Expression Pedal Issues

[kenneth0923]

I have the HD500X and sometimes when I'm programming a sound the built in pedal wants to be EX-1 and sometimes it wants to be EX-2 and I can't find any rhyme or reason for it.  I'm ready to take this thing back to the store unless I can figure this out.

[Palico]

If I remember in the manual, Ex-1 will default to the Wah if you use a Wah on the patch and the Volume will default to Ex-2. You can change either of them to what ever you want them to be as well.

[edstar1960]

Are you starting with a completely blank patch or are you editing previous patches to change them to something you want?  If you are just editing an earlier patch then the expression pedal assignment will still be whatever the original patch started out as.  If you start from scratch then the expression pedal assignment should be picking up default depending on what fx you have assigned to each fx block.  There is a default value for when you assign a volume pedal and a default value for when you assign a WAH.

 

You can override what the expression pedal is assigned to and how it behaves.

 

Review the HD500X ADVANCED GUIDE section:

Expression Pedal & Variax® Knob Controller Assignment

 - which will explain everything for you.

 

I have downloaded the HD500 guide - but it should be the same.  So for your convenience, here is the relevant parts:

 

Expression Pedal & Variax® Knob Controller Assignment

POD HD500 includes two Pedal Modes, EXP 1 and EXP 2 for the "on-board" Pedal, each of which can be assigned to any FX Model or FX Loop parameter, for endless control possibilities.* Or, when an Expression Pedal is connected to the PEDAL 2 input on the back of POD HD500, the on-board Pedal controls EXP 1 and Pedal 2 controls EXP 2. The EXP 1 and EXP 2 Pedal Modes can each be assigned to control independent FX parameters. These EXP 1 & EXP 2 assignments and all settings made here are saved per Preset.

*Note that when you add a Wah FX Model to your tone, the "Position" parameter for the Wah is automatically assigned to EXP 1. Likewise, when adding a Volume or Pan FX Model, its Position parameter is automatically assigned to EXP 2. This will result in multiple items assigned to these EXP Pedals if you already have existing Pedal assignments. For all Factory Presets that already include a Wah, Volume or Pan, these are typically already assigned as well. You can change these Pedal assignments, and/or create your own for other FX parameters - read on!

EXP 1 and EXP 2

When no additional Pedal is connected to the PEDAL 2 input, the on-board Pedal‘s "Toe Switch" will toggle between the control of Pedal Modes EXP 1 and EXP 2. The red EXP 1 and green EXP 2 LEDs illuminate to indicate the current Pedal Mode. (It is also possible to manually assign other functions to the Toe Switch - see "Using the EXP Pedal Toe Switch" on page 3•13.)Features & Functionality 3•8

EXP 1 and EXP 2 with Pedal 2 Connected

USBPHONESAUX INL/MONORIGHTTRS STEREOFX RETURNLEFTRIGHTBALANCED OUTPUTL/MONOR/MONOUNBALANCED OUTPUTFX SENDINPEDAL 2LINESTOMPMIC LEVELCD/MP3INPUTOptionally, you can connect a 2nd Expression Pedal (such as a Line 6 EX-1 Expression Pedal) to the PEDAL 2 input. With a Pedal 2 connected, the on-board Pedal controls only EXP 1, and Pedal 2 controls only EXP 2. Whenever a Pedal 2 is connected, you’ll see the EXP 1 & EXP 2 LEDs both lit.

Variax Knobs as Controllers

It is also possible to assign the Volume and/or Tone knob of any Line 6 Variax guitar to control any POD HD500 Amp or FX parameter. Note that when assigning a Variax knob to remotely control a POD HD500 parameter, you might find it preferable to "Lock"the knob’s Local Control option, so that it does not simultaneously affect the Variax guitar’s Volume or Tone - please see "Page 7, Setup: Variax Options" on page 2•11 for instructions.

Controlling Amp & FX Parameters

Configuring the Expression Pedal and Variax Knob controller assignments is done within the Controller Assign screen. In the Signal Flow View, select the Amp or FX Block for which you’d like to create a controller assignment, then double-press the MOVE button. For our example, we’ll select our Delay FX block in the Signal Flow View and configure it to be controlled via the EXP-1 Pedal:

Tip! Expression Pedal and Knob Controllers are capable of driving up to 50+ POD HD parameters simultaneously, making it possible to morph between sounds with a single Exp. Pedal or Knob move. Simply repeat the following steps to assign a common Controller to multiple parameters within the same Preset.

ENTERDBL PRESS TO ASSIGN CTLMOVEAMP & FX ON / OFFFeatures & Functionality 3•9

The Controller Assign screen is then displayed specifically for the selected Model. In our example, it is the Digital Delay W/Modulation. Use the Multi-function Knobs 1-4 to configure the controller assignment options.

The Controller Assign screen

• Parameter (Knob 1): Select the parameter for the current Model that you want to control.* In our example, we’ll choose the Mix parameter.

• Controller (Knob 2): Select the controller that you want to assign to the parameter. Choose Off to have no assignment, or choose EXP 1, EXP 2, Variax Vol or Variax Tone.

• Minimum Value (Knob 3): Set the parameter value you’d like for the Pedal’s "heel" or Knob’s minimum position.

• Maximum Value (Knob 4): Set the parameter value you’d like for the Pedal’s "toe" or Knob’s minimum position.

* Note: As stated on page 3•7, when adding any Wah or Volume/Pan FX Model to your tone, their Position parameters are automatically assigned to the EXP 1 & EXP 2. These Wah & Volume/Pan EXP assignments will remain in addition to other parameters you assign, resulting in your Pedal controlling multiple parameters. Be sure to remove any unwanted Model’s EXP assignment in the Controller Assign screen. Features & Functionality 3•10

To creat a controller assignment to an FX Loop parameter, simply select the FX Loop Block within the Signal Flow View and go to the Controller Assign screen, as described above.

The Controller Assign options for the FX Loop

Note: When a Controller is assigned to any FX Model parameter, manually editing this parameter’s value will result in changing the Controller’s MIN or MAX value. For example, if the EXP-1 Pedal Controller is assigned to a Wah FX Model’s Position parameter, select the Wah Model, go to its Edit View screen, and select the Position parameter. If you turn multifunction knob #4 when the Pedal is near the "heel" position, the MIN value is adjusted. If you turn the knob when the Pedal is near the "Toe" position, the MAX value is adjusted.

FX & Amp Block Footswitch Assignment

Each of the FS1 through FS8 footswitches, as well as the Exp Pedal’s "Toe Switch" can be configured to toggle any of the FX or Amp Blocks On/Off. You can reference the current Preset’s FX footswitch assignments by pressing the VIEW button to display the Performance View screen. The assignments for FS1-FS8 will differ depending on your current Setup - FS Mode setting (see "Page 1, Setup:Utilities Options" on page 2•2):

FX assignment for FS1-FS8ABCD assignment for FS5-FS8Features & Functionality 3•11

Note that when Looper Mode is active, the Performance View displays a set of Looper-specific footswitch functions, as covered in "Looper Footswitch Controls & Performance View" on page 8•1.