Help Needed - Pod Hd Pro + Expression Pedals

[NucleusX]

Hey there axe grinders. My very first post EVER on any kind of forum after years of passive observation, so please go easy and tell me if I broke any rules with this new thread.

 

I have just recently purchased a POD HD Pro for my rack and is my first Line 6 product and still on the learning curve.

My problem is concerning the expression pedal connections and their propriatry RJ45 socket vs the standard TRS.

Was told I could use a FBV2 footswitch box to get me running until I can buy the MKII Shortboard so I bought it and

immediately became obvious it wasn't compatible with the HD Pro so I took it back.

Problem with the HD Pro is that there isn't a 2nd TRS Expression socket like there is on the HD500 to connect my

Boss FV-500 to and be used.

My question is, Is there any way at all for me to use my FV-500 (or any TRS type) expression pedal to a POD HD Pro ?

I'm assuming there may be a mod for it or an adaptor that may be used ?

Either way I'm quite proficient with electronics if anyone is willing to share a schematic ?

Your replies are much appreciated!

[TheRealZap]

i think the expressions just use a TS cable, and the pedal needs to be a 10k linear pot.

not familiar with your pedal... but maybe that will help?

[silverhead]

As you note, there is no 1/4" jack for an expression pedal on the HD Pro. I don't think the issue is TS vs. TRS. I think you need to use a compatible Line 6 pedal with the RJ-45 FBV connection; I'm not aware of any way you can use your FV-500.

[TheRealZap]

sorry... skipped over that part of the question... the second expression pedal jack is on the FBV shortboard MKII

[NucleusX]

Thanks I appreciate your replies.

My entire motivation to making this post was to find a way of utilising a "universal industry standard" expression pedal being the TRS or TS type with the HD Pro rather

than the obvious choice of purchasing a Line 6 proprietary RJ45 socket solution. Line 6 went to the trouble of providing a 2nd TRS type socket on the HD500

but failed to implement it on the HD Pro, so what is a HD Pro user to do with his pre-existing expression pedals ?

I want to continue using them, as I have with many Boss and Zoom products over the decades.

So I guess to narrow it down my aim was to find a way of converting the proprietary RJ45 jack to the TRS with some kind of adaptor or mod and to continue 

using my Boss FV-500 ect, I don't want to be backed into a "proprietary corner", is there any hope ? or do I just reluctantly bite the Line 6 bullet and pay yet more

money for something I already have just cause it has different sockets ? I've always had great disdain for proprietary stunts as those as they force you into

paying for something extra and renders your perfectly good gear useless. That's bad marketing form IMO. Still, I pray for a solution..... If there is one.

[silverhead]

I know what you're trying to do, and I appreciate your disdain. But the HD Pro is designed to use an external foot controller rather than just an expression pedal. It gives the user full control over all functions of the HD Pro: recalling patches, operating the looper, turning FX on/off, .... almost anything you can do on the HD Pro itself. That simply can't be done with a standard 1/4" jack/connection.

 

I agree that it would be nice if the HD Pro had a connection for a simple external expression pedal. But it doesn't. And the idea of an adapter is just not feasible because the features and capabilities of the FBV connection are way beyond a simple expression pedal. An expression pedal like the FV-500 is not nearly the same animal as the FBV foot controller. The reason the FBV is proprietary is that it controls the full functionality of the HD Pro; it can't be an industry standard until/unless Line 6 controls the majority of market share in this space and the rest of the industry accepts its technology as the industry standard.

 

I think Bill Gates was able to do that with DOS, at least until that upstart Apple came along............ ;)

[TheRealZap]

the actual breakout of the FBV port is pretty much digital and midi....

so adapting it just for an expression pedal would likely require a midi expression pedal and not an analog one.

the controller, converts to midi before sending over fbv cable...

in short unless you are an engineer with loads of time and determination... 

i don't think what you want is feasible... (although obviously nothing is impossible with the right knowledge... but worth doing... another thing entirely)

 

you can use a non-proprietary midi foot controller, if you wanted to make the effort to get that setup... still won't likely accept your current pedal though.

[NucleusX]

Right ok, So the FBV interface is completely a digital one. I thought there was a good chance there was at least

3 conductors of the RJ-45 ethernet cable dedicated to analogue expression control that might've been tap'able.

I completely understand from an electronics perspective that all the functions you'll find on say

the Express MKII requires more than a simple analogue TRS connection, that's a given.

Looking at the only 2 Line 6 alternatives I also noticed the Express MKII version only has the FBV connector were as the

Shortboard MKII has the same 2nd TRS socket on the back for a 2nd TRS expression pedal like the HD500 has.

Having bought the HD Pro I knew I would land into this debackle from the get go so I was fully aware of what I might've been in for.

I guess the whole idea of the HD Pro for me was to get away from the floor as much as possible and keep only a few control

elements on the floor as it will only be limited to home studio use.

Its interesting how Line 6 decided to use it on some models and not others as it seems that Line 6 doesn't appear to be phasing

TRS out yet so to me it sounds like a marketing stratergy more than anything and I suppose its frustrating having spent all these

years with the freedom of continuing to use old gear with the new and suddenly tackling such a ridiculous limitation.

I guess the only answer for me is the Express MKII and hope it endures the years cause I know for a fact in years to come,

when that Express MKII dies suddenly and leaves me with a discontinued product Line 6 no longer sells, ill be up the creek  

without a paddle cause nothing else on the market will electronically interface with it. That's the ultimate benefit with universal options, discontinued products won't leave you dead in the water.

[NucleusX]

Could anyone point me towards a midi controller for the HD Pro ? I know behringer sells one but I

honestly thought the FBV interface was exclusively a Line 6 interface ?

[TheRealZap]

the line6 expression pedal inputs are TS only not TRS... just to clarify...

 

but yes that common behringer midi foot controller, can be programmed... it will connect via standard midi cables and will not use the FBV interface on the POD. (the FBV port is exclusive to line6 footboards only)

the primary difference is the display, the FBV interface also powers the foot controller... which you wouldn't have... or need in order to use the behringer... or groundcontrol, etc etc

[NucleusX]

Excellent, So midi control is a total solution if the FBV or TS connections aren't convenient.

Well now I feel somewhat better about the situation so thankyou for your helpful and

timely responses, least I have another option to work with.

May I suggest to the line 6 team that your next flagship rack model includes a TS connection

for those wanting to utilize their expressions to be assigned to the spectrum of effects the FBV

covers now. I think people will appreciate the trivial addition, especially on a flagship.

Cheers.

[Merrekof]

Hello, 

 

After reading these questions and answers, I'm left with another question regarding this matter. 

 

Ik own a Pod Pro X HD and FBV shortboard (mk-1) and a Roland EV-5 exp. pedal. For some reason the polarity of this exp pedal is reversed, I think. I just can't get it to work using the pc editor. Tried tweaking the controls but it still doesn't fully work. 

 

Any tips or advice? (other than buying a Line6 exp pedal, I'll keep using my trusted old gear for a while, like Nucleus X said ;) )

[NucleusX]

;) Been there done that, scroll down to post #28. The EV-5 should be the same, enjoy !

 

http://line6.com/support/topic/4992-pod-hd-pro-shortboard-mkii-external-exp2/