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227 Views 9 Replies Latest reply: Sep 13, 2012 7:58 AM by mazuwa RSS
Chris-59 Just Startin'
Chris-59
3 posts since
Sep 10, 2012
Currently Being Moderated

Sep 11, 2012 4:40 PM

HD400 stereo support on both balanced and unbalanced output

Hi there,

One of the great features of the HD400 is that you could have stereo output to both balanced and unbalanced outputs.

Where unbalanced would be my Amp and the unbalanced the P.A. system.

I'm coming to the conclusion that when you put the switch on the back to BOTH, my signal turns in to MONO.

Why is that?

 

thanks for any suggestions.

  • mazuwa Iknowathingortwo
    mazuwa
    371 posts since
    Jul 7, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    Sep 12, 2012 3:53 AM (in response to Chris-59)
    Re: HD400 stereo support on both balanced and unbalanced output

    "Hi there,

    One of the great features of the HD400 is that you could have stereo output to both balanced and unbalanced outputs.

    Where unbalanced would be my Amp and the balanced the P.A. system.

    I'm coming to the conclusion that when you put the switch on the back to DUAL, my signal turns into MONO.

    Why is that?

     

    thanks for any suggestions."

    -----

    [

    From the Pilot's guide I have understood:

    - The balanced signal for PA behaves in DUAL mode as if the switch was in STUDIO mode.

    - The unbalanced signal for your real guitar amp behaves in DUAL mode like it was in LIVE mode.

     

    Here my suggestion:

    I guess it might be because guitar amps usually are mono and as a result of this you are only using a mono cable from the left/mono output jack e.g. into your effect return. So your right output jack is empty and your HD 400 takes notice of it and generates the summed signal from stereo to mono, so you can hear the sound of recently both channels (e.g. both sides of a stereo delay). For stereo signal you must connect the second cable.

    ]

    Please read my 2nd answer below.

    • Chris-59 Just Startin'
      Chris-59
      3 posts since
      Sep 10, 2012
      Currently Being Moderated
      Sep 12, 2012 12:34 AM (in response to mazuwa)
      Re: HD400 stereo support on both balanced and unbalanced output

      Hello Mazuwa,

      My mistake ofcourse. I should have said earlier that I connected 4 cables.

      Stereo out to the P.A. system en stereo out to the FX-return of the amp.

      Both channels and phones! will turn into MONO.

      thanks for your suggestion though.

       

      so the behaviour of the switch on the back is like this:

      switchposition to LIVE is stereo.

      switchposition to STUDIO is stereo.

      switchposition to DUAL is mono. (to all outputs, even headphones)

       

      with kind regards,

      Chris

      • mazuwa Iknowathingortwo
        mazuwa
        371 posts since
        Jul 7, 2006
        Currently Being Moderated
        Sep 12, 2012 9:48 AM (in response to Chris-59)
        Re: HD400 stereo support on both balanced and unbalanced output

        OLD version

        [From the manual:

        DUAL Mode: This option offers more performance flexibility, routing the LIVE Mode signal to the left BALANCED and UNBALANCED outputs and a great sounding mic’d amp tone to the right outputs. This allows you to send a mono signal tailored for a guitar amp, while simultaneously routing a mono mic’d cab signal to a mixer or recorder!

         

        In other words, with DUAL mode you get this:

        1. LIVE Signal to the left outputs (balanced/L + unbalanced/L)

        2. STUDIO Signal to the right outputs (balanced/R + unbalanced/R)

        Each one has to be MONO as a result of this! ]

         

        Sorry, but your finding seems like normal behavior.

         

        See also here:

        http://line6.com/support/thread/48025

        • phil_m Expert Line 6 User
          phil_m
          4,243 posts since
          Jan 25, 2007
          Currently Being Moderated
          Sep 12, 2012 6:08 AM (in response to mazuwa)
          Re: HD400 stereo support on both balanced and unbalanced output

          Actually, if you look at the Advanced Guide, it seems like the HD400 should maintain stereo separation in DUAL Mode. There are different details given for this mode on the 300 and 400.

           

          • DUAL Mode (POD HD300): This option offers more performance flexibility, routing the LIVE Mode signal to the left BALANCED & UNBALANCED outputs and a great sounding mic’d amp tone to the right BALANCED & UNBALANCED outputs. This allows you to send a mono signal tailored for a guitar amp, while simultaneously routing a mono mic’d cab signal to a mixer or recorder!

           

          • DUAL Mode (POD HD400): This option offers more performance flexibility, routing the LIVE Mode signal to the left & right UNBALANCED outputs, and routing a great sounding mic’d amp tone to the left & right BALANCED outputs. This allows you to send the LIVE signal to a guitar amp, while simultaneously routing a mic’d cab signal to a mixer or recorder!

