Hd 500x And Acoustic Guitar

[rumbakid]

Hey guys. I've been a long time X3L user for many years. I've used it on everything from big tours to small club gigs. I play just as much acoustic guitar as electric guitar and need a POD that can handle both. On my X3L I run the 1/4 outputs (in combo front mode) to a stage amp that is mic-ed up. I then run the XLRs (in studio/direct mode) with no amp/cab models straight to the PA for my acoustic guitar.

 

I've been wanting to upgrade to the HD500 but haven't because from I understand, this type of configuration is not possible. My question is, is this configuration possible with the HD500x? From what I've heard, the HD amp models are far superior to the X3L. But I don't want to compromise my acoustic guitar sound. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[phil_m]

You can't have multiple output modes for the different outputs on the HD500 or 500X. The one thing you can do, though, is use the effects send as an output for your acoustic. If you put the effects loop at the end of your preset, the tone correction associated with the combo front mode won't effect the effects send. The one downside it that you'll need to use a direct box if you do this opposed to just having the XLR out on the X3L. The other thing that may or may not be an issue it that it ties up your effects loop so you'll won't be able to use it in other presets.

[rumbakid]

Thank you for the info. Yes, unfortunately I do use the FX loop on my X3L for both my acoustic and electric patches. I run chorus, delay and reverb pedals in FX loop. I do this because the X3 effects are not high enough quality for what I do. I mainly use the X3 for the amp sims and routing options.

 

BUT from what I understand, the HD effects are higher quality than the X3 so maybe I don't need external effects?

[phil_m]

BUT from what I understand, the HD effects are higher quality than the X3 so maybe I don't need external effects?

 

The effects on the HD are generally better quality than the X3, yes. Especially the delays and reverbs.

[TheRealZap]

I think you could still make it work with a well placed AB or ABY pedal in your loop chain. But yeah a little extra tap dancing.

[rumbakid]

I never understood why Line 6 removed the ability to have different output modes on the HD series. One of their big selling points on the X3 series was that you could play through a real amp, and at the same time send direct out with cabinet emulation to the PA. I guess most people don't use it that way.

[pfsmith0]

You can get two outputs by taking advantage of HD's stereo signals. For example, dedicate Channel A to electric and Channel B to acoustic. Set Channel A input to Guitar and Channel B input to Aux (1/4") or MIc (XLR). Move all the FX and Amp blocks to the left of the mixer, putting them in either Channel A or B as needed. Keep the two channels separate all the way to the mixer. You don't want any FX blocks combining the two signals.  Then, in the mixer you pan the two channels hard left/right and take your two outputs to where you want. I do this all the time with acoustic and electric instruments and it works fine for me.

 

The only downside I've found is the built-in tuner is only available to the Guitar input, but this can be fixed by using different patches for acoustic and electric instruments. Just make sure the patches pan hard right/left so the acoustic/electric come out different outputs.

[TheRealZap]

good point! alot of electric acoustic have a tuner built in... so that may help that.

sure beats plugging/unplugging things anyway!

 

You can get two outputs by taking advantage of HD's stereo signals. For example, dedicate Channel A to electric and Channel B to acoustic. Set Channel A input to Guitar and Channel B input to Aux (1/4") or MIc (XLR). Move all the FX and Amp blocks to the left of the mixer, putting them in either Channel A or B as needed. Keep the two channels separate all the way to the mixer. You don't want any FX blocks combining the two signals.  Then, in the mixer you pan the two channels hard left/right and take your two outputs to where you want. I do this all the time with acoustic and electric instruments and it works fine for me.

 

The only downside I've found is the built-in tuner is only available to the Guitar input, but this can be fixed by using different patches for acoustic and electric instruments. Just make sure the patches pan hard right/left so the acoustic/electric come out different outputs.

[rumbakid]

You can get two outputs by taking advantage of HD's stereo signals. For example, dedicate Channel A to electric and Channel B to acoustic. Set Channel A input to Guitar and Channel B input to Aux (1/4") or MIc (XLR). Move all the FX and Amp blocks to the left of the mixer, putting them in either Channel A or B as needed. Keep the two channels separate all the way to the mixer. You don't want any FX blocks combining the two signals.  Then, in the mixer you pan the two channels hard left/right and take your two outputs to where you want. I do this all the time with acoustic and electric instruments and it works fine for me.

