Bushman2

I've been a HD500 user for 2-3 years, and just bought a Helix from MF and is on backorder for a couple weeks. (hopefully) I really like the HD500's tone and versatility but... I've sent my HD500 in for a footswitch replacement about a year ago, and now the same switch is out again. I'll probably get it fixed and keep it for a backup in case the Helix has pus switches as well, but I'm hoping Line 6 has ditched the switches with the Helix. I know they are touch/press capable, but I'm wondering if any of you have any thoughts on the switches durability.... Thoughts / Observations?

Ran across this HD500 preset list and remembered alot of people asking for it... https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/94959516/Line%206%20POD%20HD500%20Factory%20Presets.docx Bushman2...

No. The expression pedal has no switch other than the toe switch. You can turn the wah on with the toe switch then save the patch, that will have the wah on when you access the patch.

Volume = Patch Volume (use this to even out the volume between patches) Master = HD Unit Output Volume. (I set this so the PA I'm plugging into doesn't clip. Also, I've read to run this at about 75% up. I run mine at 50%)

Had the same problem a couple of months ago. Found this youtube on X3Live switches which, after opening my HD500 up, are the same switches apparently. *LINK* I posted this article as well... *LINK* I ended up sending it in to Line 6 and they fixed it for free, but I still have the switches for when it malfunctions again...

I run my HD500 out the L-1/4" (mono) to a small PA set to flat eq. Since my usage is direct to a large PA at the gig, I tweak my patches using the same. My headphone out sounds quite different thru headphones. Probably due to the fact that headphones provide Stereo output and more bass proximity effect.

I found the replacement Tactile Switches from Radio Shack. $4.49 for 4 switches. Almost makes me want to fix it myself...... Radio Shack part # 275-0002 5.0mm High Tact Switch

Found a YouTube on fixing footswitches on the X3L *LINK* and the mini tactile switches and circuit boards look identical on the HD500. Same circuit board and everything. Looks like I'll stock a couple of micro switches to solder in "When" this happens again, out of the warranty period. I also sent a copy of my HD500 reciept to Line 6 in my repair ticket, looks like I'll get an RMA and a free fix. I'll have to use my analog board and tube amp till it gets repaired. Waiting for the Line6 guy to give me the go-ahead.....

How long did it take to fix? I have to arrange to get it fixed in between gigs, hopefully. Actually I was hoping to get them to send me a replacement circuit board (the daughter board that has the upper switches) It looks like a couple of nuts hold the board down, and a ribbon cable plugs onto it. Pretty simple considering that Visual sound has sent me two different Bucket Brigade chips that had went bad, and I unsoldered and resoldered the chips with eight legs. You have to be decent at soldering for that. Just checked the support ticket, and the tech wants to know if it's under a year old. It's one year and three days old. Waiting...

I'll give that a try. It's very well taken care of, kept in a case and played in a clean environment, so I'm not holding my breath....

When I use HD Edit and go to "Controllers" tab and click on the FS3 software button, it switches the LED on the footswitch on/off and the patch operates correctly. Looks like the physical switch on the board is bad. I've started a ticket from line 6. We'll see... Anybody else have this happen?

I Have this case from Seismic Audio for my analog board, but you might look at some of their other models for size. A very well made P-Board case. I've had mine for about five years now.. http://www.seismicaudiospeakers.com/26-Pedal-Board-Case-p/sarpbc1.htm

Single channel compressors have a tendency to choke the first hit on a string or chord, especially if the compression is turned up. Is that what you're hearing?

Nice. The RC-300 looks awesome. And it's expensive! Loopers actually are very cool, especially a live rig like yours. The looper on the HD500 is quite basic, but is super nice to have on board for tone shaping, working on a small phrase, and especially looping a guitar part and going out to the soundboard to EQ the mixer channel, and make it sound nice out front!!! Not all sound techs have a good guitar ear.

That's the same thing I've experienced. I stop the recording a little bit early, not on beat 1, more like beat 3 +or-. It's is still kind of a crap shoot to get it to seamlessly loop. If it would quantize, like my RC-2, it would rock!

Actually the XLR outputs on the HD500 never sum to mono, no matter what, from what I've gathered from previous posts. I use the L/Mono out with the HD500 set to studio/Direct output and the Line/Amp switch set to Line. I run to a DI box with "Instrument" setting, and out with an XLR to the snake. I would love to have a stereo XLR output that only uses one mixer channel, but that seems to be a pipe dream.

