Mark V + POD X3 Live

[Gunner]

I run an POD X3 Live direct to the board at church. Is anybody using the X3 Live with the Mark V? I would not use the X3 for my distortions, but for most other effects like delays, chorus, wah (with 4 cable method), tuner, etc.

 

[eudaimonia02912]

You will be digitizing your signal both before and after the pre-amp, even when you bypass the effects. I don't think of myself as anti-digital (I have digital effects in my loop), but I have tried a POD X3 Live with a Mark V and with other amps, and I don't like what they do to the sound. (In fact, I just sold my X3L recently.)

 

[DrummerChas]

I have been running my POD X3 Live through the effects loop on the Mark V for a few weeks now. I don't notice any significant reduction in tone quality when I switch the POD on and off. I do not use it for distortion and I never run it in front of the amp. I had to consult with Line 6 to get the POD and the Mark V working well together, but it was just a matter of adjusting send levels on the V to align well with the input on the POD because the input is designed to be sensitive to pickups on a guitar and not set up for direct line stuff. After the adjustments, it worked great. I run delay, chorus, flanger, etc and it seems fine. The POD is a 24-bit product so that helps. I wouldn't call it the most ideal set up but it does work. Plus you can still use the POD for the direct to PA stuff at church and you don't have to worry about selling it and buying all new effects until you are ready to make that kind of investment. Call Line 6 and they can walk you through it. Their tech support has been pretty good with me in the past. Hope this helps -

 

[HeadlessAxeman]

Running a BOSS GT10 in my effects loop of the Mark V, I notice NO audible difference in the tone or the sound.
Running a Compressor signal (And sometimes) maybe a tube screamer modeller in front of the Mark V does fare pretty well.

Beware though, running a digital fx loop in front of the Mark V sound good as long as u are using a compressor and very little drive on your distortion pedals...if you crank up the digtal distortion, you will end up with a fuzzface effect instead.

As long as you are using the compressor and overdrive to enhance the sound and not ADD substantial gain/sustain, you should be fine.

Just like the pod X3, 24 bit DAC allows for some really cool uses. PLUS VOLUME CONTROL on a footswitch without using a THD Hotplate or affecting the tone.

 

[boogieman60]

I use a digitech 155 in the loop just for a delay and a few other patches. Sounds good to me but causes a little distortion when really pushed. So I use it mostly on softer stuff. When I push the sound I just turn it off through the fx loop on the pedal...

 

[Trev57]

So if you guys are using 4 cable methods, how long are your cables in the loop to get the Pod 3 or GT10 connected? I used to do this with a G System, but they allow you to use ballanced cables for long runs. Most reccomendations for processors in the loop restrict you to 3 feet.

 

[HeadlessAxeman]

So if you guys are using 4 cable methods, how long are your cables in the loop to get the Pod 3 or GT10 connected? I used to do this with a G System, but they allow you to use ballanced cables for long runs. Most reccomendations for processors in the loop restrict you to 3 feet.

You are right, shorter the cable...the better and higher is the SNR ratio. Even the Mark V manual recommends we use a cable of the shortest sufficient length possible.

BUT .... right now, I'm using Instrument (monster/peavey) cables (21 feet) since I haven't yet bothered to go get the 3/6 foot Monster Inst Cables...

I do have one recommendation though if you are runnign an Effects Processor in the loop. Make sure the volume level from the Mark V (fx loop off) is the same as it is when the FX loop is active (fx footswitch button depressed). Matching this volume levels is the least anyone can do to avoid ending up with a tone sucka! Further volume can be controlled via the potentio-metric footswitch without killing the tone even with the FX loop inclusive.

Hope it helps!
Cheers

 

[Newysurfer]

I run an POD X3 Live direct to the board at church. Is anybody using the X3 Live with the Mark V? I would not use the X3 for my distortions, but for most other effects like delays, chorus, wah (with 4 cable method), tuner, etc.

Why do people mix Coke into Bollinger ??
IMO your Mark V deserves the best in high quality effects.
Whats the point of spending over $2000 if your gonna ruin it with cheap & ordinary effects units.
The POD probably tone sucks your amp too :mrgreen:

 

[Scary]

I use a Gforce in the effects loop and it's pretty good, but anything you put in the signal path with change the tone. No offense to those here, but anyone who says there isn't an change in tone should switch to drums. Whether it's change is better or worse is opinion. Even the best processors will seriously alter the natural tone of the amp.

 

[JOEY B.]

Even the best processors will seriously alter the natural tone of the amp.

I agree 100%. The tone as well as the the dynamics are altered when anything extra is put into the signal chain. The question is, how much alteration can you live with and still be happy with the end results.

 

[DrummerChas]

I use a Gforce in the effects loop and it's pretty good, but anything you put in the signal path with change the tone. No offense to those here, but anyone who says there isn't an change in tone should switch to drums. Whether it's change is better or worse is opinion. Even the best processors will seriously alter the natural tone of the amp.