           

          I kind of remember this being talked about before here, but I'm not sure. Perhaps this was something that was changed in a firmware update?

          • mazuwa Iknowathingortwo
            mazuwa
            371 posts since
            Jul 7, 2006
            Currently Being Moderated
            Sep 12, 2012 9:53 AM (in response to phil_m)
            Re: HD400 stereo support on both balanced and unbalanced output

            Hi phil_m, welcome here,

            Now I have also downloaded the newest advanced guide for HD400. Actually there is no word used like STEREO! Only left & right. So I think they have fixed in an update the following:

            Instead of giving both LIVE and STUDIO sound to each Balanced & Unbalanced outputs (one left, one right), they now have decided to use LIVE for unbalanced outputs only, and STUDIO for balanced outputs.

            But nothing has changed concerning the fact that the signal is only mono, I mean left & right channel seem to be identical in DUAL mode.

             

            Although a little bit older this one is very interesting:

            http://line6.com/support/thread/53949

            • meambobbo Iknowathingortwo
              meambobbo
              1,702 posts since
              Dec 13, 2007
              Currently Being Moderated
              Sep 12, 2012 10:22 AM (in response to mazuwa)
              Re: HD400 stereo support on both balanced and unbalanced output

              2 things i have noticed on the HD500 - not sure how applicable they are here, but worth mentioning.

               

              I believe the unbalanced outs sum to mono if only one cable is plugged into either output.  If you want the right or left signal only from them, you need to put a dummy cable in the other output.

               

              certain effects are mono-summing.  If you have a gate or compressor or some other mono effect behind a stereo effect, it will sum the stereo signal to mono.  I don't have a 400, so I'm not sure how the Pre/Post and order of effects is handled.  Try toggling off any compressor or gate set to post position if possible.

              • Chris-59 Just Startin'
                Chris-59
                3 posts since
                Sep 10, 2012
                Currently Being Moderated
                Sep 12, 2012 10:48 AM (in response to meambobbo)
                Re: HD400 stereo support on both balanced and unbalanced output

                Hi meambobbo,

                thanks for your support. It coudn't haven been the cables, I use them in pairs, not a single cable.

                But what your saying about the effects in post position is interesting, I will try it out.

                Today I loaded a bundle from Joost Vergoossen and I had no problem yet.

                Could it be a problem in a former (default) bundle? I don't know.

                 

                What worries me too is that maybe the switch is just not working consistantly.

                Could it be a hardware problem?

                It's a tiny switch that works fine to the left or right but the middle is a little bit hard to find. (On my unit anyway.)

                 

                kind regards,

                Chris

                • meambobbo Iknowathingortwo
                  meambobbo
                  1,702 posts since
                  Dec 13, 2007
                  Currently Being Moderated
                  Sep 13, 2012 6:40 AM (in response to Chris-59)
                  Re: HD400 stereo support on both balanced and unbalanced output

                  i wish i could help more but without a unit to actually do some experimentation with, all i can do is google and relay information about how the hd500 works.  best of luck.

                  • mazuwa Iknowathingortwo
                    mazuwa
                    371 posts since
                    Jul 7, 2006
                    Currently Being Moderated
                    Sep 13, 2012 7:58 AM (in response to meambobbo)
                    Re: HD400 stereo support on both balanced and unbalanced output

                    Chris, if you say you have all cables connected, and you can hear the stereo signal when the switch is in STUDIO / LIVE mode, and after switching in DUAL mode it becomes mono, then this is real.

                    You haven't changed effects while switching, so the reason for a mono signal is not a mono effect, otherwise you wouldn't have heared a stereo signal before. And there are no more parameters you can change to get a stereo signal in DUAL mode.

                    So I must believe what you say.

                     

                    Please let me repeat my suggestion in other words, because it sounds absolutely logical to me:

                    The HD400 device might only transport 2 different signals. In Live mode or Studio it is STEREO (Left + Right).

                    In DUAL mode there is only one LIVE signal, and the other one is the STUDIO signal.

                    LIVE will be routed to unbalanced outputs.

                    STUDIO will be routed to balanced outputs then.

                    Now, why should Line6 send each of their mono signal only to the left side and have the right side muted? So they "copy" the left side and make it also available at the right side for further connections.

                     

                    Just like meambobbo I have to say goodbye now, although I'm very interested myself, but I cannot give anymore information at this point without owning an HD400.

                    So it's up to you to continue testing or wait until somebody else knows more.

                    Good luck!

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