Community: Message List - Pod HD 500 4 cable method

Re: Pod HD 500 4 cable method

support@line6.com — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:43:53 GMT

I'm afraid Nick no longer posts in this forum --> http://line6.com/support/thread/84414

1) From the JCM900 Manual here --> https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marshallamps.com%2Fdownloads%2Ffiles%2F4100%2520Hbk.pdf&ei=7vAUUd2-KqzY0QXQ9IHIBw&usg=AFQjCNFVNArdSfp5hiIv33FclodVRPZa1Q&sig2=mApdigYpbg1Po7miE0l7xg

Effects Loop Level Control

Adjusts the level of the effects loop from -10dBV to + 4dBm. Higher settings match modern effects process

For 4CM I would recommend that you start with turn the knob fully counterclockwise (-10dBV). Higher settings might cause unwanted distortion.

2) Suggest you have a read through the note here to see details on how you can setup 4CM with your amp and the HD500. There are levels that need to be set correctly else you will find the tone is weak or distorted (in a bad way). This is not the only way to set the levels for 4CM so search this site if you need more detail. If you need more details on what effects go where in the 4CM setup then try this doc -->http://line6.com/support/docs/DOC-2523

3) This is covered in the note that tells you how to setup 4CM with your amp. Matching levels between the 'real' and HD500 pre-amps can be a challenge but otherwise it works very well.

Cheers

JIM

Re: Pod HD 500 4 cable method

support@line6.com — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 23:46:02 GMT

I Nick!

i'm a recent pod hd500 owner, and i would like to use the 4CM into my amp.

i have a jcm 900, with JJ 6L6 power tubes \m/ \m/ ( sounds really great)

first question: the jcm 900 has fx loop, and a small knob near , this one is the loop fx mix rigth? so i have to turn to 100% rigth?

the second : my signal chain at this moment : volume pedal-4band parametric- tube drive - sweeper wha - mixer . delay - reverb - chorus\phaser

using the 4CM i just need to add a fx loop between the sweeper wha, and the mixer rigth?

the third: if i want to use a pod preamp model instead of jcm 900 preamp how it works? i've read a 4CM document here , and it's talking about the possibility of changing between a hd500 preamp, and a jcm 900 preamp, can you explain that, how it works?

sorry my bad english, i'm portuguese, but the google translator it's shi$%& eheheheheh

thank you!!!

Re: Pod HD 500 4 cable method

support@line6.com — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:03:08 GMT

You to Jim!

Re: Pod HD 500 4 cable method

support@line6.com — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:00:35 GMT

Thank you Nick, it was really helpful.

Re: Pod HD 500 4 cable method

support@line6.com — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:52:41 GMT

I posted up some generic guidance on the jvmforum.com relating to 4CM - the reason for using it and how it works. It may be useful getting it clear in your head. Unusually, the jvmforum is offline today so I have attached a PDF that you can refer to.

Cheers

JIM

-----------------

Edit: Now posted up on the L6 site as a 'Document' here --> http://line6.com/support/docs/DOC-2504

Re: Pod HD 500 4 cable method

support@line6.com — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:15:36 GMT

The 'mono' cables are really just standard instrument (guitar) cables

The FX Loop is the effects loop. The FX Loop is primarily designed to place external effects in the signal chain at an appropriate point. It's basically an insert point. In the Four Cable Method it can be utilised to 'insert' the pre-amp section of a real guitar amplifier in the signal chain of the HD500.

There are no cast iron rules about whereabouts in the HD500 signal chain the FX loop should be placed, but a lot of guitar players like to place their distortion effects and wah between the guitar output and their pre amp input and then they like to place things like chorus, delay and reverb after the amp's pre-amp but before its power amp, so to do that using the HD500 as an effects only device you would probably not use amp or cab modelling. When using the Four Cable Method, the most probable reason for doing so is to retain the character of the original amp and not to colour it with amp modelling from a POD.

