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881 Views 7 Replies Latest reply: Nov 27, 2011 5:11 AM by jimsreynolds RSS
axewave Just Startin'
axewave
3 posts since
Jun 26, 2011
Currently Being Moderated

Nov 26, 2011 2:26 PM

POD HD500 Fx Loop volume problem

Hi,

 

I have a strange problem with the POD HD500 Fx Loop. In some patches where I have assigned a footswitch to switch the loop ON/OFF, and the saved state is ON, the volume of the loop goes quite a few dB down when I switch the loop off and then back on.

 

If I start a completely new patch and only set up the effects loop, it works just fine, and if I rebuild the above patches from scratch, it will work OK for a while but the problem always comes back at some point.

 

I'm attaching a patch with this problem. You can try it as follows:

- Rename the file to *.h5e and upload it to HD500

- Connect a patch cable from effects loop send to return

- Switch on this patch, play something, and observe the volume

- Press FS6 once to turn off the loop. The volume remains roughly the same.

- Press FS6 again to turn on the loop. The volume goes down, although it should remain the same.

 

Am I doing something wrong, or is this a bug in the HD500?

 

Thanks for helping,

-ax

Attachments:
  • spaceatl Expert Line 6 User
    spaceatl
    4,456 posts since
    Jan 24, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 26, 2011 2:35 PM (in response to axewave)
    Re: POD HD500 Fx Loop volume problem

    There is a FX Loop summing issue that was fixed in the recently released 1.4 frimware...

    • axewave Just Startin'
      axewave
      3 posts since
      Jun 26, 2011
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 27, 2011 12:02 AM (in response to spaceatl)
      Re: POD HD500 Fx Loop volume problem

      Thanks, but I have already updated the firmware to 1.4, and that didn't help.

       

      -ax

      • Nick_Mattocks Best of the Best
        Nick_Mattocks
        9,065 posts since
        Mar 26, 2007
        Currently Being Moderated
        Nov 27, 2011 1:30 AM (in response to axewave)
        Re: POD HD500 Fx Loop volume problem

        Hi

         

        OK, here's some history relating to the HD500 FX Loop

         

        It has always supposed to have been a true stereo output, however before firmware 1.31 there was a bug which caused it to always output mixed or summed mono whether you used a TRS cable or a standard TS (mono) cable.

         

        The bug was fixed in firmware version 1.31 and true stereo out was possible, but you could only have stereo out, so if you used a mono patch cable as your FX Loop Send, you would only get the Left channel from the jack plug's Tip connection.  If however you used a special TRS (Tip, Ring, Sleeve) jack to mono TS (Tip, Sleeve) jack cable with the TRS end plugged into the HD500 FX Send socket and the Tip and Ring connections soldered together in the TRS end of the special patch cable you would have summed both Left and Right FX Send outputs to a mixed mono signal which would be somewhat hotter than just hearing one channel.

         

        I think most users tended to continue to use a mono patch cable from the FX Send and used a mono effect in the signal chain immediately prior to the FX Loop which mixed the signal to mono anyway.

         

        With firmware version 1.40, the FX Loop Send options have been further enhanced so you don't have to use a special cable to get both halves of the signal chain to an external mono effect because if you use a mono patch cable plugged into the FX Send you will now get Left and Right channels pre-mixed to mono which will be a few dB hotter than just getting one of the Left or Right Sends on its own, but if you use a TRS to two mono jacks cable representing Left and Right outputs you can choose between Left and Right if you wish and your levels will be much as they were before the 1.40 update.  If you use a mono effect in your signal chain immediately prior to the FX Loop effect, this will mix both channels to mono for you anyway.

         

        If you want to use a mono cable from the FX Send jack, you will probably experience a hotter signal by between about 3dB and 6dB than you did previously, so you will need to reduce the FX Send level accordingly in the patches where you use the FX loop.

         

        That should resolve the issue for you I think.

         

        I don't believe this is a bug.  I believe it is now the intended behaviour and you have the ability to adjust FX Send and Return levels to overcome any differences in level.

         

        Nick

        • axewave Just Startin'
          axewave
          3 posts since
          Jun 26, 2011
          Currently Being Moderated
          Nov 27, 2011 3:33 AM (in response to Nick_Mattocks)
          Re: POD HD500 Fx Loop volume problem

          Thanks for explaining this. I have been using mono cables to connect one mono pedal, but inspired by your post, I tested this with stereo effects. Now, if I connect mono cable from Send to the input of a stereo pedal, and mono cables from the pedal L and R to effect returns, everything works fine. Actually, if I have the signal returning only to the L return and have a cable with no signal connected to R return, everything works althought the level is always the lower level I got originally after turning the loop on and off.

           

          However, when I use only the L return cable I get this problem no matter how I adjust Send and Return levels.

           

          So I think this indeed _is_ a bug. POD HD500 somehow adjusts the return levels differently when a patch is selected vs when the loop is switched back on within the patch.

           

          As a workaround I can use an unsoldered plug in the R return, and increase the return level as needed, so in practice the problem is solved.

        • jimsreynolds Power User
          jimsreynolds
          2,227 posts since
          Jun 27, 43450
          Currently Being Moderated
          Nov 27, 2011 4:19 AM (in response to Nick_Mattocks)
          Re: POD HD500 Fx Loop volume problem

          Hi Nick - thanks for the summary.  A little hard on the brain

           

          So I replaced one of my 1/4" TS jacks with a 1/4" TRS to go in FX Send and wired it for Mono.  This cable then goes to the front input of my amp in a 4CM setup.  The amp-end plug is of course Mono.

           

          The cable coming back is from the amp FX Loop send and goes into the left return socket on the HD.

           

          Should I expect to there to be  different behaviour now between FW 1.31 and FW 1.4  or is it business as usual?

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