rafgys

The manual mentions the HX stomp also accepts MIDI commands via USB. Does it also function as a USB Host, so we can connect an FBV Shortboard MKii to use as an external HX Stomp footcontroller via USB? It's great that the HX stomp supportd midi, but it's a bit of a missed opportunity it does not have the RJ45 connector to connect an FBV MKii or a Helix control footcontroller (but I suppose some of the connectors had to go in such a small box). So I'm hoping the MIDI over USB can be used with an FBV mkii or Helix foot controller... Anyone can confirm this works (or doesn't)?

Just to let you know: they've got a pangaea CP100FX on the way (see AMT facebook page) which does have midi and an additional effects section. So the "pangaea with midi" is coming. I've got both the logidy and the pangaea, and use both with great results (even without midi, and using just one IR for all my patches). The logidy is stereo, and can except much longer IR-files, but can't handle "line level" input - so make sure you are not clipping the input. It can load up to 1000 IR files (full-length, it was originally made for reverb, so it can handle very "long" IR files). It has some basic EQ features, but I don't use these a lot. It can be used as a convolution pedal for reverb with another firmware as well. The pangaea is mono, but excepts a much wider range of input levels (and can also be used in between an amp head and a cabinet with power amp level input. In its newest firmware, it has a VERY good 5 band EQ (which I use to "simulate" the POD HD global eq on my Firehawk FX, because the Firehawk doesn't have global EQ). It cuts the IR file after 20msec (so only accepts "short" IR files). It can load 100 IR files, but they must be quite short (it only has 4MB of memory, so you can't use 100 70Kb IR files). It can also add some reverb (which I never use) and also has an MP3-input and a headphone output. So in short: the logidy has the "higher quality" (for some "longer" IR files, this gives a sound with more "detail"), and is stereo (and perfect to put in the effects loop). The pangaea is a lot more flexible regarding input and output volumes, has an EQ section that can be compared with the POD global EQ (you can set the frequencies and the Q factor - and this can be set PER patch), and has a headphone output and mp3 input. Both cost about the same. I can recommend both, they will both massively improve your sound if you use high-quality IR files (I recommend trying the Ownhammer modern mix libraries and the new 3 sigma's are great as well). Without them, I would probably not have used my POD anymore, now I have several of them...

Same here, no real problems, except that I like the sound of the Variax much better with a normal guitar cable (and not the digital one), which is a pity since in that case you can't control the model from the POD or Firehawk (or power it without the battery). I find the sound of the Variax with the "variax cable" a lot colder sounding (but that's not "firehawk related", since I have the same problem with my POD). But if you dial in your patches with the Variax cable, that's not really a problem - it's just in case you have "Strat"/"Tele" and "Les Paul" patches already (as I have), and you want to re-use them with the Variax, in that case they will sound best (= the same as your "normal" strat/tele/les paul) when using a normal guitar cable. And that's probably not the Variaxes fault, since your guitar cable is part of your signal path and takes some of the highs away and alter the sound. Using the "digital" cable, this is not the case, so you'll have alter your regular patches and give the just a little less treble. Just a minor "annoyance" - I can really recommend the Variaxes. I've got a JTV-59, and like that one very much, great neck, and the standard humbuckers in these are very good as well, they are on of my favourite "guitar models" :-).

Hi FiveBass, thanks for taking the time to reply to my message. I think however that the opposite is true. Since the firehawk 1500 is "an amp", you could say that it is easier to use the normal EQ to tweak your tone for your output (since you've just got one "fixed set" of speakers). The pedal however, as you state, is used in combination with different outputs (PA, guitar amp input, guitar amp effects return, IR pedal, different speakers, ...). So I've always used the global EQ on my POD's to make the correct changes for my combination of guitar/output method, and I never change my patches themselves - this works great. On the Firehawk, you just have a LINE or AMP output setting, so it also lacks the different output methods of the POD (on the POD, you could play with the combo/stack output methods, that also have a high and low setting you could change). So the Firehawk FX could benefit even more of having this global EQ then the POD HD. Now I can use the EQ in the patch itself to get the Firehawk sounding good for one combination of guitar/amp/PA, but I've got to change my patches itself every time I swith guitars which I don't need to do with my POD HDs.

