boyce89976

I can't post audio samples as I'm traveling and don't have the POD with me.  

Thanks for the suggestion storm... I'm only using it plugged directly into the front of my amp... no DAW or MIDI setup.  

Really?  No one has seen this issue before?  

I have an issue that just recently came up.  My POD HD500x gradually loses volume to the point where no sound output is getting to the amplifier.  The only audible noise, once this happens, is what sounds like a ground hum.  It seems to happen if I'm in the same patch for more than about 10 minutes, and doesn't seem to matter what patch I'm in.  A patch change, or re-engaging the current patch, brings everything back to normal, but it happens again about 10 minutes later.  If I'm changing patches constantly the issue never occurs.   

I've reinstalled the latest flash memory and have done a full reset, but it's still happening.  

My current setup is as follows:  

Guitar > POD HD > Morgan AC20 Deluxe (into the front of the amp).  

Other details:

- I'm using Studio Direct output setting

- I have changed POD power supplies to no effect

- I have an Expression pedal plugged into EXP2

- I'm using a 20' Mogami Gold cable from Guitar > POD and a 10' Mogami Gold from the POD > Amp

- I have input impedance set to "auto"

- I have guitar input set to normal

- XLR ground is set to "ground"

- 1/4" out is set to "amp" (I'm using "L(mono)" as the output)

- Both the amp and the POD are plugged into the same power conditioner (the amp exhibits no issues).  

Guitar, cables and amp are all fine.  I'm getting some really killer tones with this setup, but the volume issue is a little unsettling.  Last Sunday, I re-engage the patch I was in probably 5 or 6 times for every song... that's not what I want to be doing when I'm supposed to be playing!  

I'm stumped... any ideas?  

You might be in a small group with that T5, but they always looked like nice guitars!

 

Not sure what you mean by "thick, fat, lead tone," exactly, but I have to say it's probably not something that shows up in a lot of CCM.  If the AC30 is not working for you, you might take a swing with a Marshall or Park (probably the closest thing to "fat" that I had in my patches), or even a Fender Twin model.  If you are going direct, you'll need to rely on the FOH folks to watch for muddiness when those HBs start encroaching on the bass' range or low keys.  (Which is a sideways hint that sometimes what sounds fat in a mix isn't that fat at all by itself.  Record the full mix to be sure you're getting what you want.)

When I hear "thick, fat lead tone" I think of the lead guitar in Steve Fee's live version of "All Because of You", especially in the muted bridge section.  I'm trying to get that tone out of the HD500x.  

Let me tell u this I have and have had countless fx. I would go as far to say that at one time I was an fx lollipop willing to plug into anything that graced my doorstep. Also I've had many many costly amps. Still with all that I never had the versatility and wonderful Tone Base as I've found via my pod 500 / DT 50 2x12 set up has given me. I am guilty of adding some outside stomp boxes but very few and only if absolutely required. Now lately it's been a Fulltone Ocd Overdrive and MXR 6 Band Eq. All in the pod fx loop. With wonderful results. Eric johnson said it set in order to get a good Overdrive tone u must have a great CLEAN Tone.

Totally agree on the versatility point... that's the one thing that is keeping me from going to stomps right now.  I love being able to tweak, and change the chain-placement on the fly.  But I have to disagree from a pure tone perspective.  The ability to get a great clean tone is largely dependent on being able to truly bypass the effects in the chain, or the pedalboard itself, which can't be done with the POD.  If it could, it would be close to perfect for it's price category.    

Who cares? The more they rant and rave about tubes and pedals, the worse they play. I've seen guys with 10 grand worth of gear who can't play a lick. My old man said it best...'Never educate a chump'.

I've been using an HD500x into the front of a Morgan AC20 Deluxe, and couldn't believe the tone suck at first with the HD in front of the amp.  I had to use the AC30 amp model just to get close to the sound of the Morgan when plugged directly into it.  At rehearsal on Thursday, our other guitar player (Matchless Lightning 15 tube amp, very nice stomp box setup... oh, and he can play, probably one of the best players I've ever known) tweaked my Morgan and POD and got very close to the sound of his rig.  The biggest difference is the clarity and thickness of his delayed signal and the lack of digital color on overdrive sounds (he uses a Timmy).  

