pianoguyy

OR--- the first place to look is the factory setlist entitled Bass/Aco/Voc ACO is short for ACOustic.

While I haven't a clue about half of what you are talking about, I have some experience with pedals and polarity... First, that is the reason why companies recommend certain products and not others - design conformity. We know that certain things work, others don't, and some are unknown. But, this seems like an easy solution... 1. If you are using it as exp2, change the settings from 0-100 to 100-0. 2. If you are using it as an outboard volume pedal, don't hook it up to exp2.

But... To answer the question... Have you tried putting a volume pedal as the very last block? That should allow you to adjust the volume without adjusting the tone.

That's the problem with using other people's stuff. John likes his patches loud. Little Jimmy likes his patches quiet. Both make great patches, but they do not make patches that work together. This is why I often refer to needing a "base line". It doesn't help when it comes to other people's patches, but when it comes to making your own.... I choose a guitar. The same guitar every time. I choose a patch. The same patch every time. I have an mp3 player. The same mp3 player every time. I set it to a certain volume. The same volume every time. I have an mp3 file. The same file every time. Because the mp3 jack is not controlled by the master volume - I try to match my playing (using the master volume) to the mp3 that is being played. And then, I match the volume of my future patches to that first patch. It doesn't matter what song or volume level you choose, you just have to stick with it. Otherwise everything gets thrown off.

Step 1 to solving computer problems - reboot. You did that. Next step is always - reinstall the firmware.

If you are a musician that plays in front of people in hopes to get money and chicks, get a 500. If you are an iPhone kid that would rather play Garage Band on the internet so that you can get likes and hits, get a Firehawk.

LOL@Garage Band I don't exactly understand why people are buying product after product after product. It shows a larger issue with one's self than it does the products themselves. My last rig lasted 20+ years. I intend on this rig to last quite long time as well. And because I have a rig, I haven't looked at another product. I wouldn't have bought it if I didn't like it and it didn't suit my needs. And that makes me question why you guys bought your stuff, and why you are buying new stuff, and why you are dissatisfied with all it. How is it, that I can use this product and make millions of dollars with it, yet you guys get paid 'exposure' and want different products.

Hello, I am getting the pod hd500 soon, and would like to get everything ready to start using it off the bat. Had my guitars and amp stolen so I'm getting my stock back. Just remember, you had your old stuff for years. You were very well adjusted to it. And when it came to buying stuff, you bought one piece at a time and tweaked it until it was perfect. That is way different than now - you are getting everything all at the same time. You are going to be lost at first and will probably get frustrated. Can you plug the Pod HD 500 or X's phones slot directly into a computers audio in jack? I've heard that powered connections into a pc slot is bad. I'm not sure on the specifics of this device. It depends on the computer. Some of them are better than others, lol. I wouldn't use the headphone jack for two reasons. First, as you mentioned, signal type. But also, the odds are that your computer input jack is mono while the Pod is stereo. Just use the USB or one of the line level output jacks. Also do you need special headphones, or just a jack converter? You need a 1/4" stereo jack. If you buy a converter, buy a stereo-to-stereo converter. My plan if it allows is to buy an amp later, and just use the pod to plug into headphones / my PC. Do not buy an amp. Amps 'color' the tone. The coloring is what makes a Marshall a Marshall and a Fender a Fender. So instead of buying an amp, buy a monitor or something called FRFR. They are plain/neutral/bland, which is exactly what you want for something like the Pod.

There is no vocoder without a microphone.

I know what you're saying, but you could confuse people. With the talk box, you don't talk. In fact, you must remain silent. You just mouth the words. The vocoder requires you to actually talk - make noise - into the microphone.

Correct. The input selectors SHOULD NOT be microphone. The vocoder knows that you are using a mic, it is built into the effect to be controlled by a mic and does not need it to be an input selection. Selecting microphone will treat it like any other mic patch and will allow 'true microphone' sounds to come through - You don't want that. Can it be turned off? YES. Just assign it to a footswitch like you would any other effect. HOWEVER - there are some volume issues to deal, so it may not be as simple as turning it on and off if you want it to sound good. And just to point out - Bon Jovi used a talk box. Slightly different than a Vocoder.

but that's also why you should always go direct to the pa regardless of what devices you are using to hear yourself. Each device will make you sound different to yourself, but the pa will always be the same to the crowd. And do not adjust your patches for each device. One device (the same device) should be used for sound creation.

