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How do you use your Pod HD 500 Live?


Tboneous
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Dream rig user here.

 

This is an old question but worth re-asking.

 

How are people setting up their Pods for live use?

 

I'm a blues/funk/rock guitarist. I have not found a use for high gain models yet.

I connect the pod via L6 link

I have a few effects running through the Fx loop of the POD

 

I run the Pod in "pedalboard mode"

So far I only use a small handful of amp models

 

I make a single preset for every song we do.

 

The problem I have with this "Preset per song" approach is when I am doing an improv.

 

I'm wrestling with clearing it all out (after backing up the bundle) and taking each amp model and creating a clean, crunch, lead for each.

 

How are you guys approaching this?

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My HD500 replaced everything between the guitar and the pa. So, obviously, I am running direct. 

 

I set all of my patches so that the fx can be chosen by the top row of the Pod. 

I use the bottom row to select patches. Typically a 'per song' patch. 

 

 

But that's me and my usage. 

 

 

If I was doing today what I was doing in my teens (I started young), then if I even bought a Pod, my usage would probably be different.

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My HD500 replaced everything between the guitar and the pa. So, obviously, I am running direct. 

 

I set all of my patches so that the fx can be chosen by the top row of the Pod. 

I use the bottom row to select patches. Typically a 'per song' patch. 

 

 

But that's me and my usage. 

 

 

If I was doing today what I was doing in my teens (I started young), then if I even bought a Pod, my usage would probably be different.

Thanx.

 

What fx do you use on the top row?

What kind of music are you playing?

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What music do I play? 

Everything under the sun - literally. In addition to being a 'musician', I work with a media company (tv/movies/live performances/etc), so I am involved with a lot of stuff. Probably not much in the way of "hard core" type of stuff, but anything that is needed I will either play it or at least be a supervisor. 

Although, admittedly, a lot of times I am using gear that is provided and not my own.

 

 

 

 

What fx do I use? 

It really varies. If I am using one patch per song, then really, it will depend on the song. 

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Which is the exact opposite of when I played in "one band" at a time. When I was in, for example, Dirty Looks, we had used the same sound for every song. That was 'our sound'. In a situation like that, I probably would have been in pedalboard mode because I wouldn't need multiple patches. I would just have one sound with fx available at a press of a button if needed. 

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I am finding that I really only need 1 amp model. I have been using the JTM 45. I can get it clean enough without loosing body and it crunches up really well. The rest of my Pod fx are usually a pair of delays, modulation a distortion for leads. Usually a Fuzz face or a tube driver. I also run an Eventide H9 Max, an EH Super Ego (very cool pedal btw) in the fx loop of the Pod. I also run an Xotic EP booster and an Xotic BB Preamp w/comp for crunch in front of the Pod. No DSP issues for me.

 

The attractive aspect of using the preset mode is the probable decrease in pedal dancing. In pedal mode, the I can set multiple fx to one foot switch but sometimes I might not want all fx on at one time. And the idea of switching patches say between a clean tone to a lead tone is too much for my little brain.

 

I mean how do you make quick volume edits in a live setting for 2 separate patches? What about the Clicks, pops and delay in patch loading?

 

I'm gonna give the preset mode a try. I'll report back what I like/dislike.

 

Any other input will be fun!

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You take the good with the bad. If you want one sound, you don't need to worry about it. But if you want multiple sounds, then someone somewhere somehow needs to change the sound, which is usually you tap dancing. 

That's one of the reasons why I do one patch per song. I don't need to press and unpress a bunch of stuff, I can set it how the song needs and then 1 click for a lead or something. 

 

For me, live, by the time I am on a stage, it is too late to change something. It's showtime, tweak time is over. I consider playing live to be like a play - the writer isn't going to change the script as the play goes on. He just has to make a note of it for next time.  

Which is one of the reasons a mobile EDIT would do me good. Last minute changes that get decided upon during soundcheck or backstage, especially since I use one patch per song - any change to a (band's) setlist means I need to re-arrange my (pod's) setlist.   

