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optimus_7

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Posts posted by optimus_7

  1. So - I've used a Yankee HS-M10 for a little over a year with the M9 - and the use case you list for "alternate un-supported power supplies" seems to suggest Two 9V ~400-500mA inputs.

     

    SO - the Yankee has a DC OR AC 9-12V(selectable) 1300mA that is intended for use with these bigger pedals - I've had no issues with M9 using this option.

     

    My Questions:

    1 - How much current CAN the unit use?  (If the DC-3g is 9V3A) - and you said the bootup takes the most power - and the most the supported supplies can provide is 9V 1000mA

    2 - Do I need buffers for the external loops to keep the noise floor down?  (Like I do with Helix.)

    3 - How can I tell what the noise-floor is for my Power supply?  I've never looked at that or thought about it.

     

    Cheers,

  2. I'm not 100% sure if this was covered by others in your thread - But from my own experience, I have a few things you should examine.  I had this problem immediately when I finally got my Helix as well - that things didn't sound exactly right in the FX loop no matter how CORRECT my impedance, PAD, instrument/line settings were - I consider myself an expert on this - I put out a really informative Video on the POD HD500 using 4CM that seems to be a big hit and has helped a lot of people.

     

    So for the Helix - I thought - COOL!  I can put a bunch of effects in the loops and use the blocks wherever I want in my chain.  Couple things happened with that:

     

    1 - NOISY AS HELL - I actually called Line 6 about this - and their answer was.."Yup - that's how it works.  Only solution is to get a buffer to cut down the noise - but you would need one for each loop"...ugh.

    2 - The INPUT on the Helix (like the guitar in - not the FX returns.) Has a very high dynamic range...they advertise it at 127dB - which means, that if your drive pedals go into the Input of the Helix - and nothing else in the chain - out to your amp - it should sound very close, if not identical to just plugging straight into your amp.  HOWEVER - the FX sends and returns Do not have that dynamic range (or at least the guy I spoke to could not verify what the dynamic range was...)  SO - why is that important?  because your pedals and their interactions with eachother and your amp are essentially only restricted by eachother, and your amp, and all that NATURAL compression when you start hitting the threshold of what a preamp can handle is what we crave - so when you add a digital modeller in-between the last pedal and your amp - you always lose a little bit because the Analog-to-digital-back-to-analog converting alone may be compressing faster or earlier than it would be without it... HENCE - a change in tone.  Especially when using the loops which we don't really know how much range they can have in them.

     

    SO - I've played with this for a while and the best result I've found is - any drives go into the Guitar input - you can't be as crazy with the routing, but it's still sounds great and is very usable - you may have to re-level all your gains/volumes etc. to get back to "your sound".  If you do need to use a loop - you'll want a buffer to start - I HAVEN'T Tested this method yet - because I found what works for me - and I'm happy with it.  Finally - any REAL drives I had for which Helix had an analogous model - I just use the Helix's version - (I.E. i leave my Timmy,TS, OCD, etc off my board now...)

     

    Good luck!

  3. As of posting this topic - I hadn't upgraded to the lastest firmware and didn't know about the snapshots.

     

    ALSO - the firmware released a few weeks ago 2.10 - I think allows for external MIDI devices to control bypass of effects.  that being said - In my tests I've realized that I cannot have the 32-effect board that I wanted!  lol. 

     

    HOWEVER - this is great.  I'm actually planning to downsize my whole rig to just the helix and my amp.  no more external wah or M9 required.  The updates and new effects coming all the time - there's no reason to have all the extra buttons.  Who knows - I may just go back to the Helix alone - and not use any amps.  Time will tell.  But this thing is a Freakin' Beast.  Helix - I dub thee "Axe-killer."

  4. Ooh, I see the Line 6 M9 on there. How is that working out with MIDI for you?  

     

    I've thought about bringing in my M5 for the effects that Helix doesnt have yet. It would be nice if we could tempo clock sync the Helix and M5/9/13.

