TriploA Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 No matter what I do, I always get terrible distortion, sometimes all fuzzy. I even downloaded presets to test them, and they all sound the same (terrible). For instance: I downloaded that patch and it SUCKED BIG TIME when I tried it, and no matter how I tweaked it, it didn't sound any close to the video. Am I retarded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfsmith0 Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Set the inputs to Guitar and Variax and see if that helps. You're probably overdriving the input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TriploA Posted October 15, 2016 Author Share Posted October 15, 2016 Set the inputs to Guitar and Variax and see if that helps. You're probably overdriving the input. No luck, all my distortion still sounds like this: https://clyp.it/0loip4yl Sorry, the forum wasn't allowing me to upload it for some reason :/ Now with a preset I downloaded from this video: https://clyp.it/ztbe3tfg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinon2 Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 First, forget downloading someone else's patches. It is a colossal waste of time. There are a thousand reasons why it will never sound the same for you, as compared to some demo video. What are you playing through? Amp/cab, studio monitors, headphones, FRFR speaker? The output mode setting (studio/direct, stack/front, etc) makes a HUGE difference. If you're listening through headphones, studio monitors, or an FRFR rig and using anything but "studio/direct", it's never gonna sound right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjnette Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 The first clip has some input clipping going on. The HD input pre is clean and cheap but wont tolerate or sound any good overloaded like a real amp with in out transformers. To me what is offending about the super dry tone is some slight articulation misses in both clips. Probably the lack of tone frustration. The fingers and touch make most of any tone. You could make this tone sound good like targeting good sustain on the notes. Mostly what I hear are missing harmonics that good distortion gives especially in the genre you are playing and your style shines from harmonic distortion. Try more distortion! Just enough so the harmonics come out feels better to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joel_brown Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 What's your amp/speakers and what's your guitar/pickups ? What the setting on the PODHD ? Is it Studio Direct ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillBee Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Joel makes the best point. What is your rig and how is it set? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacohelix Posted November 20, 2016 Share Posted November 20, 2016 Ive had the same problem with the Helix and this POD HD 500. You just have the inputs wrong. It all depends on your rig. But Ive found the Studio direct works best with direct to DAW or FRFR and even L6 link into a dt25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fobsternd Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 what is this studio direct thing everyone is talking about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramosv Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 It's one of the output modes of your unit. You can choose from Studio/Direct, Combo Power Amp, Combo front, Stack Power Amp, Stack Front. :) Knowing these options will open your HD experience. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fobsternd Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 It's one of the output modes of your unit. You can choose from Studio/Direct, Combo Power Amp, Combo front, Stack Power Amp, Stack Front. :) Knowing these options will open your HD experience. :) Where do I find them? Are they on the unit itself or in the pod editor...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cclement Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 Where do I find them? Are they on the unit itself or in the pod editor...? Check out section 2*8 of your Advanced Guide, or via this link to the PDF: http://line6.com/data/6/0a06434c6fb051e03e8ab63dc/application/pdf/POD%20HD500X%20Advanced%20Guide%20-%20English%20(%20Rev%20A%20).pdf Studio/Direct: Typically the best option when connecting “Direct†to a mixing console or recording device. This signal includes “Studio†Cab Models, Mic Model and an “AIR†convolution to best emulate a mic’ed amp within a room. Combo and Stack settings: Optimizes your tone for connecting to an external amplifier. The signal includes “Live†Cab Models,with no Mic Model or “AIR†convolution, with a special EQ curve added for each. Combo Front & Stack Front: For connecting into the front input of a typical combo amp or amp head + external cab, respectively. When choosing either of these Modes, you’ll see the following additional options for further tone shaping: • Lows (Knob 2): Attenuates the low frequencies. • Focus (Knob 3): Increases the overall midrange. • Highs (Knob 4): Attenuates the high frequencies. Combo Power Amp & Stack Power Amp: For connecting to the power amp of a combo or head amp. TIP: When using the Combo or Stack options and connecting into a tube amplifier, we also recommend that you choose a Preamp Model from the Amp Model menu (rather than one of the “Full†Amp Models). HD Preamp Models include no power amp emulation, making them typically better suited for this connection. That said, there is no wrong choice! PODs have always been about flexibility... Check out all the possibilities and decide which Models work best for your tone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybone Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 You could also try and roll back the gain on your amp sim, & raise the channel volume. Some will disagree with this, but I use the same principle on my dirty amp patches as I do on my valve amp, gain in the middle, volume on full. This gives a creamier power amp drive to the sound, than the "scratchy" preamp drive. Just give it a try and see if you like it. Experiment. I'm sure there will be some others along in a moment to tell me I'm wrong, but if you approach the POD as you would a new amp, the point is to experiment with your sounds, and the HD is a superb platform to experiment with. If you don't like a sound, wipe it and start again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fobsternd Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 You could also try and roll back the gain on your amp sim, & raise the channel volume. Some will disagree with this, but I use the same principle on my dirty amp patches as I do on my valve amp, gain in the middle, volume on full. This gives a creamier power amp drive to the sound, than the "scratchy" preamp drive. Just give it a try and see if you like it. Experiment. I'm sure there will be some others along in a moment to tell me I'm wrong, but if you approach the POD as you would a new amp, the point is to experiment with your sounds, and the HD is a superb platform to experiment with. If you don't like a sound, wipe it and start again. I usually have my gain for my Treadplate/F-Ball at around 60-70 and ch. vol. near 100% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybone Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 I use similar settings on the JCM800, IMO, it gets quite close to the "power amp drive" sound, rather than the scratchy/spikey preamp drive "high gain" sound. And yes, I have run a JCM800 and a couple of other valve amps at full tilt in the past, and yes, IMO, the HD gets very close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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