FYI I use the hd500 with the dt50 2x12

In the last major update L6 added the new parameters master, bias, sag, hum

I am still somewhat confused about what this does for the amp. I know it reduces the

volume and they I can turn up the master on the amp but I don't think it helps me get a natural

tube tone, as I am bypassing the tubes using the full sims.

I have found the hd500/dt50 to be a great recording tool. The main issue I have with the amp is its

too loud to try and get a natural tube response at practice or at the small gigs I play. So I have been

experimenting with the full amp sims in full power, 1/2 power mode and considering an attenuator which a few folks

on this forum claim to be very helpful to make the amp come alive. I cannot find anywhere else online where

this is demonstrated or attempted.

My bandmates use tube amps, not modeled. There is a difference, and I am trying to bridge that gap with the tools

that I have. The amp has tubes in it, so i'd like to use them or find the best way to mimic them.

Currently my best attempt is full sims going to full power and turning the volume knob till it just starts to really kick in the

speaker, to me it sounds better higher but can't use it like that at practice. Last night I played with using the hd500 strictly

as an effects pedal to the 1/4' jack on the front of the amp. This allowed me to use full power mode and crank the amp

considerably more than normal. Of course it also reduces the sounds I can achieve and the amp becomes a standard

2 channel amp. Initially I thought this sounded better than full sims but after going back and forth, I was left with more questions

than answers.

When buying this combo I seriously considered a standard tube amp and a m13 or even standard pedals. Its the recording aspect

that really pushed me over the edge and into the hd500/dt50 and I have to admit the hd through the dt50 using the dt50's line out does

work really well. Its live tone getting a good sound as a 50 watt amp when all i really need is at most a 20 watt tube. I have also messed

with the class A and pentode/triode.

So I know I got more into the backstory then the intial questions but I guess I am asking will these new controls help or just add more

tweakage for the sim tone? Anybody found a good way to really kick in the amp tubes without rattling the windows? I think its ironic that

the actual audience generally don't care about the tone but we kill ourselves to please both ourselves and our fellow musicians. At this point

the only thing I know what to do and keep L6 as my main gear is buy a dt50 head and a hermit cab. But that is just not in the stars.