The Bass PODxt Live does not neglect it’s Bass POD origins. The Bass POD was clearly dedicated to home recording, allowing a bass player with a single bass and amp to record directly into a computer setup. Although the Bass PODxt Live is road-rugged, it contains all the in and outputs to interface into a studio environment: a USB port for linking to a computer, for direct recording as well as downloading new sound and programs from Line 6, MIDI In and Out, a line level output selectable for either a DI unprocessed time and phase aligned version of your signal or MODEL for a fully processed amp+cab+effects+mic version of your signal. And there is a headphone output, and an AUX input for CD, MP3 players, drum machines or whatever.

Roadworthy and at home in a studio, the most interesting bit of the Bass PODxt Live is the bass sounds available and the ease in manipulating them.

The Bass PODxt Live’s sounds are modelled on 28 classic and modern amps from all the names Fender, Marshall, Hiwatt, some 22 bass cab models from Ampeg, Marshall, Ashdown etc, four mic models, and more than 50 stomp box and studio effects ranging from delay to phasing to compressors to noise gates. Up to six effects can be run simultaneously and you can position them in signal chain where you will. How often have you had the discussion on where to cable the overdrive stomp box, before or after the delay? Stomp a switch to step through presets, no need to re-cable your pedal board to audition different stompbox sequences.

The most interesting connector on the Bass PODxt Live is the RJ45, which is an input for the Line 6 Variax 700 Bass. Use a Line 6 Digital Cable from the Variax to the Bass PODxt Live and you have a digital signal from guitar to amp, and DC power to the Variax. By selecting a channel from the Bass PODxt Live footswitches and you recall all the effects, pickups, tone control setting plus amp and guitar selections that make up your custom sound.

The Bass PODxt Live contains 64 presets or memory channels arranged in 16 banks, with 4 channels per bank. Banks 1-6 are optimized for use with headphones, PA systems, in-ear-monitors, or recording. Banks 7-12 are optimized for use with a bass amp. Banks 13-15 are designed to be used specifically with the Variax 700 Bass guitar. The last Bank is empty and intended as a starting point for creating your own presets without having to overwrite a factory preset. All the tones are provided in the presets, from sweet and clear acoustic bass sounds to outrageously overdriven attitude.