Community: Message List - HD 300 does not make my crappy Behringer sound like my Fender amp

Re: HD 300 does not make my crappy Behringer sound like my Fender amp

support@line6.com — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 13:22:56 GMT

Yes what you intend to do with it matters most. I feel the HD series is very versitile but still will be limited by the weakest link in the signal chain. In my case the DT series has no tweeter so accoustic guitars and vocals will sound muffled. It was designed to integrate with the HD preamps to faithfully recreate the analog tube power section of those modeled amps but is not good for instruments that require DI. I do not use my rig for anything other than electric guitars so this suits my needs. The best way I can state this is, if the amp you want to intigrate with sounds great in the first place you should be able to have the HD device sound great as well. If not, the HD will not magically transform mediocre into great. If you like the sound of cheap amps, good on you, you can get some very unique sounds out of that. If the goal is to sound as close to what is modeled then you need to get a clean full response power amp. In all cases I agree, if you are using an amp that allows it, input directly to the power section.

Re: HD 300 does not make my crappy Behringer sound like my Fender amp

support@line6.com — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 08:41:54 GMT

Not necessarily, integration into a traditional rig is very possible and viable, but it depends a lot on what kind of signal I/O and routing you can do.

The thing you want to avoid for the most part is doubling of preamp stages, and to a lesser extent, doubling of any stage of the rig.

With the Line In, you are only using the power amp and speaker of the Behringer, so you can use modelling for the preamp, EQ, and FX without doubling anything. Then you can also mess with the tone shaping that mic and cabinet models provide.

You have no FX loop, which is the ideal way to do this. Since the Line In doesnt work well, you must use the front input. It's going to be harder to get all around good sound becuase by doing that, you are doubling the preamps.

Set the global output mode to Combo Front to start. In this case I would also start with only Preamp models, the Bass and Treble on the Behringer on 5, and the Contour on 0. Using patches you like the sound of with the Line In, try to tweak the EQ on the Behringer to get as close to that as you can, without changing the settings on the POD. Do this at the highest volume you intend to play at.

Re: HD 300 does not make my crappy Behringer sound like my Fender amp

support@line6.com — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 03:45:10 GMT

Agreed you can always optimize to a certain point.

Re: HD 300 does not make my crappy Behringer sound like my Fender amp

support@line6.com — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 03:42:03 GMT

That or the Line 6 Dt series amps as they actually switch the power section topology to match the HD preamp. They however aren't as good for other instrument types than guitar. A lot of keyboard amps are really good FRFR amps. I personally use a DT25.

Re: HD 300 does not make my crappy Behringer sound like my Fender amp

support@line6.com — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:14:12 GMT

Behringer 30 watt GTX 30. Not a big investment. For practice or home jamming it will work fine with the Studio out to CD in. I am able to get some good tones with that and the max volume is about the max my wife will allow anyway.

Re: HD 300 does not make my crappy Behringer sound like my Fender amp

support@line6.com — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:06:28 GMT

So the answer is "To get the real benefits of HD modeling we need a FRFR amp". Did I get that right?

Re: HD 300 does not make my crappy Behringer sound like my Fender amp

support@line6.com — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:04:08 GMT

So far I have tried going in the CD input to the Behringer, with the HD300 set to full volume output, Line and Studio. I have much better sound but the limiting factor is the amplification as I my max volume is dependent on Guitar vol all up, HD300 pedal floored, rear vol output all up, and perhaps the chanel vol all up. Good tone but not much volume. I guess the CD input of the Behringer bypasses the amp. So the only amp I have is the HD 300 pre amp (if that is correct termonology).

Re: HD 300 does not make my crappy Behringer sound like my Fender amp

support@line6.com — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 18:39:08 GMT

Definitely try getting straight to the power amp, via FX return, CD/Line In, Slave In, etc.

I used to run a Berhinger 212 combo that way with outboard preamp/FX, and it sounded pretty dang good TBH. It sounded better than the same rig through the power amp/cabinet of a peavery half stack anyway. I only stopped using the Behringer when I moned to a real tube head and Ampeg cabinet.

What model is your Behringer BTW?

Re: HD 300 does not make my crappy Behringer sound like my Fender amp

support@line6.com — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:07:42 GMT

I have a POD 500/DT50/Behringer 4 x 12 cab. I thinks the cabinet is the weekest link in the chain. It just sounds like poo-poo. I saving up now to get a DT50 412 cabinet.

Re: HD 300 does not make my crappy Behringer sound like my Fender amp

support@line6.com — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 16:13:55 GMT

you make a good point, but there's some things that are worth checking which may improve what is heard, which may then be close enough.

Cheers

Rowbi