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1489 Views 27 Replies Latest reply: Apr 14, 2012 8:04 PM by samuelito2011 RSS
samuelito2011 Just Startin' 105 posts since
Nov 14, 2011
Currently Being Moderated

Apr 11, 2012 2:40 PM

I need HELP!!!

HEllo brother and sister

 

Firstable im so thankful i found this group i was going to create one!

 

ANyway, im dealing with my pod hd500 and im looking for a good amp that will not color my sound created by headphones

and i bought a Roland Kc but it doesnt work i dont know whats wrong the light doesnt turn on but i can hear a noise coming and i try everything

but i give up and im going to return it... So my idea is getting an amp and mic to Pa at church... I dont want to go straight to Pa cause i want to have full control from my amp.... Right now im using a Marshall Mg100dfx... I have been asking around but maybe you guys have more experience and the most important WE ALL TRYING TO GIVE THE LORD THE BEST! Help me out and give me examples, ideas or even send me pictures to see how you guys are using the pod hd500!

 

thanks guys

 

and God bless you ALL and 10000 thank you for the ADD

  • jgribble57 Just Startin' 6 posts since
    Feb 20, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Apr 11, 2012 3:32 PM (in response to samuelito2011)
    Re: I need HELP!!!

    Get a keyboard amp or other powered speaker, not a guitar amp.  You can run XLR to the mains and 1/4 to the keyboard amp.   

  • hitchface Just Startin' 334 posts since
    Jul 1, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Apr 11, 2012 6:08 PM (in response to samuelito2011)
    Re: I need HELP!!!

    Your first problem is headphones. They are great for picking out details in a mix and fixing minor issues, but they give a VERY poor representation of a live sound out of the POD (or any other device). That is by design...you can EQ all you want, but you won't even get close.

     

    With that in mind, a powered monitor is your best bet. If you can possibly swing it, get something in at least the same series as your PA mains. Otherwise, go for the most transparent thing your dollars can buy.

     

    Personally, I love nearfield monitoring on a stage that needs to be quiet, so I use a Roland CM-30. I can either run a signal to both the PA and monitor separately (which I do), or I can pass the signal through the monitor so if I make basic EQ changes (and I stress basic...don't tick off your sound guy with on-the-fly tweaking), the house hears it.

     

    Which leads me to my last question/point: The POD is designed so that you don't have to make constant tweaks while you play. That's what patches and virtual stomp boxes (and a virtually infinitely assignable expression pedal) are for. Why do you need access to your amp while you play?

      • StokesGA Just Startin' 40 posts since
        May 3, 43500
        Currently Being Moderated
        Apr 12, 2012 5:33 AM (in response to samuelito2011)
        Re: I need HELP!!!

        I didn't see it mentioned so I have to ask.. do you guys use individual floor monitors?.. If so turn everyone else down in your individual monitor and turn yourself up..If you don't have individual floor monitors.. consider gettone one for yourself.. it is way cheaper than buying an amplifier..even most powered monitors are cheaper than allot of amplifiers..

         

        Also really discuss with your team training someone to be in charge of the PA system, that way you'll ensure you have the best mix possible going out to the crowd..

         

        There are better quality of headphones that will deliver a truer responce, studio grade phone I have found get really ,, really close.. I still had to hook up to the PA at church though take my laptop with me and tweak out my main patch to get it just right..

         

         

        I use a small practice amp as a monitor for myself at church.. although it does color the sound.. I have the amp turned towards me and not towards the crowd.. so they really do not hear what is coming out of that amp vs.. what is coming out of the PA mains and subs.

         

        One more thing is.. if you have a good amp that accepts a effects loop..simply turn off the amp model on the HD500 and use only the effects running your HD 500 in the effects loop of your amplifier rather than running it through the guitar input.. , using your amplifiers tone as your main sound..If you are truly intent on micing the amp..

        • Stratotron Just Startin' 132 posts since
          Mar 13, 2007
          Currently Being Moderated
          Apr 12, 2012 9:11 AM (in response to StokesGA)
          Re: I need HELP!!!

            I have copied in bold a post of mine form another thread. It sounds like the same situation;

           

           

          My 2 cents. HD500

           

          I run a mono "wye" adapter from both Right and Left 1/4" outs to the 1/4" in on a DI box. The 1/4" out from the DI Box goes to a solid state 50watt Marshall combo with a solid back that I use for my monitor, in front of me aimed away from the house. The XLR from the DI box routes to the board. I choose this because I was getting different sounds and levels from the 1/4" and the XLRs. This way I am more assured that what I am hearing from my onstage amp/monitor is the same thing that is being routed to the board. And by using right and left outs and adapting them to mono, I am not concerned about panning.

