DeanDinosaur

Thanks for taking the time. With answers like this, I really hope those greedy (...) are paying you.

So TheRealZap, do you happen to know what's the pan law for the HD500, X and pro happens to be? Also since you have both the HD500 and HD500X, is there a different default on factory patches in regard to input 1 and input 2. Setting input one and two to guitar is far different sounding from 1:Guitar 2:variax and all the other crazy possibilities. Why can't line 6 give some guidance on this issue? I mean when they tested the models, what is the recommended setting to get the authentic sound they were trying to model?. I know it might sound funny that the the HD500X sounds different than the HD500, but that can be due to a different input/ output/setting and an issue that can be put to rest if line 6 gave some guidance. I had the HD300 first and when I moved to the HD500, I couldn't duplicate the patches I had in the 300 for the life of me. Do you want to know why, because it's not supported and it can't be done. Same amp, same digital simulation, yet staggering difference in gain staging and over all sound :o the best one yet is: you recently posted a sticky with a conversion utility between POD HD 500 / POD HD 500X / POD HD Desktop / POD HD Pro. If they're so identical why can't line6 provide a converter? :blink:

I don't think you need to apologize . I think if anything others need to apologize to you. That has been your experience and it's a valid one. There are many possibilities why HDX can sound better right of the box. Consider this: The default on most patches in the HD 500 was Mixer Hard left Hard right!! Maybe the HD500X changed that! For those who are looking for in your face natural amp sound, hard left and right has to be the worst possible setup. Pan the two mixer channels dead center and hear what I'm talking about. I'm talking setting the same perceived volume on two patches with any amp where the mixer channels are dead center will give the most defined best natural amp sound for whatever reason. If you use one channel dead center and mute the other, you won't get the full amp sound you would get if you use both channels dead center. In theory and science it might not make a lot of sense but consider that in DAWS, there's a pan law of different volume changes or no volume changes when you move the pan position. I have no idea what pan law is used in the HD500 (possibly -3db, some of the experts might want to chime in if they're reading this), but the stereo image and overall punch are affected significantly with every pan position and I'm not talking about the volume variation. After all this is a guitar processor, yet you can have two independent stereo paths, which is not necessarily a good thing for someone who just want the whole bandwidth (if that's the right term) dedicated to guitar, not guitar and vocals or two guitars one left and one right or even Variax and guitar Blah blah blah. So for anyone who's having a difficult time getting more natural full amp sound, I highly recommend panning the two channels dead center and for the sake of whatever is sacred to you, forget about dual amps. How many of us have played dual amps in the real world! The pods actually models very closely each amps regardless of all the naysayers. One amp with one speaker can sound pretty damn good, with little bit of tweaking! Before you start adding to the mix, get that one amp one speaker sounding right first.

I'm actually not debating. Most likely they sound identical and should there be any slight variation it would very likely be insignificant.

Sometimes improvement or degradation is unintentional. The reason behind the HD 500X getting a new Chip 25% faster is that the supplier could no longer supply the same chips according to what I I read somewhere here in this forum. When physical hardware changes even if slightly (not the DSP chip), analog hardware input and outputs variations can lead to some very clear discernible difference in sound that could be perceived as being better or worse depending on the user. If you don't believe this all you have to do is change one of the tone/ pots to a different brand or size.

Maybe they improved the quality of the input impedance. A long time ago I switched from the HD300, that doesn't have input impedance, to the HD500 and the sound was definitely better on HD500. Now I also have Eleven Rack and that sounds better than both. It's worth mentioning that AXE FX one didn't have input impedance but AXE II has it. A change in the input hardware can change the feel and sound significantly.

