ts020572

Besides the better amps, much(!) better overdrive/distortion pedals, it is just much faster and simpler to get a good sound out of it. Keep the POD HD500, it is a really flexible MIDI Controller. You could just buy the HX Stomp (if you do not need the missing features between Stomp and Helix) and control nearly everything with the HD500.

I tried to use HX Stomp as audiointerface and MIDI-interface for my eDrum. The midi-latency was to high to use it with drums, so I switched back to my old Saffire interface. Same cables, same setup. Try to use an extra USB-MIDI-Interface.

It is just us guitarplayers. I played many amps, modellers, mix of both, PodHD with DT50, .... My bandmates just do not care, play the right notes and rock on, who cares about the last 20% of our sound?

Okay, it was a few years ago when I had a Blackstar HT5 MK1, but if the MK2 does sound the same I wouldn't waste any time with 4cm. Just go into FX Return and play that Pod GO, my opinion... Okay, and that really doesn't answer your question about that TSA30 at all, sorry :-)

In my experience with POD HD, the amp models clean up nicely using the guitar volume. But, when you use on of the modeled distortion or overdrive pedals from the POD HD the guitar volume is useless. Try just the amp model, without stompboxes.

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 :-)