pianoguyy

1. Did you calibrate the pedal after you installed the new firmware? --model packs are not firmware, but you needed to get the firmware at some point to run model packs. 2. Have you assigned anything to it? --It is not a volume or wah pedal. It is an expression pedal. You have to assign something to it.

Again, I start with - I don't use an amp. So, your situation may be different. I like to have 'consistent' sound. Here's what I do when determining where the Pod's master volume should be: The master volume does not change the mp3 volume. The volume of the Mp3 jack is completely independent. I plug in my mp3 player. I set the volume (on the mp3 player) to the same level every time. I have a song that I use every time. I set my Pod to the same patch every time. I play guitar (I would like to use the same guitar every time, but it is not possible) while the song is playing. I turn the Pod's master volume to where my guitar volume matches the mp3 volume. That may not answer the question for what you want, but it is how I set my Master Volume.

Would he also need 2 amps? (I missed if his amp can run two separate channels). One amp for the left, one amp for the right.

Believe it or not, I was actually going to make a crack about having L6 make a device that moves my fingers for me so that I am always playing the right notes. And then that turned into a snide remark about how making tone is one of the differences between the garage bands and the arena bands. But I didn't want to go there. So I left it at what you saw. I use technology as a tool, not as a crutch. There are some basic skills that you can't learn by watching a 4 minute video on YouTube. You just have to have years of experience.

I don't use an amp anymore. Direct to the pa. And I sound amazing. If I may offer some non-musical life advice ---- If you are cutting your finances so close to the edge, where a car repair means the difference between buying new gear or not, then you really shouldn't be buying new gear at all.

How hard is it to listen to what you are playing, and decide "this is too loud, let's turn it down"

The reason you go with an FRFR instead of an amp is: The HD provides the tone that your amp would give. It's called amp modeling. A Fender model will never sound like a Fender amp when played through a Marshall amp. Guitar amps have their own "personality", which is why we buy things like a Marshall to Rock out and a Fender to Blues out and a Dual Rectifier when we want to get Caught in a Mosh. FRFR have no personality. They are bland and boring, but that allows you to hear "true tone". What you put into it is what you get out of it. If you put a Marshall into it, you get a Marshall out of it. If you put a Fender into it, you get a Fender out of it. If you were to look at yourself in a mirror, you would see??? If it is a carnival mirror, you will see all sorts of distortions. It is not the same vision if you are looking through a high-quality, flat mirror. Think of guitar amps as the carnival mirror.

depending on what kind of gear you have, you should be able to include it (or get a rider to include it) with your home owners insurance. Most HOI's don't do business gear or collectibles. So, if you are like me, and are a full time musician that uses gear for business and has 30 year old pieces --- you can't do it. But, if you are just a guy that plays in his bedroom, or works for cash on the weekends, and you just have some off-the-rack gear - you're good to go.

But, it is really just an 8 string that is tripled. Like a 12 string guitar is a doubled 6, or the 12 string bass is either a 4 string tripled or 6 string doubled. I think the bigger issue is --- who needs 8 strings on a bass?

Yeah, what Matt said. It is not a volume pedal. It is an expression pedal. You need to assign an effect - any effect - to the pedal.

You skipped the mileage part.

As far as the cord hitting the knobs ---- I am more concerned with it getting dragged underneath the exp pedal and getting cut in half when I step on it. Which is why I make sure it is placed and secured so it won't happen. That is my solution.

Volume. Making sure that there isn't a drastic difference between the volume of a "blank" patch and your patch will help make the "drop to zero" less noticeable. I've also found that making patches similar in construction will help - meaning, same amp in the same position. And if same fx are used, put them in the same position. Of course, that part should just be common sense because you wouldn't really need too drastic of a change within a song. Right?

Model packs weren't part of this thread because they didn't exist at the time that it died. But since it has been resurrected, then the new information needs included. Also, since the Variax units have acoustic sims, I can't see why this unit would not be good for acoustic guitars. For me, I think it boils down to knowing what all you would use the unit for, before you start using it. Because, for me, I use one electric guitar. Therefore, I have all of my inputs set for guitar/same. And the sound of my patches reflect that. But, if I was going to use a 2nd input, I would need to program my unit and patches differently.

