pianoguyy

The reason we use (as example) a Marshall is because we want our sound to have the personality of a Marshall. If we want to have a Fender personality, we use a Fender. Those tonal characteristics is why we choose the gear combinations we do. If you then take that Marshall personality (from a modeler) and you run it through a Fender, not only won't it sound like a Marshall, it won't sound like a Fender either. There are some other issues to deal with, but "tone" is a big one. You want, for modelers, as well as for studio work, crystal clear speakers. You want to purest sound known to man. They make things called FRFR, which stands for full range and flat response. Most studio speakers are FRFR. Many good acoustic guitar amps, most good keyboard amps, and any decent pa system - they are all FRFR.

Oh. So, you aren't talking about HD500 patches (also called presets and tones).

I may be thinking of another product, but I vaguely recall that they are not divided into equal spaces - it get more precise as you get closer.

If you are looking to use a modeler, my opinion starts with - why do you have those two guitar amps amps on the list. Get rid of them. They are useless.

And I am curious... When did Hershey get sold and to who?

I guess we aren't aware of what other businesses the Hershey Trust actually runs, lol.

Unless you have a graphic equalizer for each channel on the pa (most band-owned systems do not), they aren't going to be able to fix it. It is not a simple "bass, mid, treble" issue. You need to fix it on your machine. Many people use the GEQ for that purpose instead of needing to set it up in each patch.

I'm curious how does that happen? The rest of us have to do another step.

That is typically an EQ issue.

Aside from that... Know what the unit is and what it is not. And know what you intend on doing with it. Meaning, if you are going to never use an amp - never use an amp. If you are going to always use an amp, always use an amp. It is not as simple as "sometimes I am not going to want to take an amp, so I will just turn the modeling on and off as needed" See, then, once you have the mindset, you can start to steer your settings and patches.

Anything for the HD500, HD500X, and HD Pro... They are all "the same" unit. Anything written for one will apply to all ~~ with the exception of a few minor physical differences (pedals, jacks, etc).

Knowing what we know about the manufacturing contract... can we really call it a lower cost option, or should we call it a unit we are getting at an extreme discount?

This statement hasn't changed. Sure, using the fx loop will cut out some of the tone coloring. But it doesn't change an amp/cab into an FRFR. There is no easy workaround. It isn't going to be the same as your EVH.

The truth is, if you are starting from scratch, you can do anything you want to get the end result you need. Some people go into the effects loop. Some people come out of the effects loop. Some people go into the input jack. Some people try doing 4cm. Do what ever you want to do. Honestly, personally, I wouldn't go messing the the global settings just because you are using a "sometimes" rig. Because then you need to change them back when you go back to the old rig. ===================================== Thirty years I hooked my rig up in one linear path. I didn't bother with FX loops and patch bays and preamps and matching impedance levels. Never once did anyone say to me, "your stuff isn't hooked up right", because they only care about the end result.

If you can think it, you can do it. Can it be done? ANYTHING can be done. The question is - how can it be done?

Any change in your rig that you make will make a change to the final tone. Will it work - of course. But you are going to need to make new tones. You're not going to be able to carry tones from one amp to the next.

If you are talking about coding, no, there is not more information. But the link given to you may take a lot of "sorting out" to find what you want, but does explain most (if not all) of what has been changed. As far "smoother distortion", without doing a websearch, i have really only seen people talk about the difference in the "free" JCM800 and the "paid" JCM800. However, in general, there are some tonal differences between 2010 firmware and 2015 firmware. And certainly, more tools added with the updates means more ways to dial in a "smoother" tone.

And I never touch the unit live. If it isn't ready to go by the time I walk on stage, I don't deserve to be on stage. But the point was... 'to get the most out of the unit' means getting the most out of it, not just being able to survive with the basics. And one uses newer connectivity, while the other uses older connectivity.

Marco, If this is a "professional" band, you may be able to not need to make a decision. Ask them what they want and if they will buy it. You, as a member, will use it. But they, as a business, will own it. If you ever leave, they won't need to worry about finding a player that can "get tone" because they will provide the tone, the player only needs to worry about his guitars (and hitting the right notes, obviously).

Well, that is "getting the most". Of course, I know guys with the 500 (non-X version) running the original firmware because they didn't have a computer to update, or didn't even know that they could (and should) update the unit. So, really, do we need "the most" out of the unit?

But the 500, while functional on its own, requires a computer and USB to "get the most out of it". Android doesn't work. Portable Apple products don't work. Those Windows "lite" versions don't work. No bluetooth, wifi, hdmi, or ethernet. They really are two different units in that aspect.

What do those other modelers sound like when you plug in a microphone or keyboard?

There are a few things people "get wrong" when first working with the unit. 1. Reset the unit. Updates are nice, but the "factory reset" is vital. 2. Get the global/system settings set. You'd be amazed at the difference they make. 3. Realize what you are getting and what you are not. 4. Give it time. Expanding on 3 and 4: First, realize that you are not getting a guitar amp sound. You are getting a pa/album sound. This is why using one with a guitar amp is a "minus". It is always going to "sound different" than what we grew up hearing in our bedrooms. That is why using a pa system/frfr/studio speakers is a "plus". Some people grab the unit and think they are going to use for their gig tonight - not gonna happen. But, they probably could, they just over think it. People need to realize that their old rig was probably bought one piece at a time, and you spent weeks and months tweaking before you added another piece, which you then spent weeks tweaking. Now realize that the Pod is the entire rig being replaced all at one time. But it isn't just one rig, it is dozens of rigs - because instead of having one amp and one wah, you now have dozens of each. However, if you think of your brand new virtual rig as an old physical rig, it makes more sense. Just look at your old rig, and if you put everything digitally into the exact same place, it becomes much more easy to get started ~~~ as long as you remember that it is not going to sound the same as a "guitar amp".

The Music of Nashville Seasons 2, 3, and 4 There is more than a Pod being used, but there is plenty of Pod being used.

Wow. You've waited an entire 4 hours before bumping your post. I was going to answer this, but I think I am going to make you wait.