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2746 Views 13 Replies Latest reply: Mar 8, 2011 9:52 AM by Line6Hugo RSS
hoodcreeper Just Startin'
hoodcreeper
66 posts since
Aug 3, 2010
Currently Being Moderated

Nov 12, 2010 9:41 AM

Trouble recording direct.  Low volumes and Breakup??

Recently purchased new HD 500.  I admitadly have limited experience with multi effect boards.  My problem is when going direct from pedal into mbox then into pro tools I have lower volumes and harsh breakup in the form of distored excessive signals.  This occurs in 1/4" mono and stereo outs as well as the xlr outs.  I have the pedal setup to studio output mode.  Yet I have to turn up to excessive amp model volumes as well as drive settings to obtain midtone volumes.  The left and right mixer volumes are set to excessively high too.

 

When I play exclusively through the pedal on my own through the headphones jack then HD 500 sounds great.  Beefy with a full tone and full sound.  When I plug into recording situation with friends then sound quality goes away.  I should elaborate on the mbox>protools set up as the whole band is listening through a headphone hub split from output of mbox.  However everyone else sounds full and rich except the poor HD 500.

 

What else can I try???

Tags: direct, volume, hd, low, recording, 500, harsh, breakup
  • ozbadman Gear Head
    ozbadman
    1,474 posts since
    Apr 17, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 12, 2010 10:02 AM (in response to hoodcreeper)
    Re: Trouble recording direct.  Low volumes and Breakup??

    My first suggestion would be to plug the HD500 into something else as a test. If it sounds good through the headphones, it should at least get close through something else. Just to make sure the issue isn't being introduced by protools, try plugging the HD500 1/4" or XLR into a normal amp, or stereo, or whatever you can find. This will prove the problem is on the HD500 side, and we (that is, you with the help from people on this board) can go from there.

     

    David.

  • hoodcreeper Just Startin'
    hoodcreeper
    66 posts since
    Aug 3, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    Nov 12, 2010 10:31 AM (in response to hoodcreeper)
    Re: Trouble recording direct.  Low volumes and Breakup??

    Thanks David- I have gone direct into my computer through the usb connection and recorded into Garageband.  Sound quality is better and volumes seem closer but still a little on the empty tone side.  I also have plugged into a fender blues junior and set pedal output to combo amp settings.  I was actually fairly pleased on how this sounded compared with the older x3L.  In my friends pro tools "setup" I am just at a loss as similar settings that sounded good in other two scenarios now sound like crap.  Also everyone elses direct tones (keys, bass, and mic'd drums) sound great.  I don't think the problem is with pro tools.  Does my friends pc (protools) soundcard come into play at all.  Do I need to install HD 500 driver or edit into friends computer?  Can I run my pedal usb into my computer first then out of my computer into a Line 6 UX1 and then into his mbox?

     

    I also have seen some discussions on HD's not handling humbucker pickups that well.  They talk about the excessive signal and breakup, but not  about low volume direct out signals.  There has to be a simple answer.  This pedal has to record better than this.  If not then this thing is on a fast track back to GC while I still have some time to return.

    • FrozenOzone Just Startin'
      FrozenOzone
      175 posts since
      Oct 12, 2010
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 12, 2010 11:01 AM (in response to hoodcreeper)
      Re: Trouble recording direct.  Low volumes and Breakup??

      hoodcreeper.

       

      I have high powered humbuckers and only experienced the break up on the factory defaults.  If you create your own patches or get some from the customtone website http://line6.com/customtone/ I think you will have a better experience with your unit.  Theres almost 300 patches ready for download.  Here is my setup and it sounds great:

       

      Guitars:

      PRS Tremonti SE
      Dimarzio Super Distortion bridge
      Dimarzio LiquiFire neck

       

      Ibanez SZ320
      Dimarzio Super Distortion bridge
      Dimarzio PAF Pro neck.

       

      Power Amp:
      Beheringer EuroPower EP1500

       

      Cabs:
      4 X 12 B-52

      Kustom KPC12MP 12" Powered Floor Monitor

    • ozbadman Gear Head
      ozbadman
      1,474 posts since
      Apr 17, 2008
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 12, 2010 11:07 AM (in response to hoodcreeper)
      Re: Trouble recording direct.  Low volumes and Breakup??

      Hey hood,

       

      Well, the fact that it sounds fine through other amps and into garageband (presumably also all using the 1.4") means it's not the HD500. It's the protools setup. It sounds like you're probably under or overdriving the soundcard input into protools. The softness implies underdriving. Turning up would give you a poor quality signal, with a lot of white noise due to poor s/n (signal to noise) ratio. Having said that, the output from the 1/4" plugs is a decent volume. Have you tried plugging your guitar directly into protools (without the HD500). I suspect that'll will also sound bad. You could try the line/amp switch on the HD500, but essentially, it doesn't sound like the problem has anything to do with the HD500 at all.

       

      Try plugging the guitar in directly and let us know the results of that.

       

      David.

      • hoodcreeper Just Startin'
        hoodcreeper
        66 posts since
        Aug 3, 2010
        Currently Being Moderated
        Nov 12, 2010 11:21 AM (in response to ozbadman)
        Re: Trouble recording direct.  Low volumes and Breakup??

        Thanks again for the responses-

        The pro tools set up is with my band and I will try to plug guitar directly in tonight to see what happens.  i am assuming that I will get a nice clean tone with no HD in the link.  The bass player is going through an older Boss multi amp pedal and his tones are great.---I believe there is something missing/wrong with the HD pedal.  I appreciate the help and welcome any other ideas.

    • spaceatl Expert Line 6 User
      spaceatl
      4,456 posts since
      Jan 24, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Nov 12, 2010 11:22 AM (in response to hoodcreeper)
      Re: Trouble recording direct.  Low volumes and Breakup??

      If you friend is using ProTools then you will have to use the ProTools interface...Have you tried the SPDIF? Might make sense to take out the DA conversion and just let the HD500 hit the ProTools interface digital...Seems like your friends interface would have an SPDIF...That would actually take out the DAD conversion that is going on if your are using the HD500 analog outs...

       

      One thing you could do as a test...take a TRS 1/4 to (2) mono 1/4 cable and run the headphone out into the interface...headphone level stuff is fine for line level inputs...that will tell you a lot like if the inputs on the interface are set to -20 when they should be +4...that sorta thing...

  • ricksox UberGuru
    ricksox
    11,600 posts since
    Mar 28, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    Mar 7, 2011 12:28 PM (in response to hoodcreeper)
    RE: Trouble recording direct.  Low volumes and Breakup??

    Out of curiosity, did you check your tone panning within your patches? Not sure if that would have had an impact but it's something to check.

       

       

      Line6Miller

  • Line6Hugo Line 6
    Line6Hugo
    6,580 posts since
    Apr 8, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Mar 8, 2011 9:52 AM (in response to hoodcreeper)
    RE: Trouble recording direct.  Low volumes and Breakup??

    Not sure why it was so low.  I recommend panning the tones to the center or adding a COMP effect with the gain turned up to increase the volume output.  Perhaps connecting the POD's outputs into instrument level inputs on your interface would help as well.

       

      Regards,

       

      Line6Hugo

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