Hi Rob, How would you describe your current tone (to shrill, to muddy, too much highs, too much lows?). A lot depends on which guitar and which output method you use (do you use single coils or humbucers, combo/stack output, normal amp input or the amp effects return, patches with or without the cabinet enabled ....). I use the global EQ all the time (to avoid having to adapt my patches for different "output" methods). Since a VOX often has a lot of "lower mid-range", I think your sound could benifit by making a small cut somewhere in the 400hz to 1.2 kHz range. So you could try enabling the global eq with all settings neutral except for the "mid" band. Set the mid band to a Q-factor of 2.5 (a low Q factor cuts a wide frequency range, a high Q-factor cuts just a small range), and a gain of -3dB, and then test with different frequency settings between 400hZ and 1.2 kHZ. That could help to get a "less muddy" sound on your VOX, and enables you to make just the right cuts on your amp (which often isn't possible with the normal EQ-controls on your amp). I often also use the "high" band to get me more "presence", with a Q-factor of around 2, and a small 1dB gain at a frequence somewhere between 2.2 and 2.5 kHz. You could give that a try as well (works best with humbuckers)

I just noticed in this video on youtube that there is a "global eq" setting in the firehawk editor app, at least when using the Firehawk 1500 (you can see it in the video between minute 4 and 5, when he is using the app). This "global EQ" is something I've been waiting for since I bought my Firehawk half a year ago (that was the missing "ingredient" for finally getting my tones sounding really great on my POD HD's). I've just updated my firehawk remote control app (android) to the latest version, but it doesn't show the "global eq" setting at the end of the chain. Am I missing something, or is this a setting that is specific for the Firehawk 1500? I thought they were both using the same remote control app? If this is only on the 1500, does anyone know if this is coming for the Firehawk FX as well? That's about the only thing (that, and the POD HD new model packs!!) that I am really missing on the Firehawk FX. Since the Firehawk 1500 already seems to have this implemented, it should be fairly easy to get the same "global eq" block working on the Firehawk FX as well (I suppose that global eq block is not "hardware specific")? Anyone (any "Firehawk beta testers" around here?) got any idea if we can expect this for the FX as well?

Varialogue1, the blues cube Artist is way better in combination with the firehawk than the Mustang. I've owned a mustang for a few years, but only liked the "loud cleans" from the amp itself - never liked the distortion/gain sounds. So in the end, I mainly just used the effects return of the Mustang to amplify my POD HD. It was decent sounding, but certainly not great. I also recently tried the Blues Cube in my local musicstore in the same manner (so just the POD amp models into the Blues cubes effects return - no cab simulation active), and that sounded way better then the Mustang ever did. Plus the cleans (warm cleans) and dynamics of the Blues Cube itself are fantastic. In the end I didn' buy it, because an Ibanez TSA15H tube head combined with a Celestion creamback speaker sounded even better (in combination with the POD -as an amp itself the Blues cube was also better), but it was a close call. Based on my "several-years" experience with the Mustang (and trying out all possible options to get my sound better) and the instant-good-sounding test I did with my POD in the effects return of the Artist, I'd definitely go with the Blues Cube, no doubt about it. That Blues cube also seems to have a speaker that matches very well with a modelling amp (a lot better then the 70/80 inside the Mustang, which was rather "harsh-sounding"). I've tested lots of combinations (direct into PA with logidy EPSI, into effects return of my Blackstar ID, Blackstar Club and Blackstar One Heads), and I think the Blues Cube is an ideal combination with the Firehawk. PS: I did the tests with my POD HD in my local music store, not with my Firehawk, but since I only use the POD/Firehawk amp models without the cabinets activated and use the "line/direct out setting" (and POD and Firehawk amps are exactly the same) this is exactly the same for the Firehawk. I get exactly the same sounds out of my Ibanez amp effects return using both POD HD and Firehawk patches, so that should be no different for the Blues Cube.

Loading custom IR's is indeed not going to happen anymore (as Digital Igloo already mentioned a few times). But that would not be necessary if we could have a decent sounding CAB in the POD itself, and that CAN be done, since the new firmware gives the option to load new cabinets (there are new cabinets in one of the option packs). So what I would really like is a good sounding new "Line 6" cabinet model pack. I don't have to be able to load custom IR's (would be terrific of course), but I would just be pleased with one of a few better option than the current CAB models (which now all have their own weak spots, which for me makes them very difficult to used without a lot of EQ tweaking). I've tested loads of "custom IR" files via mixIR or my EPSI, and that is not the "silver bullet" by itself (I've also heard lots and lots of "custom" IR's files which sound worse then the default CAB's as well), but some Line6 version "CAB pack" of a quality IR library such as the Ownhammer v3 studio mix library could potentially be a significant upgrade to the existing POD HD, and that's certainly something that should be technically possible. It probably will be a bit "less quality" then the original IR files, but that should get the sound into the right direction. But then maybe some current cabinets in combination with the new global EQ may give a similar results, so I'm having high hopes for this upgrade...And in the meantime, I'll happily continu using my current POD + EPSI combination!

