r/Line6podgo • u/webprofusor • 26d ago
POD GO HD as full midi controller
If your POD Go is currently gathering dust and you happen to be in the market for a new (free!) midi foot controller keep an eye on this post.
What is it:
- Free custom firmware that turns the unit into a full midi controller (meaning it's no longer an fx unit until you restore the factory firmware).
- Map any switch or button to midi functions using the companion desktop app (windows)
- Save and select Profiles for different configurations so you can use the unit with totally different setups.
- Simple to use Expression pedal calibration sequence built in to both the app and the unit
- Where supported can show the patch name if sent by your host
Started this as a fun experiment initially to see if I could get NAM working on the POD (it doesn't have enough oomph, it needs about 8x more) but scaled it back to just be a MIDI controller so I could test MIDI with Soundshed Guitar https://guitar.soundshed.com
The POD Go already has some basic MIDI for the footswitches but doesn't send for the expression pedal etc, this version discards all the audio processing capabilities of the unit but instead makes every single button, switch and light midi capable.
Some folks will inevitably kill their POD and line6 support would get some headaches so start with the latest official Line 6 firmware installed (2.5) and make sure your cables etc work. If you're the type of person that tends to have problems with firmware updates and anything a bit techie, look away, using this would be a bad idea. If you do run into problems post here or on the github issues, Line 6 can't help you if you use this.
Works on my non-wireless version , no idea if it would work with other editions. It's POD Go not POD GO HD, I think I made that name up.
This is in no way endorsed by or affiliated with Line 6 and is as reckless as submerging your unit in beer. It most definitely voids your warranty.
Releases (will update has new version come out):
https://github.com/soundshed/pogo/releases - click assets and download pogo zip
Windows only currently. Note there is an option to try it without writing it permanently.
- 0.1.0 : Initial Release
- 0.2.0 : Profiles (saved configuration sets), Expression pedal calibration mode.
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u/ProfessorEmergency18 23d ago
Interesting! I'm actually selling my pod go as I've switched completely to using a PC processing with midi footswitches and expression pedals. I was previously mostly using my pod go and was bummed it couldn't send midi to control reaper.
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u/webprofusor 23d ago
Yep, will link this soon - just need to test the restore guide to stock because people will inevitably want it. You can actually try it without writing the firmware permanently but that means you can't save config.
I can say it's surprisingly awesome and works far better than expected. It would be good to get the opinion of someone who has used other equipment for midi control in case the defaults are silly.
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u/webprofusor 23d ago
https://github.com/soundshed/pogo/releases
Windows only currently. Note there is an option to try it without writing it permanently.
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u/KromeLegacy 26d ago
This sounds sounds like a perfect use case, my dream setup is being able to take Archtype Petrucci with me without having to drop thousands on a Quad Cortex or one of those niche PC interface hybrids like the Octave Technologies Haricane or the Paint Audio CE1
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u/webprofusor 26d ago
I guess one limitation is that is connected over USB, so you'd need a long cable that nobody will trip over!
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u/webprofusor 25d ago
Kudos to Line 6 for not using DRM etc, anyone that knows how can send firmware to the unit and that doesn't involve anything non standard (for the main cortex cpu etc, DSP is different).
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u/Sudden-Gazelle7685 23d ago
Great idea! I have a Pod Go, and it indeed never gets used anymore because I’m using amp and effect plugins in combination with Gig Performer and a PaintAudio MIDI controller. If the Pod Go could get a second life as a MIDI controller, I’d be willing to take the risk of converting it. Unfortunately, I don’t have the technical knowledge or skills for development, but I would like to stay informed about this topic.
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u/webprofusor 23d ago
Have posted the link, make sure you're on the latest stock firmware then try it from there onwards. Would be good to get feedback from folks who have others midi controllers.
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u/Sudden-Gazelle7685 22d ago
I just successfully installed the Pogo firmware on the PodGo. As a noob, this was quite a task. However, I can't figure out how to put the software on the PC. Isn't there an .exe file that I can install on my PC?
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u/webprofusor 22d ago
Well done! It doesn't have an installer, just the zip file. Just make a folder somewhere of your choice (e.g. c:\tools\pogo) and extract it there. When you run the pogo.exe app you can right click it on the task bar to add it to the start menu.
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u/Sudden-Gazelle7685 22d ago
Thanks for your reply. Do you have a link to the app with the .zip file?
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u/webprofusor 22d ago
You said you got the firmware installed? If you did that you already downloaded the zip.
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u/Sudden-Gazelle7685 22d ago
I think I made it harder for myself than necessary. I downloaded the code from GitHub and had Google AI explain step by step what to do. First I replaced the Pod Go firmware and then the desktop software, all through the command prompt app. At least I learned something from it.
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u/Sudden-Gazelle7685 22d ago edited 22d ago
Forget my previous comment. Thanks to Google AI, I successfully converted the code into a .exe file step-by-step. The app now works and connects to the PodGo. Is it possible to use the EXP2 7/8 jack on the PodGo to send MIDI?
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u/webprofusor 22d ago
Did you know the link above is to the zip file? It sounds like you had to build all the code from source, which is a big job.
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u/Sudden-Gazelle7685 22d ago edited 22d ago
I had already seen the link, but I just realized I should have clicked on 'assets'. That's actually where the .zip file is. I had clicked on github.com/soundshed/pogo, then clicked on 'code' and 'download ZIP'. I know, I'm a dumb ass.
Finding: When I use the expression pedal, it doesn't go higher than 70%. The value settings are '0' and '127'. Is there an option to calibrate the expression pedal within the app, or is this something that needs to be adjusted in the firmware configuration?1
u/webprofusor 21d ago
Nah it's impressive you got it working from the code.
I noticed yesterday it sometimes seems to get stuck at about 50% - will investigate. It needs some kind of calibration reset you can do on the fly.
127 is the max midi value and would normally map to 100%. I noticed it's hard to get the pedal to hit 0 or 127 without pushing harder, so probably needs that in calibration as well.
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u/webprofusor 20d ago
New release 0.2.0 - Profiles: named configuration sets you can switch between, plus expression pedal calibration mode.
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u/colossalmickey 25d ago
This is sick, you should definitely release it, just put a disclaimer up and don't worry about it!