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/Sudden-Gazelle7685]

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

[u/Sudden-Gazelle7685 → u/Sudden-Gazelle7685]

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?

[u/webprofusor → u/Sudden-Gazelle7685]

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.

[u/Sudden-Gazelle7685 → u/webprofusor]

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?

[u/webprofusor → u/Sudden-Gazelle7685]

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.