The so called four cable method (4CM) allows you to use POD X3 Live (or Digitech GSP1101) as a full featured effects only processor with your existing amplifier. Required gear to use this technique includes:
- an amplifier with effects loop
- a POD X3 Live (or Digitech GSP1101)
- four 1/4″ guitar cables
- a guitar ;)
Four cable method connections
Start by connecting your guitar, amplifier, and POD using the four guitar cables (see diagram):
- Cable 1: guitar to POD
- Cable 2: POD fx send to amplifier guitar input
- Cable 3: amplifier fx send to POD fx return
- Cable 4: POD output to amplifier fx return
Four cable method advantages
- Use your amplifier’s existing preamp tone and power amp characteristics.
- Use POD’s effects
- POD’s stomp effect comes before your amplifier, just like a normal stompbox.
- POD’s other effects (modulation, delay, reverb) can be placed before or after your amplifier’s preamp
- Place the volume pedal before or after your amplifier
- You can switch POD’s fx loop off to bypass your amplifier’s preamp and use POD’s internal modeling through your amp’s power stage
- This can all be switched with a single footswitch
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DigiTech GSP1101 price check Digitech’s marketing for this unit says it was designed to “adapt and fit within your system, letting you get the most out of your setup without taking over.” What they really mean is it can be hooked up this way for effects only operation. |
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Line 6 POD X3 LIVE price check POD X3 Live works great in this configuration if you want an integrated, stompbox style effects switching system. |
I have read your instructions on the 4CM and have used it with my Vox ac50cp2 and every effect worked with my amp except for my delay. i changed the config to post and pre on the delay settings neither made a difference still do not get any delay effect. can you please help?
note: i have my x3 live going through the fx loop of my amp but my amp also has a loop level switch of high or low and not sure what i should have it on also i have the fx looper on the x3 live set to pre config with 100% mix
I’m not sure what is up with your delay other than maybe some kind of mix problem on the effect itself. You might try the Line 6 forums and see if anyone is using the same Vox amp as you.
I’ve tried using the 4 cable method a handful of times and I’m having trouble with the balance and/or signal loss in comparison to plugging the guitar into the amp input. I’ve tried moving the X3lives loop to pre and post, and tried adjusting the X3lives send and returns and mix. I’m using it with a Boogie 5:25 amp. When I plug my guitar into my amp input, the sound is very noticeably pure compared to running thru the X3live. I’d like to use the delays, chorus’s and other effects of the X3live but I can’t let go of that much tone if that is the trade off. Is it? or should I be setting the X3live’s loop to pre or post, and what send/return/mix settings works, maybe adjusting the db output to, which is currently at 0db?…and if I do that, do you know if it’s possible to harm my Mesa’s preamp if I increase the patch’s db level?
i got the x3 live for my birthday a couple of years ago and wasnt all that educated with how to use it, never tried the 4 cable method before this year, and since not knowing much of the pedal it never satisfied me. and also whatever i did it sucked out the life from the tone, so i went with the XT live after that it sounded better than the x3, got more into learning how to mess with it more, and now the xt didnt satisfy me, so i went back to the x3, dont know why but i guess i just connected with my pedals more, and shit the x3 is just amazing now, dont know why i ever put it away, everythings sounds amazing, the tone is just RIDICULOUS!!!! u can litterally hear the tube doin work. four cable method is the shet! lol
setup
Fender mustang – podx3 live four cable method(all effects n all from that) into a bogner alchemist half stack.
best setup ive ever played on
but i still want to try out the podHD pedals =P
I’ll try this out thanks, I am using a Mesa Boogie Roadster and 2 cable method right now and for some reason I set my db’s and get my fx the way I want them and it sounds good. Even though I am storing and saving them the next time I go to a gig or band practice when I switch to my fx loop to use my fx my volume is always way off again? I don’t get it I must be doing something wrong. I believe it is capable of doing what I want it to do just don’t know how. I am turning off all amp simulators and stomp boxes and just wanting to use the delay’s and chorus in the fx loop yet keep the awesome sound od my boogie amp for my tone. Also does anyone know if it matters if my X3 Live is turned to line or amp? or does it even matter? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
hi can anyone help me how to connect gnx4 using this fx send and return thing with my marshall mg 100 hdfx.please.
hi bvesco. i’m using the 4CM with my x3 live and a deluxe112 fender amp. I should use the input 1 ( hi ) or the input 2 ( lo ) when i send the Pod x3 live FX SEND to the guitar amp input.?!?!?! tks a lot!
mauricio
I haven’t used that amp. Try both and see which sounds better!
hi ben can you tell whats the best settings i.e inputs and outputs on pod x3 live im gettings some funny microphonic and distorted sounds on my clean channel thanks what should they be set at im using a fender froyman 100watts and a mexican strat
I’m not familiar with that amp, but if the output is too hot you could be overloading the preamp. Try turning down the master volume and be sure your 1/4″ outs are set to instrument level and not line level.
thanx ben sorry i mispelt the amp its a fender frontman 100 watt, do you mean master volume on amp or pod x3 live ? thank you
and how do you check if they are set to instrument and not line level? thanx
I guess I wasn’t exactly clear! I meant master volume on X3 Live. To check the level of the 1/4″ outs there should be a switch on the top of the unit. It says “Amp/Line” and you would want “Amp” to be selected since you are going into the front of an amp.
thanks ben i,l give it a try
hi ben im using a marshall amp on the pod x3 live for a clean sound ,is it wise to have the amp volume on the pod up to 100% also could you give me some settings for comp/etc as im having probs getting a good clean loud sound also could you give me the procedure for setting up a dual tone i always seem to end up with just the one tone. thanx