 

The only downside I've found is the built-in tuner is only available to the Guitar input, but this can be fixed by using different patches for acoustic and electric instruments. Just make sure the patches pan hard right/left so the acoustic/electric come out different outputs.

I understand this is a way to get two outputs. But the real question is if Channel A can have the Combo Front output and Channel B have the Studio Direct output? From my experience, playing through a real amp in the Studio Direct mode doesn't sound very good. And playing an acoustic through the Combo Front mode doesn't sound very good either. Which mode are you using?

[pfsmith0]

Oh. Right. I missed that part of the problem. Yes, I believe you're stuck with one mode or the other. I always use studio direct into the PA to minimize stage noise.

[tochiro]

I'm plugging my acoustic in the Aux input and it goes out from the Send output to the mixer.  It works really well.  As phil_m said, you just need to put the FX block at the end of the chain.   You can you the many HD500X FXs before it if you want to.  I did not insert any amp in my acoustic chain.

[dbagchee]

I understand this is a way to get two outputs. But the real question is if Channel A can have the Combo Front output and Channel B have the Studio Direct output? From my experience, playing through a real amp in the Studio Direct mode doesn't sound very good. And playing an acoustic through the Combo Front mode doesn't sound very good either. Which mode are you using?

 

Output modes only apply to amp modeling so if your acoustic side of the chain is not using an amp model (which I'm assuming you won't) you can leave it in combo front mode and it won't sound different on the acoustic side.

[phil_m]

Output modes only apply to amp modeling so if your acoustic side of the chain is not using an amp model (which I'm assuming you won't) you can leave it in combo front mode and it won't sound different on the acoustic side.

 

Actually, this isn't correct. If you use one of the front output modes, the tone correction is applied to the tone even if there isn't an amp model selected.

[rumbakid]

Actually, this isn't correct. If you use one of the front output modes, the tone correction is applied to the tone even if there isn't an amp model selected.

Yes very true. This has been my expeirence with the X3 as well. But the X3 can have a different output mode on the 1/4 output than the XLR output. I guess I'll be sticking with the X3 for now...

[dbagchee]

Actually, this isn't correct. If you use one of the front output modes, the tone correction is applied to the tone even if there isn't an amp model selected.

So you're saying combo front will change the sound of a phaser effect? That seems counter intuitive - I'll have to test it out. I always thought the output modes were strictly for the cab/mic modeling but I generally only use the power amp modes and studio direct. I know for sure they don't affect the tone in the power amp modes.

[phil_m]

So you're saying combo front will change the sound of a phaser effect? That seems counter intuitive - I'll have to test it out.

It is kind of counter-intuitive, I agree. But, yeah, it will change the sound of effects. The front modes have the high, low, and mid focus settings, and those tone correction settings affect the tone regardless of the amp model being on or off. I actually think this is why some people say the HD500 sucks tone for effects only. They leave it in Combo Front mode (they're plugging into the front a combo after all), but they don't realize their tone is being changed by the output setting. The correct setting for effects only is studio direct or one of the power amp modes. The power amp modes don't change the sound when the amp model is turned off because all they're doing is revoicing the cab models.

[dbagchee]

So you're saying combo front will change the sound of a phaser effect? That seems counter intuitive - I'll have to test it out. I always thought the output modes were strictly for the cab/mic modeling but I generally only use the power amp modes and studio direct. I know for sure they don't affect the tone in the power amp modes.

Yep confirmed! Learn something new everyday!

[pfsmith0]

The idea of using the FX Loop is a wonderful idea! That should solve your problem. Set it up for Combo mode and feed Channel A to the normal output to your amp. For channel B, insert the FX loop at the beginning (but after any acoustic FX blocks you may want) and connect Send to your PA. That should work great! This just shows how flexible the IO is on this gear.

 

Yes very true. This has been my expeirence with the X3 as well. But the X3 can have a different output mode on the 1/4 output than the XLR output. I guess I'll be sticking with the X3 for now...