Alphadog, That DEFINITELY is because of the EPSI + Ownhammer IR that I used. After all, getting rid of all that fizz and harshness on the top end, and all those booming lows on the low end, was the reason I started looking for other solutions, like using IR's and hardware CAB solutions. I also have tested almost every single "hardware cab" solution like the Palmer PDI09, ADA GCS, Behringer GI-100 DI, and MaxZ Speaker sim hardware pedals, which by the way - except for the Behringer - also do sound a lot better then the POD Cab's itself. The PDI09 sounds especially good with a BBE Sonic Stomp in front of it, so if you are looking for a "pedal-based hardware" solution, I would go POD HD => BBE Sonic Stomp => Palmer PDI09 - that setup works really great as well! My JCM800 patch in itself is very basic. Here's my signal chain setup: 1) Input: Guitar + Mic (PS: look at Meambobbo's guide, I always use Guitar + Mic as input for my patches, never Guitar/same because that input's way to high for clean patches with a humbucker guitar). 2) Tubescreamer set at Bass/tone/treble/drive/output: 53/52/53/70/44 (so nearly no EQ ) 3) JCM800 Pre without CAB set at Drive/bass/mid/treble/pres/volume: 86/50/53/48/50/34 (so again, nearly no EQ - and since there's no POD CAB sim, rest of the settings don't matter. I do have the presence set at 50). 4) Digital delay (temp sync off, time 440ms, fdback 11, bass+treble at 50, mix 18) 5) That all into the EPSI with Ownhammer "535_OwnHammer_412_MAR-CB_V30-EN_T1_SP.wav" IR, and POD output set at "stack front, lows -21, mid focus at 1.6KHz, highs -17). 6) Into a Focusrite Scarlett USB interface for recording. I'm using my POD HD Desktop to record here (so line out, master volume around 45, into the EPSI input, and the EPSI output into an USB Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 MICROPHONE input for recording - so not a LINE Input, since the EPSI is "instrument level", as I mentioned before). Quickly recorded with audacity (so here, also no changes in EQ, reverb, delays, to make everything sound better in my recording setup). That's it. So really a very basic patch, nearly no EQ's used whatsover on the screamer and the (pre-) amp model, and the difference in sound compared to the POD HD cab's is very big. Sound's great out of my Opera 402D or Alto TS15 speakers (Opera is more "compressed", the sound of the Alto Truesonic is more like the recorded output). Of course, since I use the j-800 pre model in this case, it's hard to get a real comparison between this patch, and the same patch with a cabinet (since I would have to use the normal j-800 model, and that alone already gives a big difference). But if you want confirmation that the fizz is gone, you can rest assured that it will be.

Alphadog, just made some clips using my Logidy loaded with the Ownhammer Celestion V30 IR (sorry - no time to compare with the same patch using POD HD Cab's - but you'll get the idea of what type of sound is possible just with the logidy and VERY BASIC pod patches). ALL these clips are using the exact same POD HD output settings (stack front, mid focus on 1,6KHz, since my PRS Custom 24 is "mid heavy", I put the mid-focus a bit higher then usual, and lows on -21, highs on -17 -highs are also a bit less decreased compared to the lows, because of the vintage 57/08 pickup outputs). As explained before, I can use the POD HD output settings to "tailor" my output depending on my guitar and on the speaker I'm using, which gives you the option to change output setting when using this setup Live in case you have to adapt your output settings to the PA system that's used. I'm mostly into "old school rock/punk rock", so most of my patches are of the old school rock type. But they are all very BASIC patches, with often just the amp and one distortion + one reverb or delay pedal. So nothing fancy and no use of 10 equalizer settings to get my sound right (I'm using the "Stack Front" output setting to get the EQ right). If you are using good headphones, pay special attention to the clean examples. It's impossible to get these clean tones with the standard POD HD cabinets. Also: these cleans are from my PRS 57/08 humbuckers - with single coil cleans sound even better. https://soundcloud.com/rafgys/jcm800-screamer https://soundcloud.com/rafgys/blackface-bridge-spring https://soundcloud.com/rafgys/drz-crunch https://soundcloud.com/rafgys/soldano-crunch-tubedrive https://soundcloud.com/rafgys/voxac30-clean https://soundcloud.com/rafgys/divide-heavy-dist-neck https://soundcloud.com/rafgys/jtm45-bluecomp https://soundcloud.com/rafgys/blackface-clean-neck https://soundcloud.com/rafgys/engl-scooped https://soundcloud.com/rafgys/drz-screamer https://soundcloud.com/rafgys/blues-rock https://soundcloud.com/rafgys/threadplate-mid

