POD XTL Extended Life-Cycle
by Rhoy Pamparo on Nov.06, 2008, under Melodic Insights, Personal Thoughts
This is a story of a company that is all about customer satisfaction, emphasis on purchase value & increased product life-cycle. Buckle up, it does not happen very often.
Shortly after the Line6 POD XT Live was released in 2004, I immediately jumped on it to replace my combination of digital guitar chain. At the time, I was using a Yamaha DG-stomp & Behringer Vamp2 controlled simultaneously by Behringer FCBC1010 on a Midiman 1×4 MIDI-thru.That was one truly complicated setup!
Comes the XTL which does a better job tone-wise than the two combined (except for clean tones) and was an easier setup — 1 device, guitar in, line-out, PA.
While the XTL base configuration + the 3 model packs (FX, Classic and Metal) is sufficient for most needs, Line 6 extended its life-cycle and its value by providing a free firmware update that includes freebies such as new Wah models, new amps/cabs and few FX. Did I say free?
After that, Line 6 offered another upgrade to make the XTL usable for bass guitarist without buying new hardware. Since I started getting my analog amp/pedals, I hardly use my XTL for live electric guitar work. But because of this upgrade, I still very much use it for bass amplification. This upgrade was really really valuable.
Currently, Line 6 also is extending the PODs life-cycle even more. Now as a software plugin via Gearbox (now as POD Farm, as a continuation of their Amp Farm line). For a minimal fee, you can now use your POD as plugin to a recording software such as Garageband or Logic Express. Wait a minute, I happen to be a frequent Garageband user and recently upgraded to Logic Express! Of course, I did jump in and bought the license last night 
All that is left for me to say is this: Thank you, Line 6! I wish more company will follow your business model!
November 6th, 2008 on 11:42 am
I agree brother– the free updates have impressed me MORE than the endorsement of Lincoln Brewster. Then Lincoln gives us his presets in a patch to download on his website!
Line 6 has impressed me, and compared to others, they are pretty affordable.
November 6th, 2008 on 11:14 pm
Line6 products are great. A lot of people think they are not but I think its the innovation and their business model that makes them a little better than others.
oh yeah, kudos to Lincoln. we have been waiting for 4 years on the forum from his old site.
July 5th, 2009 on 9:03 am
hmmmm paying for modelpacks hmm how smart is that seeing u can get the tone from other units by just buying the pedal. line 6 brainwashed u . they offered u a pedal with limited room for distortion if ur a metalhead (unless u pay for a metal shop model pack). tons of synths thats personally no freaking use to anyone. NO MODELLING OF A DIGITECH WHAMMY which sucks cause um this wud be a cool effect. now if ur into jazz or acoustic stuff u cud use this pedal . thing is the podfarm actually is cool but it dont wrk with my line 6 pod xtl (line 6 themselves seem to forgot to include the driver signature). lets all jump for joy line 6 rocks lol
July 7th, 2009 on 10:27 am
hey harry,
sorry to hear that pod xtl didn’t work for you as it did for me. is it the answer to every man’s problem, nope … far from it. this post is more of the model that the company employs for their product. i don’t hear of any product/company that will do what they are doing. you have to “buy” the whole new product to get the latest technology.
btw, why don’t you contact line6 for your xtl problem with podfarm. mine seems to work just fine. you do have to have a valid license to use it, though.
cheers!