fs-1 through fs-4 (for program switching)

[rsp2rsp2rsp2rsp2]

it is probably right in front of my eyes and yet i Googled to come up with nothing. help here, fast and easy?

 

so, i used the Editor to customize my 8 of my best sounds. easy and love it.

 

when i push fs-5 through fs-8, mt new hd500x does what i want (change fs-5 through fs-8).

 

but when i do the same with fs-1 through fs-4, it is set to bypass effects, not change programs 1-4.

 

someone kindly coach me on how to achieve 1-4 switching.

[alienux]

Have you read the manual that came with the HD500x (I'm assuming you have it since you mentioned it being new)? If not, you really need to read through the manual as there aren't really any shortcuts for using this pedal for your personal tastes.

 

 

If you go into the System Setup menu by holding the "view" button down, you'll see an option on the first page (of 10) for FS Mode. This allows you to configure FS 5-8 for either footswitches to enable/disable specific effects, or to act as ABCD buttons for switching between 4 presets.

 

To do 8 different patches, you'll need to set 4 patches in 2 different banks. There are 16 available banks per setlist for a total of 64 possible patches per setlist. The buttons on the very left allow you to move up and down between banks. Set your first 4 patches on bank one and your next 4 on bank 2, and then you'll be able to use the bank select buttons to switch between the 2 banks.

[silverhead]

You can't use fs1 - fs4 for patch switching. The device is not designed for that. Presets are organized into banks of 4 presets. Only one bank is active at any moment, restricting preset selection footswitch action to the 4 presets in the active bank. The issue is: Which non-active bank of 4 presets should fs1-fs4 control? There's no way to determine that without redesigning the product. Not going to happen.

[rsp2rsp2rsp2rsp2]

ok, i have work arounds. i did browse the manual and google search it but, nothing came up.

[stormstudios]

I actually think this is one area that Line 6 didn't do enough user research and could have really made this more flexible for users.

 

The 8 switches should be able to work in any combination. If you want ALL 8 for patch switching you should and the bank up/down would go up by 2 banks. Simple usability.

 

On the flip side, I would prefer all 8 be assignable to effect devices and the up/down would just move incrementally through each patch up/down. Simple usability.

 

The usability experts got their brains locked into 'I learned to use banks of four so everyone else must!' and they didn't explain WHY they decided to limit it....only that they did limit it and users are seeing ways this could be better...not that they didn't read the manual.

[edstar1960]

I actually think this is one area that Line 6 didn't do enough user research and could have really made this more flexible for users.

 

The 8 switches should be able to work in any combination. If you want ALL 8 for patch switching you should and the bank up/down would go up by 2 banks. Simple usability.

 

On the flip side, I would prefer all 8 be assignable to effect devices and the up/down would just move incrementally through each patch up/down. Simple usability.

 

The usability experts got their brains locked into 'I learned to use banks of four so everyone else must!' and they didn't explain WHY they decided to limit it....only that they did limit it and users are seeing ways this could be better...not that they didn't read the manual.

 

Your preference is already available. You can already assign all 8 FS to individual fx and use the bank up/down buttons to step rthough one preset at a time - it's called pedalboard mode and is selectable via the VIEW button in the system setup menu, on page one as FS MODE - choose option FS5-8 instead of ABCD.  

 

The default option of ABCD - allows you to use the lower 4 FS (FS5-9) to select presets within a bank BUT also gives the versatility of allowing you to dynamically switch on and off individual fx (or several fx at once) with each of the FS 1-4, as well as using the expression pedal toe switch and the expression pedal itself to switch fx and alter fx parameters.  In my opinion this is a very flexible option giving the best of both worlds - allowing quick preset change and flexibility of switching fx within the preset as and when needed.  It allows you to punch in overdrive, or have a clean boost or switch in a chorus or flanger or a delay as and when needed.  Or it allows one FS to punch in several fx - or to punch in one and switch off another with a single press. (what more flexibility could anyone want when within a preset?). Instant access to 4 presets is probably enough for anyone within one song, so I can't see the benefit would be of having instant access to 8 presets via the footswitches - unless someone really need to swap through 8 totally different sound setups within one song but even then it would not be too tricky to use 2 banks of 4 - just one extra fs press needed. 

 

Personally I prefer the way they have designed it as it gives me all the options I want and the default mode gives so many options and I can always use pedalboard mode if I need to have individual control of each of the 8 assignable fx blocks.       :)

[stormstudios]

my bad I guess and I did something wrong.....when I switched into the 8 effect switches mode the Bank still went up and down by 4 patches.....I'll have to try it again to confirm. I'm traveling with the rack unit right now so I won't be able to for a bit. Thanks for the help. I wondered why it didn't seem right.

[edstar1960]

my bad I guess and I did something wrong.....when I switched into the 8 effect switches mode the Bank still went up and down by 4 patches.....I'll have to try it again to confirm. I'm traveling with the rack unit right now so I won't be able to for a bit. Thanks for the help. I wondered why it didn't seem right.

 

I checked the manual again and to select a preset you have to use the BANK up/down button to navigate to the required BANK and then press either A/B/C/D once in that bank to select the specific patch within that bank.  Then once in the chosen patch, if you have selected pedalboard mode in your SYSTEM OPTIONS screen (eg: FS5-8) then each of the 8 FS can be used to individually switch on/off fx.  If you are in default ABCD mode then pressing FS5-8 will instantly swap you to the relevant AB/C/D patch within that bank.  Sorry about my earlier reply - I tried pedalboard mode some time ago and thought I only needed to press the bank up/down button to step through individual patches but I must have had to press the A/B/C/D button as well to pick a patch within the bank.   Try it when you next get a chance.

[rsp2rsp2rsp2rsp2]

_{thanks for all comments here. option fs5-8 seems perfect.}

[stormstudios]

Awesome....that's even better then. Thanks. I should have dug a little deeper. I will try this when I get back. I'm with my rack unit at the current moment. This is great news and I appreciate your honesty and research.