I play P&W, and played lead today on two songs.  The 2nd song has a sustained high F and Bb played together on the 18th fret of the 1st and 2nd strings at the end of a chorus... it hangs into the next verse, and I got two full bars of sustain while fading out with the volume pedal over 8 counts at 62 beats per minute.  I never got that kind of sustain with the DT.  The DT is a great amp, that is easy to dial in, but I'm convinced now that it can't match the feel of a real tube preamp.  Playing the POD into a tube preamp is totally different than playing into a DT25.  The touch dynamics alone were worth the switch.  

Setup is Blue Comp>Screamer (30% drive)>Screamer(50% drive and slight boost for leads)>AC30 Amp Model>Analog Delay w/Mod(1 in each path both with heavy trailing modulation, left set to 8th, right set to .8th almost always use one or the other, rarely both at the same time)>Bias Modulation (for a chorus/tremolo effect without the pitch change)>Hall verb (not used much)>Octo Verb (used on both light overdrive and clean sounds to add a little sparkle)>AC20 Deluxe head>Morgan 1x12 cab loaded with an Alnico Blue.    

I add this to say that the POD into a great tube amp can get very close to stomps into a great tube amp, but the POD WILL mask your sound in a way that stomp pedals won't.  If the POD was true bypass, with a more powerful DSP (needed to uncompress the overdrives and distortions) it could compete head to head with a stomp rig.     

Which tube is the inverter tube in the DT50 1x12?? I am going to be changing the 2 12ax7's... if looking from the back of the amp, which is the inverter??

 

Thanks!

 

Mark

The 12AX7 closest to the power tubes is always the PI.  

Can you explain what the 12ax7's do  in the DT's that is different than what they do in a "traditional" valve amp?

It performs the same function as in any other amp, only it's limited to the Phase Inverter position in the DT (at least in the 25, and likely the DT50 too).  The PI is the last tube before the power section, and could be included in what is normally called the "preamp" stage.   

Would be interesting to know a couple things from those of you who've had failures.

When the tubes failed...

1. Were you in Class A or Class A/B?

2. What volume level were you at?

3. What was your bias setting for both power tubes?

I've had my JJ's tubes in for a couple months now with no issues... Even with several lengthy sessions at close to full volume.

Try LA Pro Audio… very nice cables at great prices.  I got my AES/EBU cable from them and it was a great bargain!  

I was wondering the same thing.  Hopefully, someone knows.  

Ok, I turned the amp on just now, and when I went from standby to on, I immediately noticed something was up. Even with the master down there was a lot of noise and crackles. The tubes were also very bright. When I flipped the switch to Class A, the whole side of V3 started glowing cherry red. 

Bad tube? I put my stock tubes back in (1 year, lightly used) and they are MUCH quieter than the JJs, but luckily the amp is still working fine.

Should I return the JJs? I used them for a total of 20mins yesterday, 15 seconds today.

Dude, that sucks!  Tubes usually have a 30 day warranty at least.  Hopefully just a bad tube.  I've use all 4 of the ones I got from Eurotubes (just to make sure they all worked and were bias matched) and haven't had any issues.  

The jj el84s are supposed to make a bright flash when turned on, right?

Are they also much louder than the stock?

They don't flash that I've noticed, but the do glow brighter than the stock tubes. I'm not sure they are louder if biased properly, but the are clearer and less harsh, so I can get more volume and still have definition.

Is the replacement of the 12AX7 simple?  Or does it also need to be re-biased and carried out by someone who knows what they are doing?    Thanks.

The 12AX7 is very easy to replace, and no biasing needed.  Just make sure you are VERY careful when doing it... there is current in the amp (even after it's been unplugged) that can kill you.  

I believe the 4 cable method does exactly what you want to do.  

Yes, I tried hooking it up both ways. L6 Link, then 4cm. I was trying to get Blues tones out of it. It just didn't do it for me. There was something about the sound of it. It's rather depressing because I really wanted to like the damn thing. My buddy came over last night with the combo version and I had the same feeling towards it. However, when he played through it.. Same patches, same guitar.. I liked it. It has to be something to do with how I play. I can't think of another explanation, to be honest. It's a great product.. I won't ever push negative feedback on it.. It (live many other products) just wasn't for me. I'll stick with running my HD500x through my Mesa Subway Rocket via 4cm.

 

Sent from my iPad.

 

What I hate is when one of my golf buddies hits my brand new driver 20 yards farther than I can hit it!   :angry: 

I guess the same thing applies here.  Too bad, it's a great setup.  I recently had the opportunity to play alongside a guy that uses a Matchless combo and a board full of boutique pedals.  Tone-wise, the POD/DT combo was very close.  He uses a Strymon Big Sky 'verb, though, so his reverbs are over-the-top good.  

