silverhead

The Pod HD series has a universal power supply. All you need to do is use the appropriate adapter - no need for transformers.

Some Ethernet cables are called 'crossover' cables. These do not work with the Line 6 products. You may have one of these; if so you need to use a standard (non-crossover) cable.

Click on the Downloads tab at the top right of this webpage (not in your browser Downloads section). In the subsequent page select James Tyler Vairiax in the drop-down menu for Product; select Flash Memory under Software, and hit GO. In the subsequent page, scroll down to firmware version 1.9 and hit DOWNLOAD. Store this file on your computer. Then run Monkey and select Update from File, pointing to the downloaded file.

Don't know - have you tried it?

The HD500x has about 20% more DSP capacity - that's it. So an upgrade will be helpful only if you are experiencing significant DSP Overload situations in your HD500. The HD500x will give you a higher threshold for that limit to be reached.

You can download the v1.9 firmware directly from the Downloads section of this website (see tab at top of page). Then run Line 6 Monkey with your JTV connected and select the Update from File option. Select the downloaded file when prompted.

Yes - Line 6 has official parts suppliers, distinct from their service centers, in every region. I have ordered almost every Variax 300 part from my local parts supplier except for the internal electronics All external and plugin components are (or at least were) available. This includes the piezos and the underlying circuit board, pickup selector switch, VDI and 1/4" jack assembly (all of which have ribbon connections to the internal circuit boards), bridge, knobs, and pickguard. The internal circuit boards and items directly soldered to those boards (e.g. the pots) are only available if you buy the guitar - an IP decision on the part of Line 6.

Right - sorry for any confusion. I was talking about using the Variax with a compatible Pod device.

http://line6.com/support/manuals/podfarm

Yes - it may be a usb problem. It may also be your CAT5 cable. Since you have the original cable (at least protected on one end) why not test it? But remember - if this does not work that doesn't mean that it is a usb problem - it may be (and likely is) damage to the VDI connections/ports within one of the devices. Long term you should definitely be usinga VDI cable protected at both ends.

That cable does not have the protective housing at the ends that a VDI cable provides. Regular use of an unprotected cable like this usually results in damage to the connections on the Variax and/or the HD500. Here is the VDI cable. Note the protective housing on the cable ends: https://www.globalfulfillment.net/gfsnet/line6/10Expand.aspx?ProductCode=98-030-0004 It is very possible, if not likely, that you have damaged your ports.

Lack of response like this generally means your situation is uncommon if not unique. Best bet is to open a support ticket with Line 6. http://line6.com/support/tickets/

You already have a Mute feature on the HD500. Engage the Tuner in Mute mode.

No - the piezos apply when the Variax is in Model mode, and then it is using one of its internal models. I'm not sure what you mean by 'raw piezo sound'. The piezos don't produce sound. Unless there's a guitar being modeled by the Variax, isn't that analogous to asking whether a 'real' guitar can be connected to your Aura Spectrum without the guitar producing its mag-pickup generated sound? The piezos transmit waveforms from the string vibrations to the internal DSP processor. Are you asking that the guitar (any guitar - whether real or modeled Variax) be able to somehow output the raw string vibration wave-forms without having processed it, either by DSP modeling or by its onboard pickups? And if it could, does you Aura Spectrum handle that sort of 6-channel input (one channel per string)?

I would still contact Line 6 support - open a support ticket to deal with them directly. They may be able to diagnose the problem and give you a no-cost fix. The expired warranty would only become a cost to you if the device needs servicing.

Yes - you can do all that. The only limitation with connecting the HD500 via L6 LINK is that the Master Volume knob on the HD500 is bypassed when using L6 LINK. So the only volume control you have for the HD500 is the L2t volume knob. But of course that affects the level of all your other connected devices as well, so it is sometimes difficult to get a good balance for all devices. I generally connect my HD500 analog outputs to my L3t rear panel line inputs. That way the HD500 volume can be controlled directly. That would mean there's no place to connect your keys. Experiment with both methods and decide what works best for you.

Here's a dual-path patch I created for acoustic guitar and vocals. It uses both the Guitar and Mic inputs on the HD500. As with everything on Customtone, use it as a starting point for tweaking to your own taste. http://line6.com/customtone/tone/215659

I plug my acoustic 6-string (Martin D-28) into the Guitar input on my HD500 without problems. One possibility I can think of is an onboard preamp on your Takamine. If there is one on the Takamine (there is not one on my Martin) try turning the Vol down. Perhaps the input of the HD500 is being overdriven?

After reflashing firmware you need to reset the global parameters and recalibrate the pedal. Q: How do I reset the global settings of my POD HD Device? A: Press and hold the Left Arrow button on the 4 Way Nav as you power on the POD. This reset resets the global settings back to factory defaults and also renames the Set Lists to factory as well. NOTE: This DOES NOT reset the presets. That requires re-installing the flash memory using Line 6 Monkey. (Same as Factory Reset above.) http://line6.com/support/page/kb/_/effects/pod/pod-hd/pod-hd500xhd500-pedal-calibration-r161

The HD500x operates in two footswitch 'modes'. See Page 1 of the Setup menu to assign the mode. You can't mix the modes; it is a global setting. In ABCD mode the bottom row of footswitchs changes patches/presets within the current bank of presets (e.g. 1A through 1D). In FS5-8 mode the bottom row of footswitches turns on/off the FX in the current preset that are assigned to FS5 through FS8. So you cannot assign a preset to any one of the eight footswitches; only to the bottom four. And if you are in ABCD mode then you can't use FX5 through FX8 to turn FX on/off.

In Pod Farm, have you selected the Mic as the Input Source? Are your headphones/speakers connected to the UX2 outputs?

Is your UX2 connected to your computer? Are you running Pod Farm or some other sound-generating program that interfaces with the UX2?

Seems like your firmware may have been corrupted somehow .I would do what it is asking - reinstall the firmware. A quick search of the knowledge base here should get you detailed procedures if you are not familiar with this.

Better for whom? - for the sound guy? definitely better to KISS - for you and your band? depends on how 'close' you want your sound to be to the original for rehearsals and onstage monitoring - for the audience? depends on how good (although troublesome) a job the sound guy is doing. If he's keeping up with the switching OK then the audience is probably also hearing a sound that is 'close' to the original, and very recognizable. If you're getting lost in the mix regularly then the audience experience is poorer than it would be with the KISS approach. ... so who do you want to make things 'better' for?

A couple of possibilities: - you mention HD Edit; you probably mean (and are using) HD Pro Edit. If not, you should be. They are different programs. - you are using 'the built in output' of what? You need to have your speakers/monitors/headphones connected to the HD Pro output, not your Macbook output.