PodXT – Test Setup


It’s very simple to measure a device’s frequency response using the HP 35670A Dynamic Signal Analyzer. The analyzer has a built in signal generator. This is used to pass a periodic chirp signal through the device under test and then the original signal on Ch1 is compared with the signal output from the device on Ch2 using an FFT. You can do swept sine measurements but it takes a long time to do this with any degree of thoroughness.

Device Latency

Let’s have a look at the PodXT’s measurement again:

 

PodXT bypass

The upper graph shows the phase difference between the source signal and the PodXT’s output. At first I thought something strange was happening in the PodXT. Then I thought about it a bit more and ran it past my buddy Martin who works with DSP hardware. I’ll let him explain…

“After having a quick look, I think that’s what I would expect to see. Assuming that the filter inside the box has a fixed latency, then this will produce a linear phase response. Imagine delaying a 10kHz signal by 100µs – this would effectively have a phase shift of 0° because the signal has been delayed by a complete cycle. If a 5kHz signal were delayed by the same 100µs, then this would actually appear as a 180° phase shift because we’ve only delayed by half a cycle. This cycle continues on as frequency increases, producing a repetitive linear sweep in phase. Can you try plotting the phase response on a linear frequency axis? I reckon this will probably make it look like a regular linear pattern.”

He’s not wrong. Here’s closer detail of the phase delay on a linear frequency axis:

PodXT bypass

OK, so that explains that. We have a certain amount of latency in the PodXT (and all the other DSP multi-fx units tested) – all the frequency content in the test signal is being delayed by the same amount. What’s quite cool is, knowing this, you can calculate the device’s latency. I won’t bore you with my calculation (or spoil your fun if you want to do it yourself) but I make the PodXT’s latency to be about 2.4 ms. Anyone that’s messed around with soundcards and home recording will know that latency of less than 10 ms is basically the target for the delay to be unnoticeable. At 2.4 ms, the PodXT is doing pretty well.

<<– Back to the main PodXT page…

2 thoughts on “PodXT – Test Setup”

  1. Hi,
    Can you offer any advice regarding the correct method of setting-up my Pod XT Live into my Bose L1 Model 2 with the T1 ToneMatch and two Bass Modules.

    I also have a Fender Blues Junior amp (and have achieved with satisfactory results) but would like to try to get the full benefits from using just the Bose and Pod XT Live.
    I’ve tried various settings re: ‘What are you connected to? ‘Studio Direct, Bose PS-1, Combo Front etc, etc (plus tone correction) but just can’t seem to get the tone/sound to suit. It must be how I have the the Pod setup and not the Bose (which is set flat) but I’m not sure how or what adjustments to make in the Pod.
    Should I now try EQing the Pod or the Bose or should both have a ‘flat’ response/setting.
    Any help/advice would be really gratefully appreciated.

    Very kind regards’

    Rod

    1. Hi Rod, thanks for stopping by. Good questions. I’m not familiar with the Bose but I imagine you want to have it set flat (as you’ve said) and have the Pod set for Studio Direct? After that the volume you’re working at might have an effect on what you think sounds right. A common problem with using amp modellers is that they seem to sound very different when used at room vs. gig volumes and that’s actually down to how your ear perceives “loudness” and responds to mid-range differently at different volumes, Google for “Fletcher Munson curve” i.e. not an equipment problem, you may just need to dial up/down the mids. Other than that, I believe the XT Live has a few more tweaks available on the output… I have a Pod HD300 which I don’t use any more that had a few extra connections or settings on the output, I remember struggling to get that sounding OK into whatever it was plugged into.

      Sorry I can’t offer much more than that, my PodXT has long since been retired!

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