Global input settings: Set input 2 to microphone

[Indianrock2020]

Normally input 2 is set to Variax ( which I don't own )  so the HD500x is really just getting guitar on input 1 and nothing else.  For recording to my laptop, I'd like to leave a mic plugged into the POD at home which requires setting input 2 to mic.   I'm wondering if I set it that way globally, will I achieve the same advantage as variax (  not overloading input such as if both inputs are set to guitar ) ?

[pianoguyy]

Yes

BUT, I use the Vocoder. Which means I have a mic plugged in.
I can't have input 2 set to mic and use the Vocoder because input 2 will be read as a mic -- and then my voice will be heard instead of the vocoder effect.


And depending on how you designed your patches in the past, there could be some signal chain issues. 

But, for the most part, setting input 2 to mic will give the same effect as setting it to Variax. 

Edited May 29, 2015 by pianoguyy

[Indianrock2020]

Thanks

[pfsmith0]

Note that setting Input2 to MIC will add mic preamp noise to the system. If you're using the mic then fine, you need to. But if you just want to leave it plugged in because you just don't want to fiddle with it, but not use it, the mic preamp noise will still be there. 

[pianoguyy]

Note that setting Input2 to MIC will add mic preamp noise to the system. If you're using the mic then fine, you need to. But if you just want to leave it plugged in because you just don't want to fiddle with it, but not use it, the mic preamp noise will still be there. 

Oy. I did not know this. I knew Variax was the ideal selection for 'quiet time', but I thought mic reduced noise when compared to same.  

 

 

@OP 

Sorry dude, I guess I told you wrong. 

Or does it fall into the category of my last sentence... "depending on your signal chain''. 

[Indianrock2020]

I temporarily set input 2 to mic ( global ). Created a new patch with two "amp" channels, mic in the 2nd one with the "amp" off and just vintage pre plus reverb. All other effects moved to the guitar/amp channel.  Panned mixer left right and seemed to have what I wanted after adjusting mic input gain on the back of the POD.  Vocal going to stereo system, guitar out of pod to guitar amp.   

 

Loaded up a drum pattern mp3 into Audacity, checked that I was getting mic and guitar input ( didn't work with audacity set to using all Line 6 drivers, so had to use Realtek on the laptop ).  Anyway, bottom line was upon playback the guitar/mic track wasn't synched exactly with the drum track.   I also have Reaper and Presonus Studio ONe, but audacity is quick for what I'm trying to do which is just show a band mate how I'm doing a particular song, nothing more.

[gunpointmetal]

I temporarily set input 2 to mic ( global ). Created a new patch with two "amp" channels, mic in the 2nd one with the "amp" off and just vintage pre plus reverb. All other effects moved to the guitar/amp channel.  Panned mixer left right and seemed to have what I wanted after adjusting mic input gain on the back of the POD.  Vocal going to stereo system, guitar out of pod to guitar amp.   

 

Loaded up a drum pattern mp3 into Audacity, checked that I was getting mic and guitar input ( didn't work with audacity set to using all Line 6 drivers, so had to use Realtek on the laptop ).  Anyway, bottom line was upon playback the guitar/mic track wasn't synched exactly with the drum track.   I also have Reaper and Presonus Studio ONe, but audacity is quick for what I'm trying to do which is just show a band mate how I'm doing a particular song, nothing more.

Thats because of your drivers. Without the L6 driver you're getting latency between your input and your playback.....pretty much HAVE to run the Line 6 drivers or an ASIO equivalent (my computer doesn't even see my POD as an audio device when I'm using any driver besides the L6 one).

[Indianrock2020]

Ok thanks.  Playing guitar and tweaking patches seems like child's play compared to recording and using DAWs   :-)

[panaman]

there are asio drivers for realtec chips. that and using spdif can reduce latency by a factor of 10 or better, if you dont want to use usb.

having spent a good amount on the pod, its probably not a good idea to have the cheapest of soundcards at the very end of your chain.

[Indianrock2020]

I'd be willing to buy an audio interface if it would help, but thought the 500x sort of covers that.  I see Asio4All here:

http://www.asio4all.com/                 So far my recording is simply to share samples with band mates, but it at least has to have the tracks in sync (  drum or original song mp3, my guitar track and my vocal track if any ).

 

Plugging in an xlr mic and fiddling with input 2 is probably going to  be more hassle than its worth for this.  I may just lay down the mp3 and guitar tracks, then disconnect the laptop from the POD and add any vocal track using the laptop on its own with its built-in mic since this is just for rough demo purposes.  I guess a step up from there would be an audio interface to the laptop that I would plug my xlr mic into.