Subscribe to Vision Music MinistriesNews FeedTwitterTwitterFacebookFacebook

Line 6 Pod X3 Live

January 9, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Adam's Gear Blog

Leave a Comment

x3
If you have been looking at any of the Line 6 products lately, particularly the X3 line, you’ll probably like to hear my opinion and experiences so far.
 
I have to admit, I’ve been an ebay’n fool for the last few weeks.
The band needed some new equipment so I sold some old stuff in order to ‘fund’ the new purchases, and I figured, while I am at it I might as well go ahead and get some cash out of some of my personal equipment I dont use.
 
But that wasnt enough…
 
Since Line 6 came out with the Pod X3 Live, I have been drooling over it. It didnt help the situation when my cousin Brandon (who used to play bass for Vision) bought one. Since then there has been two issues stopping me from upgrading from my XT live to the X3.
Problem #1: Money
Its really hard to justify spending over $500 on a new toy when you have new bills coming up and a baby on the way.
Problem #2: Reliablity
Currently I use a Pod XT Live and it has been rock solid. I have to rely on it 3 times a week with no backup. I have read reports about problems with the X3 Live units. Switches going bad, firmware problems, etc.
 
Well, I decided bite the bullet and sell my XT Live on ebay, and with the money I got from everything else upgrade to the X3 Live. Apparently most of the problems were with earlier units and many of the people I have heard from on the Line 6 forums say that they have not had any problems with the newer units.
 
It came in yesterday and I used it last night for the first time.
I really do think this was worth the wait. It does sound better than my old XT using the same patches (backed up to my computer then restored them to the new pod). I made a few minor tweaks to my old patches and nothing sounded terribly out of place last night. For the most part, it sounded like a warmer version of my old XT.
 
The number of features are mind-blowing, but the interface is easy to learn. There is lots of flexiblity with multiple inputs and outputs, as well as the ablity to process 2 seperate signal chains at the same time. There are models for Guitar amps, Bass amps, Vocal preamps, etc. You can pretty much run any instrument or vocal through it and there are models that will help you warm up the sound.
And NO MORE NEED FOR A DIRECT BOX!!!!    The XLR outputs are a very welcome addition. Last night I was able to run a microphone cable straight from the X3 to the stage box and ditch the direct box. One less connection, one less piece of low grade gear to color my sound, and one less thing to clutter the stage.
 
I can see how this is going to also come in handy as a recording interface.
Line 6 now gives X3 owners access to the Pod Farm plugin, which allows you to access the models and effects of the Pod as a VST plugin for your favorite DAW. I’ll be able to record instruments in ableton live with a dry signal then apply the amp, cab, and microphone models as well as effects after the recording is done. No more “re-recording” an instrument part because I didnt like the way the patch I used sat in the mix.
Also, it will be nice to have a mobile recording interface. We can record keyboard parts without dragging the keyboard to my house, which is a big plus.
 
We’ll see how it all plays out, but so far I am VERY satisfied with the latest evolution in the Line 6 Pod line of products. This is my 4th Pod, and with every one I have been impressed with the new features and improvements.

Tags:

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

January 2, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Updates

Leave a Comment

2008 was a good year for the band. We grew a lot musically, yet we had lots of challenges to overcome.
We learned how to adapt and press forward when overwhelming changes occur.

I have no doubt 2009 will present further opportunities to grow, and further challenges meet.
Talks of a large fundraiser are still in order, and we are experimenting with some home studio recording.
With the fundraiser (details in the coming months) we hope to aquire enough resources to upgrade our equipment to allow us to go more places with our ministry. We finished getting everyone on wireless monitors, and that is a big step in the right direction.
This year seems very promising, and we are looking forward to the exciting things God has in store for us.

As far as challanges go, there is a whole new slew of giants right now to defeat. One being our schedules. I am being faced with a HUGE project at work that is going to be very time consuming. Tommy has taken on the launch and management of a new restaurant here in Shallotte. Christie is due in April and everyone knows that a new baby (especially a first child) changes everything. On top of this Sheila has also recently started a new job with even more responsibility and challenges.

Brandon is starting college this year and has expressed the fact that he will not be with us much longer. He wants to be able to focus on his education and we all support him in this decision. Brandon has been with Vision for a long time and we will all be sad to see him go, but wish him well on all future endevors and he always has a place in the band.

Tommy is going to be on vacation for the next 2 Sundays so you probably wont see a whole lot out of us durring the first part of January.

2008 was great, and we are ready to do it again!

Thank you all for your support

Tags: