PODxt Live vs. Vox Tonelab SE

[Genetic_Junk]

Anyone tried both?

Looking for opinions on everything from amp modeling to effect sound quality.

I've checked out the software for both, and the placement of effects in the signal chain is kind of limited. Everything else looks pretty good in that category

The main thing I'm wondering, is there is a large sonic difference in the amp, cab and effect modeling between the two?

I would really appreciate some opinions here. I will be going to guitar center to see if they can set both of them up for me to test out.

thanks

[Genetic_Junk]

Just called the local guitar center and the guy told me both are up for demos. So I'll report back sometime.

[Funkybot]

From what I hear, they're both quite good modellors with the Pod sounding more like a mic'd amp and the Tonelab sounding more like you're in the room with the amp. I like the XT and have the Guitarport w/ some model packs, but I haven't tried out the Tonelab.

[Mr Arkadin]

Well i just bought a PODxt Pro partly because of the effects. There are loads - and you can edit the order using software, so it's more flexible than you think. The Live comes with these effects (including the add-on FX Junkie Model Pack for free):

Effect Models based on:
LA-2A® Compressor
Noise Gate
Fuzz Face
Big Muff Pi®
Tubescreamer®
ProCo Rat
Octavia
CS-1 Comp/Sustainer
Dynacomp
Vetta™ Comp
Auto Swell
Mutron III
Line 6® Sine Chorus
Line 6® Flanger
A/DA® Flanger
MXR® Phase 90
Uni-Vibe
Opto Tremolo model from the 1965 Fender® Deluxe Reverb®
Bias Tremolo model from 1960 Vox® AC-15
Leslie® 145
Vibratone
Auto-pan
Boss® DM-2
Deluxe Memory Man
EP-1 Tube Echoplex
Roland® RE-101 Space Echo
Sweep Echo
Line 6® Digital Delay
Line 6® Stereo Delay
Ping Pong Delay
Reverse Delay
Fender® Deluxe Spring Reverb
Fender® Twin Spring Reverb
King Spring Reverb
Small Room Reverb
Tiled Room Reverb
Brite Room Reverb
Dark Hall Reverb
Medium Hall Reverb
Large Hall Reverb
Rich Chamber Reverb
Chamber Reverb
Cavernous Reverb
Slap Plate Reverb
Vintage Plate Reverb
Large Plate Reverb
Wah modeled after the Vox® Wah
Volume (Pre- or Post-Amp Routing options)
Post-EQ

PLUS FX JUNKIE MODELS based on:
Line 6® Killer Z
Chandler Tube Driver
Vetta™ Juice
Line 6® Gain Boost
Boss® CS-1 w/ treble switch on
Mutron III Down
Line 6® Clean Sweep
Line 6® Seizmik Synth
Line 6® Double Bass
Line 6® Buzz Wave
Line 6® Rez Synth
Line 6® Ring Modulator
Line 6® Synth Analog
Line 6® Synth FX
Line 6® Synth Harmony
Moog Lead
ARP Solina/Elka® Strings
Square CE-1 Chorus
Line 6® Stereo Chorus
Line 6® Random Chorus
Line 6® Stereo Flange
Line 6® Exponential Flange
Line 6® Lumpy Phase
Line 6® Hi Talk
Line 6® Sweeper
Line 6® POD™ Purple X
Line 6® Sample and Hold
Line 6® Tape Eater
Line 6® Warble-Matic
Binson EchoRec
Maestro® EP-3 Echoplex®
Line 6® Low Rez Delay
Line 6® Phaze Eko
Line 6® Bubble Echo

That's on top of the Amps and Cabs, plus the different Mic positions/models. i'm happy using it just as an effects unit, but the Amps sound far better than my old POD2.

The Tonelab is very good, but more limited in the effects, so may suit you if you just want a straight-forward guitarists box. If you like to experiment and put other sources through your modeller then POD is the way to go.

Mr A

[Genetic_Junk]

I can confirm what Funkybot and Mr Arkadin posted here from my experimentation at guitar center. I picked up the PODxt Live (because I have the Variax guitar, with the Variax I can connect digitally through ethernet meaning no noise at all), but in about a weeks time will be going back to pickup the tonelabSE. The reason being, the tonelab’s amp models sound substantially different.

I won't say whether they sound more authentic because I don't have the knowledge to do so, but I will say that I love variety and with both of these you get tons. Even though they model some of the same amps playability (feel) differs in each of the boxes.

The only downside to the tonelab is that it was noisy. I tested three guitars with different pickup combinations and acted noisy on all of them.

If anyone else has opinions please share them.

Thanks Funkybot and Mr Arkadin.

[shanecgriffo]

i also have the pod xtlive and a variax 500 . its a great combo but can take a little fiddling around to get the best sounds,aint that the same with everything tho' anyway i love'em. (havent tried the tonelab sorry..)

[Genetic_Junk]

Yeah I got a variax 500, are connecting with the variax digital out?

[Hink]

The only downside to the tonelab is that it was noisy.

