NucleusX

Hmm, this could very well depend on what kind of output mode setting you'll have on the POD. Lets say you chose Studio/Direct, would Studio/Direct suit both FOH and Cabinet criteria's ? To the cabinet, I assume your on either "stack front" or "stack power amp" without amp sim ? To the FOH, I assume your on "Studio/Direct" to a mixing console with amp sim ? You would have to choose a setting consistant with both applications at the same time first. Once you've sorted out this choice, you could easily sort the wiring out with your method id say. Most FOH setups have long cabling inherent in them and no doubt have a DI box somewhere along the line, its best to keep the FOH XLR for DI purposes and venue compatibility and connect the 1/4 TRS outputs to your cabinet's amps front end, or straight to fx loop return. Either way, this configuration all depends on your output mode and wether you'll want amp sims or retain the cabinet and amps tonal characteristics without amp sims. One output choice could conversely affect the FOH or cabinet tone. If your happy with the tone from both sources at the same time then your on the right track with the wiring, so dis-regard any output mode changes if this isn't a concern for you.

In the Line6 Edit software at the top of the preset lists is a drop down menu to access which setlist you want to edit in. In your case, You'll want to access the "User" 1,2 or 3 Setlist to make your presets in. The factory presets take up a fair portion of the POD but you can create custom setlists other than the factory defaults and make your presets in them. Accessing setlists directly from the POD is also possible by pressing once on the dial on the left side of the LCD. Like you I wanted to retain factory presets and was left with about 3 or 4 setlists to play with, plenty enough for me. All in all. * 8 Setlists. * 64 Presets per setlist. 8 x 64 = 512 presets. Hope this helps.

There is a method to my madness. I planned to get in contact with them after the weekend sometime. What I wanted to do was have a free and open discussion about this to its natural and only conclusion so I may have something for Line6 to refer to when I finally touch base with them. This should also clear the blurry lines for all the members to read. I could've went straight to Line6 tech support with this immediately but then, the members don't learn anything from this and are another reason I continue this here, for them to benefit aswell. Isn't that what a community forum is for ? to help others too ? Regardless of the opposition I feel I have a definitive answer now, and one that can't be argued with. I wonder how many people wasted their money buying the EX-1 after this advice only to find out, it does the same thing. I hope in future, the next person that comes along with the same problem gets told the truth of the situation and not just get told "your gear isn't compatible" . Conclusion. The error needs to be recognised for what it is and not get swept under the carpet and forgotten. The analysis also needs to be re-defined for the public and future reference's for anyone else that may run into this problem, to read. I will post back my efforts with Line6 Tech Support soon. I've already created a ticket just now and waiting for a response.

The firmware in the Shortboard MKII needs looking at. To include an expression pedal 2 detection protocol during its boot-up sequence. IF it already has one, it needs tweaking for all of those experiencing this problem, especially for those with the EX-1. Its obvious that I'm not the only one experiencing this. This isn't pedal related, its firmware related, end of story. If I'm correct, there has only been one firmware update available for the Shortboard MKII which was V1.10. (No change) The amount of time I've spent with this stupid quirk could've been better spent pulling the plug and plugging it back in 3000 times lol. Sheesh. On a positive note, I will say that apart from this over-sight the Shortboard MKII is an excellent controller for guitar fx aswell as midi and pc applications. Pity such a small problem can become such a nuisance with this unit, I was almost In-love with it.

Ok so RNRage is the first member to verify his EX-1 was doing the same thing. Frank, I appreciate your input and I believe I have firm grasp of the situation. Maybe I'm just not understanding your english very well. I'll note that the link you refer to just confirms that the Boss FV-500H, the EX-1, and the EP1-L6 all share the same pot resistance of 10K Linear. I know this already lol. But thanks all the same. The Boss FV-500H is configured correctly and not even a concern anymore.

What I don't understand is why you experts keep focusing on my expression pedal lol. If I had an EX-1 connected to the Shortboard right now, it would exhibit the same problem. People with EX-1 expression pedals have also reported this problem. (repeating myself here) The expression pedal compatability (which is dealt with), and this bug, are 2 separate issues, and should be treated as such. Are you programmed to immediately blame other brands ? I should also mention that I'm an electronics technician by trade and approaching this with logic. I've also had this verified by 2 other technicians as I quoted in a previous post. I'm very confident the expression pedal is configured to specifications and is no longer a factor anymore in the process of elimination. It works %100 as it should apart from that annoyance. "I suspect other users aren't chiming in because they don't expect unsupported products to be supported." I doubt it with the electronics savvy, they'd know this is a grey area and probably smart enough to stay away from what ultimately seems like a futile quest. Lets say I buy the EX-1 and replicate the situation, would Line6 take me seriously then and have their engineers write a new firmware update to correct it ? I doubt that too.

