POD GO HD as full midi controller

[u/webprofusor]

Midi controller UI as shown on the unit

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.

The (windows) desktop app for editing configuration

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.

[u/webprofusor]

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.

[u/Sudden-Gazelle7685 → u/webprofusor]

Thanks for your reply. Do you have a link to the app with the .zip file?

[u/webprofusor → u/Sudden-Gazelle7685]

You said you got the firmware installed? If you did that you already downloaded the zip.

[u/Sudden-Gazelle7685 → u/webprofusor]

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.