the limiter didn't help either, indicating it's not actually clipping. it's buzzing around 100 hz, and there doesn't seem to be a way to deal with it except dropping the eq - which is no good, because that's where i want the bass to be.

next thing i'm going to try is directly plugging it into the mixer. those active pups might be pissing off the pod...

if the mixer clears it up, i know it's the drivers on the pod - which, to be fair, are made for guitar frequencies. guitar starts at e2. i'm playing between e1 and f#2.

if the mixer doesn't clear it up, it's either an asio thing (which i suspect is true) or neither input can deal with the pickups.

step three will be testing it with the soundblaster to see if i can create the same problem or not, determining if it's really asio or just the bass.

i need to be clear that it isn't buzzing on the monitor, so it's a capture/driver issue with the pod. but i think it's asio because the initial line in was through the pod to the mixer. i'll find out in a few minutes...

of course, i could also be getting a hum at 100hz that the di box would in theory resolve, but you'd think i'd hear it on the monitor....