So take a pretty typical rock guitarist's rig which could consist of a guitar, Cry Baby wah, Tube Screamer, Boss DS-1 Distortion a Marshall JVM 205H head into the effects loop of which you might want an Analog Chorus and Digital Delay . You could do all that with stomp boxes placed between the amp and guitar input and in the amp's FX Loop.

When you want to reproduce something similar with an HD500 and the same JVM head you would do it like this:

HD500 signal chain: Wah > Screamer > Classic Distortion > FX Loop > AMP/CAB modelling (OFF) > Analog Chorus > Digital Delay.

Physical connections would be:

Guitar > HD500 Guitar Input

HD500 FX Loop Send > JVM guitar input

JVM FX Send > HD500 L(mono) FX Return

HD500 Left (or Right but not both!) output > JVM FX Return

Turn the JVM (or other amp) FX Return Mix control to 100% so that it becomes a serial loop (not all amps' mix controls go to 100%).

Set the HD500 AMP/LINE switch to LINE. Set the HD500 output mode to Stack Pwr Amp if using a head and cab or to Combo Pwr Amp if using a combo

Set the STOMP/LINE switch on the back of the HD500 to STOMP

The FX Return level value needs to be set to roughly match the level you'd get from your amp's pre-amp with no HD500 anywhere in circuit. I would assume that this level should be 100%, however if you find that is too loud then back the level off until it's right for your set-up.

Make sure you don't use any amp models in the HD500 and that way you should find the sound you get should be fairly similar to how your amp sounds on its own.

You will need to tweak levels on the HD500 so that it can be inserted in the whole signal chain as transparently as possible.

Nick

Re: Pod HD 500 4 cable method

support@line6.com — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:24:20 GMT

Hey, I have some questions...

I am currently using this "two cable method" when playing my pod hd500 - I use the pod:s amp simulation.

But the thing is, I have this really good tube amp with a good realistic sound, Vox AD100VT-XL, and I felt it would be such a shame not using it. So i decided to try the four cable method. I watched a video from Line 6 where they explained exactly how to connect the cables etc, etc. The first thing i noticed was; They talked about some mono cable. What is a mono cable? Is it okay to use a regular guitar cable in the 4CM?

One other thing that I've noticed you guys have been talking about is this FX-Loop. What exactly is it for and where should i place it in my signal chain? When editing my FX-Loop, there's three alternatives; Send, return and mix. The mix is already set to 100% and the send is set to 0. The return parameter is set to zero, but I don't get any sound. What return-value is recommended?

When I play, set up like this with four regular guitar cables the way they're supposed to and with no effects or pod amd simulation, I get a sound that's not very similar to the sound I'm used to hear just from the amplifer.

I dont get it.

I'd be very pleased with answers.

/Fredrik

Re: Pod HD 500 4 cable method

support@line6.com — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 05:34:40 GMT

I have a pd 400 and I assume from your expertise that I really dont need or can use the 4cm. Is this true?

Re: Pod HD 500 4 cable method

support@line6.com — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:36:28 GMT

Lomar wrote:

Thanx for explaining this method, when using the fx loop, what is the best place to put it in the chain.

Well that's up to you at the end of the day, but a pretty well recognised 'standard' approach with normal stomp boxes is to put all your 'nasty' distortiony/overdrivey type FX in front of your amp's preamp - ie between guitar and the main guitar input on the amp, and all your lovely swirly/washy/delay/reverb type FX in your amp's loop.

With 4CM running as intended you'd almost certainly not be using the HD500's amp modelling, so your signal chain would possibly look something like this as an example:

Guitar > HD500 input (Internal FX chain part 1: Wah > Classic Distortion > Screamer > FX LOOP) > FX Send > Amp Guitar Input > Amp Preamp > Amp FX Send > HD500 FX Return (Internal FX chain part 2: FX LOOP > Analog Chorus > Amp block (OFF) . Mixer Block> Digital Delay > Volume Pedal > Plate Reverb

Re: Pod HD 500 4 cable method

support@line6.com — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 07:30:11 GMT

Thanx for explaining this method, when using the fx loop, what is the best place to put it in the chain.