I would begin by doing some administrative stuff: Use Line 6 Monkey to make sure your HD500 firmware is up to date. During the update process, choose to replace the existing patches/presets. Then perform a global settings reset and recalibrate the pedal.

http://line6.com/support/docs/DOC-2057

http://line6.com/support/docs/DOC-2222

http://line6.com/support/docs/DOC-2223

Then start by using the HD500 without your amp. Connect the Rokit speakers to the HD500 Outputs (either the XLR or the 1/4" outputs - doesn't really matter at this point). Set the HD500 Output mode to Studio / Direct (see System Setup page 4). Forget about the factory presets and Customtone right now. Go to a New Tone preset and start experimenting just with the amps - not even any FX yet.

In the signal flow view of the preset, move the cursor to select the amp. Use knob#1 to select an amp model you are familiar with, and start playing with the amp knobs. At this stage, use the FULL (not PRE) amp models. Experiment with the cab and mic selections too (knobs #2 and #3); they have a real influence on the tone.

Assuming you are connecting your Guitar to the Guitar Input jack on the  HD500, set Input 1 = Guitar. Experiment with Input2 = SAME or Input2 =  <anything other than Guitar>. This can be really important for certain kinds of tone.

Still in the signal flow view of the preset, with the amp selected, double-press the ENTER button to access the Amp & Cab Edit screens. You’ll see up to 5  pages of options here, allowing you to fine-tune Amp, Cab and Mic settings. Pay particular attention to the interplay of the Amp Drive knob, the Amp Master Volume setting (Amp Edit page 2), the Bias setting (Amp Edit page 3), and the Cab LoCut setting (Amp Edit page 4). I find these 4 settings (in addition to the more familiar tone stack) have a huge effect on your overall tone. Spend a lot of time just getting familiar with all these controls and the different amp models.

Once you gain familiarity with the amps you will be ready to move comfortably to adding FX to shape the tone as you used to do with your previous analog pedals.

When you want to integrate your mini marshall stack you will need to learn about:

- Output Modes other than Studio / Direct

- the difference between using the FULL amp vs. PRE amp selections (cab/mic simulations)

- the difference between using one amp (an HD500 amp model OR your real amp) and using two amps (anHD500 amp model AND your real amp)

- optionally, the 4-cable setup method (4CM)

.... and yes, many new HD500 users experience what you are experiencing. There is a definite learning curve. Stay patient, read a lot, and come back here to ask a lot of specific questions (start a new thread for each question to make it easier to track the answers). In the end you'll be glad you did; you have an awesome device that is worth spending some time to get to know!!

... and most of all, have fun!

Bill....,

to answer your last question, the answer is yes. Frustration is an understatement. You may get answers by some that claim they have had no issues dialing in the sweetest tones one can imagine in just a few seconds, and that the unit works just like yer papas old Fender. That, has not been my experience.... This guitar preamp/effects unit is many things. Its is very powerful, and also very convoluted and confusing and frustrating at times in its design and use. You can get wonderful sounds out of it, but most people have to spend alot of time learning how to tweak it's tones out of it. Its inputs and outputs are many, but they do not always works like you may think they should (or as you may think they are labeled), depending on the ways you might expect them to work with the rest of your Line 6 gear added to it. Frustrating? Why hell yes it is, but also rewarding tones can happen if you spend the time. Lots of players just want to play and not research new tone building technologies at Line 6 Pod University, and there in lies the problem for alot of new and old owners. Ive owned a Pod HD Pro for a few years, and I use about 10 patches that I have tweaked to fit my ears. Yep, 10 ... I dont need any more than this. Was it worth the hell in creating them and then tweaking them over and over until they sounded right? That answer will depend on you, and you alone. I wanted on many sessions to throw mine off a cliff. Could it have been designed better and still have been as flexible and powerful? Very possibly yes, but it was not. It is what it is, at least for the moment. A very powerful and good sounding guitar & amp efx unit that will do lots of things well if you can get your head around some of the weird and strange learning curves it sometimes requires... And finally, like anything else this unit is just not for everyone that plays a guitar. There are many other very nice sounding boxes out there that will give you less heartburn. That said, play with the Pod for say 6 weeks, and see what you can achieve with it. Then you will truly know the answers about whether or not the Pod is your cupa tea....