     

    The M9 is fantastic as a supplement to the Helix. I use it exactly as you said - for all the fx that aren't yet in the helix itself. I use it in a loop that's constantly on - another loop does the 4cm to my Rockerverb.

     

    I don't use the Midi because I actually like to have more buttons to push on the fly.

  5. Fellow String Slingers...

     

    I need help with an issue.  My use case for the Helix is FX only - I have 2 VERY awesome amps that get me every tone I'll ever need.

     

    Because I'm using Helix only for FX - AND because Helix can have up to 32 blocks in a chain - I was really hoping to add an external MIDI controller (like 12 extra buttons.)  and be able to use it to control the FX on/off of the blocks NOT controlled by the Helix pedals.

     

    I play in a 90's cover band - and Basically my main sounds are easily accessed through the built-in pedals.  The bonus of having up to 10 pedals on the unit at a time has been great.  But, rather than switch patches for some of the other crazier effects, I'd like to have an external MIDI Controller turn on/off some fx Blocks with the push of a button.

     

    When Helix originally came out - I was hoping the Helix Control could connect to the Floorboard and unlock up to 20 combinations of buttons at a time - but no dice..(YET?)

     

    SO - the issue I'm having is - I connected my old HD500 to see if the concept will work - but I can't find ANYWHERE in the controller config, or the manuals, etc.  where the parameter for On/Off is set?  You can use an external controller for any of the other parameters on an effect - but not "on/bypassed".  Reading through the literature - it almost seems like you would need to have an effect assigned to an existing pedal on the Helix, then cc that pedal with one of the reserved CC numbers - which is totally useless..and redundant.

     

    Also - any plans to make External amp control polarity configurable so that you can control what channel is on when the LED is lit. (I.E. clean= LED off, dirty = LED on) I saw this was a feature request on Idea scale.

     

    Finally - is there a way to configure Helix such that, when the expression pedal moves past say 5% an fx block turns on, instead of having to push the EP button.  (I think I've seen elsewhere that the answer is "no") Basically for Auto-engage whammy, in my case?

     

    Am I missing something stupid? Or are these just limitations?  Also - Eye Candy:

     
    post-464085-0-43024600-1469054709_thumb.jpg

     

    Grunge on.

     

  6. My Current Rig - I Finally had to bite the bullet on the Helix.  Had the M9 and the POD HD500. 

     

    post-464085-0-43024600-1469054709_thumb.jpg

    post-464085-0-10609000-1469054728_thumb.jpg

     

    Loving the sound out of the Helix.  I don't use it for Amps - but the effects are slick and the dynamic range of the unit is RIDICULOUS.  Loving it.  I'm having some issues with noise, and other things but that's all part of the learning a new unit.

     

    Cheers,

    • Upvote 1
  7. @optimus_7, couldn't agree more. Another solution to spillover is to design your patches so you don't need to change patches in the middle of a song. I have a blog post I'm working on that discusses the various merits of sticking with a patch and changing effects vs. changing patches. Personally, I mostly use one patch and avoid distracting myself and my audience with too much variability.

    I love hearing that amsdenj! That's how I've been working for the past few years. I have 2 bands I play guitar in regularly - an 80's and a 90's band. I used to model the whole tone of any guitar player I was covering, from Elliott Easton to Kurt Cobain. But now - I make virtual pedalboards that are basically 7-10 stompboxes (I just added an M9 to my POD HD500 ) and I can get any sound I need live on demand! Lemme know if you need use-cases for your blog - happy to help!

     

     

    Rock on!

  8. Would having a delay pedal in FX loop create sort of a spillover type thing?

    Or would the external delay be cut out as well? If the FX loop were on in both patches?

    Waiting for Helix :)

    I totally had the same idea in my post but removed it before I posted - cause I wasn't sure if Helix could handle that scenario. My assumption is that the loops would cut out too between changes.

