silverhead

Not sure exactly what you mean. You can buy a standard table, build a simple one using basic wood materials and a few tools, or consult YouTube to get carpentry directions and tips. Not sure how this community can help you.

Yes. When your Studio GX is connected to your PC and you are running Pod Farm, the GX is your computer's soundcard. All audio produced by your computer, including Pod Farm output and general audio from YouTube, WinMedia Player, iTunes, etc. will be routed to your GX and you can monitor the mix at the GX audio outputs connected to headphones or external speakers/monitors.

Yes you will definitely get better quality by going the second route, and it's entirely due to the difference in audio interfaces, not due to the analog/digital difference. The Pod HD500 is a much better audio interface than a low-end USB interface. In both cases your are connecting an analog cable/input (your guitar) into an audio interface device and using its USB digital output to your PC. The difference is in the interface device itself. I think the real question is whether you want/need the main features of the Pod HD500, which are its amp and FX modeling capabilities.That's where the majority of the cost/value is with the HD500. If you don't want/need those capabilities you could be better off buying a higher-end usb interface that it just that - just an interface, but one as good or better than the HD500 audio interface capabilities for a lower price.

Did you update both Workbench HD and the JTV firmware? For me Workbench takes less than 10 seconds to upload all preset from the Variax, and I think that's what most people are experiencing based on reports here.

I haven't noticed that the models change any more quickly, just more smoothly (no popping sound). There is an unavoidable lag/delay of some duration when switching models that is not present with the mags. The technical reality is that the Variax must spend a few milliseconds transferring data (the model definition) from stored memory to working memory. That operation is not necessary when switching the mags. That lag time can be minimized but it can't be zero. If this update reduced it I can't notice it.

I don't know whether it applies to those in this thread but I can confirm that in general fret buzz is a very bad thing for the piezos. Any fret buzz at all can cause anomalies in the sound produced by the Variax modeling DSP. Again, whether that is a contributing factor in this case can only be determined by those experiencing the issue.

You don't even need to rename them - the HD500 and HD500x patches are completely compatible. Just save the HD500x patches to your computer using HD500x Edit. Then disconnect your HD500x and connect your HD500. Then open HD500 Edit and drag/drop the patches into the desired preset slots. Then SEND them to your HD500 device.

There's one compromise you are making with this setup. That is flexibility of FX placement in the signal chain. You are losing the option to place any FX in the PRE amp position. All the HD500X FX are positioned after the pre-amp section of your amp. That measns, for instance, when you apply an FX like a conpressor, the compression isn't happening until after the raw guitar signal has been processed by your preamp. Normally, players prefer FX like compression, distortion, and sometimes EQ in the PRE position. But there's no right or wrong here. You just need to be aware of it and perhaps experiment with the differences to see which you prefer.

I have an HD500, HD Pro, and FBV MKii. There's nothing I can do on the HD500 that I can't do with the Pro+FBV, as far as footswitch capability is concerned.

Check the knowledge base under the Support tab above. Search with the phrase "JTV update". Open the topic titled "Variax Reflash....." Both Workbench HD and JTV have just seen new firmware releases, v2.1. You should update to those versions for both.

I recall from previous threads on this topic that the HD500 (and probably 500x since it's the same chassis) is a really tight fit into the X3 bag. I expect it can be made to fit uncomfortably. If you can manage the financing I would suggest you get your HD500x first and try it with the X3 bag. That will tell you whether you want to keep the X3 bag or sell it with the X3 and get a new bag.

You can still download the software from this website, under the Support -> Downloads tabs. Just select Variax (or Variax 300/600) as the Product.

This thread talks about the older Variax models - the 300/700. They have no magnetic pickups - just modeling.

Oh - sorry, Zap. The Lamborghini has been sitting in my garage since they gave me a Jaguar XJ220 a few weeks ago. You can have the old Lambo anytime......

