Line 6 POD Studio UX2 Review

The Line 6 POD Studio UX2, previously known as the Line 6 Toneport UX2, is larger than it’s little brothers the UX1 and GX, this is mostly because you get more inputs and outputs. I have to say I love all these units, as they have really taken the pain out of home recording for me. Sadly it was not before a great deal of experimentation and purchases that I found the Line 6 POD Studio range of USB Audio interfaces. Recording engineers will generally give you a shopping list for a home studio that can cost thousands of dollars, of course these solutions work great, but are beyond the reach of most musicians looking to start
recording themselves.

Professional Sound on a budget

This where the POD Studio range makes a real difference, for a couple of hundred dollars you can get a fully functioning home studio, but don’t be put off by the small price tag. These tools are not toys at all and I have often seen them used in bigger studios.

What’s all the fuss about the POD Studio UX2

So why would you buy the POD Studio UX2 over the other POD Studios? Personally I started off with a POD Studio GX (which is a great portable USB audio recording solution) but found some small limitations which prompted me to purchase a POD Studio UX1 (namely only being able to record from a single source at one time, both the UX1 and UX2 allow you to record from 2 sources at the same time). This was perfect for a while until I purchased a new electro acoustic. The output from this guitar was very hot and I found it difficult to get a good signal into my recording software, this a common problem with electro acoustics generally and while turning down the gain can give you a less distorted signal, it lacks the original body. This is where PAD inputs come in mighty handy! The UX2 has a choice of PAD and regular inputs and basically takes the heat out of the Signal without losing body and tone.
I also had my eye on a new more professional condenser mic at the time, however this particular model required Phantom power, which neither the GX or UX1 have. The UX2 has two balanced XLR inputs each with optional phantom power, which means you can use 2 very expensive condenser mics at the same, which gets you that wonderful warm and dreamy acoustic sound you are probably after. I also like to mix the output from the Piezo pick-up and a condenser mic  which gives a nice punchy sound.

Getting the sound out

While you can monitor the signal levels via the POD Farm software, the UX2 also comes with 2 assignable signal gauges which give you an instant visual indication of your level (the POD Studio GX and POD Studio UX1 do not have any dials). This means that you can easily see if you need to redo the track if the signal is distorting and has in practice saved me a lot of time. Additionally, the UX2 has a separate headphone level knob which means you can have a meaty signal going into your recording software without melting your ear drums! The UX2 also comes with an additional SPIDF output which can be plugged into a home theater system for example for high definition audio. If the wife is out I use my home theater as a monitoring system which is cool though I am sure the neighbors hate me!

POD Farm

Getting great tones from the POD Studio UX2 is easy, as with all the POD Studio family you do this via the POD Farm interface, POD Farm is the equivalent of having all the equipment in a guitar shop right in your computer. It comes with more amps, cabs, effects, preamps, gates, stomp boxes than you you will ever need, though you can buy additional effects and amps etc. if you like. Periodically Line 6 offer decent deals on these expansion packs, so it’s worth signing up for the mailing list.



It also comes with a bunch of presets, some of which are great some are not so much, but the real power comes from being able to combine amps, cabs, mics, effects etc as you like, which gives you limitless combinations and ergo sounds. POD farm also allows you to split a signal and run it through 2 sets of amps and effects, which is how the big acts record and play live. What you get is the best of both amps and thicker, richer more dynamic sounds. WARNING Tweaking your setup via POD Farm is addictive and you may find yourself loving the sound so much that you don’t get too much recording done! Mine also functions as a near silent practicing tool which lets me pull off Hendrix impressions at 3am without incurring injury or divorce!

Bottom Line

Having owned the smaller less functioned POD Studios, I will say that the POD Studio UX2 may be a bit too much for someone who is just getting into recording. That said, if you are an acoustic player or prefer Mic’d guitars over DI then the UX2 is likely your best bet. What you get for the extra bucks is well worth it and I would have been better off buying this first, I did not because I had been stung before with USB audio interfaces and especially latency (time between the note played and when you hear it monitored back). The POD Studio does not have these issues and even works fine on VISTA and Windows 7.
Just follow the 3 constants of recording on a PC:
1. Close everything you don’t need.
2. Disconnect from the network and switch off WIFI if you can.
3. Use the ASIO drivers

You don’t have to do the above, but don’t get upset when you gat a crackled recording. Processing Audio takes memory and resources, so when you record use your PC just for that (you will be happier I guarantee it).

Line 6 POD Studio GX Review

The Line 6 POD Studio GX is the baby of the POD Studio Family, but don’t be fooled by it’s diminutive proportions in comparison to it’s bigger brothers.

