Sagan,

I first got the POD 1.x and upgraded it to the 2.0 chip. After selling it,
I picked up a used Roland VG-88 and had that unit upgraded to 2.0. Then I
decided to sell it and get the POD XT. It came with os 1.?? and I upgraded
it to 1.04 and then 1.05, the latest version.

First, there were certain sounds in the POD 1 and 2.0 that I loved that I
couldn't get anywhere else. The JCM800 amp sim, and the fuzz face sim were
pretty good, as well as the Fender deluxe type amp settings. I liked the
adjustability of the Leslie sim, and I thought the swell affect was a little
better than on the XT. The upgrade to 2.0 on the original POD improved the
sound through my cheap combo amp drastically; it really became useful. I
can't comment on how the new amp settings on the XT work, since I've given
up on ever being able to use amp modeling in a live situation. (Ever since
I got my Tech 21 Trademark 60, I simply love the amp's tone too much).
Which reminds me, the SansAmp is also a great direct to recording distortion
sound, and the advantage is that it is all analog, which has some
advantages. They call it tube amp emulation (not modeling).

The VG-88 has good simulations, although it either does acoustic, super
clean electric, or Massive Metal sounds. It really doesn't sound that good
to me as a slightly breaking up amp, like fenders, and those types. But
this is my personal taste. It has good effects, but not great effects.
But, it has so many of them, that it can really sound great at times. The
acoustic sounds were good, but I was getting too many glitches to really use
it in the studio.

Getting the POD XT put an instant smile on my face when I heard that
slightly breaking up clean tube amp modeling again. I love the Line 6
simulations of those amps. The fender deluxe, the Dumble, the tweed, the
bassmans, they just sound great. I cannot, however, really get close to my
favorite heavy distortions from POD 2.0. I can get much better sounds,
though. Different. There are so many more models to choose from that I
like in the XT. The Plexi, and the various marshall and lead models, I
personally like them better than the new models that were in the VG-88, and
some of those in the POD 2.0. The XT really shines with it's effects
algorithms, though. I especially love the Ocavia sim, the Univibe sim, and
the Bias Tremolo really shines. The adjustability is extrordinary, and the
routing capabilities are very useful. The delays are nice, but I just wish
the analog delays were in stereo just like the stereo digital delay.

With all that being said, I've since gotten rid of my XT as well, and I
simply use the sansamp direct out of my Trademark 60 amp through various
digital multieffect units that I have in the send/return loop of the
recording mixer. I feel that it sounds better than the PODs or VG-88.
There is something about the all analog signal path that just sounds better
to my ears. I think it is in the high end, but I'm not sure. This is a
very slight irritation about the digital modelers and I only notice it after
using them over a long period of time. Overall between the 2.0 and the POD
XT, I would go with the XT.

Rick
"sagan" wrote in message
...
Hey, I was just wondering what everybody thinks about the pods...in
general..for recording. And if the pod xt is soo much better than the 2.0
and why? any comments would be great. Thanks!!

Sagan