A Soft Knee compressor would be nice, to make the "Choke" effect of a compressor more transparent. I have not used the Dyna Comp (the actual pedal) but on my analog pedalboard, and IMHO, the Barber Tone Press takes the idea and does one step better, it has two signal paths. One stays uneffected, and the other is ran through the compressor circuit, then the ability to blend the two together gives you a pure guitar tone and attack (via uneffected path) and a buttery compression. A very nice way to achieve a transparent compressor. A Tone Press would be an awesome additon as well....

Another free non-demo program that I like better than Audacity is Krystal Audio Engine.

I have only one channel available to me, on our board, so for a summed mono output, I use the L 1/4" (mono) to DI box to the Snake. Our soundtech was saying the channel trim knob was just cracked on because my signal is hot and slightly overdriving the board, so I run my Master Knob at 12:00 and all is well on the board now. Sounds better out of the mains too. More articulate and less fuzzy.

I use mine every Sunday as well. I ended up using the AC30 amp sim with 1/4 note and .8th stacked with the .8th switchable with FS1. Analog Chorus Switchable on FS2. Tube Screamer Switchable on FS3, and Classic Distortion Switchable on FS4. I use this patch on FS5-8, with all Dirt and .8th disabled for FS5 (clean), Distortion,Chorus, and .8th disabled for FS6 (Drive) .8th and Chorus disabled and 1/4 note changed to 1/16th high mix rate on FS7 (for mandolin type rapid picking), Full patch and nothing disabled for FS8 (Dot 8th patch) After changing to a small PA for patch tweaking, my tones are pretty good. With Avioms the rig works pretty good, and I am constantly learning new way to use it. It was a good move for the situation....

I was using headphones to create patches, but ended up with a trebly & thin tone because of the proximity bass boosting effect headphones have. I now use a small PA I have for tweaking. Sounds the same when I play live thru a PA then. I do use a good set of headphones for playing around and working up songs, just not to tweak. YMMV...

You Rock! Thanks Phil....

I know that one way to get this is using a 1/4 delay into a .1/8th delay, but can't find a good setting for feedback and mix for this... Does anyone know good settings that work well???

What happens when you tap on your guitar cable with your foot? Does it make the same sound? I wonder if your HD unit is transferring any vibration through the cable?

I've had my HD500 for about 3-4 months now, and need the unit to cover ground identical to your needs. I have one patch that has a very nice clean Blackface with a switchable chorus and a good switchable 1/4 note delay. Also a switchable O/D and Switchable Lead Distortion. I Switch off the O/D and Dist., switch on the chorus, and save it as my #1 patch on the bank. (I use foot switch 1-4 for effect switching, and switch 5-8 for patch switching) That is my Clean Patch I switch on the O/D, and switch off the Chorus, and save that as my #2 patch. That is my Crunch/Rhythm Patch with a switchable Lead Dist. effect. I use the same patch with a 1/16 Delay instead of the 1/4 Delay for doing mandolin-type trill picking like "You Deserve" by Hillsong . Then save as my #3 Patch.I use the #2 Patch again with the O/D & Dist. switched on and the 1/4 Delay set with High Mix and Short Repeat along with a Dotted 1/8th Delay Set with a Lower Mix and a long repeat. (This gives that galloping sound of a Dot 1/8th) Then save as my #4 Patch. All these give me a Clean, Crunchy Rhythm/Lead, Specialty Delay, Dotted 1/8th Patches on Footswitch 5-8. Since to-date I don't use any patches utilizing dual amps. I don't need to cover any metal type of tones. I haven't run into any real world patch creation that I couldn't make because of DSP limiting. With one amp, I can stack most anything into the signal chain with no problems. I don't have a problem with the buttons either so I don't really have a use for the 500X right now. When I started playing on this W/Team, I had only an analog pedalboard and a mic'd 15w Tube combo. I was told "No Amps" too. So far, I'm about 50/50 about which is better for this venue, but in making everyone happy including myself, the HD500 Rocks... If the price were the same for both units, I'd definitely get the newer model, of course, but I think The HD500 should be a bargain about now...