  9. I get that Spillover is a hot topic - but I'd like everyone to consider a few thoughts:

     

    1 - I've toured nationally, internationally, and had anywhere from 2-3 gigs per week for 10 years at least. So - I might be counted among the "vast majority" of players, or I might be pro...regardless I think that I've earned the right to say - I've NEVER once needed spillover - even when we did a U2 tribute show in Iraq for the troops and all I had was my POD HD500 and a Variax 300. Guess who cared about spillover? No one.

     

    I've never had a chick come up to me at the end of the night and say "gee your band was really good but you were really missing the spillover in your patch switches". The only spillover they care about is their cleavage...frankly - that might be the only spillover I care about as well.

     

    I agree that switching patches and having a dead stop is not ideal - but that's why you adjust either your playing style, or figure a different way to handle tonal transitions so that they don't sound silly onstage. OR just use the aforementioned (Several Times) way of getting a spillover-type effect from the Helix - lose your flexibilty and stop complaining.

     

    2 - We're all trying to argue the merits of 30-year-old guitar technology. I owned a Digitech 2120, 2101, Valve FX - I remember those units. But I bet you don't remember how terrible they sounded compared to ANYTHING on the market now. I recently sold one that I bought for nostalgia - I loved it - but it was unusable on stage or in a studio (For me anyway) it was noisy and digital sounding. I would never keep it in a rig just for spillover.

     

    If your creative process and songwriting require spillover - then maybe this isn't the right tool for you - those others are available for a fraction of what they cost new. Or change the way you approach it. Sometimes that's where the most growth happens. In our playing and performing.

     

    I don't really see a strong argument for spillover in Helix:

     

    A - If spillover is so important that you can't live without it - then get the thing that has it.

    B - If you absolutely have to have Helix - then stop bugging Line 6 about spillover

    C - If you absolutely have to have spillover AND Helix - use the workaround

    D - If the workaround doesn't work for you - return to A.

     

    But I'm just the flip-side of the coin I guess.

    • Upvote 3
  10. 1) The signal path through Helix is ultra-quiet (we have 123dB of dynamic range from the Guitar In, which AFAIK, leads the industry)...

    So - cn you tell me what the Dynamic Range is for the:

    POD HD500 (not X)

    M9..

     

    Strange Question - but I have a good reason. lol. Thank man!

     

    Cheers,

  11. Just a few question - I'm about to pull the trigger on a pre-order.  BUT I want to clear up a few things.   I've toured with the HD 500 for almost as long as it's been out - and it's been great - with a few exceptions that I hope this item solves.

     

    1 - Is there a signal loss from the Guitar input to the FX send (any of them)?   In The HD - and it's WELL documented in these forums now - theres a noticable difference that killed an amps natural tone because there was about a 3dB difference (lower) between input and the FX send. will there be unity gain from input to effects send and the only thing affecting the signal will be what "Blocks" you put on the Chain?

     

    2 - I'm seeing that there is a possibility of running up to 32 blocks (which I assume means Effects/or Amps - but for my case, I haven't ONCE used amps from the HD - It's only for Effects) Is that True?

     

    3 - If #2 is the case, will it ever be possible to have an extension switch for the Helix floorboard?  Or to make a firmware update that allows you to connect the Floorboard to the Rack Footcontroller through the VDI - so that you basically have instant access to ALL effects in your chain?

     

    I'll NEVER use 32 effects in a patch - but my current TOTAL Effects count for a live show is getting to about 20, and with the HD - I have to split it across about 5 or 6 patches and I'd like to Avoid that, I'd like to have them all on some individual switch that can be labeled.  Would be amazing.

     

    3 - If Question 3 = NO - then is it possible to hook up an external MIDI controller to add the flexibility (like a mastermind, or some other programmable footcontroller?

     

    Very stoked about this guys - Your stuff usually lives up to the hype - and I hope that's the case with this one.

     

    Cheers,

  12. How about this one on for size?

     

    Key distinguishing factors from the HD 500x?

     

    1 - Dual expression pedals with the toe activation switch.

    2 - up to 16 effects at once.

