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Hey Line 6-ers, I've been using the Four Cable Method (4CM) for a few years now with my POD HD500 and a Blackstar HT Stage 60 amp. It's been quite successful, albeit after some very careful tweaking. I've posted a video with the results on my youtube channel if you would like to view it for some context: Click Here Essentially it details a disparity between the "Guitar In" jack and the "FX Send" jack. With all things in the signal chain being set to Unity - no FX blocks and Amp Mods on Bypass - The level coming out of the FX Send jack is -2.8dB LOWER, on average, than the source signal. I tested this with a signal generator, recording the level over time, averaging it out. Then putting that signal through the POD HD500 and out the FX Send jack, recording the level over time, averaging it out - and you see the -2.8dB difference. This is consistent across any of the settings for the FX Loop Level (STOMP/LINE) meaning that the issue is not related to that level - it's internal. About 2 years after I did this in-depth analysis - I haven't seen any changes in the firmware that fixed this quirk, but I did start playing with the FX Loop Level switch and the Unbalanced Out switch - which don't make any sense to me. My questions to the Line 6 Folks: 1 - Is the 2.8dB DROP from Guitar In to FX Send deliberate - or is it a bug? Or is it because I'm using a TS cable to go to ONE amp instead of a TRS->TRS cable? 2 - Can you help me (all of us) make heads or tails of the STOMP/LINE/AMP settings with Unbalanced Out, and FX Loop - the only number actually given is the LINE level for the Unbalanced out. From what I've read of the manual: Unbalaced Out: AMP = +4dBv (this is assumed because the only number given is the LINE setting of -10dBv) LINE = -10dBv FX Loop: LINE = +4dBv (this is assumed because the manual says "higher peak-to-peak voltage, making it optimal for Line-level devices") STOMP = -10dBv (this is assumed because LINE was assumed as the +4dBV) I HAVE to be reading this incorrectly - does higher peak-to-peak voltage mean -10dBv? - why would the 2 LINE settings be different? I do know that BOTH -10dBv and +4dBv are LINE-Level, one is for Pro audio application, and the other for Consumer application. Should all 3 of my levels be set consistently? (All at -10 or all at +4?) Currently, my setup is as follows: Unbalanced Out set to AMP(+4dBv), FX Loop set to STOMP(-10dBv), and my amps loop is set to -10dBv. The Result is Loud and clear sound from the amp - but it can be a little noisy, lots of digital background white noise (probably due to dirty power in my old house - so, not faulting L6 for that.)...I can barely turn it up past 2 or it's blowing my ears out. So that means that my amp and the FX Loop are both running at -10dBv, but that the FX Return on my amp is getting a +4dBv from the Unbalanced out of the POD. If I change the Amp's FX Loop to +4dBv - very subtle change, if any at all...hardly noticeable, same thing if I change the LINE/STOMP FX Loop on the POD HD. HOWEVER if I change the Unbalanced Out on the POD HD to LINE, my volume drops significantly and the gain doubles...my clean amp channel sounds like a dimed AC30. I'm hoping this Real-World example is a helpful analysis for everyone - I'm stoked about my setup and it's super easy to gig with - This is more of an intellectual exercise for fellow nerds like me. Rock.

I did trawl through Knowledge base but could not get an answer to this. Just about to buy an M9 but not certain how the 4CM applies. 4CM is used to split FXs pre and post pre-amp. I know how to plug the guitar into the M9 and the FX loop arrangement between M9 and the amp's send and return, ;) , but nowhere have I been able to find the answer to where that fourth cable (which goes to the amp's input) inserts into the M9. The only one it can be is the remaining left output, and that means you can't run the 4CM in stereo - am I right? Very grateful if anyone can help here, and has anyone used this to configure a Flex pedal for use as a wah wah so that its signal goes to the amp input direct, while mod FX go to send/return? cheers

I'm using my HD500 with the 4cm to use my amp's preamp for high-gain sounds, and the HD500 for overdrive sounds, clean sounds, and all effects. I'm then using my amp's power amp and cabinet for reinforcement. Here's the trouble: I get my clean (Blackface Vibrato, full amp) patch sounding just the way I want, and max the channel volume (it's the quietest patch). Then I adjust my OD patch (PhD Motorway, full amp) to match the Blackface. Now I adjust my amp's preamp to get its level to match the clean and od patches- by dropping the preamp volume/master volulme. Doing this, I'm getting a lot fewer dB's at the speaker than I would get if I was running my amp without the HD500, there's so much volume drop that I'm having trouble getting back up to rehearsal/gig volume, even with the HD500's Master maxed. Setup/testing notes: The amp is a Genz Benz El Diablo 60TS head, which has a serial, post-master FX loop. GB's documentation is unclear if this loop runs at +4dBu or -10dBv. I run the HD500 FX loop in "line" mode, with a -7dB send and a +8dB return, per perapera's research. [updated Link] Before using the HD500, keeping the amp's channel volume at about 50% and the master volume at about 30-40%, I was able to get good rehearsal/gig volume. I'm matching patch levels using the HD500's looper (pre-processing) and an iPhone dB meter at bedroom and rehearsal volumes. Solutions I've tried: Running an Xotic EP-booster (maxed, for about +20dB boost) between the HD500's output and the amp's FX return. This provided adequate levels, but I prefer to use the EP-booster before the HD500 (not maxed). Using the "Tube Comp" model after my clean and OD amp models. This provides adequate levels, but I'm unsatisfied with its effects on the clean patch's tone. TL;DR version- My clean patches aren't loud enough to drive my power amp to rehearsal/gig volumes. Does anyone have advice on getting a squeaky-clean patch to match the level of a physical high-gain preamp? (no, I'm not interested in a new amp or a frfr solution)

OK, I'm pretty much fed up with the POD 500 I have here. I'm using this thru a Mesa Mark V head for effects only, via the 4 cable method. When the POD500 was setup, it was working great, no problems, except the occaisional distortion that I've posted about before in here. Now the problem is that when I engage the effects loop, via my mesa foot switch, my chorus started sounding warbly, like some weird sonar-radar effect.... Then later I've gotten some nasty loud squeals. Please keep in mind,sometimes it works properly, then it does this... It works just fine again, then does it again..... I'm pretty much fed up with this. Has anyone here had anything like this happen to them? Is there something I'm missing. I love having the 4 cable method... but will the wah sound any different thru the loop? Perhaps I should ditch the 4 cm?