POD XT in the loop?

[Vass]

I've got my $10 8280 Valvestate working now except for the reverb (for those who didn't follow the story- bought it off the street, cleaned the pots, boom, she's running). To be more precise, the verb works when it wants to. I was thinking about running my PODXT in the loop, but saw this:

http://line6.com/support/entry.jspa?externalID=4116


Could the preamp cook the XT if it's in the loop? Or am I mis-reading what they're saying?


Vass

[emperor_black]

Naw! You cant fry a modelling device. All you will get is garbage due to heavy clipping. Turn off the preamps to get a good sound. I experimented with the gt-8 in the fx-loop of a JMP. Only way you can "fry" would be if you plugged your pod's input into the mains.

Wait, that's not a bad idea.

[bibz]

I've ran a vamp pro through the loop or my 8240 with pretty cool results, just for fx it'd be sweet as those guys have a series loop I believe, you'll get some unprocessed tone going through anyways.

[emperor_black]

Chuck schuldiner (RIP) used to run a cheap digitech multi-fx unit with his original valvestate and got some awesome tones to date. Not sure if he had his unit in the fx-loop or not.

[Vass]

Thanks guys- Going to give it a shot this weekend.

Vass

[chrisolson]

I use my Pod Pro in my Mesa's loop for effects only, and it sounds great. Here's how I've got it set up, and it works quite well:

Preamp - Tube preamp on the Pod. All controls at noon. Gain should be low so it doesn't color your sound. Cab emulation should be OFF in this mode, but I do it manually anyway.

Effects - choose your poison, but I wouldn't use the distortion/OD pedals with your loop. I use primarily the delays & chorus. I do use the boost from my floorboard swith for a little extra volume, and it's okay. The wah is a little over-the-top.

I set the top level (volume) on the amp, and then turn the loop to 100% so that the Pod is the "master control" of volume and so on.

It's not perfect, and it's not "pro" but for my purposes, it does a great job. I'm sure the "bean style" Pod could be used the same way.

[992gnt]

I get the best sound from my X3L running into the return side of the FX loop on my VK combo. Sounds better than going into the amps input, using the X3L in the loop normally, or using the 4 cable method. The master volume control will then rest with the X3L, btw.

[toejam]

Naw! You cant fry a modelling device. All you will get is garbage due to heavy clipping. Turn off the preamps to get a good sound. I experimented with the gt-8 in the fx-loop of a JMP.

Why would you need to turn off the preamps? When using something in the loop, the amp's preamp is disabled. The Valvestate loop is also stereo (1 output/send and 2 input/return for left and right channels). You'd just plug one cable for mono or two for stereo from the Line 6's outputs into the Valvestate's returns, then plug your guitar into the Line 6 input. If going straight into the amp's input, then you'd use the clean channel. Or if you used the distortion channel, then you'd turn off the Line 6 preamps.
The awesome thing about the Valvestate series is that the amp's master volume still works like a master volume even when something is in its loop.
I've still got my old 8240 stereo chorus 2x12 that I use in my living room, bought it new when it came out (I think 1992 or so) and it's still going strong!

[Vass]

Why would you need to turn off the preamps? When using something in the loop, the amp's preamp is disabled. The Valvestate loop is also stereo (1 output/send and 2 input/return for left and right channels). You'd just plug one cable for mono or two for stereo from the Line 6's outputs into the Valvestate's returns, then plug your guitar into the Line 6 input. If going straight into the amp's input, then you'd use the clean channel. Or if you used the distortion channel, then you'd turn off the Line 6 preamps.
The awesome thing about the Valvestate is that the amp's master volume still works like a master volume even when something is in its loop.

LOL Joe now I'm totally confused I had been using the PODxt for distortion/overdrive through the front of the amp on the clean, which is cool... When I went to use reverb/delay through the dirty channel, the obvious happened ...nasty, distorted verb/delay.

If I put the pod in the loop, the tube pre-amp is disabled in the amp? I know i can bypass the amplifier preamp completely by plugging into the return without hooking the send signal up to the amp...that obviously would disable the amp's pre-amp because...well, it wouldn't be connected . But what I'd like to do is just get the effects into the dirty signal & just pass it through, using the tube pre-amp.

If I put the pod in the loop, am I stacking pre-amps, or is the podxt pre-amp going to be doing the work...?

Good thing this is a $10 amp, for me....

Vass

[Dreamland_Rebel]

the pod xt has the ability to turn the amp sim off. and just use the FX. so running it through the loop for just FX is a normal thing that it was designed to do.

the only reason to hook it up to the FX return and not the send is when you want to use your head as just the power amp and have all the sounds come from the pod.

you should really read your pilots handbook instead of asking the board. all these topics are covered in great detail on the different ways to connect and use your pod.

[toejam]

But what I'd like to do is just get the effects into the dirty signal & just pass it through, using the tube pre-amp.

Your original question asked about using the POD in the loop, but I wasn't sure if you were using just that for your distortion or your amp.
If using the Marshall preamp, then plug your guitar straight into the amp, the amp's send would go to the input of the POD, then the output of the POD into the effects return of the amp. You'd just disable the preamps on the POD.

[Vass]

Your original question asked about using the POD in the loop, but I wasn't sure if you were using just that for your distortion or your amp.
If using the Marshall preamp, then plug your guitar straight into the amp, the amp's send would go to the input of the POD, then the output of the POD into the effects return of the amp. You'd just disable the preamps on the POD.

Thanks Joe, & everyone. I figured it was that straight forward, but when I saw this:

"Q: Can I run my POD/X3/xt/Pro/Live/Floor in an effect loop of an amplifier to use just the effects rather than the amp modeling?
A: Yes, it is possible to to run a POD as an effect unit in the effect loop of an amplifier. You may want to turn off the amp modeling or use as clean a sound as possible to avoid stacking preamps. You may also need to lower the “line level” signal of the amplifier's effect send output to "instrument level" to avoid potential damage to the input of your POD. Some POD units will have a pad switch that will accomplish this function. If your POD unit does not have an input pad switch, a device such as the Ebtech Line Level Shifter can be used to lower the line level if necessary."

I got a little concerned.

Rebel- I've gone through the Pilot's handbook. Check out page 39 (3-7). It discusses using the PODXT's pre-amp in liu of the pre-amp on the combo. I wanted to retain the Marshall's pre-amp and just use the PODXT in the loop.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=3&q=http://media.zzounds.com/media/PODxt_Manual-Version_2-English-1-8262ee832c6f74698cefc5aec5dc274b.pdf&ei=pKtCSdCjJpjEes2AreEI&sig2=aVDaRjFErnTLzNGvYJwgEw&usg=AFQjCNFXspeNas6mcH75eHOtxc0ZyuwBWQ

Having not found what I needed in the manual (and of course it's very possible I missed it) I went searching through LINE 6's site, where I found the above link, which led me to ask the question here.

Thanks for your suggestion & sorry if it looks like I'm spamming up the board. If you had seen the link I posted in the original post, you would have understood why I was asking.

Vass

[toejam]

It's always good to try to match the levels, as most rack effects work best at line level and most pedals run at instrument level. The Valvestate should have a loop level switch for -20dB and 0 dB. See which one works best with the POD and adjust the level to what sounds best to you. Not sure if the POD has a level "pad" switch or not.

[chrisolson]

Way to douche up the thread, Joe!!!

[emperor_black]