BillBee

Its really a matter of finding a starting place so you can know which direction to adjust. By reducing the variables you can track which changes are shaping the tone in the direction you desire. I wouldn't zero everything on the HD but I would start by setting all the amp's tone controls to say 5 and work from there. You might not want to use a simulated amp and cab. You might find the real amp just needs to have the HD's pre-amps or stomp boxes in front to drive the real amp.

Aside form the usual - check cables, power supply and that the volume is on etc. Is there output to an amp?

If the Midisport drives you nuts at first I've found that it likes to be connected "in/in" and "out/out" where some midi cables use the "in/out" and "out/in".

Well that's the goal - try to get in the ballpark and learn. For a new user the HD can be a can of worms. :)

I believe what Alex was saying is that you can use the front end of your amp but the settings on the HD will have to be adjusted if/when you switch to a different amp at a different time. Tube amps can have a great tone with the HD so I believe its a matter of patience with your Blues Jr. Try using the HD like a pedal board and add effects one by one as you build the tone. Set output to combo front (as a start - no harm in going through the different output modes), add a preamp only (not too much gain) set up the tubescreamer and see what goes. The Blue Jr is a good amp on its own and should always sound decent with a tubescreamer in front after that try a delay. While it wouldn't be my first choice to use with a HD there is no reason you cannot dial it in. As far as thin sounding - tough to say, you more than likely have to try and adjust the amps tone controls. I've run the HD into the front of a bunch of solid state amps (studio direct output) and it sounds good - amps set to flat EQ, little to no gain and no reverb.

Crazy Pills :D When you go to Custom Tone, try some of the higher rated patches under a search like "metal". As the packs came out last spring there may or may not be a bunch there so even sorting by date may help. What you can do though is try some of the patches and change the amps out and look at the structure of the build. IE: How the eqs are setup and any gain stacking going on, cabs mics etc. While yes there are a lot of bad ones in CT there are some that are decent starting points. Keep in mind that one person's rig will differ from another (in addition to taste) :) -B

Oooops sorry about that Larry. I had copied the link that SH posted but it came out as the original one. Bouncing between browsers here :) Use the link and nab all the current stuff. -B

Did you run the Line 6 License Manager? It authorizes purchases of the model packs for the Pods. But if you mean you have flash memory problem and the unit does not work you can try a safe-mode reflash. Q: How do I reflash in "safe mode"? A: Safe mode can be used when a unit cannot be reflashed using the normal reflash procedure. Hold the first of the four black soft buttons under the main LCD screen as you power on the PODxt. Then, follow the instructions above on how to re-install the flash memory. But if all else fails a support ticket can be submitted directly to Line 6. -B

Yep. http://line6.com/support/topic/17594-lost-my-installation-cd/ This way you get all the latest software too. -B

Yep its probably the #1 cause. The cheap cables seem to let short data transmissions through but not the longer messages.

Hey Dude - just DLéd Monkey and the site is fine (for me at least). Maybe try a resume-able DL manager. You might have a system setting that is interfering with it. I'm using Firefox 43. -B

That might actually work, just be careful as I don't know how loud its going be. I cannot remember if you can take one of the regular signal jacks off the back but if you can that would work too. I found this old thread which should help. http://line6.com/supportarchive/thread/34640/ -Bill

It could be that the pedal's board is shot. Which I do believe a replacement is not a bank breaker but until then: Q: How do I calibrate the Expression pedal on the POD X3 Live? A: 1. Go to test mode by holding down 'Right' on the directional pad when you power up. 2. Highlight Pedal Cal. 3. Press the INPUTS button. 4. Set the pedal to the heel position. 5. Press the A footswitch to get data on pwm duty cycles. 6. Set the pedal to the toe position. 7. Press the B footswitch to get data on pwm duty cycles. 8. Press the C footswitch for automatic selection of the best duty cycle. 9. Move the pedal to get smooth 0-255 Scaled Values. 10. Press the D footswitch to save the settings.