Switching to HD PRO X all you get is 20-25% increase in DSP power. Why is that important for a studio tool that is mainly intended to be used as AMP Modeler first and then inconsequentially effect processor?. Let's be realistic here, no one is buying HD series for the reverbs or modulations to use in the studio. Form factor in a Rack has to be the main attraction to HD PRO verses all other pods HD . SPDIF in and AES are the only things missing from other PODs as far as I know (the Word "Pro" is also missing from other pods). Is anyone really using the SPDIF in of the HD PRO? And for what? To polish other tracks with the Studio Compressors and Fully parametric EQs precision and capabilities of the HD PRO?

digitech confirmed that they're working on something to follow up the RP series.Currently RP55 is less than $50 has twelve amps plus effects that are on par if not better than POD X3 modeling. I'll make sure I'll let you know when the POD HD killer from Digitech is released :ph34r:

There will be an update after digitech releases their new modeler/FX processor. It would be too late because digitech don't mess around releasing anything short of a final complete product. I predict that when Digitech releases the new modeler, there will be amp modelers for less than $100 that have USB recording and amp modeling that rivals those of the HD PRO at ten times the price. Further more the Digitech modeler, at less than one hundred dollars, will have the option of paying to download additional amps and effects similar to amplitube custom shop.

I was just joking, but if I was to truly guess, I would think that the DSP available is based on what the CPU reports to the operating system so changing the CPU should be beneficial. I honestly can't see why arislaf says that software needs update also; if he's correct, that would be a very sloppy implementation.

They might have assigned a hard coded Percentage to each effect and amp model of a maximum hard coded number of the DSP available at 100%. They seem to like percentages they even used them in EQ and many other effects :D. If you change the processor, the effects are still using the same percentage so no benefit will be derived unless they change the 100% to 125% or something like that, Just a guess.

I have the HD500 and to me it's really not worth the hassle to upgrade to the HDX. The DSP update is an increase of somewhere around 25% extra! Similar to upgrading the CPU in my PC I don't feel the HD500 or the Bean are lacking in DSP but that's just me I guess. It's more than enough being able to put three reverbs with EQ etc in one patch, not that I do, or 2 harmonists and a delay + corus in one patch. I believe there's definitely a diminishing return the more effects you add to the signal. Still, I think it's a matter of time before they update the Bean, it has to be coming soon.

You will be able to hear what you play as you record.

As everyone mentioned, headphones will never translate the same result when speakers are used, but you can mitigate the major adverse effects from playing a patch that was conceived on headphones using regular speaker by doing a few things. The major problems have to do with the stereo separation that will translate horribly from headphones to speakers. If you pan every thing in the center, what sounds good on headphones might not sound as good or identical on speakers, but it won't sound as horrible as when you place things left, right and in between; in some cases it might sound quite good on speakers even though it's different. Also reverb will always be more than is really needed when you use speakers, so that can easily be lowered for when you need to use the patch with speakers..

Early on the Uber was what is now called Line 6 Elektric. It was brought back by popular demand as a new mp when the original Uber was changed dramatically as part of a firmware update. Firmware sometimes can introduce significant change in the tone relative to the guitar being used. Compare the uber with line 6 Elektric and you will feel the difference Even thought they were originally intended to model the same identical AMP. For those who have Variax, the latest update significantly changed the sound of many models, that many are really unhappy. I'ms starting to think this firmware update thing were models are completely reworked is a waste of time. If you dig deep you will notice that some effects also changed. Aside from new effects and amps and bugs, it's purely personal and speculative whether the models really improve with every firmware. It's almost the same as the arguments about good tone!

I'm all for improving products by firmware, but once a month specifically for a modeler is ridiculous for one reason: having to rework patches every time an update comes out isn't something I would enjoy doing. Sometimes with new updates, previous patches will never sound the same, that's why many working musicians don't even bother with updates. If anyone can't get the POD, or any modeler to sound good, I highly doubt that an update will change that. Still I think line6 should update more often than once a year. Regarding line 6 taking over, line 6 actually are dominating in their target market at the price range of under $500. The demographic for HD500 at less than $500 is very different than that of AXII at over $3000 with a controller. Based on what I've seen on the gear page and other forums, a huge chunk of AXE II demographics are hobbyists who love to spend time editing patches and reworking them with every update, even discussing the small detail of how each update changed the sound while some don't agree that the update changed their patches! I don't have sales figure but it's clear that the market for a 3k modeler is fraction of of that under $500. Getting back to topic, I think the next update will be a significant update. Since the last update was almost a year ago, my guess is that line 6 is saving the update to when new major competitors release new products. We all know Digitech is working on something, if that ever gets released, what better time than that would be for line 6 to release a massive update! Then you have Revavler 4 in beta, releasing a POD Farm HD that hopefully is free with HD hardware would be a very smart answer from Line 6. I Know these things are coming, but to dominate a market, timing is critical. so I think the timing of the next update could be linked to competitors releasing new modeling products.