 

But, you are right, one of the drawbacks to the digital world is the 'delay' when switching. Hell, I can't even change/scroll channels on my tv without waiting for the signal to process. And, think about it, tv is used by a lot more people than a Pod. If anyone had the ability to do a non-delay, you would think that it should be cable television. 

 

 

Ultimately, I do what is best for me and my situation. Which is one patch per song, and since some songs require minor changes, I may have a couple blocks assigned to be on/off during the tune. 

But for me, I am 100% HD500. I use no (physical) amp. No fx loop. My signal goes Guitar>Pod>Sound Guy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

**I used to say Guitar>Pod>PA, but someone pointed out that there is a snake, and a stage mixer with powered amps and a house mixer and a recording mixer and --- they even think that I use a PA as a cheap substitute for an FRFR. 

So now, I am trying to say Sound Guy, that way there is no confusion as to where it is going. It is going to the next stage of live concert production. Once it leaves the Pod, it is out of my hands. I have no further involvement with it. 

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Yep!! I like it! Though, I gotta have an amp behind me. Its more of a security blanket to me than anything else!

 

You are right, on stage IS play time, not tweak time. But it is nice to be able to quickly reach down to my Xotic BB preamp/compressor and turn a knob a skosh to get that little extra whatever I am needing at the moment. 

 

Not so easy on the POD.

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if you already know which could be the knob/control that should eventually be turned at the moment, you could save the patch with the lcd cursor pointed already on the specific FX and turn directly the relative parameter multifunction knob when you need to..

 

the lcd cursor position is always saved with the patch when you save it directly from the device (not from the editor)

 

Sure but how do you know where to put the cursor. In one venue you may want the cursor over the overdrive. The next venue, you may want it over the flanger. my point is that whatever you may want to do a quick tweak on, is not as easy as a pedal board full of individual stomps.

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You are absolutely right! I Love my set up. The convienances of the pods flexibility far out weigh the minor pains in the tush. And I get it, you can program your Pod and Variax to turn on and off your homes sprinkler system while simutainiously opening and closing your garage door! You are preaching to the choir!

 

My comments are far more elementary than that. I'm thinking in terms of using the pod in preset mode vs. pedalboard mode. One thing that has made me nervous about preset mode is this issue of tweaking things quickly. I could give more examples of why and when one would need/want quick access to fx perameters, but I think as giging guitarist, you can think of your own.

 

I will say this, assigning multiple perameters to the expression pedal can be awesome and a hassle. It may sound great at home and then sound like crap when you get to the gig and the stage is a hollow riser that makes the drums sound boomy and you need to roll off the bass and roll up the treble on your fuzz face so your lead can be heard yet doing so really screws up the sound of the rotary that you have paired with the fuzz face, yada, yada, yada.

 

Quickly now!..... Pull up the edit screen and get busy before your solo ends! Good luck!

 

Like you, I really have simplified my fx chains. No to many fancy assignments. Just the occasional feedback of a delay assigned to the expression pedal. For me, far less headaches.

 

How do you have your rig set up?

Are you using a DT?

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genre: classic rock.

live setup: jtv69s, connected thru VDI --> HD500, XLR'ed direct --> PA (2 channels, stereo).

gig "disaster plan" :  72 Strat +  1/4" cable + venue supplied guitar amp or small SD amp.

entire playlist is pre-programmed on a per-song-patch basis, some songs may even require two or three patches (eg shine on you crazy diamond, hotel california, money solo, money trem,   la grange etc).

stage monitoring: via venue supplied monitors or small SD amp (mono sound).

demo playlist with sounds/clips/free patches:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhWm2EtWxOk&list=PL3b7kXW444v4OpNy_vQaMFL1K9nPUittG&index=8

 

note1:  bass is passing thru POD XT bean with FBV Shortboard direct --> PA,  monitored via venue supplied amp/monitors

 

note2: both pods powered via ups providing uninterruptible power supply , voltage regulation, surge protection

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  • 1 month later...

When I play live with my post-metal band Consciousness Removal Project, I use the HD500 just as a virtual pedalboard between my guitar and my Monster tube amp. The amp is set on the edge of overdrive and I use the Tube Drive model for extra distortion and boost. Sometimes also Fuzz Face or the basic Overdrive. I use a lot of delay and the Analog w/mod is my favourite. Out of other effects, Script Phase, some Bias Trem, some reverbs, wah, pitch glide, ring mod etc. here and there. Tube Comp is also useful every now and then. 