    3 - More buttons to assign to FX

    4 - Full MIDI control functionality. (can control other devices, and be controlled by other devices)

    5 - Clean Boost mod, always available at the push of a button NOT asigned to one of the 16 effects - it's like the looper - always available.

    6 - fully integrated 4-Cable method inputs/outputs with Hard-Wired FX Loop - no FX loop that takes up a Mod.

     

    I want it.

     

    post-464085-0-29429200-1407227856_thumb.jpg

     

    Rock On.

  13. JTSC777,

     

    Thanks man - much obliged.

     

    Radatats - the POD can do 8 effects at once, it's true...KINDA.  - it can really only do 7 effects at once if you use the 4 Cable Method, because one of the effects has to be an FX Loop.  Also - what I'm hoping to do with the M13 is have 12 effects available at the push of a button...I rarely, if ever, have more than 3 effects on at once when I'm playing live.

  14. Line 6-ers,  I need help.

     

    Just want to know the capabilities of the M13 - as I'm thinking of replacing my HD500 with it.  I don't use ANY of the amp modelling on the HD500 - but I use the effects. I currently have to have 6 Scenes to cover 1 gig's-worth of effects.  (90's Cover band called Sounds Like Teen Spirit) - on any given gig I would use Fuzz, Distortion, Chorus, Phaser, Flanger, talk-box, delay, trem, leslie, compressor, whammy up 2 Octaves, Whammy Down 2 octaves, pitch up 5th, pitch down 3rd, wah, synth, Clean-boost - though I have an EP-101 for that now.  It's not impossible - but it is annoying to have to jump back and forth for songs.

     

    It works, but It would be greate to get all effects into 2, or Ideally 1 "Scene". 

     

    My questions:

     

    ONE

    Can I setup 12 effects on one scene - Drives in A, Mods in B, Delay/synth, etc. in C, and so-on.  and then be able to turn on any 4 effects at once? E.G. - for Nirvana songs - could have distortion, and chorus on (one in A, one in B - then for Rage songs - could have Flange, Pitch, Whammy, on (A, B, C)?

     

    I guess the root of my question is - are you able to setup the M13 like a REAL pedal board - with the only limitation being that you can only have 4 effects on at the same time? (1 from each of ABCD columns)?

     

    TWO

    Does the M13 model input impedances of the individual pedals being modelled?  (Like the POD HD 500 does?)  Can I change this setting?  I couldn't find anything in the L6 documentation on the M13.  But the modelling of input impedances, While awesome, was a huge tone destroyer for the 4CM with my current Amp - so I had to set the global input impedance of all effects at the highest impedance (I think 3.5Mohms) to compensate.

     

    THREE

    Does the FX Loop take up one of the blocks on the M13 - or is it virtual...set it n' forget it? (I think I saw in the manual, that you can put it anywhere.)

     

    Thanks in advance for your feedback.

     

    Grunge on.

     

  15. No - already have one - and it doesn't fit the need I'm trying to fill.

     

    Talk to me when you have to haul an AxeFX, guitars, MFC, Amp, etc. to anywhere from 2-5 gigs per week, with a few flyaway's every month for USO tours, Casino gigs, etc.

     

    AxeFx is awesome - I'm not saying I don't like them - I'm saying I don't need that much headache or horsepower for every gig I play...it's impractical.  Cool, but Impractical.

     

    It's easier to take my POD HD on Flyaways - cause you never know what your amp setup will be, and what the venu can get for you - so you can have consistent good tones, in a single box.

     

    For home gigs - I don't want to take more gear than is necessary.  Keep it simple, Keep it awesome.

     

    Besides - the AxeFx stroking is for the Fractal Audio forum - I want Line 6 input here.

     

    Rock on Man!

  16. Hey Line 6-ers.   I've been a devotee for AGES, and I just thought I'd chime in on a Product I want to see Line 6 create.

     

    I Use a PODHD 500 for live gigs and have since they were released.  I use the 4CM, and don't use any of the amp simulation.  Because I love the sound of my amp. 

