Skip navigation
Up to Discussions in POD HD
560 Views 9 Replies Latest reply: Dec 18, 2012 7:03 AM by Octo777 RSS
L61319tele Just Startin'
L61319tele
6 posts since
Apr 22, 2012
Currently Being Moderated

Dec 15, 2012 10:28 AM

HD500 -the point that Line 6 have missed

HD500 has definitely lived up to its promise with the amp models, and as a hard-to-please valve amp user of 40 years experience I am now more than happy to use this unit on a gig into the fx return of any decent amp. However, if I want to use multiple patches, and lets face it, Line6, you seem to want me to, I need 2 hours of soundcheck time to balance them all up. In different locations things need tweaking but it just is not practical to adjust settings on an EQ, say, or a delay tail on several different patches. Once I have made an adjustment to an amp or effect what I want is for that careful work to be available in the other places that it is being used. On the M9 there was effect copy and I was surprised, no, shocked, to not find this on the HD500. In fact I wasted a huge amount of time searching in vain for it never believing that you would design something with such an obvious practical difficulty, given what a brilliant job you the M9 is. I kept expecting the bundled software to give me access to things not available on the unit itself, but this does not seem to be the case. In fact, WHAT IS IT FOR? Oh yes, data dumping. Well thats not exactly revolutionary is it?

Please take a leaf out of Digitech's book - I've had similar units from them where effects are saved in a library and can be loaded into other patches. Also switches that can be set to change just about anything, not just to toggle on/off. Don't sound as good as your stuff, though.

 

Peace.

  • anonyrat Just Startin'
    anonyrat
    62 posts since
    Dec 25, 2011
    Currently Being Moderated
    Dec 15, 2012 2:49 PM (in response to L61319tele)
    Re: HD500 -the point that Line 6 have missed

    Unfortunately you are correct.

     

    I get the impression that L6 have a hardware mentality. They are used to providing fantastic FX units, great amps and even inovative guitars. But do not have a clue on the software side.

    The HD edit program has potential but has never been realised. Compared to the Avid Eleven rack editor which can save patches of your amps, individual FX etc. But they are a software company and used to getting every ounce of grunt from a program. The HD edit cannot print out a simple list of patches, amps, guitar, fx's

    Wouldn't it be good to have a saved patch of a delay for example and then have a drop down of saved patches that you could quickly try ...

     

    There is an old saying why spoil the ship for a ha'porth (half penny worth) of tar' - This sums up the HD edit - If I was to give it a school report "Has potential but laziness and slopiness in the finish has let this down - must try harder"

    • L61319tele Just Startin'
      L61319tele
      6 posts since
      Apr 22, 2012
      Currently Being Moderated
      Dec 16, 2012 3:06 AM (in response to anonyrat)
      Re: HD500 -the point that Line 6 have missed

      Nicely put!

      Most  Line6 units that I've owned or otherwise used do pretty much what you expect of them, and in the case of the M9 much more, but this one disappoints. Ploughing through the  various forums suggests to me that their main market is in recording or trying to sound like someone else in the privacy of your garage/bedroom. I reckon I could get the same level of functionality from something smaller or cheaper. What out for a sudden drop in resale value of these things.

    • phil_m Expert Line 6 User
      phil_m
      4,243 posts since
      Jan 25, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Dec 16, 2012 6:46 AM (in response to anonyrat)
      Re: HD500 -the point that Line 6 have missed

      Actually, I read an interview with Marcus Ryle, one of the founders of Line 6, that they consider themselves primarily a software company. Everything they make is software driven in some way or another. They started by making software plug-ins for the recording industry. I just think there are priorities when it comes to what gets developed and what doesn't. Editing software has never been something that has seemed like a high priority item for them.

      • L61319tele Just Startin'
        L61319tele
        6 posts since
        Apr 22, 2012
        Currently Being Moderated
        Dec 16, 2012 3:40 PM (in response to phil_m)
        Re: HD500 -the point that Line 6 have missed

        phil_m wrote:

         

        Actually, I read an interview with Marcus Ryle, one of the founders of Line 6, that they consider themselves primarily a software company.

        And Nixon probably considered himself a good president. Software v hardware is probably deviating from the point. De facto Line6 are making tools to do a job, and this unit has all the appearances of being for live use, where it is not a very good tool. Ok, but no better. But it should be, and I'd hate to think that the good ladies 'n gents of the company are embroiled in academic debates about hardware or software, while I shell out hard earned cash for something that falls short of expectations.

        • phil_m Expert Line 6 User
          phil_m
          4,243 posts since
          Jan 25, 2007
          Currently Being Moderated
          Dec 18, 2012 6:24 AM (in response to L61319tele)
          Re: HD500 -the point that Line 6 have missed

          All I was doing was quoting that interview. It was from a few years ago.

