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488 Views 9 Replies Latest reply: Jan 15, 2013 5:48 PM by meyerb RSS
GodsGuitarist77 Just Startin'
GodsGuitarist77
3 posts since
Apr 30, 2011
Currently Being Moderated

Jul 3, 2012 2:37 AM

Pod hd500 into PA system

Hey guys ive had my pod for about 5 months now and im having trouble getting a good lead/distortion tone through a PA system. I travel and play at many different churches with different PA's. I take time and play around with each one tweaking eq's and stuff but i keep getting a terrible digital overdrive type sound. I set output mode Studio/Direct. And plug in using left unbalanced output to a standard mic jack. How can i fix this problem and get a killer tone? Thx alot!

Tags: pod, software, volume, update, edit, patch, preset, cable, problem, effects, stereo, help, metal, 500, hd500, pod_hd_500
  • GodsGuitarist77 Just Startin'
    GodsGuitarist77
    3 posts since
    Apr 30, 2011
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jul 3, 2012 2:43 AM (in response to GodsGuitarist77)
    Re: Pod hd500 into PA system

    Left balanced output i use (xlr). Not unbalanced, srry

  • Grayjhg Just Startin'
    Grayjhg
    1 posts since
    Sep 15, 2012
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jan 14, 2013 8:42 PM (in response to GodsGuitarist77)
    Re: Pod hd500 into PA system

    I'm in a similar situation. I bought an HD500 because our church has gone to in ear monitors and no live sound on stage. LIke you, im running direct into PA  I'm having a tough time getting the HD 500 dialed in despite lots of hours of effort.  I would appreciate any words of wisdom.

     

    I will say that my Les Paul with humbuckers does a better job of getting overdrive or crunch sounds than my Fender single coil models. But it's been tough to get a great clean sound with the humbuckers.

     

    Overall, I've been disappointed with the "digital" nature of the sound and feel of the HD500. Unfortunately, despite all of the gushing online, it seems nowhere close to the more "organic" feel of a good tube amp. I've even tried some awesome analog pedals on the front end, but there's been virtually no improvement doing so. On the positive side, it's way more convenient to carry around and set up than an amp and pedalboard!

     

    Other issues:

         - VERY tough to get a feel for what a patch is going to sound like live vs when I'm sitting at home programming it!

         - tough when searching online for patches to get sense of how they'll sound with humbuckers vs single coils.

         - And (sorry to be ungreatful) most everything I've downloaded from the online forum sounds miserable in a live setting. I admit I'm picky, but I know what good tone is supposed to sound like.

     

    Again, I'd appreciate any feedback or thoughts on how to make this work or some direction to good, practical online resources . I'm commited to making this "marriage" a success, but I feel like I've got a long way to go!  I fully acknowledge that the problem may be mostly operator incompetence - but this operator needs some help!

    • meyerb Just Startin'
      meyerb
      8 posts since
      Jul 28, 2007
      Currently Being Moderated
      Jan 15, 2013 4:42 AM (in response to Grayjhg)
      Re: Pod hd500 into PA system

      Have you seen the threads for this guide? http://foobazaar.com/podhd/toneGuide/ It's a long read but L6 user MeAmBobbo put together everything you'd want to know about getting good tones with different setups.

       

      I play direct into a PA at church. When I first started working with the HD 500 I had similar issues. I could get a great tone at home, then I'd go to rehersal, plug in and it was to harsh(treble/presence), too flat, etc. I read some posts about getting the right headphones as the impedence on the HD 500 is 150-600 ohms. I got a pair of Korg 4AATs for about $75 (compare to $100s for pro headphones). It made a big difference for me.

       

      Based on your description using both humbuckers and single coils you may need to look at input tweaking. I'd try different impedence settings and check the input type (the guitar/variax/mic/aux stuff). Again from MeAmBobbo's guide, it's here http://foobazaar.com/podhd/toneGuide/setup#input

       

      I also run in stereo so I use both xlr outs. I found this comment from the guide and it might help you out: "The 1/4" outputs will sum to mono if only one of the two outputs is being used. In contrast, the XLR outputs will never sum to mono." Many PAs are setup mono so I'd bet many people are using 1 XLR out. That statement makes me think you could lose a lot of tone, but it could be fixed by using an effect after the amp loop that sums to mono.

       

      Just some thoughts, I hope it helps you!

      • rcdiver57 Just Startin'
        rcdiver57
        31 posts since
        Jun 4, 2011
        Currently Being Moderated
        Jan 15, 2013 5:22 PM (in response to meyerb)
        Re: Pod hd500 into PA system

        I have the exact same problem and use one Xlr output.   what effect sum to mono ?.  I have heard that putting in chorus at then end set mix to zero helps.  Is that what you are suggesting .

        • meyerb Just Startin'
          meyerb
          8 posts since
          Jul 28, 2007
          Currently Being Moderated
          Jan 15, 2013 5:48 PM (in response to rcdiver57)
          Re: Pod hd500 into PA system

          See 3.6 in the HD 500 Advanced User Guide. It discusses the effects and how putting a mono one after a stereo one will 'monoize' the signal. I am suggesting that based on the statement from MeAmBobbo's guide, the XLR output will only give you the right or the left and not sum to mono, so I'd try using a mono effect at the end of the signal path.

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