           

          I also choose to use a personal stage monitor because at an event, which I montiored through the house monitors, I struggled to hear what I was doing.  I will never do that again. Don't get me wrong, I am not blasting my amp, I just have it situated so I have complete control over my "environment". Last night at rehearsal, the leader actually asked me to turn up!!!!

           

          With the flexibility of the HD this way of connecting too shall (probably) pass.

           

          Let me add that I run the 1/4" in to the effects return of my Marshall, so I am only using the power amp section and no amplifier tone controls are engaged. I have my HD set to Combo Front so I can adjust the focus in the HD output section. If the rig is inherntly too brite sounding, the focus control can go a long way to fix it. Once again and as always, I have found that I need to write patches to be slightly dull in the headphones (read the Fletcher Munson Loudness Study) because once you turn the rig up to performance volume the upper mids go through the roof. This is why it will sound sweet at home at low volumes but stark and brittle once you turn it up.

           

          Oddly enough, we held our Easter Service at the Escondido Center for the Perfroming Arts last Sunday, and I listened to a field recording, and while my guitar levels were balanced and the patch voices were correct, the overall guitar tone lacked "sparkle", or "twang". For instance it seemed like the room "ate/absorbed" the vibro effect on one song and the triplett trailing delay of another. I will be working on this! ( maybe I need to go back to the XLR's out?!)

           

          Blessings Bros...

            • Stratotron Just Startin' 132 posts since
              Mar 13, 2007
              Currently Being Moderated
              Apr 12, 2012 1:22 PM (in response to samuelito2011)
              Re: I need HELP!!!

              I ordered it from Musicians Friend. I also bought a 1/4" X 1/4" male adapter. the WYE cable is 1-1/4" female X 2- 1/4" male. The male adapter takes the place of a cord. THe entire connection is about 8" long.

               

              Try opening the "focus" control in your output section with your amp plugged in and turned up. Hammer a chord and roll the focus lower and pull the highs down till you like it. Make sure and write the default values in case you hate it and want to return it to the factory setting. The focus changes the global "bias" of the HD. The HD needs to be set to Combo Front, or the focus control won't be an option. I know it will seem weird, but I have my HD set to Combo Front and I "WYE cable" it in to my effects loop in, all so  I have the focus control.

               

              I strongly suggest reading the Fletcher Munson Loudness Contour Study. I fought with digital effects for years, until I read the FMLCS. It explained what was happening and it all made sense. It sounds like you have equipment, it is all how it is set up. There is a version here on the Line 6 site somewhere or do a simple google search. The basic concept of it is really simple. Trust me Bro, it will all make sense!

               

              Blessings,

               

              Strato

                    • Stratotron Just Startin' 132 posts since
                      Mar 13, 2007
                      Currently Being Moderated
                      Apr 12, 2012 2:02 PM (in response to samuelito2011)
                      Re: I need HELP!!!

                      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal-loudness_contour

                       

                      Look at the graph, in really simple terms, the lower line is your headphones at low volume. Now look at the upper line, that is your guitar turned up ( numbers on the left are dB, you probaly are around 80 to 90 opened up). See how the curve flattens out and the high end goes off of the scale. Basically what the study shows is, as you turn something up, the upper mids and highs are accentuated. This is eaxactly what is happeneing when you set your system at a low volume and then crank it up to play.

                       

                      I have tried to simplify and others here could probably explain wiht more detail.

                        • Stratotron Just Startin' 132 posts since
                          Mar 13, 2007
                          Currently Being Moderated
                          Apr 12, 2012 2:31 PM (in response to samuelito2011)
                          Re: I need HELP!!!

                          In really simple terms, try writing a patch at home through your headphones, and puposely create it so that it sounds a little dull. Roll the presence and the high end off of the amp model. What I do is think in terms of "notching" or "scooping" out the upper mids and lowering the highs, you could do this with an EQ. Based on the loudness study, once you turn it up to play those frequencies should "re-appear".

                           

                          This is a common thread with new Digital effects users, it comes up in discussions all of the time. I am surprised that Line 6 hasn't created a "loudness" function for the HD rigs. It seems like it is a predictable enough value to say, engage the loudness function and punch in your estimated db????? Old stereo amps and recievers had a loudness button.

