Today in Plague Scythe Studios, I put the best of each generation of Line 6 POD head to head and determine their best, and especially worst qualities! Subscribe: / plaguescythestudios Listen to Siderum: siderum.bandcamp.com/releases
Damn, even the fact you can talk about comparison’s between the firmware updates on these units alone makes me shudder to think how much time you’ve spent with these products. I’m imagining when you started this entire process your hair was shorter and you didn’t have a beard 😄 Great work as always 👍
To my ears the original had the "thickest" and more appealing distortion sound to me, the other two mainly sounded gritty and thin. The HD had the nicest and most detailed clean sound I thought. Great test!
The first JTM comparisons had me disgusted by every single one, i was like surely the next one wont disgust me, but so did the x3, and then the one after that, ugh
This has been one of my favorite series on RU-vid this far. I’ve had the 2.0 since it came out and I still love it. I think the other iterations would have been worth having at the time but given the products available now, I can’t see a use for them where I can still see the use of the 2.0 given how easy it is to use and how cheap it is.
Just recorded with my PODXT Live yesterday. I forgot how good it sounds. And so easy to use and tweak once you have the editing software sync'd up. I wish Line 6 would come up with a new "desktop" model for us studio guys.
Kudos, you really went all out here. Just want to say, never got the POD hate: The 2.0 sounds mostly thick and satisfying. The X3 sounds mostly thin and unsatisfying The HD sounds like an attempt to move the X3 tech back to the 2.0's direction. Thanks for sharing, great shootout! 😊✌️
I recently got an X3, but honestly I think the 2.0 sounds best. Sounds the most organic and analog. Still found a good sound on my X3 though, but I use an SD1 with it.
Just sat down for lunch at work today. Who will win? Pod 2: Hyperpod, Pod X3: The Last Stand, or Pod HDer-er. I give it to the 2.0. All three don't convince me they're anything but what they are, the X3 especially, but there's something about the 2.0 for all but the metal tones that sounds totally usable. The effects in particular are simplistic but very functional. Great shootout!
I've only ever owned the PODxt with all the model packs installed. I think it does pretty well for recording songs with it, that doesn't sound over produced. I would like to try the POD X3 or even the Helix someday.
I like the X3 best cuz you could see your room reflected on the knobs especially your rotating fan. The IR loader basically made even the POD 2.0 palatable to my ears. I hope to snag a Mooer Radar for my X3 Live at some point. For now i’m using it as a vocal processor. Lots of fun. Congrats on completing this gargantuan shootout.
Hi very good video! Can you expand as well on the firmware updates of the HD ? Did they have a significant effect on how it sounded? I had an HD but after a repair I was stuck at 1.43 firmware, for some reason ,probably the repair center fucked up, did not let me update further some kind of error. Still I could get and can get some sounds I really like with it.
Nice vid. Im pretty korn influenced and the rotary effect on the 2.0 is on of my all time favs for background lead/fill. Im pretty poor though so my experience is pretty limited.
I have the pod x3 and I like it a lot, I have it for several years, I love distortions and delays, the presets I download them from the page, recently I bought boss gt001, I hope to compare both devices, but I really like the pod x3.
Nice work man l’ve got the pod .2.0 and try to find some pictures of settings because it’s impossible to me to do this for me with a midi cable, Do you know where l can find those pictures settings?Thanks very much😎
One difference I found between my POD 2 and Flextone 2 is how the Flextone sounds much more natural with cab model off in "Bypass". While the POD sounds terrible without a cab model (Using the Rectified amp high-gain). Also the Flextone 2 sounds much better than the POD 2 through my Fender Hotrod Deluxe III amp. Both tweaked for best sound.
besides the user friendliness of real knobs and buttons and being able to plug in your guitar and play along without hasseling with additional audio interfaces like Apogee Jam: is there any other reason that would justify the use of one of those "little boxes" over software amps like BIAS FX, Amplitube or Tonebridge with iPhone/iPad?
