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I just recently updated my Spider IV 150 to current specs and am exploring the new Gain effects. One thing that has always bothered me with modeling amps is the slight delay when switching amp models or channels (from A to B etc.) It occurred to me that with the new Gain effects, you don't have to switch channels to switch to your dirty sound. It's almost like the difference between switching channels and stepping on a distortion pedal (which I assume is what Line 6 was going for). My only issue is that the Gain stomps just don't quite have the same feeling as the amp models with drive cranked up. I've found that Tube Driver gets pretty close for a good rock to metal sounds, when compared to the cranked Class A Red or Insane Red. The Screamer is nice too but, I don't know how to describe it... I suppose what I kept running into is two conflicting EQs between the amp model and the stomp model (which just took time to find a good balance or just pick a new FX1 option) and a difference in output level, the cleans always seem to be more full and a little louder then when I kick in the Stomp effect. In the end I guess what I'm asking is if other people run into this to, how they deal with it, how they use the Gain effects, if anybody has some tips how to apply those effects along with channel volume, gain, drive etc. and lastly do people prefer to switch from A to B for clean/dirty or use the effects? Thanks!!!!

I posted this in the old forum months ago, since many peole found it useful I thought I could re-post it here: ___ I really think these are important things not stated (or in some cases not clearly stated) in the manual, that you need to know to start seriously programming your POD HD I ran some serious tests on my Pod HD 500 and here is what I found out (I made my tests on a POD HD500 but this is valid for HD500X and HD Pro and is very similar for the "bean" version too), I'll try to be as synthetic (but complete and clear) as possible, but this is going to be a long reading so sit down and take your time or just go surfing somewhere else §§§ In short: the "famous" [input-1: guitar / input-2: variax] setting gives you different levels of signal depending on the position of the first *mono* effect block you use (amplifiers included), in particular you LOSE 6dB in the "pre" path in comparison to the path A/B or post path (note that this is not the same as saying that you gain 6dB with input-2 to "same", read on). [ if you don't know what I'm talking about just go and read this thread: http://line6.com/support/thread/74045?start=0&tstart=0 then come back here to hear a different opinion on the matter] first of all, try it out: - connect a guitar to the guitar input and the Left output to a full-range linear amp (or use your headphones) - recall a "new tone" default blank patch - set input-1 to Guitar and input-2 to Variax - set mixer channel A fader to unity (0.0dB) and pan to center - set mixer channel B fader to mute - setup a noise gate* with the threshold set to 0% in "pre" position (with this setting this IS a unity gain mono fx block) - play thru it - now if you bypass it, you'll hear that it looses 6dB of level when it's active (I initially thought this was noise gate's fault, but it's NOT) - now re-activate the noise gate and move it in A or "post" path - now if you try to bypass it you'll hear that it does NOT loose any dB - try moving the block back and forth between pre and A or post paths and you'll hear more level in path A or post than in pre this was already found out at least by hurghanico here: http://line6.com/support/message/403287#403287 but it's so important that needs a dedicated and more detailed thread. [* you can repeat the experiment with other mono effects instead of a noise gate but keep in mind that, if you want to clearly hear a level difference, you need a mono unity gain (www.music-dictionary.org/unity_gain) effect, for example: - a tube comp with thresh 100% & level 2% settings will work just as the noise gate above - an fx loop block with a mono cable connected between send and return will work just the same (but also read point 2 below) - do it with an amp with medium-low gain and, moving it between pre and A or post paths, you'll hear a significant difference in gain/ovedrive/distortion, not only level difference] §§§ OK now that you heard it, let's see it in detail; these are the REAL schemes of the pod and fx blocks routing, yes it's done by hand and I love it ;-) As you can see the pre path is a "dual-path" while A, B and post are all stereo paths; at the splitting point, where the path A and B are born, the signal coming from input-1 is splittted to the Left and Right channels of the path A and the signal coming from input-2 is splittted to the Left and Right channels of the path B; furthermore all fx blocks have TWO inputs and two outputs and the mono blocks do attenuate by 6dB and sum their inputs, then process the result and then split their mono output to both outputs of the block; for those who don't know, notice that: - "splitting" means duplicating one mono signal to two "routes" - and summing those two identical signals means doubling the level of the original signal (which equals to 6dB more) [and some side-notes: - the "stereo dry & mono wet" effects are for example the pitch effects and the "dry" type delays, I'm not considering this type of effects in this post, but they work as expected from the scheme you see above; - you can find a list of all the fx blocks divided by type here: http://line6.com/support/page/kb/_/pod/pod-hd/stereomono-fx-list-for-pod-hd-r567 where "stereo dry & mono wet" blocks are called "Stereo Thru/Mono Effect" which I personally find less clear - the mixer control named as "pan" is actually a "balance" control because if you move it to one side (e.g.: left) it acts on the stereo or dual mono signal by doing NOTHING on that side (left) and ATTENUATING the opposite side (right)] §§§ So, summarizing, if you only activate input-1, in the pre path, the first mono effect is attenuating the input 1 and 2 and summing them, but, since input-2 is actually silence, you loose 6dB; in A, B and post paths the effects are receiving a doubled signal on L/R, so the mono blocks, attenuating and summing the two signals, receive the right signal level to process so using "same" or "guitar" for input-2 does not mean to gain anything, but having a constant doubled signal wich is compensated by a 6dB attenuation in each mono summing it encounters in his flow please note that I am NOT saying that using only input-1 is wrong, you just need to know that this can give you different gain results depending on the position of the first mono effect with only input-1 active (Guitar/Variax) and the same parameter values, this: is giving you more distortion than that: now, if you use those two setups with "Input-1: Guitar / Input-2: Same", you get EXACTLY the same sound with both and this is something that can not be ignored ...don't know how to be more clear than that

