I think the thing to keep in mind is that both signal paths are stereo....Whether or not you would need input 2 set to "Same" or "Guitar" (same thing on the bean) depends on whether you are using dual tones or not....However, you can use it to push a single amp model harder in single tone patches if you like...But in this case you might need to exercise some caution as some FX model clipping if you over drive them....A really good example of this is the Tape Echo...You can saturate the crap out of the tape and the clipping sounds pretty realistic to my ears...

Basically, whatever approach gives you the results you are looking for is the correct one...In general, I set Input 2 to "Mic" for single amp tones and "Same" for Dual amp tones....However, I do like using the Same option for the Engle, Dr Z and a couple of others...Mainly because I kinda like getting a tad more breakup with the drive set just a little lower...Although the end result saturation is about the same, the tone and response is a little different...kinda like using a clean screamer against a real amp...just more tonal option I think...

Guys, correct me if I'm wrong but:

1) When we set up input1=guitar and input2=same, POD doesn't use any other hardware input - it just splits your input1 into two flows (A and B). So when you use stereo effects your signal will flow both A and B directions.

2) When we set up input1=guitar and input2=Variax POD uses your guitar signal for A flow and Variax hardware input for B flow. It means that you have "nothing" flowing into your B flow. So you could hear loss of the certain amount of signal using stereo effects.

Hence the summary of my post: Using input2 set to whatever unplugged input is WRONG.

dftpunk wrote:

 

Guys, correct me if I'm wrong but:

 

1) When we set up input1=guitar and input2=same, POD doesn't use any other hardware input - it just splits your input1 into two flows (A and B). So when you use stereo effects your signal will flow both A and B directions.

That's not correct. Check the manual in the Inputs section where it describes the Input Source Routing for the HD500. While it is possible to arrange your preset so that Inputs 1 and 2 are seperately assigned with Paths A and B respectively, this is not usually the case. Input 1 is often routed through both Paths. Each of Paths A and B is a stereo path.

I like the idea of the global input assign but I wish to heck that you could override it for individual patches.  I think it is all about scenarios.

• Do you get distortion even on clean channels? 
  • If yes - Input 1: Guitar and Input 2: Variax.
• Do you get excessive noise/hum when using a high gain amp model (or running 'effects only' into a high gain amp). 
  • If yes - Input 1: Guitar and Input 2: Variax.

• Do you lose half the soundscape on stereo effects in certain patches

  • If yes - Input 1: Guitar and Input 2: Same. or reassign the routing so that it plays nice (as per Silverhead comment above)

The bottom line is that ...  it depends .  I default all of my patches manually to Guitar/Variax but it is no big deal to reassign if needsbe.  I will not be using the Global.

I'm not sure what you guys are referring to here when you say you "have to do this in every patch" because the inputs are a global setting. As far as I know, unless you're using HDEdit, it's a global setting.

Edit: Check that... I was under the impression that when you hold down the View button to go into the settings menu that these were "global" settings. But to my surprise, they are indeed per patch. That makes sense I guess... but wow, what a pain! Especially if it causes a problem. I've never had mine set any other way but this "wrong way" and i've never noticed my sound being all that bad. I'm about to try it with the Input 1 set to Guitar and input 2 set to Variax (since I do have one!).

Does anyone know if the "Best of HD 500" presets have EVER been tweaked by Line 6? Or are they basically the same exact ones from when the unit was brand new? Some of those tones are beyond ROTTEN and I can't imagine that anyone would even consider using them. To each his own I guess!

Jason

You are right:  you have the options to either go 'Global' in which case you assign the same Input Configuration and/or Input Z to all patches or 'Preset' in which you assign them to individual patches. 

I was arguing that it would be convenient for me to use 'Global' to set to Guitar/Variax but then still being able to override - i.e. an exceptions-based approach - for specific patches..

Effectively the global setting pre 1.40 was Guitar+Same+Mic+Variax+Tintray+Kitchen sink and we overrode it with presets.  I would like to go the same way but have a choice of what that initial global default was.

...  I am just not bothered enough about it to distract L6 with a feature request

Thanks for the tip.  Wish I would of known this 7 months ago!!