edstar1960

I suggest you raise a support ticket with Line 6 directly and ask them to help you trouble shoot it. As this has just been released they need to be made aware of all issues and they will most likely be able to resolve it quickly for you.

Have you tried setting the CAB parameter RESONANCE to 0% ? That will disable the resonance effect and make the Line 6 supplied cab/mic models much more like the third party IRs.

Have you heard the tones that Peter Hanmer can get out of the HD500X? Have a listen to this demo track he recorded using the HD500X: https://soundcloud.com/peter-john-hanmer/hd500x-crunchfest

If you want to run the HD500x as a multi-fx board in front of your amp and only use the fx then you need to be aware that even with everything turned off and your signal running straight through you will end up with a 6db volume loss when compared to running a guitar direct into the amp The first thing to do is make sure that the switch for the 1/4 inch outputs on top of the HD500x next to the expression pedal is set to AMP and not LINE. The next thing you need to do is balance your signal so that when all fx are turned off that it sounds the same as when you plug the guitar direct in. The easiest way to do this is by using an EQ fx that has a gain control at the front of your chain to give you a 6db boost - try using the VINTAGE PRE. Once you have the HD500x with everything switched off sounding the same as plugging directly into the amp you can then try adding some fx blocks later in the chain. Rule of thumb is to keep the output volume about the same for each fx so the signal strength is the same wit it switched on or off - the only exception is for boost pedals when you deliberately want the fx to boost your volume. If you make sure the output from the HD500x is about the same as going direct from guitar or the same as going via conventional stomp boxes then your amp should always get the correct input signal level and you should be able to operate it normally. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the info. Just out of interest - did your power supplies just fail for some reason or did they fall apart on their own or did they get broken because someone trod on them or some equipment fell on them - or some other reason? Just would like to know if they failed due to being fragile or due to cheap internal electrical components that don't last. Thanks.

As The Realzap has already mentioned - why not try lowering the string volumes for the acoustic models in Workbench HD ? Also - try lowering the VOLUME control on the JTV. Backing off the volume will give you more head room and allow you to put more energy into the strings without over driving the models. I have found that lowering the volume for the acoustics in either way does allow you to play more naturally and IMO the lower volume seems to make them sound more authentic.

If NucleusX is referring to the RESONANCE dep parameter then it is worth noting that it can be effectively disabled by moving RESONANCE value to zero.

The HD500 and HD500X does accentuate bottom end and high end when using default settings. When coupled with a JTV or Variax using the VDI the high end can become very overpowering, harsh and ice pick sounding. This can all be addressed by adjusting the AMP tone controls and DEP parameters on the POD and/or using EQ fx's and also adjusting the TONE control on the Variax or JTV model to roll off some top end. Unfortunately they are not just plug and play - they require tweaking to suit your gear. It is very easy to produce terrible sounding patches especially when just using default values for amp/cab/fx and perhaps not choosing the correct output mode. The secret to producing great tones from the gear is to learn and master how all the controls/parameters for each amp/cab/mic/fx plus output mode affect the end sound. Once you have that nailed you will be able to turn out your own great patches quickly enough. To get the best out of a JTV you must ensure it is set up perfectly and that there is no fret buzzing or string buzzing - any extraneous sound will be picked up by the piezos along with the string and note sound and be converted to whatever guitar model you are playing.

I got a JTV69 at one of the bargain prices and it was fine except for the strings being so high - and it was down to the nut slots not being deep enough - I took it to a guitar luthier who cut the nut slots to the correct depth and then I could adjust the saddles for intonation and tweak truss rod to ensure no buzzing. It made the world of difference - plays just as nicely as my Fender strats now. So I recommend you get the nut slots cut correctly - it will make all the difference to the playability!

I have had my JTV59 TSB since soon after the initial launch. It is my go to guitar and is my gigging work horse. I did have it professionally set up but it only needed some minor tweaks such as having the string slots lowered in the nut. I also replaced the tuners for locking tuners - just because it was a real PITA to change strings because of the bridge design with no stop bar, so the strings would just pop out unless I use a capo to hold them in place whilst I threaded the string onto the tuning peg. I use it with an HD500 and an L2M and sometimes a DT25. I use modelling 100% of the time as I am in cover bands and we cover a wide range of material. If the modelling failed I would still use it as it is an excellent and very playable LP style guitar. I have an LP which is my favourite guitar, but the JTV59 does give it a good run for it's money, especially with the locking tuners. It has a beautiful TSB finish with the flamed maple showing trhough. I am very happy with it.

Unfortunately there is no way automatically calibrate the piezo volumes. The only way to do it is by using your ears and adjusting the values in Workbench OR record the signals and look at the recorded track to look at the differences between string volumes and then try to level them out. Of course you will have to do this for every guitar model you want to use. You can adjust the GLOBAL STRING volumes for everything first and see if that works for all models - but you may well find that you still have to adjust individual models to taste. I was happy with my JTV59 string volumes when I was on fw 1.9 or earlier but as soon as I moved up to fw 2.1 I noticed that the B and E strings were much quieter than the lower strings and it was very noticeable on certain models. I rolled back to fw 1.9 to just to confirm it and found that strings were nicely balanced. So in my case, the fw level on the guitar seemed to be making the difference - but I don't know if that is because fw 2.1 is highlighting the inconsistencies in my piezo's whereas v1.9 did not or whether there is an issue with the fw itself. I tried reflashing several times and oddly the situation improved but I still had to tweak things in Workbench to fine tune the string volume differences. It is probably worth reflashing back to v1.9 and seeing whether the string volume balances improves and then move forward to v2.1 to see if the difference comes back again. It is also worth trying to reflash the variax at the v2.1 level just to see if that improves the situation. I know it sounds nuts but over the years plenty of variax users have found that reflashing does fix all sorts of strange behaviour. It may also make no difference - but it is always the first thing that TECH SUPPORT ask you to do when trouble shooting an issue, so I figure it is always worth a try. Good luck in resolving the string balance issue.

