pianoguyy

My talk box is the only thing I lost when I got my hd500, but I gained a Vocoder. And the truth is, they now have tb's that are self-powered. So I could use one if I needed.

The Hd500 will provide the same sound in October after the release of the Helix as it did in September before the release of the Helix, which is also the same sound it produced in March before the Helix was announced, which is the same sound it produced in 2010 when it was released (firmware updates excluded). If someone likes the sound it made when they bought it, they will still like the sound it makes. If someone didn't like the sound it made, they shouldn't have bought it. So, sure, the Pods can still 'hang'.

There is no 'mix' feature, per se. But you can run a split signal - where the left is your fx and the right is clean. And then you have various options to mix and switch. Whether it be panning between left and right or volume up/down. That would be up to you decide.

Trying to dial in a number value is not the way to make music. Dial in a sound. Use your ears, not your eyes.

This needs said: Tuning on stage is like amateur hour. It is a real buzz kill, time consuming, and quite frankly is not needed because the average consumer isn't going to know the difference between you playing a C chord tuned to E or tuned to D. And it especially won't know those songs, like early Van Halen stuff where the guitar is tuned 1/4 step down. And those are standard tunings. Do you think that the someone cares that you used a different fingering because you didn't detune one string! Hell, a GOOD band is going to play songs in a key that the singer can handle, which means your Hendrix song originally played in E tuned down half a step is going to be played in C anyhow. And the crowd won't know. BUT, to answer the question --- The HD500X has a pitch shift. Program it into your patches and use it as needed. It will tune you down equally, but it will not do drop tunings.

Also, tell us about your headphones. If you are the same headphones that come with, let's say, an iPod, that doesn't explain the hiss but it explains the sound quality. Those things are usually "bass reflex".

I can only speak from experience ---- which is the HD500, not the Farm, Helix, Firehawk, or Amplifi It is a great unit. It works for home, studio, and stage. It works great in headphones, amps, or direct to the PA. I know you said that you no longer gig, but think of it ---- You have your rig for home, most of them do not translate into live, so you need to buy an entirely new setup. But, with the HD500, you do not. One rig, same sounds, all situations. Which is far better for - rig at home with home sounds, studio rig with studio sounds, live rig with live sounds. There is plenty of volume for you to go to headphones and not hear the strings play, but something like that is not best solved with volume. It it best to do it with headphones that block out outside noises.

See, I was the opposite. Admittedly, factory presets were not something that I was going to use outside of the learning period. But they did show a good representation of what the unit could do - with all of the useless sounds. Who needs that sound, but it is nice to know that I can do something like that if I want to. I was not upset at first like you, in fact it made me look forward to being able to make the unit my own because I knew it could be done. For me, it was new technology, it was replacing a 20+ year old rig that was made of the best individual components of their time plus physical amps, all in one box on the floor --- I knew it was going to take me time. It is going to take awhile to get the hang of. Definitely not something that you buy today and gig tonight with, the way you can an amp and a distortion pedal. And I will surely double your sentiment ---- The HD500 (or X) will more than satisfy anyone, just give it the time it deserves. *the latest firmware has a nice set of patches for the Variax. If you are a guitar player, they are still the standard sounds.

I assume that he meant the auto fill that happens on the phone. Like when you type Buffy in Google Search and it fills in 'the Vampire Slayer' automatically.

L6 has many options to choose from. In another month, the most expensive L6 product is going to be released. It is called the Helix. It will be half the price of the Axe. Current products are much cheaper, like $500 and below, and offer just as many good quality options. I can only speak on experience, which is the HD500, You won't be disappointed. But I believe there is something called an M9 which may be more suited.

You need to set it as global. And depending on your usage, you may want to consider having the 2nd input as Variax. It will reduce "noise". But doesn't do any good if you are using 2 guitars, lol. I guess technically you don;t need to make it global, but it definitely solves a lot of problems if you are only using one device.

I think the sound guy should tweak on his end what the GEQ does. Thus negating the need for a GEQ. I also think that most people use the tone controls on (physical) amps wrong, THAT should do what the GEQ does. But smith is right, live for 'room shaping' is a good place to use it if you are using a lackluster sound guy/system. Also, some of the users have found it good to use it as a 'junk remover'. Where they find some unheard frequency that makes dogs howl and then remove it. Good for them. I don't make dogs howl, so I don't need it for that reason. But ultimately, the best way to use GEQ is --- it is your machine, do whatever you want. Just keep in mind that any changes to it will change everything else. That perfect patch you made yesterday won't sound so good tomorrow when you adjust your GEQ for the next patch.

Which, IMO, is exactly where you want it. You don't want it changing your sound -- until you need it to change your sound.

http://line6.com/support/topic/8395-any-bass-tips-hd500/ You don't need to use the bass pack (but it helps).