To answer the question - any cable will cause a loss of signal. But I doubt you intend on using a 2 foot cord to plug your guitar into your amp because then you'd be stuck standing in the one position all night. FYI, I know guys who use 1 footers in the studio. As to the units themselves - it really comes down to if you want a floor unit of a rack unit. I bought the floor unit because I wanted a floor unit. My unit replaced everything that went between me and the pa. But had I wanted to, let's say, keep my system but add a new part - then I would have easily gone with a rack unit. And that brings me to my personal thoughts on the matter: I feel, and some agree while others disagree, do not buy these units if you are not going to use the amp models. These units have nice effects, but the bulk of their price tag, as well as the place that they really shine, is in the modeling. Like I said, my unit replaced everything that went between the guitar and the pa. I wouldn't have bought the unit had I just wanted to an another effects unit to the rig. And that was before I even owned the unit to know just how important the amps are.

Which is why the first statement was:

But if you were playing in that band, you wouldn't need to tap dance. You need one sound. Turn on the Pod and forget about it. Even the clean sounds of KISS can be done by using that same one sound but turn the volume on your guitar down. --- with the exception of their kisco song, do do do dodo dodo do do, do do do dodo dodo. Then you'd need a flanger.

Of course, in one breath I say to use the ears, but I don't think that it is a secret - I am all about ''the show'' which requires the eyes. Playing a diminished 4th over an augmented 7th of the Patagonian scale while using a subatomic minor bass in the route to the 66 means absolutely nothing if you look like my next door neighbor and stand there like a tree. I'll take KISS and Lady Gaga any day.

Correct, I have not seen an updated manual with the GEQ in it. Nor model packs. And there are some pictures that need updated. I don't know if they were on older firmware, but they weren't on my machine since I bought it.

PianoGuyY's solution for making sound --- If you don't like what you hear, change it. Just because it says Marshall doesn't mean you will like what it sounds like. Equalizers in percentages instead of hz mean nothing. Ears are the keys to the world. Eyes are nothing. Make your sound with what you hear, not with what you see.

I doubt they would come out with it at NAMM, unless they are introducing an exclusive ANDROID (screw Apple) device, and then they could say something like - we will implement Android onto the older units that are capable of handling it. Coming out with an Android interface doesn't seem NAMM worthy.

I don't use GEQ. I dial in my sound on the patches. Let the soundman do his job removing unheard frequencies that don't blend well with other unheard frequencies. Plus, flat is flat. Adjusting the EQ, even if it is a master control, makes it no longer flat. Share you patch with me and it won't sound the same because my GEQ is not the same as yours.

I didn't mean that was my 'real' real name. I meant it is my real internet name. If you ever run into a pianoguyy online somewhere, more chances than not, it is me. But, again, I don't actually converse anywhere anymore. And because web searches have become so inclusive, I have done my best to remove my real name from being associated with my web name as much as possible. And holy smokes, I know this is L6 which is owned by Yamaha, but that is actually an insult to me. My stores carry the far superior Kawai pianos. Here on the board, because of the ownership, I try my best to refer to things as Brand K and Brand Y, or Brand R and Brand L for the digitals and organs, that way nothing I say can be assumed to be any kind of a insult. I am not trolling the pages looking for ways to put out disparaging remarks about Brand Y just because I am a Brand K dealer. No, I say disparaging things about Brand Y because I say disparaging things about Brand Y. I deal with Brand K because I like Brand K. One has nothing to do with the other. So, I at least try to keep it kosher by not using names.

That part makes sense to me. I was even considering mentioning it. I have had my unit for two years (bought it Jan 16). I really can't see myself signing up for two separate things, especially if one of them is a chat room/advice column. I am kind of paranoid about who has my info. I don't sign up for much anymore, and when I do, it is typically with a pseudonym and throwaway email address. PianoGuyY is my name, not a fake throwaway, and I used my real email address too. I find it highly unlike me to sign up for two things with the same info. However, I will mention - I went digging around my account. I registered on the 20th, and my forum profile says I was a member on the 21st. So, while I don't remember two separate accounts, there are two separate days listed. It is also possible that it is one account signup, but you have to add each section individually? Hey, I think we have spent entirely too much time devoted to this issue. LOL Its a gosh darn user name for pete's sake.

I'm not so sure about that. I don't remember signing up twice, and I sign in with the same information for both. Could it make a difference between the paying customers and the freeloaders like me?