V. Cab/Mic Simulation

In Studio/Direct output mode only, the cab block is essentially running the signal through an impulse response for that cab/mic combination. This is designed to simulate as if the signal was run through real speakers and mic'ed up with the selected mic model. This is disabled by selecting "no cab".

This is the only true speaker simulation. Use this mode for all "direct" setups as described here to usually get the most natural/standard guitar sound. Everything else may sound incredibly harsh, unless you use an external speaker simulator/IR, because it is not applying true guitar speaker simulation.

Top of Pod Setup

VI. Bass Boost

The combo output modes apply a bass boost to the live-voiced cabs, designed to compensate for the lower bass response combo amps usually have. So if you dial in a tone for your combo amp but switch to a half/full stack (or vice versa), you can change the output mode and theoretically don't have to re-EQ the low-end response for your patch.

Some people like the combo modes even through a half/full stack, because they have more bass. This kind of defeats the reason there are different combo/stack modes. I'd rather use them like designed, so I can switch rigs without having my bass response thrown too far out of whack and having to dial in my patches again. If I need more bass on a half stack rig, I dial it in on the amp controls or an EQ effect. Or I check that I'm using the "full" amp models. See full vs. pre.

Top of Pod Setup

VII. Output Mode Feature Chart

Output Mode	Global EQ	Live-Voiced Cabs	Cab/Mic Simulation	Bass Boost
Studio/Direct			*
Stack Power Amp		*
Combo Power Amp		*		*
Stack Front	X	*
Combo Front	X	*		*

* Only engaged when a cab is selected.

Top of Pod Setup

B. Internal Signal Routing

All the lines you see in Edit and the signal path window on the device are stereo signals.

Input 1 is routed into the left side of the first line in the signal. Input 2 is routed into the right side. This is important to know if you plan on using multiple instruments simultaneously.

When a signal hits a mono effect (including amp models), the stereo signal is mixed down into a mono signal, processed by the effect, then split back into a stereo signal with equal left and right signals.

When the signal hits a “True Stereo” effect, each half of the signal is processed separately and output to the same side of the stereo field that it entered. There are two other styles of stereo effects that blend the processed signals into the output and do not keep the two channels separate.

Appendix A has diagrams that show how the four types of processing are applied inside the effects.

Appendix B has a table that tells you which type of processing each effect uses.

When the signal hits the channel splitter, the left half of the signal is fed to Channel A and split into a stereo signal with equal left and right signals. The same thing happens with the right half of the signal and Channel B.

To keep Inputs 1 and 2 from being combined do not put any FX before the A-B Split OR use only “True Stereo” FX before the A-B Split (see Appendices A and B). Then after the A-B Split, Input 1 will go to Path A and Input 2 will go to Path B and you can use whatever FX you want without combining the two signals (until the Mixer). Same FX processing occurs through Paths A and B and After the Mixer.

Here are a few diagrams that I hope help:

The mixer works a little bit deceptively. Think of it like this - first the mixer levels are applied to each Channel's stereo signal, adjusting the left and right signals equally. Then each channel has its pan setting applied to it. Think of pan as two separate volume controls for each channel - left volume and right volume. From 100% left to 0% (center), the left volume is 100%. As the pan moves from 0% to 100% right, the left volume goes from 100% to 0%. Vice versa regarding pan settings and right volume. So at 100% left the right half of the signal is completely muted and 100% right the left side is muted. At 0% both sides keep their original volume. Once each channel has the level and pan settings applied to it, the left side of Channel A and left side of Channel B are mixed down and output to the left side of stereo signal leaving the Mixer. Same for the right settings.

Top of Pod Setup