cclement

To continue on the Rush vibe... and add a dash of the Police. Try using more open chord voicings; they can help open up the sound as well. You might dig into these: http://www.guitarplayer.com/artist-lessons/1026/play-like-andy-summers-during-the-police-years/12450 http://www.2112.net/powerwindows/transcripts/20110100guitarplayer.htm

I would check your DAW. Most DAWs let you chose between L, R, or L+R for any input.. as well as choosing whether or not an audio track is Mono, or Stereo. The USB out is Stereo.

I did the same with my HD500x in the beginning, but ultimately sold the Vetta II to help pay for some Alto TS-10s.

Are you doing the TRS to double TS hook up for it? Was curious about how it's done with the Helix.

My back say this is more a Nightmare rig than a Dream rig.

Neil Young has a work around... the Whizzer. Digitally controlled motors that turn the knobs! http://www.rdlx.com/neil_young.htm Crazy stuff.

Wow... nice demo/comparison. The HX sounds a bit more "dynamic" to my ears, but the HD doesn't sound bad at all! For me it was a bit more telling with the crunch tones - there is a slight mid-range "honk" in the HD that I didn't hear in the HX. I'm still on the ($1500) fence about changing from the HD500X to Helix.. this makes that a bit harder now. ;) That being said... I'm going to have to revisit the Dr. Z amp model on my HD.. was kind of digging that tone.

I've been running the Tube comp as my "solo boost" for a while now... no real compression, just a gain bump. Other jumper the FX Send/Return together and use a bump in the Return level to get the boost. Either way works fine.

I used to run my HD500X this way.. via the FX loop on my old Vetta II. It's a good sound, But ultimately, I sold the Vetta and got to Alto TS10s, and am much happier with the tone. My back is also MUCH happier that I don't have to carry the Vetta II. Now if I can just get around to replacing my HD500x with a Helix... ;)

This. It also sounds like maybe there is a sample-rate mismatch between what your DAW is expecting, and what your POD is putting out I would make sure that you have both set to the same sample-rate.

Dang it.. you were all supposed to say that it was just OK and that it wasn't any better than the HD500X ;) Looks like I'll need to start saving my pennies. I should probably go to the local music store and try it out... but that could be "entering the lion's den" as they say. Thanks for the feedback.

Hey all, I'm looking to hear from people who have made the transition from the HD500X to the Helix. Is it really that much of a game changer for you? For the tones you can get? I'm a happy HD500X user, who has had his HD500X (and a set of Alto TS110s) for about just about 2 years. I'm past the "endless tweaking" stage that many have talked about - although I didn't have too much trouble with it - and have a good set of core tones. But I must admit... the Helix (esp. with the 2.x updates) looks to be really something amazing. So... given all you know and your experience... is it really worth the time/money to go Helix? Inquiring minds want to know!

It can be done... but you will need some help from an external switching box like the Voodoo Labs Control Switcher - http://www.voodoolab.com/controlswitcher.htm. It would take the MIDI OUT from your POD and translate the program change (PC) or control change (CC) messages to the switches to control your amp. Not hard to do... but an extra step.

You'll need a power supply that puts out 9V DC, 3 amps (3000ma). The HD500X pulls a great deal more that your standard flanger pedal (typically 500ma)... so finding one that is up to the challenge AND can handle pedals on top might be tough.

From the Installer guide: POD HD500X Edit supports the following computer operating systems: Mac OSX 10.5 (Leopard) 10.6 (Snow Leopard) ...and later versions of OSX Windows Windows XP Service Pack 3 Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Windows 7 ...and later versions of Windows POD HD500X Edit is a 32 bit application, but is compatible with both 32 bit and 64 bit Windows & Mac versions. So.. you should be able to run it from just about any Windows laptop. The only issue I can see would be the screen size. It's not that big of an editor window (especially for us "older" folks with bad eyes), so a small screen could be a challenge. YMMV.

I made the transition about a billion years ago switching from my JC120 rig to the Axsys 212, then the Ax2 conversion, then the Vetta II... and now the HD500x. I still have some left - some was stolen, but that's a different story. I'm getting the best tones to date, and the transportation factor can't be touched! I can walk in to a gig with my HD500X case over my shoulder, my main guitar in one arm and my Alto TS110 in the other.

Alas no. This is a idiosyncrasy of analog wha-wha pedals.. and older ones specifically. Curiously enough.. I just saw the Brit Pink Floyd here in San Francisco. They are big Fractal users - so many tones to emulate. They did perform Echos and DID have the "seagull" effect going on. I suspect it was an old wha-wha patched in via an FX loop... as there is just no way really do to the trick in the "pure digital;" world.

I'm not 100% on this... but... I think you would need to send out 3-4 CC 064 messages that are "on the beat" for each tempo change. Essentially mimicking stepping on a tap tempo switch if you were doing it live. Give it a shot.

You can set tap tempo via MIDI CC 064. However, there aren't many cheap solutions for sending MIDI CC via a foot switch. MIDI Solutions makes a box you can use with a Roland foot switch to send out MIDI CC, but it's about $120US for the box and another $30 or so for the Roland switch.

Indeed! Talkbox - A speaker in a box with a tube that goes up to your mouth. The output from your guitar amp goes into the Talkbox speaker and you shove the tub in your mouth, and then "talk" the guitar into a mic. Think Bon Jovi, Peter Frapmton, Joe Walsh. Vocoder - An electronic device that splits the incoming signal (Modulator) in to frequency bands (filters) and then superimposes those changes in amplitude from the input to a new set of filters on the output (Carrier)*. Think Kraftwek, ELO, Afrika Bambata, or The Disney Main Street Electrical Parade (for those of us old enough to remember it ;) *A way simplified description.

Try an AC30 for the rhythm.. maybe a JCM or Soldono for the lead.

Sounds like a ground/earth loop. Have you tried flipping the ground/earth switch on the Alto?

This is one of the FX I think was MUCH better in previous Line 6 products. I had a patch on my Vetta II that I've been unable to really recreate as well on my HD500X. I feel like you need to really boost the signal going into the Tron Up to get a decent sound out of it. YMMV

For most gigs (which are fewer and farther between), I just bring the one Alto.. and it's on an speaker stand at ear height. This gives me good projection out in to the audience - since I almost never have the luxury of going into a PA. But I've been thinking of bring both, and stacking them on top of each other. Less footprint than the speaker stand. If I switch to the stacked option... I wouldn't have any issues with spread or "separation."

99% of the time... no. Most places I end up playing have a VERY limited PA, and really only have room for the 4 vocal mics (all of us sing in the band) and maybe the kick drum. Nothing but fun, but dive-y bars for us ;)