 

When I record demos I record straight. The Hiway 100 model works usually well. When I record the actual albums I use real pedals as well, because I like the uniqueness and ability to tweak the knobs. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I use mine live, for vocals only. Currently using the HD500x
 

The tap delay and control it offers me is faaar better than any voice live device that I have tried.  I've tried most of them. Sound guys love the fact that I control all my reverb, delay etc...all he has to do is keep track of the volume.

 I started using my pod x3 live for this, until my tap/tuner button broke. Now it is used in the studio for my guitar tones as my quest is long over since finding pods. :)

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  • 1 year later...

Ok, I know this is an old HD500 thread, but the post by Tboneus in 2016 posits a similar question I have about my HD400:  How do I use the HD400 live? It is a wonderful piece of electronics, but it seems more suited for studio use.  I can't afford another one, so let's use it as-is.   When I bought it, I was overwhelmed by the possibilities, but also very excited about it, even in my old age (playing since the mid-60's !).  In the recent past I have used about 10 patches in the 1 through 3 banks to play mostly, and have adapted those patches to my songs. I have recently created 29 patches, based on the available amp models.  I have arranged them in Banks 22 through 29 by amp brand names: Marshall, Fender, VOX, etc.., so I can remember them.  I put the most usable amps in banks 29 and down.  I reserved bank 30 for my friend's fantastic classic rock tones, bank 31 for stock ones I like, and 32 for bass guitar tones (great ones!).  I put the Pawn Shop and Boutique amps in banks 22 and 23, as I rarely use them, but hope to later.  This way, if I am in Bank 1, I can back down to 32 and lower,  and get good tones I can use.  I wrote over all of the weird (in my old opinion) patches.  I took the default setting for all amp models and only changed the Reverb to my liking, so far.  I will carefully pick the FX1, FX2, and FX3 for each.  I will use my old Stomp-Box Velcro board  in the effects loop to increase the number of effects that I can use simultaneously (My oldest effect is a 40-year-old Boss Chorus of my brother's - Chuckle!)  It gets in your blood!  They will probably bury me with my Strat and my Les Paul, if they can wedge them both in the casket!  Please note that I can be serious when required.  I welcome any comments from the forum group.  P.S. Oh, one more thing:  I made a voltage divider using two resistors, one HF bypass capacitor, and a bypass switch in a plastic project box. This drops the pickup voltage of a Les Paul from about 200mv to 50mv like a Strat single coil, so that all patches I set up using the Strat will not be overdriven by the LP.  This keeps the distortion level and the volume the same when using either guitar without adjusting the drive.  When using the Strat I turn on the bypass switch.  The bypass capacitor across the first resistor keeps the high frequencies from rolling off when the Voltage divider is on with the LP.  This is a feature I wish they had put in the HD400.

Edited by pickerman2
Added external voltage switch to match Les Paul and Strat
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In a way, you are correct, these units are more suited for studio work. Simply because it does everything under the sun. 

People only use a fraction live of what they use in the studio. You don't even need stereo live. Studio work needs to be pristine. and it can be "adventurous". I mean, think about Jimi Hendrix - those fantastic studio albums with all of those weird sounds. He never did any of that live. The Doors. The Beatles. Far different live than on the album. I think Pink Floyd is pretty much the only band that does live the same things they do in the studio. 

 

But the units are also great for live work. WHY? Because they make your sound consistent. 

No stage amp that is giving a slightly different EQ today than it did yesterday. No stage amp interfering with FOH more today than it did yesterday. No feedback. No microphone that is at a slightly different angle than it was yesterday. No "bleed" from when the guitar mic is picking up the drums. 

My total time for load in, set up, sound check, tear down, and load out is just a few minutes.

You don't have to use everything live for it to be a live unit. Most people don't even use 100% of the unit in the studio or at home goofing around.  Just imagine being able to 100% replicate the same tones night after night, venue after venue. It is a live unit --- even if you are only using one patch all night. 

 

 

 

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