           

          I think all your suggestions have merits. I just don't think it's as black and white as you put it, though. I have universally hated the interface of every Boss or Digitech multi-FX I've ever used. Even a relatively simple product like their EX-7 Expression Factory, which I owned for a while, they manage to make it impossible to remember how to access every setting without using the manual. I think Line 6 wins hands down in the terms of user interfaces. There are things they could do as far as having user-saveable default amp and effects settings that would be very nice I agree. But I still think they're the best company out there for making affordable multi-FX products that are easy to use. I've been using Line 6 products live for over a decade now, and I certainly can't complain.

  • gunpointmetal Just Startin'
    gunpointmetal
    171 posts since
    Dec 27, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    Dec 17, 2012 10:29 AM (in response to L61319tele)
    Re: HD500 -the point that Line 6 have missed

    I agree with you that saving your own individual effects presets would be great but for the reason you mentioned (leveling patches in a live context) it wouldn't be necessary, and it would only be helpful if you hadn't done it before hand like most do. I hav eleveled all of my live patches (I use about 8) and there is very little difference from room to room, at least not anything that requires tweaking. The functionality should be there, but I don't think anyone with any peice of gear by any manufacturere should be trying to level patches in a sound check.

    • JTSC777 Just Startin'
      JTSC777
      63 posts since
      Jun 22, 2012
      Currently Being Moderated
      Dec 17, 2012 6:42 PM (in response to gunpointmetal)
      Re: HD500 -the point that Line 6 have missed

      I have had very few problems either with levels. I set them while playing at VOLUME through FRFR cab or effect loop of a tube amp with cab before I gig.I also take notes and tweak after gigs once in a while.Stomp boxes will always be better for tweaking levels etc... on the fly in a live setting. That will never change. If you want to experience horrible editing start using Roland/Boss units . You have to use third party software to do it as Roland gives you nothing for your hard earned money to edit with but an awful user interface on the front panel. Line 6 is far better in this area and IMHO Digitech sounds like crap. I opened a Cancer Society Benefit recently using a wonderful old Marshall with a Digitech in front of it. Not good enough for serious work. I use 40 patches so far and organize them into banks for -Funk-Rock-Country-Blues-Metal-Jazz etc...If you plan ahead these things are pretty good. If you don't you will swallow water in front of an audience for sure .Good Luck!

    • L61319tele Just Startin'
      L61319tele
      6 posts since
      Apr 22, 2012
      Currently Being Moderated
      Dec 18, 2012 2:39 AM (in response to gunpointmetal)
      Re: HD500 -the point that Line 6 have missed

      gunpointmetal wrote:

       

      The functionality should be there, but I don't think anyone with any peice of gear by any manufacturere should be trying to level patches in a sound check.

      Neither do I but, I don't find that the levels of anything sound the same in every situation, especially if you play through a different rented amp every night. Also, levels are not necessarily a priority. And the editing has to be done wherever you are, getting the same chorus on every patch for example, so I'd like it to be easier. Functionality of D1g1t*ch may have dipped in recent years (detachable iPad might be a good idea, but no Tap Tempo.?????) but if pushed I will take functionality over sound, on the the basis that if the sound is coming out of my fingers then nothing short of power failure will stop it! What all players need to do is forget all this and PLAY.

  • Octo777 Iknowathingortwo
    Octo777
    851 posts since
    Feb 23, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Dec 18, 2012 7:03 AM (in response to L61319tele)
    Re: HD500 -the point that Line 6 have missed

    L61319tele wrote:

     

    Please take a leaf out of Digitech's book - I've had similar units from them where effects are saved in a library and can be loaded into other patches. Also switches that can be set to change just about anything, not just to toggle on/off. Don't sound as good as your stuff, though.

     

    And maybe therein lies the problem. Maybe it's just fundamentally not possible to make the HD units as versatile as the likes of the Digitech devices you mention without compromising the overall quality of tone?

     

    I've used my HD500 for a large multitude of live gigs being both electric and acoustic both into the return of an amp for electric and Direct via XLR for acoustic and I've never really had any issues with either levelling volume or the quality of the tone in general and for electric stuff I can only assume this is going to get better once I have my L3m Speaker too.

     

    However, I very much like to plug and play and tend not to overthink my tone. The minute you start to overthink your tone, I feel like it becomes a psychological thing and you start hearing things that are not there and this detracts from the actual playing.

     

    It's a sad notion, but a lot of the time I feel like a lot of people are looking the gift horse in the mouth with these HD units. (and in some cases it feels like some are ready to get their hand right down the horses throat to search for more).

More Like This

  • Retrieving data ...

Bookmarked By (0)