course, but i dont feel that it shows in this clip, it may also have a better feel when playing, but as a listener it doesnt make a difference.
I have an HD500X floorboard model, and I really like it, but my issue is that I really would rather play than spend hours creating the patches that really sing. I've done a few and they turned out really great, but it's time consuming and not really what I want to be doing. I'm still looking for that AxeFX singing lead sound. I wish they had made a rack version of the 500X, as I'm not playing live and rarely dance on the switches.
on my blind test of this video the L6 sounded way better in the mix. much cleaner. but theyre damn close. I have the L6 as a back up to my EVH 5150iii with a 4cm midi for effects only, but an emergency backup. its a great unit thatll get you by in case something goes wrong.
Having a hard time recording vocals, I have my Pod HD Pro Plugged in (I've recorded my guitars before) but can't seem to get logic to register my microphone. (I have the 48v turned on as well) any ideas/links?
It shouldn't recognize your mic separately. The only inputss you'll show in logic is podhd pro L and R. If you have those inputs, but your not getting signal, check your setting on the podhd... you have to change your input from guitar to mic. I dont remember exactly where the setting is, but it should be one of those buttons you have to hold to access global settings. Hope that helps!
I feel the axe fx has something going on that gives the amp model space. I like it more , but just barely. I have a pod hd500x floor , but it works for me. I do need to get an ir pedal any recommendations? Was looking at the joyo cab box as it has midi. Throw it in the fx loop after the amp and boom! Thoughts?
Yes, it definitely sounds fuller. its super noticable in the solo'd section. I haven't tried it myself, but I've had people tell me that they've had great results using a mooer radar with the podhd line. I was always going into a real cabinet, so I never really used the stock IRs
