Line 6 POD PRO

as stated before:
-32 amp models
-various effects including noise gate, chorus, flanger, rotary speaker,delay reverb, and compression
-speaker cabinet emulation
-all the various ins and outs for recording and live performance
-foot controller
-stereo effects loop
my only real complaint is that the Pro lacks and editing screen. i've become accustomed to having a display where i can see all the various effects and their levels. i have to go by knob position, which is bypassed anyways when you switch to another preset.
also, i would have liked to have had the ability to combine more effects. they have a few combinations but lack any over three total. i really miss the ability to add compression along with chorus, reverb, delay, etc.

i'm using an SG standard at the moment with dimarzio pickups and love classic heavy metal and hard rock. i'm using the Pro as part of a rack setup for live performance including a digitech GSP-21, a peavey 260 power amp, and a genz benz 4x12. now first i must tell you, i haven't had much access to most of the amps modeled but from listening to a wide variety of bands, and knowing their gear reasonably well, the Pro does an amazing job of replicating those amps. granted, there's studio voodoo in there somewhere but overall, an excellent job.

one of my favorite settings it the Line 6 insane, so much gain you can feel it. the neighbors are starting to get annoyed because it's so much fun to crank it up and try to rattle the nails from the walls.

and as for variety, if you can't find a tone you love with this thing, you must not be trying hard enough. i've heard the tube fanatics denounce this thing as junk but i think they just might be a little frightened of new technology. it responds to volume changes just like a tube amp and includes all the features of that amp. they tried to replicate these amps in exact detail, even all the faults.

so far, it's been from the box to an SKB rack case. seems to have a face plate from machined aluminum. i assume no real problems. on a side note, sloppy machining on the lower "knob trench" but that's just the engineer in me poking through.

Haven't needed them yet, just sent in the warranty card.

as far as amp purchases, this has been my favorite. it's just so versatile. if it got stolen, i'd probably buy another. if you get chance to play one at a music store try it, i think you'll be impressed. aside from lack of an editing screen and multiple combined effects, this is one hell of a sonic weapon for the money i paid.

The Pod Pro is a rackmount version of the Pod 2.0, NOT (a rackmount version of the original pod) like their web site states. I called Line 6 to verify this one. The POD PRO runs firmware version 2.0 like the Pod 2.0 does,....The POD PRO has an upgraded analog - digital - analog converter for better (112 db) dynamics. Line 6 told me on the phone that this upgraded A/D/A had more bit data. They really wouldn't tell me anymore than that and I am assuming that probably the original POD and the POD 2.0 is running 20 bit ADA converters and the POD PRO is running most likely a 24 bit ADA converter (but I don't know this for sure). The POD PRO has all kinds (1/4", AES/EBU, S/PDIF, and XLR)of outputs on the back to connect either analog or digitally to guitar amps, power amps/PA systems, or mixer/multitrack recorders. It has real knobs on it to tweak also, gain, bass, middle, treble, channel volume, reverb level, effects tweak, output. Incidently, the tone controls reflect the actual amps tone controls, so none of them from model to model will act the same. Read in the manual about all the amps that this thing models so you understand how they were used and can tweak up the POD the same way. The Amp models, cabinets, and effects are also selected with rotary knobs. 36 presets with settings from the factory but you can store your own settings overtop of these, effectively getting rid of the factory settings if you don't like them. Also you can tweak the individual amp models and effects and store them directly to the amp model (on the knob) settings,.....

For what the POD PRO was designed for (direct injection onto tape), its tones are perfect. Line 6's scientific approach for analying the real amps and setting up the software to produce (at a signwave level) an exact reproduction is really the only way to get true simulations
The tones you hear on any of the pods are always mice'd up tones, as if you are playing through this particular amp and micing up the cabinet you selected. You hear the sound as the mic hears it and as it would go to tape. I think any realistic musician would tell you that what comes out of their amp's speakers and what gets printed to tape in the end is a bit different.

This concept is very important to remember if you are going to be able to make the POD Pro work.