I also use a JTV connected via VDI to my HD500. It occurred to me that's the reason why the HD500 needs to have a 3A power supply - it has to be capable of powering a variax as well. I wonder if that also contributes to the extra heat - more power being drawn from the supply by both the HD500 and the JTV.

I have the L2m and it is plenty loud enough to use as my back line for a full band gig, so rehearsal volume is no problem at all.

The link that spaceatl shared above shows a medical grade PSU for just $14.80. The Line 6 DC-3G is $40. So in this case at least it seems to be the other way around.

I did find some sites that stock the Medical grade PSU that spaceatl recommended but none of them had prices but they did have contact numbers. They looked like they sell directly to medical companies as opposed to the public but I suppose one phone call will soon confirm that or otherwise. I had already ordered another DC-3G from GAK, so didn't need to pursue the medical grade PSU, but I agree they are a much more durable design with the separate AC power cord.

Thanks for another excellent video Peter. Lots of useful info in there. The tip for reducing the harshness at around 3k with the parametric EQ has really helped me refine my patches. The harshness is now gone and now my tones sound smooth and crunchy! Thank you so much for sharing that!

I believe the vocoder works when you have the mic plugged into the mic input, and you have a patch set up with the vocoder selected and on, and your input to the patch selected as GUITAR (or VARIAX or VARAIX MAGS). Then when you speak or sing into the mic and play the guitar at the same time then you should get the effected output. I have not tried it when have INPUT 2 set to MIC and having a separate vocal path - but I suspect you are right when you say that may be preventing the VOCODER from working. Not sure why you could not get it to work when you had your INPUT 2 set to something other than mic.

Reading his posts again, I think he is saying that the GLOBAL EQ requires DSP to run (just like any other fx) but they needed to guarantee that there will always be sufficient spare DSP for it to run with existing patches that users have already made specifically those that are already close the MAX DSP usage - otherwise those users are going to be very angry when they discover they have to change their existing patches to make use of the new GLOBAL EQ. So to prepare for this eventuality they looked at ways of making the existing code for amps and fx more efficient so they use slightly less DSP, and they were successful in optimising existing code meaning that anyone with a patch that is currently very close to max DSP usage will still be able to use that existing patch at the new firmware level with the GLOBAL EQ switched on and not hit the DSP limit.

:D :D :D :D

:D :D :D :D If only the cause of my PSU breakage was as interesting as your suggestion! You must play at some very interesting venues! :D :D :D :D In my case, the PSU has been very well treated and not excessively gigged, it is a few years old now, but I didn't expect the casing to just come apart. It's clear that it is made in two halves but no idea what holds the two parts together - it may be that they just "click" together - but once they come apart they don't want to "click" back again. The PSU can get fairly warm when used, so maybe the heat causes the plastic to distort over time causing the two halves to come apart. Or maybe some pressure was applied to the gig bag and in turn squeezed the PSU inside causing the two halves to come apart. Who knows? Just guessing at possible causes here.

Doh! :o I didn't think of that! :D :lol: :D

I added a suggestion to Ideascale to make the DC-3G a roadworthy tour grade unit. Here is the link: http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Make-HD-series-Power-Supply-roadworthy-tour-grade/710134-23508

Just curious whether anybody has found this patch useful? I know it's almost impossible to get donor patches to work well with your own gear but it would be nice to hear if anyone has had any success..

When creating a patch from scratch that is using a modelled amp + cab and DIRECT/STUDIO mode output, turn the cab DEP parameter RESONANCE to 0 first. This will get you the pure IR sound without any enhancement from the RESONANCE effect. Once you have set the modelled amps tone controls as you like and played them at volume, then try adjusting the RESONANCE parameter a little bit at a time to see if you like the effect. NB: The higher the RESONANCE value the MORE the THUMP and DECAY parameters take effect and the LOUDER the patch will sound, so as you increase RESONANCE you may also need to turn down THUMP and/or decay. I have found it easier to dial in a live tone this way and now only add a relatively small amount of RESONANCE (20-30%) - to my live tones. For me it helps to cure high end fizz end low end boom and avoid muddiness. YMMV.

Thanks for all the replies and helpful advice. The Medical Grade 9VDC supplies look like good alternatives if I can find a UK supplier. Thanks for that tip spaceatl. For now, I have just used tape to hold the power supply together, which will at least stop the thing completely falling apart. And I have found a couple of reputable dealers selling it online for £24 - so I have ordered a new replacement as a backup. I am very disappointed that it has started to fall apart as it has not been heavily used as I only gig occasionally and I am very careful with my gear and especially careful with this power supply as it was obviously so fragile. The POD X3 power supply (although AC) was certainly far more heavy duty and durable. I will look for the suggestion to provide an improved power supply for the HD pods on Ideascale and vote for it. The Line 6 FAQ page does list a couple of VOODOO LABS power supply products as recommended alternatives - so I guess these are used by the professional HD500 users or anyone who gigs very regularly or who needs tour grade equipment - or I guess they use another industrial strength supply. They are out of my price range for now. However - I reviewed the specs of the suggested VOODOO LABS power supplies and neither of them provide 3A output - so I am not sure they will work - but it is odd that they are on the Line 6 FAQ page. Anyone out there using a VOODOO LABS power supply product to power their Line 6 HD 500 or 500X?