Sorry it didn't work out.  

Is the unit brand new, or pre-owned?  Does it have the latest firmware?  

Can you edit your sounds on the POD and listen to the changes?  If so, then HD Edit works essentially the same way, only you're interfacing with your computer instead of the POD.  

More details are needed... Are you not able to edit the patch on HD Edit?  Are you getting weird results?  

I thought that was the channel volume?

Everyday, I'm learning I know less and less about this thing.   :wacko:

 

From the DT25 Pilot's Guide:

 

Serial Effect Loop – Use the effect loop to send your audio signal to external effects processors and stomp boxes such as modulations, delays & reverbs. Note: Signal path is in series. When using the SEND, audio will not pass through to the poweramp without a connection back to the RETURN.

 

Cabinet Simulated Direct Out – Provides a transformer-tapped direct output with cabinet simulation for studio recording or live performance without mic’ing your amplifier. The ground lift switch can be used to eliminate hum or buzz.

 

From the DT Series L6 LINKâ„¢ Connectivity Guide:

 

Direct Out

The DT amplifier’s DIRECT OUT continues to function as an analog output with L6 LINK in use. Use of this XLR output is recommended to feed your “fully baked†POD HD + DT amp tone to an external recorder, mixing console, etc. Since the audio signal fed to the DT amp via L6 LINK is a mono signal, this Direct Out is a mono signal as well. Note that the Direct Out functionality differs based on the DT amp’s LOW VOLUME MODE (see page 4•3) and STANDBY switch settings:

• Low Volume Mode Off, Amp in Standby = The DT amp’s Direct Out is disabled.

• Low Volume Mode On, Amp in Standby = Direct Out signal consists of the “Full†(preamp + power amp) Amp Model with no analog amp.

• Low Volume Mode Off, Amp On (not in Standby) = Direct Out signal consists of the “Preamp†Amp Model with the analog amp.

• Low Volume Mode On, Amp On (not in Standby)= Direct Out signal consists of the “Full†Amp Model and the analog amp.

 

Based on all the above:

- serial FX loop is between preamp and analog power section.  XLR out is (power section output) transformer tapped to give you the "fully baked" signal for the PA or recording.

- seems safe to say that the only time it "may" bypass the FX loop is in LVM Standby.

 

Can you confirm all your settings when this discrepancy occurs?  

Have you tried bypassing the preamp completely and just going straight in to the FX return to see if you get a signal?

 

Great info, rad.  I looked for this in the .pdf manuals I have, but I guess I don't have the L6 Link guide... will have to download that.  I'm going to play with this output at my next rehearsal.  

If I'm not mistaken, and it's likely I am... it seems like I read somewhere that the XLR out on the DT's tap off the preamp, which would be before the effects loop.  

I'd like to know this too, as I wanted to experiment with different connections to FOH, and if true, this rules out tapping off the XLR out of the DT.  

Let's agree to disagree then :)  It's not a toolbox... a room full of amp heads, cabs, speakers, attenuators, tubes, stomp boxes, guitars and pickups is. Line6 is taking all of that, cramming it into a small and cheap box. So, swiss army knife.

We get it.  You don't like it, so why not get rid of it and get what you want?  

Try two OD pedals in sequence before the amp model.  I just built a patch with a Red Comp, Screamer and Classic Distortion (in that order).  The Screamer is set to about 40 on the drive, and the Classic Distortion is set to about 40 also.  The resulting overdrive sound is tight, punchy and defined (to my ears).  

I saw on TGP where you are using the Stack Power Amp output setting, but you're using a 1x12 cabinet.  The Stack Power Amp setting is EQ'd for use with a 2x12 or 4x12 cabinet, but reducing bass response.  Try changing the output setting to the Combo Power Amp setting (which will add bass response) and see if that helps.  

I'm surprised that some players can't get sounds they like from the HD rigs. I have a theory as to why that might be. When you own just one amp you spend a lot of time tweaking it and your effects to get a handful of great sounds from it. But when you have all the amps and effects available in the pod HD you may not spend enough time on each individual amp to get the most from it. I would suggest picking one amp you like at a time and really working at perfecting patches.

I couldn't agree more.  I've used the AC30 since I got the POD, and have been working with the PHD for about 2 months.  Like I said previously, it's a system you have to commit to.