To get an idea of what the thing sounds like go to Line 6 website and download some of their sound files of some of their amp models,....another good test is to listen to them or other modeled technology through headphones,...If its not warm enough, the tones will sound too thin and harsh through the headphones,...the POD's tones however sounded great through headphones. They got a good whack at a compromise between tones that sound good on full range speakers as well as on sterile studio quality headphones. As you can already probably tell, I am not going to neither worship nor rag on any particular model because each model just like a real amp will respond differently to different guitars, playing technique, etc., and so some will sound better than others to you and it somewhat boils down to your personal taste anyway,.....If you are an old school tube type crank my marshall to 15 if it had it snob kind of dude like the previous review then you may not like a pod through guitar speakers,.....personally, if I were playing live with real people and not doing any home recording I would probably go with a real tube amp also. Its really no way to reproduce sound pressure which you get off of the real deals and if you are used to that and need it to play well then, like I said get the real deal. Feeding a guitar amp with what amounts to a copy of a guitar amp (from a pod) can produce some muddiness and lifelessness if not done correctly. Its kind of like making a copy of a copy of a copy type thing,...each new copy of the previous copy looses its crispness and presence. Both the POD 2.0 and POD PRO has some settings to compensate for feeding into actual guitar amps but your results may vary. Again I am going to suggest downloading their manual for this thing before you buy it,....it lets you understand how it works and tells you quite a bit about all the amps (32)that it emulates,....I learned quite a bit about tone just by reading their manual and listening to their soundfiles at the website. Thir manual is written with a comedy air about it,....Its fun to read yet still very infomative....

Probably as reliable as any other solid state piece of equiment that is safely housed in a rack and not being steped on and beat around on the floor.

I really wanted to give them a 1 here but I eventually got info from them. Every single time (and it was many) that I called them, the fake operator said please hold while I try that extension,....Shes admitting right off the bat that its going to be nothing more than a TRY. Anyway, of course the sales rep or whoever (she tried)is out, but please leave a message and they will get back with you, WHICH THEY WON'T!!!!!! I had to finally (in a nice way) get nasty with one of the live phone directors (that for them unfortunately answered instead of letting the fake operator)and let her know that I have been leaving messages and getting no answers. I basically demanded for some answers or at least someone to talk to,.... She was really nice and answered or found someone to answer my questions. I really question the previous reviewer because he gave them a good rating in this department,....Giving him the benefit of the doubt, maybe they once were prompt and courtious and hopefully will return to that state!!!!!!!

The only reason I posted this review is because I found out some info from Line 6 that is not on their website,..I thought It may be helpful to some. Also, so many of the reviews at this site are skewed in the way that lots of reviews are made by someone not using the equipment correctly or as it was intended,....Their conclusion is that the equipment sucks,....If more people would do more research on these products and work with them more then they could give more accurate reviews. The POD PRO as well as the other PODs were really never intended to be used for anything else other than being a direct box for recording. Some had used them for other tasks such as feeding their guitar amps with good results,...Others have had disasterous results BUT SHOULD (NOT) COMPLAIN AND SAY SOMETHING SUCKS when they are not really using it in the way it was designed. Line 6 has recognized the alternative uses for their product and are trying to accomodate the new found uses. Just realize a product's intended use and its limitations before experimenting,...that way it won't be a shock to you if it SUCKS when you do experiment with it! Maybe it was your technique of implimenting it that SUCKS!

If you have any question about any of the operations on the POD PRO feel free to email me and I will try and answer them,....I probably could learn more about it myself by helping others find answers,...I am not using it in any way other than direct recording by the way.

easy to use but in my opinion the sound quality is poor, if you want a ton of fair sounding amp sims rather than one great one this is for you! i tried for a year on the pod and took back the pod pro within a month because i could not get a good sound

i used a heritage 150 cm and a G&L ASAT classic with the pod pro and at first, i was taken in by all the hype, nine inch nail, clint black, orgy among others endorse this product, have they lost thier hearing or have they simply have thier wallets fattened to promote these products, i tried for a year with the pod to get a decent vintage sound and took back the pod pro within a month, the effects are cheap sounding and encourage you to buy thier stomp boxes for better processing sounds,what a joke! this is not PRO GEAR! i now have a marshall JMP 1 AND A TC ELECTRONICS M 2000 and everyone agrees my sound is totally pro now!

always prompt and courtious

i.ve been playing guitar for over 30 years and have recorded in some of the best facilities on the west coast. save your money and get somthing else for direct recording. or better yet find yourself a good sounding tube amp and learn how to mike it for recording for best results.this technology is just not there yet, if your into marshall the JMP 1 has got the sounds of many of thier classis amps and the speaker simulater is superb, sounds the way a diret recordind device should sound

Pod Pro has everything the new Pod 2.0 has, plus the additional "studio quality" inputs (XLR, SPDIF, etc.). Made to be placed into a 2U-rack mount. "Analog" controls on front for EQ, Amp model, Effects, Tuner, MIDI, Reverb, etc. Gives the user the ability to use up to 32 different amplifiers with several speaker cabinet designs and add a variety of effects.

