that default is in place so that dual tone patches work correctly.  Line 6 is aware though, and who knows, they may release an update to help work around this in the future.

Cheers

Rowbi

I too almost sold my POD HD500 due to this, I had a lot of background noise and couldn't get a great tone until I switched the second input off (to Variax)- I would imagen the amount of noise picked up from the floating inpout would vary from studio to studio.

I have subsiquently bought a DT25 and live the HD/DT combination, although again, Line 6 area realy missing a trick to get it all to sound good out of the box...put a link to a DT50/25 set list- all pre amps, no reverb block etc. Sure, every use can do this seperately, but for that 'out of the box this sounds great' feeling without reaserch and tweeking, you can fix most issues with a set list!

LINE 6.....Post some set lists/banks in documents/sticky with all presets to pre-amp only and all inputs to input 2 off! etc.- Great starting point for DT25/50 Owners

Please also post 'sticky' the great set lists created by users (there are now many versions) of each amp type clean/crunch/lead with just a standards set up (again, pre and full amp versions, inpout 2 off)

Like it bor not some userts never tweek or venture of pre-sets, I have even heard HD500 demo (local music store) sound horible as they put it through an amp incorrectly to get a muddy mess (they even had the amp reverb on presets with reverb!). Assume everytone is an idiot, make many setlists for different situations!

This simple action will result in more happy users, less returned sold HD500's!  would ship the HD's with above in the user slots!

Message was edited by: Sean_Clarke http://line6.com/support/thread/46526   Set Lists by Amp Type, Pre Amp Only versions etc.... Great thread, somewhat hidden!

Stuff like this is what makes the time spent on this forum well worth it.  I found this out quite early as soon as I upgraded to the HD500 and I feel lucky for finding out, because this is much better than the default and makes quite a difference. I am honestly hoping that the next update will include an option for input 2 being nothing which might even be quiter than Variax!  I'm actually quite surprised this isn't an option and why would option for input 2 makes a difference if nothing is plugged in!. My mixer doesn't pickup anything from the inputs if nothing is plugged in, so why does the HD500 Pickup noise fromt the MIC (maybe it doesn't but the algorithm for choosing MIC is not programmed efficiently)

Can't believe that Line 6 lets such a big error in all their devices, I mean, this makes the whole unit sound better with less noise, this must be set to standard in next firmware update, imagine 95% of the people who have the HD playing with a bad setup

What I can't believe is why they designed it this way in the first place.  It's great to have 2 inputs for guitar and vocals or whatever.  But why do you need to have both inputs active in order to use both paths?  They can't simply split a mono signal that comes in from input 1 to go thru both sides of the signal chain?

Great info guys. Do you have to do this to every patch? Or just in the overall settings menu?

Also sorry if I missed it. Are we talking about using the HD500 live in a FX return of a tube amp or just the DT25 or into a computer? Thanks.