pod x3 using ubuntu

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wyldewynde
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Joined: Sun May 13, 2012 12:35 pm

pod x3 using ubuntu

Post by wyldewynde »

Hello everyone,

I recently changed OS to Linux because of many problems with windows.
I am more than happy with everything I've seen so far but my Pod X3 Live doesn't support Linux, I was wondering if I can plug it into and Audio Interface to use, not sure what else I could do. If anyone has any suggestions I would be greatfull, also I don't have a huge budget right now so any equipment would need to be below £100.

Thanks,

Greg
slowpick
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Re: pod x3 using ubuntu

Post by slowpick »

Pods strength is as a self contained unit, so run its line-out to the computer line in,
and use guitarix2, rakarrack, calf-plugins etc for further processing, if desired.

In the Audio tab of qjackctl, the soundcard line-in would be System,
on the left side. For a simple high quality recording, install and run Timemachine,
it will appear on the right side.

select-highlight System, and Timemachine, and press the qjackctl Connect button
that is on this same tab. A line is drawn between them, when connected.

Then press the record button in timemachine. The tm.w64 file you record can be played by vlc,
and imported into audacity for editing and export in other formats.

A used Fender Mustang1 usb amp, is fully and easily linux compatible, sounds great,
and is in your budget. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl2Q8SNVnPU
(the reviewer states 8 presets, but there are 3 color coded banks of 8, for 24 total
on the main dial)
jschoeni
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Re: pod x3 using ubuntu

Post by jschoeni »

Is it possible somehow to control a pod x3 live from linux?

I tried it like that: installed line 6 monkey software on wine.
The Line 6 monkey starts, but can not install any driver in wine
and it cannot not connect at all. ( I tried with a USB cable only and I tried with a
MIDI-USB adapter)

I'm mostly interested to send Midi commands to the pod and to be able to
download some tone patches (l6t files).
Has anybody succeeded with that in any Linux?

(I used a Behringer V-amp2 in that way without any trouble)

thanks for some info
Jürgen
glowrak guy
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Re: pod x3 using ubuntu

Post by glowrak guy »

If you install a2jmidid, start qjackctl, and run the command

a2jmidid -j default

and then launch rakarrack effects processor,
you will see rakarrack items in the alsa and midi tabs.
If linux sees your podX3 midi, you might get lucky
and discover that some i/o can be accomplished.

command aconnect -i and aconnect -o
to see midi ports recognized by your kernel.
There is a line6 firmware somewhere to install, but
it may be pre-X3.

In the interim, send a clean X3 line-out tone to the rakarrack audio input,
via an audio interface line-input, and you might find rakarrack
a nice addition to your setup.

There are youtubes of the qjackctl audio/midi connections process/gui, if it's new to you.
Cheers
jschoeni
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Re: pod x3 using ubuntu

Post by jschoeni »

Hello, thanks for your reply,

I have seen that my pod can send some Midi signals to my computer ( see it with kmidimon )

and rakarrak is of course a nice application, but my question was more about

1. howto get down a l6t patch to the pod x3, and saving settings from the pod x3 to my linux
and
2. maybe getting the audio via USB to the computer.

I searched a lot on the web in the last 2 weeks ( found open source projects like podx3 or line6linux) and
found a lot of questions and no answers. Those drivers are still under development or not anymore?

But my conclusion is now: the line 6 pod x3 live is maybe good connected to windows/Mac but not to linux at all,
and I will do me a favour and not waste others(your) and my time with that anymore and
I will not convert to a Windows or Mac user because of that....

solution:
I simply try to sell it.

Maybe I would be more happy with a Zoom G3X ?
( at least I was more happy with my old Behringer V-amp2,
although it has no USB at all, but Midi is working with an MIDI-USB cable.

Thanks again for your help! keep rockin'
Jürgen
glowrak guy
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Re: pod x3 using ubuntu

Post by glowrak guy »

Check out Fender Mustang usb modeling amps (version 1, not version 2!) are supported by a debian app called 'plug'
that provides the crucial editing/saving functions as Fender Fuse. The amps are easier to create sounds
on than the X3, but sound as good, and are standard usb input devices, easy to use in linux/qjackctl.

V2 (and V1) amps have an android app called Remuda that works on newer phones and tablets.
Costs about $10.

V1 have 12 amp models and sundry effects, V2 have a few more of each.
There are amps in several price ranges, differing in speakers, LED, number of
onboard-stored presets. (No external limits).
Cheers
jschoeni
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Re: pod x3 using ubuntu

Post by jschoeni »

Thanks for your good info about the Mustang!

Cheers!
glowrak guy
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Re: pod x3 using ubuntu

Post by glowrak guy »

There is a tragi-comedy about the Mustangs, they are so good,
that if Fender promoted them based on their achievable results,
they would undercut their lucrative tube-amp market.
The Fender Floor sold so well, they actually stopped producing it.
You just can't fix stupid :roll:
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Rainmak3r
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Re: pod x3 using ubuntu

Post by Rainmak3r »

jschoeni wrote: I'm mostly interested to send Midi commands to the pod and to be able to
download some tone patches (l6t files).
Has anybody succeeded with that in any Linux?
Apologies for reviving this old thread, but I've been wondering the same thing... Many years ago, I owned a Pod Pro and I was very happy with it, since it was quite easy to interact with: connecting via MIDI, I could upload patches via Wine using PatchWizard, and it worked quite well. Controlling it was really easy as well, using a Behringer FCB1010 (that had its own Java editor I could use from Linux). Unfortunately, eventually it broke, so a few years ago I replaced it with a used Pod X3 Live. To my surprise, the process for editing and pushing patches to the unit was much more complex, and I remember at the time having to install GearBox on a VMWare or VirtualBox to be able to do anything at all.

For several reasons I ended up not using it much so almost forgot about it (guitarix and rakarrack have been my friends these past few months), until a few days ago. I wanted to see if I could still use it for something, and was happy to see the Linux kernel seems to support it via USB out of the box now (it didn't at the time I tried it). Anyway, I suspect that's as an audio device only (I haven't tested that part yet as I don't have a guitar cable here), which would still be useful but only up to a certain extent. I've read about a line6linux project that may be related and sees to support some data too, but I don't know if it's any compatible with the support in the Linux kernel. Do you guys know if there's any way to push/pull those .l6t tones to/from the unit via USB? I tried installing GearBox with Wine and as expected that didn't work (it doesn't see the device via USB) and IIRC, unlike the PODxt series, the X3 Live doesn't support MIDI for that unfortunately.
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Re: pod x3 using ubuntu

Post by tavasti »

I have Line6 Pod HD500X, and sure would be nice to have some way manage patches in linux. Currently I have virtual machine for that purpose.

Linux veteran & Novice musician

Latest track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycVrgGtrBmM

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