I gotta say that right of the bat, this thing sounds pretty damn cool! I own two of the amps that the Pod Pro models (Mesa Triple Rectifier (the Pod actually has the Dual Rectifier, but it's basically the same amp), and a VOX AC30 Top Boost). Based on these two amps, I can tell you the Pod Pro comes VERY close to producing the amps unique sonic characteristics. It has much of the Mesa's low end "Grind", as well as the AC30's warm clean tone. Now, I've been using this mostly through my computer at home through a pair of Yamaha satellite speakers. That being said, I obviously don't have the tonal range that a nice set of studio monitors, or a killer 4X12 would produce, but it still sounds phenomenal! I can dial in my Mesa's fat grinding punch for aggressive metal rhythms and solos, or that cool fat warm AC30 clean and unique overdriven tone. I play mostly "Metal" styles with my band Brand X Savior, but I was so inspired by this thing, I even started playing some blusey country sounding riffs as well with the "Twang" setting. If you can't find a setting on this unit to fit your style, you just aint trying hard enough. This thing is really built with versatility in mind. You might not be able to tweak every aspect of the sound, but with the selection of amps, cabs, effects, and other minutia, you should be able to nail just about any tone you're looking for. One note about home studio work with a computer: If you use this thing near a computer monitor, it will buzz like hell. There's even a comment about this in the manual. Fortunately, the unit has a Noise Gate built in, and this eliminates a lot of the buzzy sound. Line 6 also recommends that if you're recording a riff into your computer, you might want to turn the monitor off while you play, and turn it back on once your finished to eliminate that annoying buzz.

The Pod Pro seems very sturdy. I believe it's an almunium chassey built for a rack mounted solution. The Pod Pro was made for studio and live application use. That being said, I feel this thing would survive the riggers of both uses. I've only had the Pod Pro for a couple of days, so I can't speak to it's long term survival first hand, but first impressions are that this thing will last a long time.

I bought the unit from one of Line 6's reps at a music expo, and he was very helpful in demonstrating the Pod Pro. The unit I bought was taken out of the box for demo purposes and the manual was missing. The rep actually went back to his hotel to try and locate it for me. I thought that was kind of cool to try and personally help me out. From what I've heard, Line 6 has pretty good customer support, so I think they take care of their customers.

I've been playing for over 12 years. In that period of time, I've amassed quite a collection of instruments and amplifiers. I have at least one of just about every main manufactures instruments (Gibson, Fender, Peavy, Kramer, Mesa Boogie, etc...). The killer thing about the Pod Pro is pretty obvious: When I'm doing studio stuff, or even just don't want to lug my heavy ass amps around, I have a totally viable option for producing a killer sounding amp tone. Where I'm probably going to use this primarily for home and studio use, I have the option of plugging this into a smaller amp (say, my Fender Princeton Stereo Chorus), and getting out a very convincing Mesa Dual Rectifier through a 4X12 cab sound! This is something I'll probably utilize very soon as most clubs that my band plays in have very small stages. Between my equipment, the bass players, and especially our
"Thunder Hand Thor Drum Kit from Hell" that our drummer has, the stage "real estate" is taken up very quickly. Having the ability to use a smaller rig, without the compromise of sound is a big plus. If any of these scenarios sound familiar, you could benefit greatly by owning a Pod Pro.

The POD Pro is the latest in Line6's merging product lines, sharing the main features of the new Flextone II series amps and the new POD 2.0. These features include the same set of amp and cabinet models.

The main advantages to the POD Pro are:
- Rack mountable
- More outputs, including digital, balanced XLR, and 1/4" outputs.
- Compatability with other Line6 products and sound patches.

Because you can "swap" patches between any of these devices, you now have the abiltity to design or download any patch you like, and use it and share it with anyone else with any of these. Cool.

BTW, if you have one of these you should IMMEDIATELY do yourself a favor and get to a computer, download the latest version of the SoundDiver software from line6's site, (http://www.line6.com), and then check out the HUNDREDS of user and artist patches posted on their patch exchange area of the site. There are some great ideas using these including some awesome patches from Scott Henderson.