The first part of the question is: The albums you buy at the store are not the same albums that they play on air. They are mixed differently. I am not a radio broadcast engineer, so I won't dare to quote anything specific - but the basic answer is - music played on air needs to be mono. A quick google shows the term 'mono compatibility'. I don't know, nor do I claim to know, how it all works. But, as I said before, it is why the 'hometown music hour' of your favorite radio station always sounds like garbage. They are playing music designed for purchase, not for broadcast. It is why when you hear 'Welcome to the Jungle' on the radio, you only hear the stuff that comes out of the right speaker at home (Slash, not Izzy). I mean, I am sure that today, 2015, with all of the digital wherewithals, that this no longer applies to 'major' stations in major markets. But you still find the local college station and the public access type stations, that simply don't have the money, playing music that sounds like it is being played on a tin can. ~~~Perhaps someone in broadcasting will come along and explain it a little better (but still do it in common english, not geek speak)

If you've ever made a recording that sounded terrific at home, but then when you send it to the local radio station's 'homegrown show' and it sounds nasally on air ---- that's phasing. Radio stations don't use the same discs that you buy in a store.

Just plug it in and use it. Twist the knobs as you see fit. The HD500 is multi purpose, not just a guitar instrument. So there is no problem plugging in other devices.

and why bother changing the file extension if you can just drag the original? Besides, that can be a multi-click process depending on how you have your computer to handle the extension name. My extensions aren't listed, which means going into the control panel to show them.

not just dual amps. use the exp pedal to control the distortion.

500 to 500x - yes 500x to 500 - yes, but it is possible (although unlikely) to run into patches that are not workable due to dsp and other minute differences in unit. They don't need 'converted', you can just do a drag-and drop into edit.

I don't know how GC warehouses their stuff, but I know that others have one on the east coast and one on the west coast. It just seems like a mighty small number --- 133? That isn't even one per store. And, if they were coming in on the boat --- for them to be at the warehouse by the 11th, I would assume that the units are already in the country.

Interesting story. But you left out the common denominator --- the patches. You used the same patch with different pickups. Yes, they will sound different. The real question is --- if you had those pickups, would you have made that same patch or would it have been tweaked differently? But, to answer the question: I usually stick with stock pickups. They help give each guitar their own personality. And if I do decide to change them, I usually go with the typical EMG set to keep everything 'the same'. There is the rare occasion that I would stick a specific pickup in a specific guitar. I mean, there is no need for 'country twang' on a BC Rich Warlock. So, high gain stuff would be used. *here's an interesting article about a cheap way to improve your pickups: http://www.lonephantom.com/2011/09/polishing-a-turd-or-how-to-improve-ibanez-v7v8-pickups/ I did that to one of my guitars that had those same pickups that he tested. Quite impressive. A little time and effort, but no money needed. My favorite guitar is a Jackson. An older one with a J-90C, and JE-1200 circuit. When I first got my pod, the 1200 had no effect on the tone. Which very much scared the bajeebies out of me. I had set my old gear with other guitars, and then used the Jackson (hot pickup, and mid boost control) for that 'over the top' kick when it was needed. But there was no change when using it. So I was a bit perplexed. Eventually, the more I learned the pod, I realized that it was in the way I was programming it that negated the 1200 effect. So now, I know how to make it so that you can still hear the little nuances that make each pickup their own.

That's great that you guys (that have had your units for a long time) have found a permanent use for the GEQ. But is that what you are going to explain to a 'new' guy who is wanting to use an equalizer? Of course not. Or, at least, it shouldn't be. You gotta learn to walk before you go running a marathon. And that doesn't even take into consideration that his style of music may not be producing noise. I actually like Joel's first sentence --- it is up to you. That's very reminiscent of something I often say: It is music, there are no rules. It is your machine, do what you wish. But we could answer most of the posts with that --- it's your machine, I am not going to help you begin, do whatever the F you want to do with it. I mean, don't you guys remember all of the confusion when GEQ was first announced? The high hopes that people had because they thought it was something else? I am going to have a different setting for each patch and I will sound terrific! That's not really GLOBAL, now is it! And those guys that thought that a new toy would mean that they could play like Eddie Van Halen over night. How about after it was released, and people adjusted the GEQ for one tone and then said "why do all of my tones sound like junk." Oh, yes, the memories. I remember those days. So now, picture all of those thoughts to someone who is new. Whoopie, let's start dialing in the tones. Sorry, it is not a tone builder. But, yes, you are correct, there are uses for the GEQ that each individual may find based on their own personal usage and preferences.

My only device is my hd500. It replaced a rig that I used for 20+ years. I am a professional. I cannot go without usable gear or gear that I don't like. So, I am going to say YES, you can get the tones you want out of your unit. It is going to take some time to learn and some more time to 'master' (depending on what all you wish to accomplish). Everything from various set ups to programming. But yes, you can get 'metal tones'.

Monkey Monkey will install EDIT