Small But Powerful

If you are a guitarist/bassist/vocalist in need of the very best USB audio recording interface that you can buy (without needing a second mortgage or selling body parts for medical experimentation!) then this is it. Way back when trying to get a decent sounding demo meant a trip to the studio or borrowing a 4 track, I heard tell of the now ubiquitous POD, which turned AMP modeling into totally viable professional recording solution.
The POD Studio range is the next logical step, converting your analogue signal into crystal clear digital audio, processed with your favorite amps and effects, directly into your recording software, almost noiselessly and and with near zero latency. Basically, having your cake, eating it and having it clean up after itself. The POD Studio GX has a single 1/4 inch input for a Guitar/Bass/Mic input, a single 1/8 inch stereo output (for Headphones or output to powered monitors/mixing desk/amp and monitors) and a volume control. For anyone about to embark on recording yourself, the one thing which usually makes this process painful is latency. This is the delay between when you hit a note and when you hear it monitored back. This, unlike many other devices, is just not an issue for the POD Studio. Don’t know how it works, don’t need to, it just works, so there is no pain! 

POD Farm

At the heart of this little miracle is the ultra cool POD Farm software, which you use to create your preferred sounds. This ships with all the POD Studio family of devices so you are totally not losing out on anything, especially the killer tone, that you get with all the POD Studio devices. That said the bigger brothers also ship with the FX Junky model pack, this increases the stomp box models from 29 to 64, but in reality how many of you own even 29 stomp boxes?



What you do get is 18 guitar amps with 24 cabs, 5 bass amps with 5 cabs, 29 stomp box and studio effects and last but not least 6 Mic preamps. There are a bunch of built in presets but you can build literally limitless combinations of amps and effects, you can even choose to Mic up a cab, choose the Mic and set the distance from it. My very favorite thing is that you can split the signal and run it through 2 separate amps and effects to get those dynamic tones the big guns use.

No Brainer

Seriously, I have owned and tried more combinations of Audio Interfaces and recording software than you can shake a stick at (and believe me it has cost me, money and pain!). So it is with great relief that I finally own a setup that I am happy with. The GX ships with Ableton Live Lite and Riffworks T4, TBH I don’t like Ableton much and my weapon of choice for recording software is Mixcraft (it’s like GarageBand for windows and is cheap as chips) but each to their own. I started out with the GX and it is still going strong, actually I soon purchased the POD Studio UX1 after that, the UX1 has a separate XLR Mic input which means I can use it as a preamp for small live gigs (guitar and vocal). But when I am out and about it’s the Pod Studio GX which comes with in my laptop bag. For a hundred bucks there really is nothing better.

Which POD Studio Should I buy?

Having purchased all the POD Studios, I am in good position to tell you which one will suite you the best. Essentially they all do the same thing, but as you move up the range you get more flexibility, additional functions and inputs/outputs. I think the easiest way to help you make up your mind, is to tell you what I use each of them for, so you will be able to see which would be the best match.

Line 6 POD Studio GX

So you are JUST a guitarist or Bassist who occasionally sings and all you want to do is get a cool riff or bass line, vocal into your recording software Then the GX is most likely for you, if you want something portable that you can bring to the rehearsal studio to get a quick demo from a live practice, then the GX will do that too, I have also taken the GX to the recording studio and used the line out to record straight into the desk. It has a single guitar/bass input and a single line/headphone output, comes with the very same POD Farm software that is bigger brothers come with and exactly the same near zero latency and nearly noiseless recording.

Line 6 POD Studio UX1

The UX1 is probably my favourite out of the bunch because you you still get a relatively portable device with a bunch of inputs and outputs. This is the one which stays attached to my Laptop and also what I use to do small acoustic gigs with! Yes I did just say that. Because you have an XLR input and 1/4 inch guitar/bass input you can output both into the mix, so I have a bunch of pre-sets made for all the songs in my set list and plug the left and right output straight into the PA. It works as a fantastic preamp and gives me total control over the sound. It also works better that the GX for recording acoustic guitar for the same reason. I usually take a line from the electro acoustic and then put a mic in front of the guitar and mix the 2 to get a really warm sound. The only thing I miss with the UX1, compared to the UX2, is the S/PDIF out, but this is just a small gripe because I like to hook up my UX2 to my home theatre system and use it as a monitor (when the wife is out!).

Line 6 POD Studio UX2

The UX2 is what I generally use when I need 2 condenser mics at the same time or if I am using an Acoustic with high output. The UX2 has 2 XLR inputs with optional phantom power (plus 2 assignable dials which show you the levels), you also have the choice between normal and pad input for the guitar/bass. Typically you would use PAD for a hot signal, like some of my Acoustics with piezo pick-ups. You could just turn down the output volume of the guitar, but you lose body in the recording so the PAD input is the preferred choice. You get an additional 2 knobs with the UX2 one gain for the additional XLR input and a separate volume control for the headphone output plus optional phantom power for the XLR inputs (check your condenser mic specifications to see if you need Phantom power or not). Essentially, the UX2 is a more professional, but less portable rig however, you can still only record 2 simultaneous tracks like the UX1.