I've found POD patches useful with most guitars, but my PRS McCarty probably sounds the best, especially with the overdriven Mesa, Soldano, and Marshall models. I also like the strat sounds of my American Deluxe Fat Strat, especially with the blusey overdrive sounds of the Blackface Deluxe and the Budda Twinmaster models.

There's such a wide variety of sounds from crazy, nearly uncontrolable, overdrive to sweet, clean, jazz sounds and everywhere in between...

They've made it possible to get at all the amp models and cabinet models from the front panel. If your experience with Line6 has been solely with the POD's front panel presets, you'll find a lot of new choices with this feature. (BTW, this is now available with the Flextone II's and POD 2.0).

If you liked the POD's sounds you'll like these. If not, you won't be buying this.

Solid state... Since it fits in a rack, it shouldn't be subject to the same abuse as a POD.

Line6 is very receptive to customer problems. Great website. Active user community to give ideas and help with issues.

You're going to be seeing these in the racks of a lot of touring musicians... and in most studio's as well. Even if you only find a couple of amp and cab combinatons you like, this would be worth it. Even if you just wanted a guaranteed backup for your main rig, this is a great option.

If you don't need the additional outputs and having a rack unit doesn't mean much to you, the POD 2.0 offers all the sound and effects in the POD Pro for about 1/2 price. And since you can always copy over the patches if you upgrade, it may be a choice to consider.

Otherwise the POD Pro is probably going to be a huge hit. My bet is it will be an instant "classic", "must have" for many people.

This has more bells and whistles than just about anything that I have ever used for guitar. Too many to actually go into detail about. Go to the Web site and download the users guide. Probably the strongest feature is the Cabinet Simulation and you will find this to be extremly valuable in getting an authentic tone. Try the 4x12 with Green Backs. Its all balls!

Absolutly the best sounding digital modeling gear on the planet. If anyone tells you that the Johnson is better, tell them that they are full of "SH*T" and to go buy the real deal. Check out the Boutique amps. WOW!!!!!!

Built like a tank. Their attention to detail has really been stepped up. I've only had it for a few days, but if it breaks, I'll just go buy another. It doesn't cost that much, but it is a piece of gear that every guitarist should have.

The best I've dealt with in a long time!!

I'm a tone nut and am known to spend alot on my gear. I use this as studio tool but would use it live if needed a compact ultra-versatile preamp.

Though only six hours into it (they just became available today!), this badboy is very user friendly. I have been using Line 6 products on the road and in the studio for three years, so I was already pretty hip to the operation so I do suggest keeping the manual handy if you are a first timer. The features are almost endless for both live and studio.

I play "rodeo rock-n-roll", which is basically high energy country western with a classic rock/americana influence (got that?). I am endorsed by Carvin, so my main guitars are the Carvin HM1 Holdsworth model, and the TL60T (killer axes!). The Pro is racked with a (you guessed it!)Carvin DCM 600 power amp, a Korg rack tuner (not really needed because the PRO has a tuner built in), and my a power conditioner. For outdoor stages, I am using a Carvin 4x12 stereo cab, and for smaller venues, two 1x12 closed back cabs (as it is new, I have only heard it through the 4x12). Anyways, it's very simple, and straight forward. While my bandmates are running patchcords and putting batteries in their stomp boxes, I am always ready to gig within 5 minutes of arrival (with my combo. Im sure the rack setup will be same.
I am a tone FREAK, and I am very impressed so far. From chicken pickin Fenders to bone crushing Boogies, the PRO gets the job done!!

Footnote - Dont skimp! Unless you are a professional bedroom rock star who doesnt gig, pay the $225.00 and get the floorbard! It is what makes the thing so damn cool and user friendly on stage.

Well, it is new so give me more time. My Axsys 212 has done well after 3 yrs on the road, so if that is a indicator, I should be happy and have good luck...

I have dealt with C/S over the phone for questions, but never had any servicing. Just two days ago I called, and got voicemail. Would have prferred a human from the start, however Patrick called me within 30 minutes and was quite helpful.

As I stated above, I also own the origianl Axsys 212 (did not dig the upgrade, so went back to the original!) and use it for my combo. I have been playing about 18 years and have gone through numerous preamps including a Rocktron Chameleon On-line, a ADA MP-2, a Lee Jackson, and a few others. They cannot compare to the Pod Pro(I know, I have only had it 6 hours, but I was cruisin through it after 10 minutes). If it were stolen, I would first freak out (I was on a waiting list for 2 months!) and then get another.