[respirator]

The Tonelab sounds way better (fatter, real'er, warmer etc.) IMO. (I did a test for a music mag). The Pod is plastic in comparison though it got more sounds and bells and whistles. I'm talking from a recording view point. The biggest disadvantage with the Tonelab is the missing digital out. I didn't notice it was particularly noisy.

[advaya]

Hmmm... I own a VOX ToneLab, and I don't find it noisy at all... Well perhaps if you crank the pre to 11, and include the overdrive effect in the chain (but then, show me a POD that wouldn't be just as noisy).

I will say that the PODs have waaayyy more effects to choose from. But in the end, it was the ToneLabs overall sound quality that won me over... That Carlos Santana factory patch almost made me pee myself when I first heard it... Beautiful...

[Genetic_Junk]

I can confirm what Funkybot and Mr Arkadin posted here from my experimentation at guitar center. I picked up the PODxt Live (because I have the Variax guitar, with the Variax I can connect digitally through ethernet meaning no noise at all), but in about a weeks time will be going back to pickup the tonelabSE. The reason being, the tonelab’s amp models sound substantially different.

I won't say whether they sound more authentic because I don't have the knowledge to do so, but I will say that I love variety and with both of these you get tons. Even though they model some of the same amps playability (feel) differs in each of the boxes.

The only downside to the tonelab is that it was noisy. I tested three guitars with different pickup combinations and acted noisy on all of them.

If anyone else has opinions please share them.

Thanks Funkybot and Mr Arkadin.

The guy at guitar told me the same thing, as what is being said here. The tonelab sounds bigger, warmer, etc. I agree with that, but being able to connect my guitar digitally really made the POD sound much cleaner. I'm not sure why the tonelab I tested was noisy, but it defiantly had a hum to it at all volumes, maybe it had been bashed around, or was picking up some interference?

Now I'm not sure of the sampling rates and A/D D/A conversion bit depth, oversampling,etc, the sound quality was equal. I played both as just preamps and they both were pretty much sonically neutral.

One cool thing I was doing with the tonelab was changing its delay time on analog delay with 1st pedal and the overall volume with the second, really cool sounds coming out of that.

One more thing, I had the tonelab setup in stereo with two marshal valvetones with the cab modeling off. That sounded awesome. The POD did tend to sound static in comparison, but the tonal qualities were different, and with all the effects the POD gives you can make it sound pretty big.

I'm not going to be biased here I bought the POD because my guitar had a specialized hookup for it, I can change guitar models when I change presets on the box, it will be awesome for playing live. The tonelab plays more like a real guitar amp, and in most cases will sound bigger without any external effects.

Though I'm hoping by next Thursday the products I'm returning will have arrived at their destinations and been credited on my credit card so I can go down and buy the tonelab.

Thanks for commenting advaya and respirator. Respirator what mag was the review for, I’d like to read it.

[Hink]

I hope you didn't take my scared look the wrong way...I'm old school noise is a major factor...I didn't explain that though because I figured you meant noisier...

The guy at guitar told me the same thing, as what is being said here.

just beware that GC has a very high draw for their salesmen, in a case like this it's best to ask the salesman to leave you alone while you play...afterall when it comes down to it, his opinion doesn't matter....facts do, but number one fact is which is best for you...when trying something out, the salesman will often push features...you shouldn't care about the features, you should be more concerned benefits. Some salemen will sputter off the features on the promo ad of the product. A good salesman will tell you about the features you are looking for and explain the benefits for you...

Anyhow just wanted to explain my post, it appears that you are confident in your choice and that is number one priority imo...

[Genetic_Junk]

The only thing that sales guy said to me was that it sounded phatter than the POD. He was good about leaving me alone, he seemed like one of the better guys there (some were actaully pretty rude to customers, who asked basic questions).

But I'm glad you reminded of what really matters when making a purchase; it is easy tp get caught up in useless features (useless to some)

I really want to go buy the tonelab now, though I have enough self conrol to hold off until my credit card is credited.

Thanks for explaining Hink.

In case anyone wanted to know: On the POD When you set the mix and depth to 100% and and delay time around 1Hz with the bass a little above half way on the analog chorus it sounds really sweet.

[Genetic_Junk]

Wouldn't ya know. Finally got my credit card situated and now guitar center doesn't have any Tonelab SE's left.

Don't want to go the online route becuase I am really annoyed with how fickle I am with my purchases. And shipping back is starting to become expensive.

[Hink]

Wouldn't ya know. Finally got my credit card situated and now guitar center doesn't have any Tonelab SE's left.

Don't want to go the online route becuase I am really annoyed with how fickle I am with my purchases. And shipping back is starting to become expensive.

No I'm shocked... GC let you down fwiw that's because they never stock as much as you would think. That's one problem with the superstores...but I'm sure they'll have one on the next truck just for you...

For those who care I believe this was one of the factors that killed Mars. When P80's came in my buddy in the wharehoise hid em for me...I could sell one a day without trying. But we would stock 4 or 5..we had two tritons normally...but like 12,000 djx's