They are designed for mics but you can connect the output of any device into those inputs. Just be very careful with volume levels. The UX2 XLR's are expecting a low strength signal level (mic level). Your amp's output is probably at a different level; if it's adjustable try different settings. Be sure to start off with everything at very low output/input levels. Slowly increase both the amp's output level and the UX2 input levels until you find a good balance that gives you the strongest signal you can in to your UX2 without clipping or high noise levels.

Check your Output Mode on the Pod HD. Depending on the equipment your physical outputs are connected to, the software controlled Output Mode can make a big difference. If this has been changed recently that could explain things.

I don't know about the xt, but the x3 still includes the PF1.x license. The license is bundled forever to the hardware, for as long as PF1 is still available.

Yes the pop is gone.

I think there are several good reasons to take the plunge: - Workbench HD connectivity via Pod HD devices - Spank model bug in Workbench HD fixed - popping gone when changing JTV models via Pod HD preset change ... and the only reported problem (I think) with the update itself was solved by recharging the JTV battery. ... and if you encounter problems you can always roll back..... All in all, based on reports to date, a very successful update imho. Kudos to Line 6. EDIT: I forgot to mention one real big advantage to this update: increased productivity in tone shaping by being able to use both device editors simultaneously (compatible Pod HDxxx / HDxxx Edit and JTVxx / Workbench HD).

I've been playing around for the last 10 minutes or so, trying to replicate the popping noise in v2.1 that was so evident in v2.0. I have not been able to do so, using the same 'recipe' that consistently produced it previously. There is still the inevitable lag/delay in the sound while the preset definition is replaced in the Pod's working memory, but the loud pop that used to accompany it is gone. My conclusion: unless and until someone else can successfully reproduce the pops I consider it fixed in JTV firmware v2.1.

I was hoping the Ideascale item would show it as Released; that would be clear confirmation. But, like Zap, I am inclined to think it may have been fixed intentionally but Ideascale has not yet been updated to reflect it. In any case, it's not the Ideascale status that matters; it's whether I still hear the popping. And I should have time later today to test and report on that.

@edstar1960: was it you who posted an Ideascale item proposing that this be fixed? What's the current status of that item on Ideascale?

To use the Tap Tempo switch you need to set the delay time in your FX to be a note value rather than a millisecond value. You don't need to use the PC to do this, though the different available settings might be more evident.

I haven't had a chance to test this one out yet, but I am hopeful that this fixes a distinct popping noise that was evident when switching presets in a Pod HD device, where the preset change also involved a JTV model change stored in the preset. This isue was apparently introduced with JTV v2.0; it was not present in JTV v1.9. If anyone who previously noticed this problem has tested this yet in v2.1, please report...... (Note: this is simply my hope - not information from Line 6).

Here's what happened with my update..... - JTV59 -> PodHD Pro -> PC via USB. PC running Windows 7 Professional - powered on HD Pro and computer - ran Line 6 Monkey - default device selected was HD Pro. Monkey showed HD Workbench update available - v2.10 - updated Workbench HD with no issues - ran Line 6 Monkey again; selected JTV59 as device. Monkey showed JTV update available; v2.10 - updated JTV with no issues; opted not to retain existing JTV presets After installing both updates successfully I cycled the power on the HD Pro, just for kicks. Launched HD Workbench. It immediately identified the JTV and uploaded all presets within a few seconds. Because there had been previous issues regarding the Spank model I selected it as the first test. I was able to adjust the string volumes to normalize the top two strings with the other four. I loaded the revised preset from Workbech HD to the JTV without issue. I then exited Workbench HD. The string volume leveling continued to be in effect in the JTV. I restarted Workbench HD. It loaded all presets again in seconds. The revised settings from the previous session were evident in Workbench HD. Total time expired for all of the above, including string volume adjustments: Less than 10 minutes. All looks good so far. (another Home Run, cruisinon2! Better find the hot dog guy soon. I think he's leaving the stadium.)