Hmmm...ok I have been a drummer for over 26 years, playing live gigs regularly. In defense of the better drummers out there I can tell you that in my opinion it is more difficult to properly bring a drum to the correct level of tune, resonance and tone than it is with a guitar. I can tune my guitar with my Pod X3 Live, plug it in to my amp and dial in any number of tones and I'm done. With my drums, I have to tune the bottom head by ear, crank down the top head until it resonates, find the best note that causes the drum to resonate evenly, tap each area next to the lugnut until that note is the same at each one, then strike the drum to make sure the bottom head isn't causing the drum to bend the pitch up or down. All this to achieve one ideal tone that the drum has as a product of it's natural design. There aren't a couple hundred "tones" to choose from, so yeah drummers need to understand a lot about tone or their drums can sound terrible.

Also, my previous post mentioned that I didn't notice a "significant reduction" but that doesn't mean I didn't notice a change. I just didn't feel that the change was so bad that the Pod should be completely removed from the equation. Pod's are also great for a quick gig where you can plug in without hauling your whole rig with you. So I look at it like this: if the Pod solves a need to "gig without your rig" (especially helpful in church environments) and it can be used in the loop for effects, then it helps you avoid the need to purchase a more expensive processor until you are really ready to make that kind of financial commitment, especially if you already own the Pod and you just blew your wallet on your Mark V and cab.

Sorry to get on such a tear here, but while I agree with you that putting anything in the signal path will alter your tone, I don't think it's fair to take a shot at drummers over it. I mean, let's face it, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a guitar player but finding a good drummer is like finding snow in the Sahara.

 

[Newysurfer]

IMO the only digital processors worthy of a Mark V is the AXE-FX or the G System.
Anything else like those cheap Line6, Boss & Digitec processors is literally mixing Coke into Bollinger.
The POD, for example, not only tone sucks but also has ordinary quality effects.

There's heaps of great quality analog stomps around that are worthy of a M5 too.
Pedals that sound great turned both off and on.
All of my pedals are either true bypass or high quality bufferred.
I use good quality cables too so there's no audible tone or volume change thru my rig.
I can't see the point of buying high end amps & guitars if you degrade them with poor quality effects & cables :mrgreen:

 

[Scary]

I use a Gforce in the effects loop and it's pretty good, but anything you put in the signal path with change the tone. No offense to those here, but anyone who says there isn't an change in tone should switch to drums. Whether it's change is better or worse is opinion. Even the best processors will seriously alter the natural tone of the amp.

Hmmm...ok I have been a drummer for over 26 years, playing live gigs regularly. In defense of the better drummers out there I can tell you that in my opinion it is more difficult to properly bring a drum to the correct level of tune, resonance and tone than it is with a guitar. I can tune my guitar with my Pod X3 Live, plug it in to my amp and dial in any number of tones and I'm done. With my drums, I have to tune the bottom head by ear, crank down the top head until it resonates, find the best note that causes the drum to resonate evenly, tap each area next to the lugnut until that note is the same at each one, then strike the drum to make sure the bottom head isn't causing the drum to bend the pitch up or down. All this to achieve one ideal tone that the drum has as a product of it's natural design. There aren't a couple hundred "tones" to choose from, so yeah drummers need to understand a lot about tone or their drums can sound terrible.

Also, my previous post mentioned that I didn't notice a "significant reduction" but that doesn't mean I didn't notice a change. I just didn't feel that the change was so bad that the Pod should be completely removed from the equation. Pod's are also great for a quick gig where you can plug in without hauling your whole rig with you. So I look at it like this: if the Pod solves a need to "gig without your rig" (especially helpful in church environments) and it can be used in the loop for effects, then it helps you avoid the need to purchase a more expensive processor until you are really ready to make that kind of financial commitment, especially if you already own the Pod and you just blew your wallet on your Mark V and cab.

Sorry to get on such a tear here, but while I agree with you that putting anything in the signal path will alter your tone, I don't think it's fair to take a shot at drummers over it. I mean, let's face it, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a guitar player but finding a good drummer is like finding snow in the Sahara.

Don't get your knickers in a twist. First off, I said no offense as it was a joke (about switching to drums I could have said tuba or whatever). Second, I stand by my opinion that whether good or bad there will be a noticable change in tone when hooking up any processor. I have respect for other musicians I don't care if it's a Kazoo. No need to come to a guitar forum and let us know how we are a dime a dozen to get your point across.

 

[Ben Gregory]

I run an POD X3 Live direct to the board at church. Is anybody using the X3 Live with the Mark V? I would not use the X3 for my distortions, but for most other effects like delays, chorus, wah (with 4 cable method), tuner, etc.

I have the same setup. Whenever I am not ab-in the mark v with my mark iv( or an ac-4), i run an x3 live. The x3 live goes through the pa and the mark v is miced. I have some nice presets on the pod to use with my settings on the mark v. I love the dual amp feature on the x3!! With this setup you can have 3 different guitar tones. There are so many possibilities. However, i do think it is funny that you would need all of that for church. I find the x3 live to be plenty for that setting especially when there are 10 other people on stage performing as well, i do not want to overwhelm the pa, haha.

 

[Ben Gregory]

Hey everyone,

I was thinking about this setup. Ab-in a mark iv and a mark v and using the podx3 for vocal effects only. I would have the mark iv on the shredding setting and would have the channel 3 of the mark v on mark ii c + or extreme. Does that sound kinda neat?