ts020572

I have played my DT50/HD500 through a 4x12 in rehearsal room for about 2 years. Last weak, I switched back to my Carvin V3 with the same 4x12. It just sounds so much more full and brutal, I am wondering if I do something wrong with my "Dream-Rig"? HD500 is connected through the Line6 Link Cable, I played at the same volume (with my bandmates), I start thinking it is just the tube preamp versus digital preamp that is doing the magic here… Any ideas?

pianoguyy made the most important point: The POD will give you a "recorded" sound, because of the microphone and the cabinet that is simulated. If you like the sound of your CDs through your monitors, than you will also like the sound of the POD. But, metal guitars are doubled, compressed, whatever… so you will never get that Metallica "wall of guitars" with only one guitar track. But you can always double your tracks, this is where the fun starts :-) And also a very good exercise for your timing. For Metallica sounds I would start with the Threadplate or the Soldano simulations. Try different cabinets, mics, before you start using to much EQ. I have the HX Stomp with the Mission Engineering Expression Pedal. Nice combo. If you don`t use MIDI maybe the POD Go is the better solution. For playing live I think the POD Go would be better, the HX Stomp looks like an octopus with all the cables…. but, you could also use your POD HD500 to control nearly everything from the HX Stomp per MIDI. Not an easy decision :-) For me the biggest difference between the POD HD and the Helix is "less tweaking". With POD you have to dig deeper to get a good sound, Helix just has them with less tweaking.

Maybe something from Two Notes https://www.two-notes.com/

Different animal than the HX Stomp. No MIDI, less connections.

Can I use L6link and FX Return from the DT50 at the same time? The idea is: control the DT50 per L6link from the POD HD, and switch the HX Stomp through MIDI from the POD HD. But, signal flow would be Guitar - HX Stomp - DT50 FX Return. Possible?

My advice would be: keep anything digital or keep anything analog until you hit the poweramp. I have used analog overdrives or boosters with digital preamps, it never sounded as good as with an analog (all tubes) preamp.

You have to use an FX as a dummy that can be on/off to get some feedback from the led. I used the POD to switch effects from a TC G-Major (POD only in front of amp, G-Major in the amplifiers fx-loop). It took some time to set up, but it worked very well.

I use the HX Stomp in my "studio" (on my desk), but have it directly in front of me if i use it, so that I can turn the knobs. Put in a rack it would be to far away for me. But that is just me.

I would always prefer hardware vs software. Just plug the guitar in and jam along. And I like knobs and switches, not clicking around with the mouse. But I would get/keep both, Helix and Native, just for editing later on the computer.

I can only answer from a HD500 perspective. A lot depends on the poweramp, with a tube poweramp I would use the Helix preamps, with a neutral poweramp I would use the full amp models. The 2x12 can only sound like it does, a closed 2x12 will never sound like an open 1x12. How loud do you play? Will the tube poweramp be cranked? I would use the full amp models with a neutral poweramp, no cabinet modelling (because you use a real cabinet), line level from Helix into the poweramp. I was never satisfied with my HD500 through a digital poweramp and a 4x12, and then I bought a used DT50 head :-)

I just wanted to share my happiness with my "old" gear. For recording I prefer the HX Stomp, but live and loud, I do not miss anything playing through an HD500 / DT50 combo. This thing still rocks!

crossthestyx, if you are still not happy with your tone through the guitar cabinet, maybe get a used DT25 or DT50. They are a perfect match. Sure, you may even consider a regular tube amp, and the DT50 is a heavy beast to lug around, but if you like to have the flexibility of the POD, for me these are the two best solutions: POD with FRFR (and don't get a cheap one) POD with DT25/DT50 I haven't tried a POD through the new Powercabs from Line 6.

i would not buy the Firehawk. Less good amp models and no MIDI! The POD 500 is a very flexible MIDI Controller

Better get a new HX Stomp! :-)

You could just test the free Wall of Sounds software from Two Notes with your POD and check if the difference in sound is worth the price for an IR Loader. I use a Torpedo C.A.B. with my POD and like it :-)