Community: Message List - Proper hookup for HD500 in amp serial FX loop only? NO 4CM

Re: Proper hookup for HD500 in amp serial FX loop only? NO 4CM

support@line6.com — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:31:34 GMT

Well the ideal setup for voltage transfer is high impedance on the load (the POD) and low impedance on the source (the amp). There is not much you can do about the amp but I think you could boost up the input Z on the pod to 3M. On paper that is probably best but you would need to try it. I am betting the difference in tone would not be much (perhaps a shade brighter) but I have never tried it.

Re: Proper hookup for HD500 in amp serial FX loop only? NO 4CM

support@line6.com — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:27:53 GMT

The fact is that in my pod guitar input is not connected a guitar but my amp fx loop.

There are different impedance input settings for this. In my case input setting is guitar with guitar in Z set at 1M.

Do you think that changing input impedance should be set at different level?

Re: Proper hookup for HD500 in amp serial FX loop only? NO 4CM

support@line6.com — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 22:44:11 GMT

So, I have my head & HD500 hooked up as such:

Guitar -> amp guitar in

Amp FX1 send - > HD500 AUX in

HD500 line out -> Amp FX1 return.

Now, with the HD500 set to 'amp' for 1/4" output level, and the master volume set to 10, there was significant volume level drop when engaging the loop. If I set the output level to line, and the master volume on the HD500 set to about 7, I get no volume loss.

Re: Proper hookup for HD500 in amp serial FX loop only? NO 4CM

support@line6.com — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:44:07 GMT

AFAIK the guitar and AUX inputs are identical. Anyone care to challenge this ...? Happy to stand corrected.

The only possible thing I can think of is that the variable input Impedance may apply to Guitar Input only, not Aux. Just a suspicion though: nothing to corroborate this.

Re: Proper hookup for HD500 in amp serial FX loop only? NO 4CM

support@line6.com — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:42:03 GMT

Difficult to say at the moment. The manual here --> http://www.carvinworld.com/manuals/V3.pdf does not tell me what level the FX loop on the Carvin runs at (or near).

If it runs at instrument level (-10dBV, aka stompbox level or consumer level ) then there will be no problem.
If it runs at line level (+4dBu) then yes, you are correct: the loop will overload the amp input (which expects an instrument level signal).

If the loop runs at line level then use a variation on jws1982's hookup

Amp FX Loop Out --> POD FX Return Left
POD 1/4" Left Out --> Amp FX Return

Set the first effect in each patch to be the FX loop. Set the FX loop level switch to 'Line'. Set the 1/4" out level on the pod to 'Line'.

Re: Proper hookup for HD500 in amp serial FX loop only? NO 4CM

support@line6.com — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:26:28 GMT

I'm curious, is there any specific reason for preferring the AUX input rather than the regular GUITAR input? Does the AUX accept a "hotter" signal?

Re: Proper hookup for HD500 in amp serial FX loop only? NO 4CM

support@line6.com — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 19:41:42 GMT

If I connect the AMP FX Send to HD Guitar Input, doesn't the HD expect a different level? Would the FX send overload the guitar input?

Re: Proper hookup for HD500 in amp serial FX loop only? NO 4CM

support@line6.com — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 19:05:21 GMT

One more minor variation ...

In the Loop

Guitar ==> Amp Input

Amp FX Loop Send ==> HD Guitar Input

HD 1/4" Output Left ==> Amp FX Return Left

Again, set the output to amp level. Master vol at or near 100%, amp models off.

HD500 has some advantages over the M series (more concurrent effects for one thing) so not a bad choice.

A few people have reported bad results with 4CM and the Carvin V3 here. Please let us know if the setups suggested by jws1982 and I do not work out well. It would be good to get to the bottom of this.

Re: Proper hookup for HD500 in amp serial FX loop only? NO 4CM

support@line6.com — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:52:48 GMT

I would have an M-device, but I also sometimes use the HD500 by itself and go into FOH. But thank you for the info!

Re: Proper hookup for HD500 in amp serial FX loop only? NO 4CM

support@line6.com — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:50:02 GMT

sounds like you should have an M13 or M9 instead of the HD500.

Here's one way:

Amp FX Loop Out - to - POD Aux Input

POD 1/4" Left Out - to - Amp FX return

Set 1/4" out level on the pod to 'Amp'. Change the input on patches to the aux input.

Here's another way:

Amp FX Loop Out - to - POD FX Return Left

POD 1/4" Left Out - to - Amp FX Return

Set the first effect in each patch to be the FX loop. Set the 1/4" out level on the pod to 'Amp'.