Non taken pal. The bottom line: HD is more than good enough for any professional otherwise Steve Howe and many more professional working musicians wouldn't be using it. You clearly said what I said exactly: the AXE II is pricey but keeps improving. I've been hearing this since AXE I that it keeps improving, yet it's always so good almost identical to plugging into an amp. It's not and never will be, nor is the Kemper or any modeling device. What's being modeled is the sound of a MICED amp. AMP will always sound different regardless whether it's better or worse. If you want the sound of a tube amp, you get a tube amp,. you want the sound of a miced tube amp you get a modeler. If you have HD500 plus DT50 you have the best of both worlds and the difference between that and and AXI II or a kemper is truly night and day difference. If you get HD with DT amp, You get real tube Amp for LIVE use with guitar speakers and also the option of so many different amp sounds and effects, and better yet money to spear. Kemper or AXII two don't give you that, if you want to use them with real tube amps,you're on you're on, it might work and it might not, POD and DT amp is an unbeatable combo because they're customized to work with each other.

Damn right it's a major price. You spent too much money into the HYPE of AXE II. sure it might be more featured with more amps and effects etc.but it doesn't come with a controller like the HD500. you should sell it and for the money you get from the sale you can get this: 1-POD HD 500 2-JTV Variax 3-DT-50 Amp POD HD500 modeling is good enough for whatever it is. I recently bought an Eleven Rack because they were so cheap but still didn't get rid of my HD500 because I programmed sounds that I still enjoy. Any way forget about me, the POD as is today is good enough for professionals as well as anyone who plays guitar, I'm not going to list professional who use it but it's worth mentioning that Steve Howe from YES uses it on stage it to faithfully recreate the sounds True to the record. So the modeling in the HD is pretty damn close to the actual amp (close enough for all intended purposes). Presuming there's a marginal improvement in the AXE II, spending that money isn't justified specially if it involves missing meals. http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Rig_Rundown_Yes_Steve_Howe_and_Chris_Squire

It's in "Line 6 devices" that gives you access to the driver, in windows you can find it in the control panel or even in the start menu.

In Guitar Rig you have to choose the POD HD500 ASIO Driver. IF you only want to hear GR and not the POD in LINE 6 devices in the monitor TAB, move the volume slider all the way to the left. Now you will only hear GR presets. Now remember as long asUSB is connected you will not hear POD HD unless you move that slider back to the right or in case you using a DAW you can activate the monitor on the audio track.

That's a very rational and lucid post Silverhead, but logic and rationale has nothing to do with anything when it comes to Art (guitar playing B) ). We want updates and more toys. I really wanted an update a long time ago and couldn't wait so I got an Eleven Rack. If line 6 had an update earlier I might have stuck around and bought a Variax or something else from line 6. It's expected of line 6 because line 6 has done it more than most companies (except for Fractal and Kemper). I still like the HD even though Eleven Rack has more realistic amps, because the HD has its own charm and very many good sounds in it. I thought of it this way, I was willing to pay for model packs and line 6 didn't have them so I paid about $300 for an Eleven Rack and got the mother of all updates!

Well for this to work , the patch in the POD HD has to be completely dry so the preset can't include amp models or anything in it.Unfortunately if you want to use the POD's Driver and use the POD as a controller, the PODs patches all have to be dry. A work around would be to make a setlist specifically for amplitube and copy a dry patch to all the presets in the Setlist in the POD. WHen you select that setlist, all the presets will be dry and won't effect the Amplitube presets.

In Amplitube you have to choose the POD HD500 ASIO Driver. IF you only want to hear amplitube and not the POD in LINE 6 devices in the monitor TAB, move the volume slider all the way to the left. Now you will only hear amplitube presets. Now remember as long as you USB is connected you will not hear POD HD unless you move that slider back to the right or in case you using a DAW you can activate the monitor on the audio track.

Yes I meant 100%.

I believe you get the best signal to noise ratio with master volume for the whole unit at 10 (the actual physical knob, not the amp master volume).