Yeh cool, you just worded it perfectly. And yeh it can be a fun rig to configure. Reseting all the parameters can be a pain too. So with a single amp I can keep it stereo before and after the amp sim but not with dual amps ? Woulde kinda defeat the purpose if I can't use amp sims as the POD's central and most used feature. Still, ive made some pretty sweet direct chains with enough tweaking, free's up the extra DSP aswell. Hope I can at least use one amp sim, i'd rarely use dual tone tbh.

Well I believe this is completely down to the Shortboard MKII and its detection now. All my efforts have allowed me to eliminate the expression pedal out of the equation. Bit surprised no-one else has chimed into this thread and weigh in and I also wonder if some people with POD HD500's experience this aswell.

You seem to be having a simular problem to me. Have a quick look at the thread I started if you wish, it may help. http://line6.com/support/topic/4992-pod-hd-pro-shortboard-mkii-external-exp2/ It explains the LED status issue at least. If both LED's aren't on with 2nd expression pedal connected, you won't be able to assign FX to EXP2. The only way I know of working around this is disconnecting the EXP2 while your HD500 is on and then re-connecting it, then bam, both LED's should lightup and can proceed assigning FX to EXP2 again. Im curious to know if this works for you, would re-enforce my firmware argument. Mind clarifying which expression pedal you are using as EXP2, Thanks.

It might've been a year ago since last update but the Shortboard MKII is still being manufactured and sold currently. One would think that while this is still being sold, it should also have continued support. For anyone with a Boss FV-500H expression pedal and wish to know how I connected mine to the Shortboard MKII, I made a quick diagram to share. Pedal is unmodified and pot resistance is 10K. May work with Boss FV-500L aswell provided it has a 10K pot. Haven't tested on POD HD500 but I assume its the same. Using a stereo TRS to 2 x mono (L-R) TS insert cable with stereo TRS connected to the FV-500H, and the tip mono TS plug to the Shortboard MKII will also work. The other ring mono TS plug is not connected to anything.

What exactly do you mean by "no ex1, no support" ?

Ok peeps, seems I've finally found the answer that might start WW3 in this thread lol. Got an email from an audio technician here in Australia who had this looked at by another tech aswell, This was his response to me. "This is a quirk of the Shortboard, and occurs with the EX-1 pedal as well - the pedal needs to be plugged in after the Shortboard has fired up as the Shortboard does not do a detect when initialising. We understand that there is no moves by Line6 to address this." So, it seems my first hunch was correct, this leads back to a firmware debate. I can rule out the expression pedal interface aswell, its electronically compatible in its specifications and functioning well otherwise. Now if this issue only occurred with models outside the EX-1 and the EP1-L6 then, I would've let this go and just put up with it. But as its obvious it occurs even with the recommended models, I believe I have enough justification to at least discuss why Line6 haven't addressed this problem in the form of a firmware update for the FBV Shortboard MKII. What's your thoughts ? Calling all Line6 defenders and fans.

Okey Dokey, Thanks for your replies. I'll touch base over the next few days and post my findings.

Interesting you say that. The EP1-L6 was originally designed for the older Line6 products and that fix was issued for it to be usable on the POD HD series. Although, I'm not sure wether Line6 had to modify their EX-1 later on for the same reasons.

Just how sensitive it is to resistance is unclear aswell because I've read some say that its a 10K Pot, others have said that its a 6.8K pot. Putting a 22K resistor in parallel with the 10k Pot will bring the overall resistance down to around 6.8K. Be nice if I got a definite clarification on the EX-1's impedance, or even the updated EP1-L6, would be case closed after that. I may even have a defective FBV but ima leave that as last resort.

Hmm interesting. what device have you got it connected to, FBV or straight to HD 500 ? Do you need to unplug and plug back in for the unit to detect it, or does the pedal get automatically detected after turning the unit on ?

Thanks for going to that trouble Zap. Pity the board is upside-down but I suspect the only things connected to it is the dual gang pot and the 2 solder points on the right hand side is going to the socket, did you notice a resistor anywhere in there ? If there isn't any extra components involved, that brings my expression pedal validity one step closer. (going through a process of elimination here)

Just to be clear, im looking to modify the Boss FV-500H (if needed) not build it from scratch. I have the wiring sorted out and it works just fine, its just the need to unplug and then plug back in that's got me into all of this, and this issue has happened to people WITH the EX-1 and EP1-L6 expression pedals which thickens the plot. Mission Engineering issued a free resistor fix for those that have the 1st version, don't know what it was changed to tho. My best educated guess is that there's an extra resistor or 2 involved that Line6 added to keep their design unique and unable to interface with anything else, and most likely chose to for business and marketing reasons, As with any proprietary arrangement. Remember, they only officially claim to support 2 pedal models on the planet. Can't get much more proprietary than that.