Akeron, yes, I've also bought the complete Redwirez library, and some of the other Ownhammer ones (the Mesa high gain libraries), and tested with the free Clark Kent, Guitarhacks and Catharsis libraries. But the Ownhammer Modern mix library "412-GTR MAR-CB MIX Modern Speaker Collection" is definitely the one you want. That really does make a big difference (even compared to the other Ownhammer libraries).

Alphadog808, I'll try to find some time to make a few clips. I've just been reading this thread http://line6.com/support/topic/7974-logidy-c01-impulse-response-w-podhd/ , which includes logidy's response on some (bad) user experiences. I think their response sums it up correctly: results do depend on correct usage of the pedal. As with any "IR-solution", it's supposed to be used with a FRFR system (in my case, I'm using an Opera or Alto Truesonic PA). I wouldn't recommended using it with an amp, since in that the amp is already driving speakers (so using "speaker simulation" on top of that, wouldn't probably give the same good results). By the way: I'm also getting very good results using a Markbass BASS amplifier for driving my Marshall 1960AV cabinet using POD HD patches without cabinet emulation (but that's an entirely different story ...). And you can very well "test before buying" an EPSI with a standard IR loader (such as mixIR2 or Torpedo Wall of Sound) on your pc (as in Logidy's repsonse in that previous thread). So if you can't get good results with a "PC IR loader", don't buy it since the EPSI does exactly the same as a "PC IR loader", but only with better quality (latency/IR length - so an overall better "playing feel" then a pc-based solution). It all comes down to finding the correct IR (which in my case is the Celestion v30-EN of the Ownhammer Modern mix library), and also very important: using the correct output settings (in my case, a bit contradictiory, with the STACK output settings in case of "direct out") and output level (as I mentioned before, it's an "instrument-level" device). But if used correctly, it does makes a big difference. I have the exact same two sound banks on my PODs, but one with my "best matching POD HD cab", one without CAB's. I use the same Ownhammer IR for ALL of my patches (clean/crunch/rock) without CAB, and they all sound a lot better (in some cases, mainly for the clean tones, the difference to my ears is enormous - a lot more open, less compressed a lot more detail and much less "clipping"). For rock/metal you can get good results with the default cabinets, but for crunch/clean types of sound, no single POD cabinet, with no amount of IR tweaking (and I've tried every single hint from Meambobbo's great userguide) can get results that come close to that Ownhammer impulse.

Dutchgin, I've got 3 of these EPSI units (for my HD500, HD PRO and HD Desktop :-). Of course, you need a good matching IR file (the Epsi will only sound as good as the IR's you put into it...). It also only has an "instrument level" input (no line level) - which is important to know to get your output level correct. To have a "standard" configuration, I don't use my EPSI's in the loop, but just in the normal output of my POD HD's (since an HD Desktop doesn't have a loop ....). Also, since the HD Desktop is only line-level output, it's important to set the POD HD output at max. 4.5 (over 4.5 the Epsi starts clipping) - for the HD500 and PRO the "amp output" mode is best suited for the EPSI. I don't know why Joel Brown didn't have good results using the EPSI, but in my case the sound is MASSIVELY better. I'm using the Ownhammer Modern mix libraries (and I've tried almost every IR I could find - so if you still have to buy some IR's, just buy this library, it matches best with the POD HD). All my patches have the cabinet disabled (of course) and I use the POD "STACK" output settings, with high and low both at around "-15" (for single coils around -20, just experiment a bit, but I found it's best to keep both settings equal), and my MID frequency - depending on the guitar I'm using - between 900Hz and 1.6kHz. I'm using the English Celestion V30 IR's from the Ownhammer Modern Studio library. With these POD output settings and that IR library, I can almost guarantee that you will never ever use the POD HD Cabinets again (I've got the same patches with and without cabinets, and I haven't used my "cab patches" anymore since I got the EPSI's). In fact, the EPSI made me realize how good the POD HD amp and pre-amp models actually are (and how bad the cabinet emulation is ...). The EPSI can handle very long IR's, and in sound quality/feel is certainly better then any "computer based" VST (such as Torpedo wall of sound or MixIR2).