pfsmith0

Xpanmanx, sorry I wasn't clear. What I meant was they both require an FX block and they both require a footswitch, so why not use the Studio EQ over the FX Loop? You bring up a very good point. The Studio EQ does use more DSP resources than the FX Loop. They both have disadvantages. The FX Loop degrades signal integrity while the Studio EQ uses more DSP resources. BTW, I use the expression pedal to morph between clean and crunch, so that idea is not available to me, but otherwise that would be a good option. I could use an external expression pedal for that, I suppose, but I don't use dual-amp configurations (with the older HD500 there just isn't enough MIPS left for me) so the Studio EQ works fine for me. This is a good topic and I like considering the other options being brought up.

OK, I went and measured the mute length when a patch is switched and I got 80msec this time. Not sure what I was measuring before, but I checked it several times and always got between 70msec and 90msec. I'm switching between patch A and C, from Soldano clean to Soldano crunch, and back. The signal chains and FX were very different (but each had only 1 amp). Maybe the previous test involved patches that were very similar, I don't know. But now I'm getting 80msec. No wonder I can't stand it.

I didn't know I could turn it off! But I'll leave it on as it helps my see if I got the tap at the correct tempo (which is what it's for I presume).

I use Studio EQ, too. Leave everything at it's default setting except the gain. +4-5dB is about right for me as well. All you get is clean gain. No EQ. No dynamics coloration.. The problem with using the FX Loop is you go thru another set of ADCs and DACs which degrades signal integrity. It uses an FX Block and footswitch so there's nothing to be gained by using it over the Studio EQ other than loss of signal quality. Once you're in the digital domain you should leave it there for as long as possible.

The only way I know to remove the 5msec mute (on the HD500, I measured it. It may be shorter on the HD500x if the DSP clock frequency is higher) is to not switch patches in the middle of a song. Don't use the ABCD switches. Use the switches as FS1 thru 8 instead. It's only an issue when it has to load in a new patch. Turning on/off FX are instantaneous.

This is a very creative solution! I like it. We may complain a lot about its various failings but this just shows how flexible the HD500 is.

But for me changing patches takes too long to be very effective within a song. The mute kills me. I change patches only between songs so there's plenty of time to manipulate the up/down button patch change. That gives me 4 more FX buttons to give me a wide variety of sounds, similar to what I can get with different patches - although my signal chain can't change (which, granted, is a limitation to this approach).

You just plugged your HD500x into what? Please tell us your signal chain. AC power plugs in. Guitar plugs in. USB? SPDIF? 1/4" out (stereo?)? XLR out (stereo?)? What else is plugged in?

The HD500(x) has a 1/4" input for a 2nd special-design foot pedal. Just connect the mission pedal with a standard 1/4"-1/4" 2-conductor cord. Following the instructions on how to calibrate it. It shows up in HD500 Edit as a second controller. You can assign virtually any controllable parameter to it, just like you can with the foot pedal already on the unit. Wah-wah, pitch shift, drive control of the amp (to smoothly change from clean to crunch), Univibe speed, there are lots of things you can do with them besides volume control. I don't use a volume control per se, using the tuner to mute instead, but I do on the front end of some effects to act as a swell of sorts.

You might find the Mission Line6 pedal useful as a second foot controller. http://missionengineering.com/?product=ep1-l6.

I have measured 5msec of latency when you use the footswitches in ABCD mode. You will notice much less latency if you can use the footswitches in 1-8 mode instead. That is, only change patches/banks between songs. Within a song you have 8 footswitches available to provide the various sounds you need.

Yes, I think this is normal. I experience this, too. I believe the computer is downloading the patch into the HD500 on the fly each time you change something.

Why can't you put the FX Loop block after the amp and route the analog signal thru a normal volume control pedal and then route it back in? That would essentially control amp volume, right? You now have 3 separate controls - EXP1 for drive, EXP2 for wah, and the analog pedal for amp volume. Wouldn't this work?

Do you hear left/right when you plug in real headphones?

Oh, you'll definitely hear that since that's basically a worst case scenario. The mute is about 15msec, IIRC. If you switch between songs it's no big deal, but I have difficulty at times when switching in the middle of a song. I've gone to not using patches within a song, only FX and/or maybe two amps that are always in but using an FX button to mute one or the other. In a given bank you have a choice of 8 FX switches or 4 FX switches & 4 patches. I've moved to the former since the mute is unworkable for me. The units still has lots of flexibility, though, even with these limitations.

OK, I think I understand what you're asking. You'd like guitar in signal chain #1 and mic+aux on signal chain #2. No, you can't do that. The mic is by itself. Your available options on each of the signal chains is: Guitar Mic Aux Guitar+Aux Guitar+Variax Guitar+Aux+Variax Variax Variax Mags

Yes, that's my line-up. SOmetimes I pan the mic hard L and the guitar hard R so I can send them to the PA on two different cables and let the PA mute, gain, EQ, etc the two independantly. It works reall well.

Yes, you can have the aux input and guitar input be two seperate independat signal paths. You can mix them together at the end or pan one to 100% R and the other 100% left and send them out their own outputs as well.

I've been pleased with the mic pre in the HD500. You shouldn't be embarrased to make it public that you use it. Don't forget there's a little trim pot back there to set the gain.

Not to be disrespectful to the above posters, but Idisagree. The gap is most definitely noticeable - even in a band setting. There is nothing you can do about it. You have to work around it. I'm at the point where I try not to use ABCD patch switches anymore. Only 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 FX switches. It works well but limits your sounds to only 1 amp per song, unless you setup a dual-amp configuration in which case you're limited in how many effects you can add in. Removing ABCD patch switches also complicates turning on-off multiple FX with one stomp. So you have to pick which limitation you're willing to work around.

Why are you using a DI box and not the XLR output?

Hi Junis, you can look at the frequency responses of the various EQs here: http://line6.com/support/topic/335-frequency-response-graphs-for-hd500-eqs/?hl=pfsmith0&do=findComment&comment=1519 and make you own conclusions. The different types of EQs have different responses. The parametric EQ has controls for frequencies below 200 Hz, above 2kHz, and a variable-Q filter that can sweep between 45Hz and 4.5kHz.

I've used both the Boss GT series and the POD HD series and I think the Boss units generally have better sounding, more usable, and a wider variety of FX. But the HD500 has MUCH better amp sims (which you don't care about, at the moment). Also, the FX on the Boss units are much more tweakable. But this also makes them much more difficult to use. The LIne 6 units have much better human engineering. It got to the point where I had to read the manual each time I wanted to do something with the Boss units. I ended up not using it and selling it. Which is better: something that has 80% of the sound quality of analog but is used 20% of the time (Boss) or a something that has 70% of the sound quality of analog but is used 100% of the time (Line6)? That being said, I've found FX on the HD500 that are very usable and satisfying. Besides, the audience can't tell the difference between any of them.

I'd save up for one that has at least a 6" woofer, which is still somewhat marginal but seems to for me. Keep looking at Hello Music. A pair will show up sooner or later. I buy quite a few things thru them.

But you CAN do it with the HD500. Channel A input = guitar. Channel B input = mic. Move the amp inside the split signal section (it will automatically generate a 2nd amp block in the other split section) and move all the FX blocks inside one of the two paths. Put the mixer at the very end of the signal chain and pan the 2 channels hard Right/Left. Now you have 2 independant signals, one for voice and one for guitar, coming out the right & left jacks on the back of the unit.