Line 6 POD Studio GX

The Line 6 POD Studio GX (POD Studio Series) is a 1 channel interface that connects to your computer through USB. There are some simple effects on it and a preamp. You can use it with a Windows or Mac computer and operating system. This is one of the more affordable interfaces that Line 6 has come out with over the last few years.

UTILIZATION

You will need to pay attention to your computer specs before purchasing this unit, because if you are not careful then you will buy something that will not work on your system. If you are on a Windows computer you will need 512 MB of RAM and 10GB and up for recording. You will need the most recent service packs for Windows and it will work with Vista 64 or 32 bit. If you are on a Mac you need a G4 with OSX 10.4.6 or higher running at 800MHZ.

GETTING STARTED

The Line 6 POD Studio GX comes with a FX pack called Junkie, it has over 30 different effects to choose from and some of them are really good for this unit to be so affordable. There are also 20 plus other effects that are based off of the iBanez Tube Screamer, LA2A compressor, MXR Phase 90 and many more.

OVERALL OPINION

With 5 bass cabinets and 5 bass amplifiers you cannot go wrong. With the Line 6 POD Studio GX you are getting way more than your money’s worth which is what makes it a must have for anyone. Keep in mind that there is no Phantom Power on this interface and the resolution is only 24 bit/48kHz. Overall, it has ups and downs to it. The most important part is that your system will work with it, if it does I am sure that you will love all of the effects. But installing this unit can give you a headache.

What characteristics have motivated your choice?
The size and price.
For what purpose?
Turn the amp sims real time as magneto Live Lite 4 tracks.
What is your config (Motherboard / CPU / Ram / Hard, ...)?
ASUS G53SX (Quad core Intel i7, 8GB RAM, 2x500Go 720rpm, USB3, Win7 Pro 64)
With which instruments or systems (console, preamp, DtD ...) you use it and how connections?
Bass Fender Marcus Miller JB and Cort electric guitar Zenox 22.

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable?
Yes
Are they often updated?
Quite often.
How many tracks you get to record / playback simultaneously?
4 in reading, one for recording.
What latency you get?
between 256 and 512, it is far from a good sound card in PCI.
What software do you use most often?
Line6 PodFarm, Ableton Live Lite, Amplitube SVX/Fender/3, GK Amplification.

GETTING STARTED

The installation is done it without problems?
A sauce Line6: download Monkey to download the driver, which will download an update that will require an update of Monkey and so on. There for a good ten minutes and it is far from an executable in any con as ECHO or RME.
The general configuration is easy?
There is almost nothing to configure.
Have you encountered any incompatibilities?
No.
The manual is clear and sufficient?
Ah? A manual?

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you been using?
Two months, very occasionally, this is my sound card ballad.
What is so special that you like most and least?
I like the compactness and price. I love the less dynamic rather shabby flat and latency on a very powerful machine.
Did you try many other models before buying it?
Yes, a number at prices significantly higher. For the Home Studio but it is not recommended to be understood in the pool that makes you feel blague.Comment quality / price ratio?
Just correct. The PodFarm is not even included in the full version.
With experience, you do again this choice?
Yes, because I have no reason to invest more in RME Babyface.

In summary this is a USB stripped of everything that is not worth more than it costs. This is not bad gear but very far from the material seriously. This version is a bit of a luxury Vox Amplug. This is a big Vox Amplug with USB and access to "advanced" offered by the computer. This is the same mold as the iRig for geeks and other merdouilles a little better (according to the host machine you have). The Toneport UX1 and UX2 are already a little better.

I chose this product for its apparent simplicity of use, richness of its resources and its price (85 €).
I have an Acer PC. System: Windows XP.
My goal was to register at a lower cost, but with a certain sound quality.
I use it with Gibson LP Standard 2003.

UTILIZATION

The drivers seem very stable. I use this product with two of the bundled software: POD Farm (amp simulators, rich and easily accessible) and Ableton Live (8-track recording, quite complex at first). No latency.

GETTING STARTED

Installation is quick and easy. Ditto for the configuration. No inconsistencies noted. No need for manual POD Farm. For Ableton Live, tutorial included. This program is complex and full of possibilities, apply effects after recording ... too late for me!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a few days, but being on vacation, I could test it thoroughly! What I like most, the sound quality: no breath, no latency. This combined with POD Farm software instead, gives you to have fun in a flash. What I like least is that I take more time to pay my presets to really play! Surely this tired me first.
The value for money I think is very good. The hardware seems reliable and strong.
PS: The sounds I get do not value my Gibson. I think I would have exactly the same result with a Harley Benton! Personal conclusion: funny, useful, but does not replace a real amp!

Living in Cité U, I can not afford to buy a real amp, so I searched for a solution able to train every day, using my PC (Guitar Pro) while enjoying a good recording capacity.

I have a new PC (AMD Phenom 3 hearts, 2GB RAM, 320GB SD), but I also tested it on a dual-core Intel (I know neither the character.) And a fairly old PC (Intel P4, 1GB RAM)

I use the guitar is a Cort X2 which I changed one of the two microphones for SD SH8 Invader.

UTILIZATION

Well then I'll put the record straight: I have a GREAT sound. Really, I'm the scene of his that I got before, either with other software amp simulation (via a connection to the PC's internal sound card) or via my amp Park (Which certainly does is not of good quality.)

I play Metal, and easily get a sound that suits me: strong, not very precise. (It comes from the Invader that ..)
I will shortly receive a new guitar (Jackson Dinky DKMG) far better, so I will publish my review to see if there is a big difference in sound.

Level latency nothing to say, I never noticed. No difference when I play on an amp.
POD FARM (Amp Simulation Software included) is really well arranged: the products are well sorted, they quickly come to have the sound you want.

The software is often updated frequently, but since my version suits me perfectly, j'update ever.

GETTING STARTED

Installation without any problem, everything is explained.

After level stability, I had no problem on my desktop PC, but I had a lot of bugs when I tested it on a Laptop: sound sizzled to death (The kind that is meant not that one plays).

I did my little investigation and it would appear that the Pod has a compatibility problem with some laptops equipped with dual-core processors. Do not panic: most still work perfectly with it. I advise you, if you have the opportunity to test the POD STUDIO home front, if you have a laptop like that.

OVERALL OPINION

Overall, although it is certain that this machine can not match the real tube amps and stuff, it changed my life. Now I do galley more for a sound that I like or to sign up!

You plug the guitar, we run the software, and voila, you can play alone!

I use the studio for about a year. The value for money is very good for me. With experience, I would do exactly that choice there.