     

    I've thought aboput trading across for an M13, since I only use the effects - but I still want/need for live gigs, the flexibility of more that 4 effects at once, and still flexible routing.  AND 2 expression pedals like the old Flextone and Vetta Floorboards used to have.

     

    I thought it would be SICK to recommend a new product - and I'm interested to hear your suggestions for Line 6.

     

    Introducing - the M25PRO HD Stompbox Moddler.

    post-464085-0-16923100-1404767001_thumb.jpg

     

    Features:

     

    - Up to 16 simultaneous FX, with flexible routing options.

    - Flexible FX Loop placement

    - Comprehensive I/O for live gigs - (FX Loop, ins/outs - pretty much like the M13)

    - Dual expression Pedals with Toe switch (Like POD HD)

    - Standard Line 6 Effects Selection (Everything that comes with M13)

     

    And here's the kicker:

    - Custom Effects:  Kemper-style Profiling of your favorite pedals, and settings.  So if you have vintage, or specific pedals you use, and you want to condense them into one device for a gig - you could record an IR of your own pedals and load them into the unit (Presumably 48 memory spots for custom effects.)

     

    I want one now.

     

    Grunge on!

     

    And don't say - Get an AxeFX...it's not the same thing.  I don't want 8.5 million different amps, and effects and a $3500 price tag.

     

    But I'd easily pay $1000 - $1500 for a pedal board like this from Line 6.

     

     

  17. Some questions:

    Do you set the master level at maximum?

    What do kind of advice would you give to me to improve my set up? Upgrading the amp with one with more wattage?

     

    thank you again

     Hey man,

     

    Yes - I do set the Master volume at 100%.

     

    Set FX loop switch to STOMP (laney Cub uses -10dBv fx loop), Set Unbalanced out to LINE. 

     

    Create a blank patch on your PODHD

    Turn the Amp mod to bypass.

    Put an FX loop AFTER the mixer of the PODHD, and boost the mixer by at least 3dB's (your POD may need to be set be higher or lower..) on channel A and B.

     

    Don't boost or cut the FX loop sends and returns...leave them at the default settings (I forget what those are).

     

    Don't put any other FX in your patch.

     

    Then the best thing to do is to compare your tone - Play through just the Amp (with medium gain) - without a POD - then connect the POD using 4CM, and listen to the sound - if the sound is the same, than you've got the setup right.

     

    • If the sound is the same VOLUME - but the gain is lower, or missing a little growl - then boost the POD mixer a little more - you don't need much - Until it sounds right.
    • If the sound is more Quiet, but has more gain - switch the Unbalanced Out switch to AMP.

    Try those settings and let us know how it works!!

  18. 2) sorry your assumptions are wrong, there is NO +4dBu nominal level input or output on the pod

    all the "line" are roughly at -10dBV and all the "amp" and "stomp" are at instrument level,

    while the XLR's are at a (actually hot) microphone level

     

    +4 is for studio-grade signal processors

     

    3) also don't be fooled by labels, +4dBu, -10dBV, stomp, line, amp, instrument ... are the NOMINAL level labeling

    so a +4 OUTput sends a higher level than a -10

    BUT a +4 INput (like the return jack) "waits for" a higher level so it's in fact attenuating the input signal (or, more rarely, the corresponding -10 INput is amplifying it)

    Thanks man - you do know a thing or two.  Great info here...I found this issue 2+ years ago..and it's really great to have other POHD 500 users validating those findings!

     

    I wonder why Line 6 isn't fixing the issue - cause frankly it seems like a pretty big mistake.

     

    Rock on! 

  19. I found that if I created a blank preset, say Blackface Twin without adding any FX bocks. By simply adding the FXLoop block, the output volume drops. Remove the FXLoop and the volume increases again. This is the case through headphones and through the regular outputs.

     

    It doesn't make sense to me that it's not at unity.

