joepetrucci85 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Hi Guys! I've had the HD500X for more than a week now, and I do like its potential. I wish the distortions/chorus fx were really usable (or an update would come to add/improve on those), but so far everything is okay. I've been using a Digitech RP500 before I got this, and to be honest I'm considering on selling/returning the HD500X this early just because RP500 sounds better to me (same configuration, 1/4" out to amp fx return). However, I've been seeing some good results when the HD500X is being used direct to PA/active speaker. I currently use a Peavey Special Chorus amp and I'm wondering if getting something like an Alto TS115 would greatly improve things from what I have now? I do have the output mode set to combo amp, and I'm really curious if getting a powered speaker and setting the output mode to Direct/PA would improve things a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphodboy Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I ran my HD500 into a Marshall tube amp for years and was never quite happy with the sound. Earlier this year I took a deep breath and replaced the Marshall with an L6 L3m (FRFR, similar to the Alto you are considering). With a little tweaking the result was way better to my ears and I find that I can now use more of the models successfully. The whole thing sounds more transparent and less muddy. What you are considering is a full range, flat response rig which to me sounds great. A word of caution though: some p.a. speakers are more full range, flat response than others. I went for the L6 Stagesource speakers because they are very flat and also with your HD500x you'll be able to control the smart speaker modes available on the L6 speakers to give you a little more versatility. Just connect them via L6 link with a decent DMX cable. The other thing I would add is that even though I was familiar with other multi fx units my HD500 took me MONTHS to get to grips with so I would stick with it- it can be a steep learning curve. If you haven't already done so check out this web site http://foobazaar.com/podhd/toneGuide/ It is really well written and pointed me in the right direction. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joepetrucci85 Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share Posted July 29, 2014 I ran my HD500 into a Marshall tube amp for years and was never quite happy with the sound. Earlier this year I took a deep breath and replaced the Marshall with an L6 L3m (FRFR, similar to the Alto you are considering). With a little tweaking the result was way better to my ears and I find that I can now use more of the models successfully. The whole thing sounds more transparent and less muddy. What you are considering is a full range, flat response rig which to me sounds great. A word of caution though: some p.a. speakers are more full range, flat response than others. I went for the L6 Stagesource speakers because they are very flat and also with your HD500x you'll be able to control the smart speaker modes available on the L6 speakers to give you a little more versatility. Just connect them via L6 link with a decent DMX cable. The other thing I would add is that even though I was familiar with other multi fx units my HD500 took me MONTHS to get to grips with so I would stick with it- it can be a steep learning curve. If you haven't already done so check out this web site http://foobazaar.com/podhd/toneGuide/ It is really well written and pointed me in the right direction. Good luck! Thank you so much for that. I'm actually thinking of keeping it even if I couldn't get a good crunch/od tone for now. It might serve a very good midi foot controller and my clean/blueay tones aren't that bad. I'll have a look at the site you've given and hopefully I could dial in a good crunch/overdriven tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphodboy Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Thank you so much for that. I'm actually thinking of keeping it even if I couldn't get a good crunch/od tone for now. It might serve a very good midi foot controller and my clean/blueay tones aren't that bad. I'll have a look at the site you've given and hopefully I could dial in a good crunch/overdriven tone. No worries. I still dip into the foobazaar site from time to time. Hope it works out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexisltd Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 just change output mode to studio/direct even if you are using an amp...all the other output modes are trash and remember to turn off the speakers simulator in the pod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joepetrucci85 Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share Posted July 29, 2014 @alexisltd That means selecting no cab at the edit screen, right? In effect, my final tone would then be colored by the cabinets of my Peavey? If I want to use the cab sims properly, should I get a powered speaker or go direct to mixer? @zaphodboy That site was an eye opener. After just a few pages, it pointed me to things I might be doing wrong. Wow! Can't wait to go home and try out some of things mentioned in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kam-lionel Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Hi All. I am trying to find the most efficient way run my pod hd500 for live performance. I run the pod into a BBE Sonic Stomp then into an ISP Stealth power amp and into a speaker cabinet. Great results. Since I am using my own guitar cabinet, I use the preamp models with now cabinet modelling. I also want to be able to send a direct signal to the FOH. For that I use a Hughes and Kettner red-box to send a speaker simulated signal to the FOH. Is there any way to configure the HD500 to give me a "no cabinet" signal to my 1/4 outs and a speaker simulated signal to my XLR's at the same time? This way I won't need the red-box at all. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceatl Posted March 2, 2016 Share Posted March 2, 2016 Hi All. I am trying to find the most efficient way run my pod hd500 for live performance. I run the pod into a BBE Sonic Stomp then into an ISP Stealth power amp and into a speaker cabinet. Great results. Since I am using my own guitar cabinet, I use the preamp models with now cabinet modelling. I also want to be able to send a direct signal to the FOH. For that I use a Hughes and Kettner red-box to send a speaker simulated signal to the FOH. Is there any way to configure the HD500 to give me a "no cabinet" signal to my 1/4 outs and a speaker simulated signal to my XLR's at the same time? This way I won't need the red-box at all. Thanks. Nope, only one output mode across all of the outputs...Not enough DSP for that as a built-in feature. However, you can do it with a Dual Tone patch. You put it in Studio direct mode and use the same amp model for both and set one with a cab/mic and the other with no cab...use the mixer to pan them hard left and right...Because the POD will sum the 1/4 outs you would need a dummy plug in the other jack to prevent summing...It's doable, but FX selections will get a bit limited as it takes a lot of DSP to do it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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