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Must Be Doing A Lot Wrong


StophJS
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Hey all,

I just bought a POD HD 500, which is the first line 6 product I've bought since a Spider 112 about 10 years ago. I'll admit that I haven't read the user manual yet or really researched the pedal because I've been too busy with work. I'm hoping to get some advice here on how to get started.

Basically I've got a Marshall TSL 100 half stack, and I'd like to get to a point where I have the option to either just use the pedal for FX in the front and through the loop, and also have the option to run the whole thing with modeling through the loop, bypassing the preamp which I believe it possible. Any advice on how to approach this would be greatly appreciated.

I'm also wondering if there just some settings that need to be tweaked from the get-go. I have to admit that I was pretty much shocked when I first just plugged up using my shure studio headphones to check out the built-in presets. I don't think I found a single one that I didn't think just sounded bad. No tones even remotely resembling the quality and genuine tone of a tube amp. Again, any advice is appreciated.

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You're gonna hafta read the manual - and I highly advise downloading the advanced manual as well as any other related manuals (I highly recommend meambobbo's tone guide!!) and reading them as well. Presets will definitely have to be tweaked and settings depend on your specific equipment and setup. You'll probably have to reread the manuals several times to really wrap your head around a lot of the stuff - BUT....you will defintely be rewarded with knowledge and better tones each and every time. I keep my HD500 on a table top, plugged in and without a guitar or amp hooked up, and go thru the manuals so that I'm actually performing a hands-on learning process while learning the functions and settings. After some preliminary understanding of basic functions and procedures, I'll plug in and play so that I can hear how each change affects the sound and tone. I also browse thru the forums while keeping Wordpad open - then copy & paste anything that is either useful at the time or may be useful in the future when I may have a clearer understanding of that particular subject. I keep this document on my desktop. This may sound like a lot of work, but it is well worth it. The HD500 is utterly amazing with it's capabilities and I'm totally blown away each time I further my understanding of it - and I'm still just scratching the surface!!! Good Luck!! Find the time to get to know the Beast and I'm sure you will fall in love!!!

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The built-in presets did not help in persuading me to get an HD500.  They stink, as usual, but I imagine it's pretty hard to make presets that every guitar player would love.

 

So.....

First, I checked out the manual. :)

Then, I set the global parameters for the way I would use the amp.  I set the input options up to where they would have the least hiss.

Next, I created a completely blank tone, and started going through all the full-amp and pre-amp models. This is when I started to notice how good the unit could sound.

Once I was familiar with those, I started adding in effects.  

Then, I really started to learn my way around all parts of the interface.  Now, I prefer editing patches directly on the HD500 instead of the Edit software.

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IMHO, I believe the presets are pretty much suggestive starting points for a particular typical genre setup (make any sense at all?) I just use them as an idea maker and starting point, or, compare them to what I may put together from scratch to see if I'm on the right track. So, they are helpful in their own way. Definitely a big help in the learning process.

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I agree to evilmikehoo and jws1982!

I played a lot of boards and processors. Most of the presets was unusable to me. Even I played the wellknown Digitech GSP 2101 for several years. Great sounds with my telecaster. Then I switch to a LP-style guitar with humbuckers and wasn't satisfied anymore . The HD500 is great tool that I now own one year. And still I'm learning every time when I create a new sound. This is not a out-of-the-box board!

It is the same as you buy a good tube head. You need the suitable cab. Then most of the time you have either a good clean sound or a good distortion sound. Now you start trying different pedals, processors, cabs and maybe guitars ...

I play guitar for about 40 years. Years of searching for the real sound. One year ago I bought the HD500, 6 month ago a JTV-69 and for the first time I feel that I have everything I need in my hand!

But I also went through the advanced guide and meambobbo's tone guide. This is essential to understand the HD500. Not only that I don't use the presets, even I alter the amps: other cabs, other mics.

Start with one sound, perhaps clean. put a litte reverb at the end and go through the amps. Start with the BF Double, try different mics to her their different sound. Then choose different cabs. Keep in mind normal input ist most of the time smoother, Vibrato/Bright, brighter most of the time a little louder.

Find one or two clean amps that fits you flavor and start your sounds with them.

Then do the same with the distorted and hi gain amps. They are more difficult, because of the great variety. I found the Treadplate is very multifaced. Dial the Drive down to 0% it is still loud enough, but the sound is nearly clean with some crunch. Dial up to 70% percent you have hi gain sounds.

For the distorted and hi gain sounds I use most of the time some Screamer or Tube Drive in front to get more warmth, fat and sustained sound. Less drive and Output is enough.

So this was my food for your brain and for your expedition through the world of digital modelling. Have fun!

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I reckon it is best to get in there on a New Tone and dial up the first Amp you like and tweak, refer as needed to the manual for navigation.

I'd monitor using your Amps FX return if it has one and later learn the 4 Cable Method of hooking up.

You might also try the different output choices from Studio direct to Combo or Amp stack.

Or simpler to start is hooking up your Studio Monitors for stereo if you got any.

With your monitoring set up simple dive in and try amps for starters. It is fairly easy once you know how the navigation works. 

Have fun!

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