robertmcollins3

Thanks for posting. Already want to leave work and go play around with my POD.

This is one of the most useful aspects of the POD in my opinion. I use it to turn on/off delay and distortion for going between certain parts of songs, and it's so much easier than having to tap dance all over a pedalboard to turn on and off multiple effects.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Alesis-Elevate-3-Studio-Monitors-107618431-i2368768.gc While not the best studio monitors out there ($49 though!) , this is a great deal and a good upgrade from normal PC speakers. If you're looking to replace some cheap computer speakers with a semi-decent monitor setup at a GREAT price, you can't beat this deal. It's also a great deal for those looking to use a POD with monitors instead of an amp. Hope it helps!

Regarding using the HD500x through a modeling amp - while I agree there are certainly better options, maybe some don't have that option. Maybe they bought the modeling amp prior to the 500x and that's the only amp they have. In that case, there are ways to still get a good tone: 1 - Use the amp's "manual" mode, turn off all effects and use as clean a setting as possible. I have a VOX VT40+ amp, and this works well for it. 2 - Turn off the amp simulation in the POD so there aren't "two" competing amps working against each other. 3 - Experiment with the line/amp and pad switches on the POD to see which one sounds best. But yeah eventually probably get another amp :-) or a set of monitors.

If you are using the HD500, just add a compressor in the chain. If you're just buying an individual stompbox, take your pick, but the Dynacomp is a tried and true pedal (pretty sure it's the red one in the HD500).

I'd definitely go with studio monitors. It's just more practical in my opinion, as you can then use the computer to play along with songs and for backing tracks and use the monitors as computer speakers. Sure you can do this with a PA speaker as well, but they are obviously cumbersome for this.

Basically agree with pfsmith's input. Although I've always used it in FS1-8 mode and only switch patches in between songs. After playing this way for some time, I think I'd go crazy trying to change patches mid song. FS1-8 mode just seems so much easier and obviously more like a true pedal board. Another disadvantage: No simple solo "boost" button. Sure you can use various methods of accomplishing this, but it takes up an effect spot when it doesn't on many other multi effect units. And I've had a hard time dialing in one that sounds decent without clipping, but I'm sure that's just me not doing it right. One more - volume pedal takes up an effect spot as well. Seems it could be implemented where it wouldn't take up a spot. I suppose linking it with the amp's master volume is the answer for this, but that can be a bit tedious and seems like an unnecessary step. Really little gripes though, and the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages of lugging around a whole pedal board and amp setup!

I've found for live situations 1/4" into a DI box works best for me. If noise is ever an issue, which it usually isn't , I control it either with a noise gate (rarely) or just by lowering the volume and/or muting the strings when I'm not playing.

I'll just second the less is more advise. One of my favorite patches is just a JCM800 with a RAT Pedal (classic distortion) before and a 1/4 note delay after. Expression pedal set to amp volume or drive, and that little combo will take care of about 90% of classic rock.

So I've figured out how to use the looper as to lay down a really nice Pad sound using the octoverb on the 500x. I just turn the looper on like normal, strum a chord using the octoverb, then hit the record button twice in quick succession. The pad comes out nicely. My issue is that I can't seem to layer anything else on top of it. Once I try, the volume goes up and down like crazy. I can play over the pad fine, just not dub anything else in. I've tried changing the looper from pre/post effects to no avail. Any other ideas?

Get a humidifier for your house.

Just tried this again live, and it sounded great, didn't notice it at all. So who knows? Maybe something in the house that is causing it. I do have the amp volume at 100% in the patch. I'll try and see if that fixes it at home, but for now I guess it's just one of those things where live is different than home.

I'm getting a strange noise when using any delay on the POD. I managed to narrow it down to the delay that was causing the issue, as it doesn't do it when the delay is off. I've tried various delays, analog, tape, dynamic, etc and they all seem to do it. I thought it might just be my cheap computer speakers, but I also notice it when plugged into my amp. I tried going straight to the amp (no POD) and it's not there. I turn the delay off on my patch (any patch really) and it goes away as well. Here is a quick example of the problem: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw_ue_C9pl4uRXExR1JPZFY0VVU/view?usp=sharing It very noticeable when I change to the second note, and especially after I turn on some overdrive. Any ideas? I've never noticed it live, so maybe it's some frequency interacting with the POD (but only when using delay!) ? Driving me nuts. Here is the patch where I first noticed it, but it happens on others as well: http://line6.com/customtone/tone/856429/

That is correct, just change the extension to use it for the 500x.

"Most bands" don't play in a room that has the same acoustics as a church. It may be a bit off-topic to the post, but the challenge is playing and sounding good while keeping the volume level moderate enough (at least in most churches) to not run people off. Since most churches are small compared to other live venues, stage volume also becomes more important to control. And as another poster said, it's a much different audience that we play for. You may need to think about that one though :-)

Thanks I'll give both a shot. I thought I tried the CD/MP3 last night as well but maybe I'm mistaken. I don't want anything added to it either, just wanted them both at the same volume and coming out of the same speakers so it was easier to hear each other.

For what it's worth I found it a bit challenging to get things to save at first as well. I use this procedure now, and it never fails (for me anyway): 1) Edit patch 2) Save setlist as, yes to overwrite 3) Send to POD (this is the step I was missing, as it's not that clear you need to do this at first) 4) After sync is complete, hit save twice on POD to overwrite the current patch (probably not absolutely necessary but I do it just in case)

I have a few Worship patches on CustomTone. They aren't Hillsong specific but should work in most situations with a little tweaking to your taste. Just search my username in CustomTone and see if they will work for you.

Tried this last night, but it didn't work so I thought I'd see if it was just user error. Wife and I wanted to practice a bit, so I thought I could hook her keyboard into the POD using the AUX OUT of her keyboard (1/4" jack) into the AUX IN of the POD. All that happened when I made that connection though was it muted her keyboard speakers. My POD is just hooked up to my computer speakers using the headphone jack with an 1/8" adapter, as I mainly just play along to YouTube, I-Tunes, and edit my patches. I don't have a complete DAW or interface as I don't do any recording or producing. Is there another way to accomplish this? It'll be more of a pain to drag out my amp and move the POD over by the keyboard, etc...

Just a quick reply, but I've notice the same thing happens with amps and stompboxes, not just modeling gear. Obviously different rooms, sound guys, audiences, band members, etc. are going to impact your guitar's sound in a mix whether you use a POD or any other piece of equipment. Amsdenj gave some great tips above. I'd just like to reinforce the idea that less is more, especially in terms of distortion. For me, nothing seems to get me lost in a mix more than adding more distortion. Whereas going to a cleaner sound and using the bridge pickup will cut through a mix like butter.

I just bring a DI box with me just in case. I've used just the XLR before and the signal was very weak. They may not have had stuff hooked up right, but often there is no time to argue at rehearsal. Hooking into the DI usually solves the issue and doesn't make the sound any worse, if not it seems better.

I'm afraid you won't get much use out of a snowblower in Hawaii. :P

The drive on the amp is set to 64% on that video. That's where the drive/distortion is coming from.

Very nice. Great production, great playing, and great collection of axes!

Just my two cents. I got in the habit of doing this procedure: 1) Edit my patch using the software 2) Save setlist as 3) Send to POD 4) Also hit save on POD just to be sure Only lag I've experienced in the software is when trying to rename a patch. It's sometimes difficult to get the current name to highlight so I can change it.