Hello, I own an old Toneport GX (with the red color) and POD Farm 2. I haven't tried yet as I did not solder the right cable but, will I have proper input levels when connecting a dynamic mic? There's no gain button on the GX and no visible input gain button in POD Farm :( .

In order to get a feel for the signal levels suitable for the HD500, I've made a few measurements of the gains available from the different inputs to the various outputs. I've also measured the gain of all the FX. A small Excel spreadsheet containing the data can be found here (unfortunately, I can only upload a PDF version of the data, which I've done here). A brief summary is shown below: All measurements were made at 1kHz with Master Volume = max, S/PDIF gain = 0dB, and Input2 = Variax (although this didn't make any difference because I had Inputs 1 & 2 panned hard Left/Right). Guitar input pad = -5.2dB compared to normal. 1/4" (line) output has 6.1dB more signal than 1/4" (amp). Aux & Guitar (normal) have the same gain structure (except Guitar has programmable input impedance). Guitar (normal) input to 1/4"(amp) output has 4.9dB of loss with no FX, no Amp, and Mixer = 0dB. Compared to 1/4" (amp) output, the XLR output is 9.4dB less while the phone output is 15.4dB more. Compared to the Aux/Guitar(normal) input, Mic (min gain) has 6.2dB less gain while Mic (max gain) has 38dB more gain. Aux/Guitar(normal) input clips at 0dBFS (measured at S/PDIF) with 8.3Vpp Mic (min gain) input clips at -1.1dBFS (measured at S/PDIF) with 14Vpp Mic (max gain) input clips at -1.1dBFS (measured at S/PDIF) with 91mVpp CD/MP3 input clips at various levels near 20Vpp, depending on which output is used (XLR, 1/4", or Phones) By far most of the FX have 0dB of gain, but there are several exceptions (e.g., Graphic EQ = 2.9dB, Tape Echo = -5dB, and others). FX were measured with Mix=0% (to eliminate comb filtering effects) and Gain=0dB (usually). The PDF files contain the whole list. Using some of this data you can see the clip level is essentially set by digital clipping, although the mic input stage only gets you to within 1.1dB of fullscale (close enough to call it fullscale in my opinion). The output stages will not get close to their clip levels (unless you use the CD/MP3 input which bypasses the digital engine). That is, it's sufficient to look at the S/PDIF signal to keep your signal below fullscale. You don't have to worry about clipping the input stages. You also don't have to worry about clipping the analog output stages. I hope you find this useful in optimizing the setup of your equipment. IO Gain.pdf FX Gain.pdf

The various amp models on the Spider IV give different distortion sounds, and you control how much distortion via the drive setting. But separate from that, FX1 gives a range of distortion effects options like "screamer" and so on, and you can control the amount of this distortion with FX1's "gain" setting. But how do these two interact? I don't mean that technically... I don't think... I mean in terms of modeling different tones do people generally use one type of distortion or the other (i.e. amp or FX1), or both together? It seems like most of the factory presets with distortion use both, but that's confusing to me (so many permutations!). If the amp models are meant to mimic various types of amps with their own distortion, why add the FX1 distortion effect on top of that?

I've been reading about the volume issues with the DT50 212. Too loud, etc. Before I say anything else its the real deal amp. I'm blown away with the HD500 integration. The Solo models are to die for!!!! Here's what I do to deal with volume issues: Each amps output can be set to the expression pedal without using DSP. Watch for how to do this. I've taken my amps/tones and used this technique to lower the overall volume (around a maximum value of 50-60) while keeping the master volume on the high power position (pushed in). Keep the master at about 12 o'clock (or what you like) and use the output settings to level each amp (patch) to each other and to lessen the output. This can be done with dual tones as well, just set both amps to similar parameters, and same expression pedal. Do you lose sound? At 50-60 ... no on most amp models. Some amp models lose slightly, but low volume is merely, usually practice. Is this the perfect fix? Probably not. However, your amp/patches will be leveled, properly loud, and get full use of channel volume and master volume mixes. When playing live a quick touch on the master can work wonders. Let me know how this works out if you try it. His advice (see link above) for wah pedals is spot on too. If its too loud ... move! LOL Happy jamming! bribrew1968