Question Regarding Line6 PodFarm Platinum

[senn_liu]

First of all, this is a software-related question, but I figured guitarists should be able to answer it better.

I already own Native Instruments Guitar Rig 3 with their Kontrol pedal, and it works fine for me, but recently I've been thinking about checking out Line6's POD X3live tones.

After browsing through their website, and checking out Citymusic's current sale, here's what i figured out:

The Line6 program, PodFarm Platinum, will cost me about $450, while the X3Live is $635 at Citymusic, so it seems that the X3Live hardware (the actual pedal) is $185.

My question is, does PodFarm Platinum function like a software version of the X3Live? Will I get all of the same tones/emulations?

 

[K-2]

S$185.00 for Line POD X3 Live?

Hey, I own Line6 XT Pro but Pod Farm (the lower end version) comes free to download for X3 Live owners only. XT Pro owners have to purchase it.

From what I have observed for makers of guitar stuff - the use of sophisticated software that really works wonders and bring controlling hardware with ease *attracts* users to end up purchasing the hardware. Apple is one very good example - their operating system is lightyears ahead but you need the hardware to run it.

All the software I use with my XT Pro requires the computer system to detect the presence of my XT Pro otherwise the software will not launch. However, Sonoma Wire Works makes a version of Riffworks for Line6 which requires the presence of my XT Pro. But if you buy from Sonoma WW their own version of Riffworks, you can use the software for practically any guitar effects pedal out there - see http://www.sonomawireworks.com/guide/index.php/Recommended_Hardware and you don't require the presence of these pedals in order for it to work. That is to say, you are not confined to just one particular effects device.

Having said that, the Platinum version of Pod Farm is the same as the standard version except that it is the one that is on "steroids"!

Your NI is like the *NIrvana* of guitar effects, by the way! NI (imho) is like the Apple of guitar products. Create a killer app and get users to buy into their hardware!

Gibson has gone down this path with the introduction of their Dark Fire which I believe requires the presence of the Dark Fire in order for their version of GRig to run.

Roland and Fender went down this path, too. It is interesting to see how Gibson fare in spite of the fact that not too many guitarists are buying into such technology. Must be the "mojo" stuff you can't get from digital devices!

Line6 seems to be doing extremely well with how they use software to attract buyers to their hardware. (Gibson must have learnt something from there and Line6 is so bold as to manufacture guitars as interface to their software system) I come from a software background and was pleasantly surprised to see a guitar with a RJ45 connection.

There is no doubt to how their software works wonders for the typical guitarhead or guitar-propeller head wannabe like me - it is godsend in a lot of ways.

At the end of the day, the X3 Live does not just cost S$185.00 from your deduction. Once Line6 painstakingly "manufacture" or (actually) developed the software, they just have to put it up online to download or simply cut the CDROM. It costs them much more to manufacture the hardware *and* to provide the necessary support activities to bring users continued use of their hardware. Providing online help, telephone assistance and even product returns and exchanges cost way much more than doing the same for software.

How do you think Microsoft became rich?

 

[senn_liu]

thanks to k2 for his input regarding how software relates to (purchasing) hardware.

as for pod farm platinum, now i know that it includes all of the emulations/effects found in the x3live. as far as i know, it will only work with line6 hardware (e.g. x3live, toneport) connected to the computer, or it can work without line6 hardware, but with an iLok.

hopefully this will help any others curious about this (although it isn't hard to clarify, which i stupidly didn't check properly at first)

 

[dylan]

Line6 and iLok

iLok. Now for those of us who might need to know better - here's an interesting thread on Line6 and iLok - http://line6.com/support/thread.jspa?threadID=48331.

 

[wjl123]

The pod farm comes with all the effects and stuff from the X3 too. Thats for the platinum one, as for weather you need a pod x3 or toneport to make it work, yes i think you will need one as I am a pod x3 owner and i have no way to make use of the free pod farm they made available for download.

But do correct me if I'm wrong about the need for a toneport part, anyways heres a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd1ynDWk51M . Hope it helped!

 

[K-2]

Pod Farm Platinum and Where They are Heading Towards ...

I am no expert on this topic, really. My opinion is gathered from observation and what I know about how software is being "peddled" by hardware company just to drive hardware sales.

I work in a company where the sales department pushes copiers like boxes out the door and software is being used as one of many sales tools, really, just so those boxes can move.

However, it does not take much to note concerning how PF Platinum works. Look at this link --- http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PODFarmPlat/ --- which clearly states the requirement of iLok in order for it to work. Similarly, this link ---- http://line6.com/podfarm/requirements.html also indicates the same requirement.

My final take on this software is that somehow Line6 might be looking upwards in their product development and entering into the elitist DAW arena. Their suggested compatibility with Apple is rather obvious as almost all elistist music software specs Apple hardware.

In that sense, the answer would be (an unqualified) yes. But as with all software, users have to bear the burden of funding (read as buying) these developers to improve their product through the various versions as they are being upgraded and updated.

There are quite a number of companies cleverly doing this - Sonoma WW, Native and Line6. I should say, they do recognise how users get ever more sophisticated over time. A compliment to us, really. And they do a pretty good job, too. Just look at the gaming industry --- without software, the consoles cannot move out the doors; or look at how Sony won the next-DVD war? Without software as in movies, the players cannot move out the doors.

You would probably discover sooner or later that quite a number of software out there do require some kind of dongle to work with. In my work field, there are enterprise software that literally requires users to have some kind of hardware key (the most popular being the USB dongle).

Some developers go to the extent of employing 2 popular methods to control use: firstly, monthly consumption of usage of their software. This might sound alien to you but is another explanation altogether. Then there is this very popular method call software annual maintenance. I am uncertain but Line6 may just be working on something along this --- that is, users have to pay annual fees in order for them to have continued annual use of their software. Hmmm ... Line6 might be listening to this thread and get ideas and then the entire community may blame me for it!

Hahaha!!!

One good example is this --- when your antivirus software installed on your computer starts to ask you to update over the Internet, the next thing that might happen is when the link to their server requires you to commit some kind of payment. That is, software maintenance and quantified consumption rolled into one!

Rock on, Softies, or should I say, Pod on or uh Farm on, or whatever!!!

P.S. I did send an email to Line6 feeding back to them why the Pod Farm Standard is only available free to X3 Live owners and not XT. Never did get a real reply. I was directed to a roundabout of links after which I gave up.

I learnt a lesson, though. Spend the time getting better at playing my guitar than to spend the time chasing technology.