Step one: hook up an XLR microphone. Do you have that? I know it seems like an insulting question, but you'd be amazed at how many people think it works like an auto-wah instead of a mic-controlled vocoder.

If you have a computer, I have no problem using those speakers. If you use a laptop or don't have a computer at all, then you take $20-50 down the local Wal Mart and you buy a pair of computer speakers. You will probably need a stereo 3.5mm to stereo 1/4" converter. They shouldn't alter the original tone too much and most apartment dwellers tolerate the volume -- especially since they have their own computers that put out the same volume. Your 500 will deliver your cream. But the one thing that many people forget is the fact that you need to compare apples to apples, not apples to apple seeds. Your 500 puts out the 'final' sound. Which is the amp, cab, AND THE MIC. It is the sound the crowd hears. Whereas a guitar amp misses that final step. The crowd doesn't hear your amp/cab, they hear the PA. The mic adds another level of tone. So, when it comes to saying that modelers aren't doing it for you, that is something to consider. The crowd is getting the same result they always get, you do not.

Please define hiss. Ground loop. Fuzz. Hum. Hiss. They all mean different things to different people. Without being in the room with you (it won't show well over a recording), we don't know what you are hearing or why. Hell, it was just a week ago that I plugged a different guitar in to my Pod and was amazed at the lack of noise. It is just a quiet guitar. I even turned off the noise gates and didn't get the noise. Blew my mind.

I've been in this business for 30+ years. Admittedly, things have changed over time. But, the one that thing that hasn't changed is---- It is YOUR name up in lights! It is your business, you own it, you have to take control of it. That means that you have to take the responsibility of making sure everything is right from start to finish. I mean, think about it, the general population is not going to come see you perform and at the end of the night give a review of "The band was excellent but the sound guy had the mics at a 45 degree angle when he should have used a 42 degree angle. It totally ruined an otherwise flawless performance." The general population will say "Man, I am never going to see that band again. They hurt my hears." They are going to remember your name because your name is the name on the marquee. That's kind of why some of the bigger bands make public announcements - We are ditching our management. We have fired our producer. We are leaving Live Nation. They want people to know "Hey, we are making changes because we were unsatisfied with the end result. If you were unhappy with us, give us another chance, it wasn't our fault and we got rid of what we believe is the fault." So, when you say that you don't have a stage to play on - bring your own risers. When you don't have a soundman at the venue, bring one of your own (or don't play because the venue didn't fulfill its end of the contract). If you don't think that the venue is putting out enough advertising to give you proper exposure, advertise it yourself. This is a job. It is not a hobby. This isn't done for fun or as something on the side. This is a 100 hour a week job. Technically, we shouldn't even call it a job because we own the business. We don't get time off. We are at work 24/7. You do your business at a venue - which is someone's full time business. They hire employees (like bartenders and security) who view their job as a full-time, life-supporting, bill-paying job. Every step of the ladder is someone's livelihood, bands need to do the same. ***Stepping off of the high horse now

I'm gonna toss this out there... If you aren't fully familiar/comfortable with using your device, do not use it live. I also suggest using it in a faux live situation (such as a rehearsal), so that you know exactly what to push and when to push it. When you are being paid to play, fumbling around on your gear is a good way to lose an audience, which ensures that you won't be paid to play again.

Ok, you got me on that one.

Depending on the system, you can hook it up. But it will never truly be 5.1 because the source is only stereo. And, as far as the sound quality goes --- it is the same as everything else. Your dime store surround sound in a box system is not going to sound as good as the seven thousand dollar per speaker systems.

The switches are what the switches are. So, no, you can't tap quieter.

Umm --- if all you have is $200, you keep it. Don't buy anything. That's not even a car payment. It's barely a cell or cable bill.

When I was in the 'ringtone' business, I zoomed in. It was really the only way to make sure that the beats were lined up, and the musical upswings were right on the money. If zooming in doesn't work, get a new program. One that does allow you to zoom in.

Could be clarify a little... Such as - is this on the Pod display or in EDIT? What view mode are you using?

I'm gonna have to disagree with you. Most of it IS bad patch writing. And we really should quit being nice about these types of things. I mean, the internet is full of fat chicks that think they are hot because cam users want to see their boobs. Sure, everyone has different tastes and different setups that make things sound differently, but mostly it is because the patches are just churned out for the sake of churning them out. Teenagers with no experience cranking up the gain to 10 and then adding 2 more distortion pedals to get that "metal" sound.

The amps are listed off to the right under where it says AMP.