    Hey man - I TOTALLY agree - I think what's happening, without knowing the particulars of your setup, is that when you add an AMP Block - it engages the amp's "Channel Volume" and that can drop the output.  If you're using the 4CM...It's often best to use the "PRE" versions of the amp models.  It'll still engage the Channel volume - but instead of putting the whole modeled amp (Amp, Cab, mic, etc.) through the power amp section of your amplifier - you're just sending the characteristics of the modeled preamp (Basically - no cab/mic sim.)

     

    I've had the best results with that.  Remember to boost your A and B channels on the POD mixer by at least 3dB's.  That should take care of any issues.

     

    Let me know if you're having more trouble!  I'm keen to help out.

     

    Cheers,

  20. Hey Line 6-ers,

    I've been using the Four Cable Method (4CM) for a few years now with my POD HD500 and a Blackstar HT Stage 60 amp.  It's been quite successful, albeit after some very careful tweaking.

    I've posted a video with the results on my youtube channel if you would like to view it for some context: Click Here

    Essentially it details a disparity between the "Guitar In" jack and the "FX Send" jack. With all things in the signal chain being set to Unity - no FX blocks and Amp Mods on Bypass - The level coming out of the FX Send jack is -2.8dB LOWER, on average, than the source signal.  I tested this with a signal generator, recording the level over time, averaging it out.  Then putting that signal through the POD HD500 and out the FX Send jack, recording the level over time, averaging it out - and you see the -2.8dB difference.  This is consistent across any of the settings for the FX Loop Level (STOMP/LINE) meaning that the issue is not related to that level - it's internal.

    About 2 years after I did this in-depth analysis - I haven't seen any changes in the firmware that fixed this quirk, but I did start playing with the FX Loop Level switch and the Unbalanced Out switch - which don't make any sense to me.

    My questions to the Line 6 Folks:

    1 - Is the 2.8dB DROP from Guitar In to FX Send deliberate - or is it a bug?  Or is it because I'm using a TS cable to go to ONE amp instead of a TRS->TRS cable?

    2 - Can you help me (all of us) make heads or tails of the STOMP/LINE/AMP settings with Unbalanced Out, and FX Loop - the only number actually given is the LINE level for the Unbalanced out.

    From what I've read of the manual:

    Unbalaced Out:
    AMP = +4dBv (this is assumed because the only number given is the LINE setting of -10dBv)
    LINE = -10dBv

    FX Loop:
    LINE = +4dBv (this is assumed because the manual says "higher peak-to-peak voltage, making it optimal for Line-level devices")
    STOMP = -10dBv (this is assumed because LINE was assumed as the +4dBV)

    I HAVE to be reading this incorrectly - does higher peak-to-peak voltage mean -10dBv? - why would the 2 LINE settings be different?  I do know that BOTH -10dBv and +4dBv are LINE-Level, one is for Pro audio application, and the other for Consumer application.  Should all 3 of my levels be set consistently?  (All at -10 or all at +4?)

    Currently, my setup is as follows:

    Unbalanced Out set to AMP(+4dBv), FX Loop set to STOMP(-10dBv), and my amps loop is set to -10dBv.

    The Result is Loud and clear sound from the amp - but it can be a little noisy, lots of digital background white noise (probably due to dirty power in my old house - so, not faulting L6 for that.)...I can barely turn it up past 2 or it's blowing my ears out.

    So that means that my amp and the FX Loop are both running at -10dBv, but that the FX Return on my amp is getting a +4dBv from the Unbalanced out of the POD.

    If I change the Amp's FX Loop to +4dBv - very subtle change, if any at all...hardly noticeable, same thing if I change the LINE/STOMP FX Loop on the POD HD. HOWEVER if I change the Unbalanced Out on the POD HD to LINE, my volume drops significantly and the gain doubles...my clean amp channel sounds like a dimed AC30.

    I'm hoping this Real-World example is a helpful analysis for everyone - I'm stoked about my setup and it's super easy to gig with - This is more of an intellectual exercise for fellow nerds like me.

    Rock.

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