I guess this is what happens when you get an engineering mind doing work. Thanks a bunch, best content anywhere on modeling. Could you borrow a kemper from someone? Lol bet a great series would come out of that
I would totally be open for it, though I dont think I've ever seen a Kemper in my state let alone know someone with one. If the opportunity arises though, I'm down.
I just bought a pod hd 500x. I’ve had a pod, pod 2.0, plus an DT, next went to the x3 pro, kept that even I bought the hd 500x. I will be buying a helix. I’m wondering if there’s a way to connect the x3 to the hd 500x. Because with midi I have another whammy then plus extra knobs? Just wondering.
The Floor Pod I use is very close to the 2.0, I obviously use a tubescreamer because I play a 30" baritone tuned to F standard, it gets me that 2002/2006 era kinda Meshuggah sound, they used a Pod Pro back then though. I find it much easier to dial in than my X3 Pro and it cuts like a knife in the room.
I’ve got an X3, I’ve had it for about 4-5 months. It’s not a bad unit. Some of it sounds artificial, but all the L6 stuff has that at some point. The later Pods are tweakers units. The originals are more simplistic and easier to use. To me the X3 sounded the best out of the 3 but none hit it out of the park on all of the presets.
Oh REAAAAAAALLY? The 2.0 got a score of 2.0!? I'm dying! Hahahaha! Awesome video. I've used the Pod HD500 floorboards for so many gigs now, you can't avoid them even if you wanted to. You found some great tones on the 2.0 there. How much is that thing? 50 bucks now? That's gonna be the only thing I recommend to people now. Why do I want to get the kidney bean even though I have an HX stomp?
POD 2.0 for life - I have owned all of these 2nd hand and A/Bd most of them against each other, and there is no better idiot-proof modeller (to dial in) than the original POD 2.0!
does this sound the same to the pod 2.0 that says "treadplate" instead of "rectified" . Also I noticed that the new one has the new line 6 logo cheers!
just got an x3 for 45 bucks including shipping, cause i need an "away from home" rig next year. stoked af, i think it sounded better than the HD in many instances. the 2.0 surprised me though
I have a DOD fx7. If I get a pod I'm getting the 2.0 I also have a digitech rp200, but I like the fx7 better. They are all older units I've had for years.
You ever try the Johnson J Station? It was an original Pod copy that was made by Digitech before they were called Digitech. I own a Pod 2.0 and think the J Station sounds slightly better but its not as easy to dial in and the cab sim sucks on it as well. It has some great acoustic and bass models though. I got mine for 20 bucks.
@@someguynamedrob581 i still have the J station but seldom use it. I also have Pod 2.0, XT, and HD. Not in love with any of them. Recently moved to Boss GT 1 and pocket GT. Better tones.
Hey thanks for your amazing comparison ! To me it sounds like the HD has more grit compared to the X3 which sounded more 'hollow'. I've got the 2.0 and yeah, the cab sims SUCK . Maybe I will try it with some IR and see what happens. Oh and that Matrix looks promising !
I stumbled across a great deal on a practically new X3 floor unit about 3 years ago. Although I play guitar and bass, the X3 has only been used with my Ampeg SVT 4 Pro on my bass rig. Primarily it's a tuner, a gate when I dirty things up, and to just explore sounds. I don't use the compressor, as I have never used a compression unit of any kind while playing bass, I was taught that the proper levels, dynamics, etc., ( compression) should come from your hands, especially my right (fingerstyle picking) hand.
Funny how some of those people who used to work for Line 6 now work for Strymon. Pod 2.0 sounds best to my ears by a mile. You can still get it on eBay for roughly the price of a Polytune!
I'm debating buying a 2.0 off eBay and boosting it with my fortin and see how close to the original meshuggah nothing tone playing my meshuggah m8m through it. That said, would it be worth it for fun and is the pod 2.0 easy to dial in tones and would the fortin boost help me get somewhat close to that tone?