Line 6 POD Studio KB37

The KB37 is a UX2 integrated with a midi controller keyboard. For those of you who know what a midi controller is and can see the benefit of having an integrated midi controller/USB audio interface read on! The obvious thing here is space saving, having said that, 37 keys isn't enough for most serious piano players, but if you are looking for something that can play your virtual instruments, is capable of controlling your favourite recording software using the assignable transport keys/Knobs and does everything that the UX2 also does, then this unit is for you. I am ambivalent about this unit really, I love the fact that it is a single unit, but I also like bigger keyboards with weighted keys. That said, mine has been used to trigger samples and add texture to live performances and remains attached to my mac mini and does a great job with GarageBand.

Rebates on POD Studio Products

If you have been sitting on the fence about purchasing a POD Studio, Line 6 have made the choice even easier! Until the end of October 2009, all POD Studio packages purchased in the US can take advantage of this great deal, see here for details:

Line 6 Pod Studio UX1 Review

It doesn't matter which recording software you use, the most important equipment, which will ultimately dictate the quality of recordings from your home studio, is the interface you use to convert the analogue sounds from your various instruments (including your voice) to the digital audio that you will ultimately mix into your tracks and demo's.



As a guitarist and song writer for some 20 years, I have seen fads come and go and new technologies explode and implode just as quick. I have to admit I have always been a proponent of the analogue era and have strived to use vintage equipment (with all it's jagged edges and hisses) as I truly believed that was the only way to get the sounds I wanted. More recently I had heard of heathens marching into studios, multi effects boards in hand, leaving with the tinny, tepid recordings that their equipment deserved, and then suddenly something changed... I started hearing great things about the Line 6 POD.

First time I saw the pod, I quipped that it looked much like the kidney I'd rather lose than actually use one, but it wasn't too long before I had bought one myself. While amp modelling is still a dirty word in some circles, Line 6 have championed the technology, turning a toy or practising tool into a real world professional must have for the guitarist/song writer/bassist/recording engineer.

So what is this Line 6 POD Studio UX1? Essentially it is a small, tough, black plastic box with various inputs and outputs, which you connect to your computer and is designed specifically to convert analogue signals into digital ones. While the original POD was all about the dials and buttons, the POD Studio has only 2 knobs (one master volume and 1 microphone gain). Almost everything else is controlled via the packaged POD Farm software.

 

POD farm comes with an extendible range of Modelled Amps, Effects and Pre-sets for any kind of Microphone, Guitar, Bass or other mic'd instruments, and is totally customizable. If I only told you one thing about the POD Studio it would have to be the near Zero Latency. For those of you unaware of what this is all about, Latency is what generally happens during the conversion process and typically means there is a noticeable delay between what you play and what you hear in your headphones, which typically means that it makes it difficult to keep in time/sync up your recordings.

So what else can you do? Another great feature of the POD Farm software is the ability to split the signal from your guitar/bass/vocal and run it through separate amps and effects. The big boys in the music biz have been doing this for years, to get the best of both worlds, using the strengths of different amps to get bigger warmer sounds. You can also pan them left and right to get a stereo effect. The Edge from U2 uses a signal splitter and runs the signal through separate delay units, set at different milliseconds to get that distinctive U2 depth.



You can also record a vocal and guitar at the same time, for quick demo's and the like. But this has another use too, I often use my laptop and Line 6 POD Studio UX1 as a preamp for small gigs! (don't think it was designed for this but it works great) This gives me total control over how my vocal and guitar sounds, it's also quick, almost no sound check required. I typically make pre-sets for each song, so it really is as simple as plugging in and playing! POD Farm also has a built in tuner, so it really is all I need.

While there are a bunch of pre-sets included, there will come a time when you know what sound you are looking for and how you would get them with real equipment, you can also do this with POD Farm by selecting amps and adjusting knobs, add some effects or even noise gates, all by drag and drop. I love using the Bassman amp as the controls are the same as my real one. You can even choose to mic an amp instead of the direct sound and even choose the mic to use and the distance from the speakers! The POD Farm software is easy to use, but can be used in a professional way if you so desire. It also remembers the last sound you were using when you closed it last!

What it all comes down to is this, you can get great sounds out of this box of tricks and for the price it's really a no brainer, sure there are many more expensive USB audio interfaces out there, but what you get here is all the power of the ubiquitous POD and total control with it. The near zero latency is the icing on the cake and I would seriously recommend this to anyone interested in recording their own music, especially guitar/bass/vocals. If you think out of the box too, there are bunch of other uses, for example, I have used the line inputs to record the output from my record player to digitize my vinyl album collection. I have also used it to record pod casts, or to make loops that I use to practise with. Seriously, try the Line 6 POD Studio UX1, IMHO it rocks! I bought mine at Amazon but here is the whole list I made when I was researching:

Store	Link	Price
	Line 6 POD Studio UX1	$149.99
	Line 6 POD Studio UX1	$149.99
	Line 6 POD Studio UX1	$149.99
	Line 6 POD Studio UX1	$132.00