                           

                          Blessings, Strato.

  • hitchface Just Startin' 334 posts since
    Jul 1, 2007
    Currently Being Moderated
    Apr 12, 2012 7:41 PM (in response to samuelito2011)
    Re: I need HELP!!!

    As I said before, the Roland CM-30 is a great choice for nearfiled monitoring. It mounts on a mic stand, and if you get it close to you, like it should be, you will not need it to be very loud to overcome the rest of the band. It will make your congregation love you, too, since you won't have so much noise coming from the stage. Inverse square law.

     

    Other popular big units are the QSC K-series units, Mackie Thumps, JBL Eons, etc. Some people really like the Tech21 Power Engine, but it is a guitar amp, so it won't be as transparent as a PA monitor would be.

      • hitchface Just Startin' 334 posts since
        Jul 1, 2007
        Currently Being Moderated
        Apr 12, 2012 9:17 PM (in response to samuelito2011)
        Re: I need HELP!!!

        I don't have my own photo, but let me see if I can help you out.

         

        http://www.roland.com/products/en/CM-30/

         

        The speaker is actually deceptively loud. For many events where we have only a presenter and no music, we use it as the sole PA speaker to cover a 50x50 auditorium. Even routing music into it is no problem...it pushes A LOT for its size. Almost any review you read will tell you the same thing. There are even gigging synth players that run a pair in stereo for personal monitoring.

         

        When I use it, I have it mounted on a mic stand, no farther than an arm's length from me. I can have it hurting my ears before anyone else complains.

         

        The key is that this is a NEARfield monitor...it is meant to be close to you. The inverse square law in audio means this: If you stand twice as far away from your speaker, you need to double the volume just to hear it the same. If you cut your distance in half, you also cut the volume in half. Get it up close...you might be surprised.

         

        Go to a local store that has one and see if you can rent one for a weekend and see how you like it. Or just buy and return...only about 200 bucks Canadian.

          • hitchface Just Startin' 334 posts since
            Jul 1, 2007
            Currently Being Moderated
            Apr 12, 2012 10:05 PM (in response to samuelito2011)
            Re: I need HELP!!!

            For that, you'll just have to try one

          • StokesGA Just Startin' 40 posts since
            May 3, 43500
            Currently Being Moderated
            Apr 13, 2012 4:15 AM (in response to samuelito2011)
            Re: I need HELP!!!

            I agree with hitch..also.. there are many good powered and non powered monitors on the market,, The very best one I have ever heard is actually not a very popular one.. it is made by a company called B52.. I have one of their stack amplifiers and it is awesome.. I had the chance a while back to hear a band that was using the B52 wedge monitors.. MAN they sounded better that JBLs, better than anything I have heard and plus they were built like a tank..Needless to say I was impressed with them.. so much so.. my next purchase once I save up the money is going to be a B52 monitor..

             

            Another company to not ignore for high quality audio is Carvin, best known really for their guitars. but their amplifiers and audio speakers are top of the line!

  • daveschutt Just Startin' 280 posts since
    Sep 8, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Apr 14, 2012 7:02 PM (in response to samuelito2011)
    Re: I need HELP!!!

    It's been my experience that if your patches sound too bright/brittle/trebly through the PA one of the main causes is creating them at a bedroom or non live volume.  If I don't have the opportunity to tweak my patches before a gig at full volume I will generally color them a bit mid heavy at low volume, dial down the treble and presence and get pretty close to where I want it when I play direct out through the PA.   If you're looking for a powered speaker to create patches and then use as a monitor you really want to try to get one that simulates the frequency response of the PA speakers that are being used, not necessarily one that makes you sound good through the monitor otherwise if you hear a playback of the service you may find that it isn't all what you expected it to be.  We use Axiom In-Ear Monitors that are fed through a separate mixing console so I have learned through blood, sweat and tears I totally can't relay on what I'm hearing to be an accurate representation of what's FOH.  Is this right? No but that is a battle for a different day.  To alleveiate that I bought an EV Live-X 12" Powered Wedge that I can use at home to dial in my patches and just ignore what I think I may be hearing through the monitors at rehearsal or service because otherwise I could be chasing my tail all day.  Just remember that when playing in a full band live FOH you want to carve out the guitar EQ range and not overlap too much bass guitar player or the high mids of the keyboard or cymbals and your guitar will really shine!

     

    Your BIC,

     

    Dave

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