I have a a podx3 live and was wondering about the pros and cons recording usb vs. recording direct to sound card 1/4 inch jacks.  I don't have x2 yet and I just wanted to get some feedback.  From my experience with sonar 7, I normally ran my pod direct to my emu soundcard and it seems to work well.  I am getting more serious with recording and want to optimize things.  I did read on the faq that when you run pod usb you hook the speakers directly to the pod for out.  Does the project rout through the pod?  Will midi play through the pod as well or is there more tweaking.  What would be the best case scenario recording with pod?

Well, I have a PodX3 and a Boss GT100.  I just go USB directly into computer, Fire up Sonar and take the signal direct.  Why involve your sound card?  Maybe there is something I'm missing in your setup, but if not. Just go straight from Pod to USB on your computer.
 
Should work perfect.

redbarchetta
Well, I have a PodX3 and a Boss GT100.  I just go USB directly into computer, Fire up Sonar and take the signal direct.  Why involve your sound card?  Maybe there is something I'm missing in your setup, but if not. Just go straight from Pod to USB on your computer.
 
Should work perfect.

Something is not jibing right when I run usb.  I am going to experiment with it again when I get my new computer in a week.  How do you have your speakers hooked up?

I prefer to run my X3Live PODs Left and Right outputs into my interface instead of using USB port due to ASIO and all the other stuff that plugs in
 

TVGHow do you have your speakers hooked up?

I have my PC speakers plugged into my sound card for normal everyday listening.  But I also have a Roland octa capture interface that my monitors are driven from

digi2ns
I prefer to run my X3Live PODs Left and Right outputs into my interface instead of using USB port due to ASIO and all the other stuff that plugs in
 

+1.  I believe you'd need to use WDM driver mode in Sonar to do USB from the POD in addition to an interface.

I have an X3 (bean type) and I run the analog out(s) to my Roland Octa Capture when I record with it.

Its much easier and simple to just use one interface and that would be your sound card. When you plug an effect using its USB or Fire-Wire connection, it acts like and audio interface and you would have to use WDM driver mode as ASIO only supports one interface. 
 
If you have a really good sound card with nice pre-amps, then you could get a a sound that is warmer and fuller depending on the pre-amps in your card.
 
Its a no brainer!
 
Cj

I have a HD500 and use the 1/4 L & R outs to my Presonus 44VSL. The HD500 has a roundtrip latency of +14 while the Presonus is at 7.3. I usually use Amplitube (but it's nice to have the pod ready to go) so the lower the latency the better.

CJaysMusic
Its much easier and simple to just use one interface and that would be your sound card. When you plug an effect using its USB or Fire-Wire connection, it acts like and audio interface and you would have to use WDM driver mode as ASIO only supports one interface. 
 
If you have a really good sound card with nice pre-amps, then you could get a a sound that is warmer and fuller depending on the pre-amps in your card.
 
Its a no brainer!
 
Cj

Thanx alot, this helps.