Wow, You've had the EX-1 for 10 years ? sounds like a replacement model is about due. Any chance you could take a close-up photo or 2 of the internals ? Would go a long way.

Just to add something you might already know.. Setting input 1 to guitar, and input 2 to variax will give you the best signal to noise ratio through your entire chain, I'd think twice about giving that up! Or use the extra DSP slot for a noise-gate set high... Just my 2 cents.

Righto. Can't blame a guy for being suspicious of what strict guidelines Line6 has put you on of what you can and can't say but if you say your not an employee then fair enough, I'll have to take your word for it. Charlie, I don't expect squat from Line6 and the idea of Line6 compensating for this in firmware would go against their profits, so no, I don't expect it. Luckily this is one of those things that might be worked around even if Line6 want to maintain their very own exclusive proprietary standards. All I need is some technical data on their expression pedals and I will work out the rest. Like I said, I know this is possible. Wether I get helpful enough information to begin with is another story. Feel like im being stone walled on the subject. If you knew a little about electronics you'd understand that this isn't one of those things that "needs" a solution from Line6 engineers, its a simple expression pedal that follows the same electronics rules as all the rest, they just all differ slightly which %99 of the time can be rectified with a soldering iron and schematics. Simple as that.

I appologize if I seem hostile but the subject has me somewhat annoyed. Last thing I wanna hear is an expert pointing me towards yet another Line6 purchase. Only thing that does is get me spending again which is what any company wants, right ? So you say I sound like I'm on the right track ? If I am then why didn't you converse with me about a solution on MY track rather on than going straight for the Line6 sales track and hint at a replacement. No offense Zap but I can't tell where your sales pitch starts and expert advice ends. Anyways I'm close to a solution and when I have it i'll be sure to post it here. I wonder how long that will last before Line6 deletes the post.

Heh, the EP1-L6 made by Mission Engineering that you recommend was specifically marketed towards Line6 compatibility and was also plagued by the same problem. Keep in mind, This is a pedal that Line6 and Mission Engineering both worked on together. Funny enough, when I go to the Mission Engineering site for support for the EP1-L6, I find nothing but dead links associated to it. Line6 doesn't offer a manual or documentation for the EX-1 either. I can't find any schematics on the EX-1 nor the EP1-L6 anywhere on google. If I had an EX-1 by chance, first thing I'd do is rip it open and draw out its schematic. 2nd thing I'd do is smash it and throw it in the bin, cause its plastic piece of garbage. 3rd thing I'd do is set the bin on fire and laugh maniacally! That's how much I hate it lol. I bought a Shortboard MKII cause I couldn't use the expression directly on the HD Pro. Now I need to replace the expression pedal from 2 choices ? One being Line6's ? and the other being a joint project with Line6 ? Haven't left us with many choices. Especially if those recommended choices create the same issues for some people. I'll nut it out, I know this is possible.

Thanks for your reply. I expected a more technical explanation of the differences as I am electronics buff, its not enough. Extensive googling has proved that alotta people are experiencing this issue and could be one for the Line6 "Engineers" It wouldn't take much at all, wether or not Line6 is gracious enough to do so based on customer feedback is another thing. The EX-1 has a 10K pot does it not ? The Shortboard expects to see a 0-10K ohm sweep via a mono TS socket does it not ? I believe I'm giving it what it expects to see. Unless of course, Line6 has implemented an extra component to the EX-1 apart from the Pot ? I was wanting to get my hands dirty with the specifics. Anyone else ? need a proper technical response.

Hi. I have a Boss FV-500H connected to the Shortboard MKII via its "EXP. 2" Jack as a 2nd expression pedal and isn't "quite" functioning correctly. The Shortboard was detecting input from it and could also be selected in FBV Control, but both VOLUME & WAH LED's where not lit simultaneously as the manual says they should when external expression pedals are connected. After reading this post by someone having a simular problem, I decided to give his advice a go. http://line6.com/sup...ew/thread/84120 Trying out his idea of plugging it in "while" power was on made it finally work, but not without his downside of having to do this everytime rather than an auto-detection. This to me sounds like a firmware bug. The Pedal 2 expression pedal should be detected by the Shortboard when the unit is switched on from the off state with both LED's on but only 1 LED lights up. If I disconnect and re-connect it while the Shortboard is on, both LED's light up aswell as the assigned FX working as they should. Do I really have to do this everytime I want to use my gear ?