Ok. On many amps there are two jacks that allow for a signal to be placed between the amp's pre-amp and power amp sections. They can be called a variety of things. Loop in loop out, effects in effects out etc. What this does is allow for the amp's pre-amp (gain section tone controls, etc.) to be sent out to pedals, Pods, effects, etc and then be returned to the amp's power section to be included in the sound you hear. The Pod can be thought of as a pre-amp as it cannot power a cab or speaker by itself. So what you would be doing is using the Pod as your preamp and returning the signal to a power amp section of a combo amp (by passing its pre-amp section). There are other options like the 4 cable-method hich lets you use an amps preamp and also the Pod's effects but that can be saved for another discussion at this point. On the Spiders (that do not have a effects loop) I have read where some people have tried going into the mp3 input 1/8" jack (using a 1/4 to 1/8" adapter) - I've never tried and do not know if it works or what may happen (good or bad). Hope that helps, Bill

Speaking for myself - I try to stay behind a couple of years on gear (unless the GAS gets too bad). The bugs get worked out and I honestly don't "need" the latest high $$ gear. Now "want" is a different ballgame. I use the gear like yourself - I work on the vibe and go from there. -B

The trusty ESP Mirage into a JCM800/2000 (2x12 cab) Tube Screamer, DOD FX 17 (wah/vol combo). I didn't cheat and go with the Zoom MS50G or the 70 CDR. :)

No fx loop on that amp (IIRC) so you might rig up something for the MP3 in. That is all guess work. You are better off with a power amp/cab or an amp with an fx loop.

Different ports can do that. For example on a desktop the front ports are usually on a USB hub which L6 gear doesn't work with. Glad it worked out. -B

Well this is a user support forum and while official L6 guys pop in they are not always able to get at everyone. Support link up top will take you to the Support Ticket link - now that goes to them. -B

Was the unit working fine before and you were just updating the flash memory or was there a problem that you tried to resolve by reflashing the memory? I don't have a Mac so my help is limited there, but you could uninstall the L6 software and redownload/install everything. Try again. A few thing bung up the flash process - cables, usb hubs and old drivers. You could try using a different computer if you have access to one (preferably with a different OS) just as a way to check the HD. If all else fails -> shoot in a support ticket to L6. -B

The Big Bottom can do metal really well. My fave from the XT/X3 series.

Don't have one, but does the SV have "amp vol" settings and "master vol" settings for the patches?. Usually I've found that engaging the Wah disengages the volume pedal (on a lot of multiFX defaults to 100% vol) causing the big bamn! :) Might be something to look at until someone who knows pops by.

Thanks for the new Mike! Never know when that will come in handy. Welcome to the board too btw! -Bill

Not having a Spider II head - off the top of my head it doesn't have an FX loop so you will have to go in through the front. Its been my experience that the amps do not take too well to having a "pre" pre amp. My old Spider II combo for example would only work decently with some modulation FX. If you had a head with an FX loop you could go right in the FX In and use the head's power amp section. The FBV MKI or MKII will show the XTs patch name in the green display box so if you wanted to see preset models change the name to what you need. Keep in mind there are only so many letters. :) The XTs shine with the model packs IMO so that is another thing to consider. As far as "new world of FX"? I can't say as its been too long since I screwed around with the Spiders but the XT/X3 series still sound good to me. One option would be to pick up a power amp like a Rocktron Velocity in lieu of the Spider II head. -B

I heard that about Neil Schon and it reminds me of all the stories of guys running a Rockman to the board with a gigantic wall of cabs behind them. :) Personally for myself, the bar scene is typically a 45 - 60 min set so the quicker I am up and setup the better. Tear down too - the next band is usually already dragging gear up while we are tearing down. That and no lugging gear totaling ~ 100 lbs at 2 am in the snow. Almost forgot, I don't miss doing the stompbox shuffle either. :) -B