@@bradylasserre9320 I actually have one of those myself. The x3 doesn't even compare to the vetta 2s imo. I sold my x3 and bought a mint rackmount pod pro and it's the perfect set up
I don't know man, are you sure you don't wanna just throw them all in a wood chipper and start fresh? Jk, I commend you for your endurance through this self-imposed trial and your dedication to posterity.
Pod 2.0 is the winner but the HD was the same or better in some aspects. I currently have a morley george lynch tripler feeding three 2.0’s each going to their own IR pedal and monitor but after seeing this I kinda wanna switch one out for the HD
I still play through an HD500X and before that a PODXT. The one thing I couldn't stand is the stupid kidney shape as it has to sit on a desk in the middle of everything as opposed to being put in a rack and having inputs only on the back. Other than that I have no complaints. I live in an apt so I'm not thrashing any tube amp. More people need to understand the difference between equity and equality.
That 2.0 actually looks like a v1, because it does not have the cabinet settings and additional amp models drawn on it. But I understand that you updated the firmware to make it the same as a 2.x.
Given the amount of time that has passed since the POD beans died and went into modeller history maybe it is time to stop thinking of what they can do in terms of model of X amp/cab/mic that is or isn't accurate, and start thinking of them as timbre toolboxes and figure out what you can use the timbres you can get out of them for in whatever kind of music you want to make or can figure out how to make with them? Could be a whole new era for them if only people can get past the "cabinet emulation in them sucks and IRs you downloaded from the net sound better" thing and just run with what sounds you get out of them without all the baggage?
Seeing how cheap these HDs are used these days it's a no brainer for a very simple live rig. I still use Pod Farm but l love the Big Bottom for how "fake" it sounds, full on after the burial territory.
@@Zoidberg13197 I know, reason why my rig for years was a pod XT, 6-7 months ago I bought an axe fx ultra for dirt cheap to have the first periphery album tone (T808 MOD->FAS Modern->Metal 4x12), the music I play is not in the slightest similar but it's nice to see those "classic" tones in the context of other genres.
My pick = #1 POD 2.0 old school keeping simple on aspects. The more POD evolved, it became a programming nightmare - engineering degree. The X3 was last model before it went full retard of HD menu madness.
That's exactly why I prefer the Pod HD. I do a lot of sound design with guitars and synthesizers and I can plug a synthesizer into it and get crazy sounds with deep tweakability. The software editor makes it easy. I wouldn't be gigging on guitar with any model Pod, but for what I want it for it's cheap and also functions as a usb interface.
I have done more gigs with the original pod 1.0 then most people have played in total , it has a epic crunch sound, i have owned them all, the xt sound could not match the rest
@@PlagueScytheStudios I own the HD500X, and I read somewhere that when they went from the HD500, to the HD500X, that they changed a few things for the better? Plus it's nice to have a built-in expression/wah pedal. 🎶🎸
It's just a processor power increase, the firmware and effects models are identical. The only tangible difference is you can stack more effects, which I didn't even take full advantage of on the base model in this video. It's like going from the AXE FX II base model to XL, the tones are the same.
I got the V Amp3 years ago. It was alot cheaper than the pod. I had big fun with it. Till I got pedals. I recently gave it to my nephew and niece. They do things with it I never thought to do. They think they are computer sound engineer's. Ha! They are. Kids today.
Not much love in the comments for the HD but I like it. It is round and warm sounding (compared to the other Pods anyway) and a lot less fizzy. But what I like most about the HD is the deep tweakability. I use it for synthesizers as well as guitars and I can get some crazy sounds from it with lots of parameters to tweak. Many are turned off by the menu diving but that's what I like most about it. So at the end of the day for me the HD is a pretty good effects processor for little money. I rarely use it for the amp/cab sounds. Next comes the 2.0 but the X3 is just awful.
