amsdenj Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 When connecting the HD500X to MainStage, I want to be able to use the Looper switch as a "mode" switch so I can get two different functions on FS1 to FS8. For example, I set System > Utilities > FS Mode to FS5 - FS8, that makes all 8 footswitches available to control MainStage. I use these to control 8 front-of-the-amp effects blocks into a MainStage track with the S-Gear plugin. Then I use the Looper switch as a mode switch in order to send another set of MIDI CC messages with FS5 - FS8, I configure these footswitches to control the MainStage looper plugin, and the next/previous song. FS1 - Undo FS2 - Clear FS3 - Next Song FS4 FS5 - Record/Overdub FS6 - Play/Stop FS7 - Previous Song FS8 So the MainStage looper is mostly setup similar to the HD500X looper, and I have two extra footswitches to navigate the MainStage concert. I'm not currently using FS8, but it could be used to control something else in MainStage. My question is on FS4. The HD500X Advanced Guide on page 8.2 says FS4 can be used to turn looper mode on and off. The presentation mode display shows the looper icon on FS4. However, FS4 doesn't do anything different when the Looper switch is lit - it still sends CC 54, the same as if the Looper switch was off. I need to be able to turn the HD500X looper off entirely since I'm reusing its footswitches to control MainStage's looper and I don't want both loopers running at the same time. I currently do this by simply turning the HD500X looper playback volume all the way down. But it would be nice if there was some way to turn the global Looper block on and off, just like any other block - perhaps by selecting it in the signal chain and pressing the enter key. Is this a bug? Is the manual incorrect on page 8.2 and is describing the Looper switch, not FS4? Is there some other way to turn the HD500X looper off? Perhaps sending CC 99? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson69978 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Hello Amsdenj. I recently bought the pod hd 500x as well. On my unit I don't seem to be able to turn the looper on/off either. The FS 4 led ring does not light in the looper mode at all. This must be a software issue. (my Guess). I am not using any midi functionality with the unit, and to be truthful my midi knowledge is not the best when it comes to midi controllers change numbers etc. (But I am willing to learn) So, I am afraid I can't help with your midi controllers question. If you can find, or know of a non- midi solution, I would appreciate the tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncann Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 When connecting the HD500X to MainStage, I want to be able to use the Looper switch as a "mode" switch so I can get two different functions on FS1 to FS8. For example, I set System > Utilities > FS Mode to FS5 - FS8, that makes all 8 footswitches available to control MainStage. I use these to control 8 front-of-the-amp effects blocks into a MainStage track with the S-Gear plugin. Then I use the Looper switch as a mode switch in order to send another set of MIDI CC messages with FS5 - FS8, I configure these footswitches to control the MainStage looper plugin, and the next/previous song. FS1 - Undo FS2 - Clear FS3 - Next Song FS4 FS5 - Record/Overdub FS6 - Play/Stop FS7 - Previous Song FS8 So the MainStage looper is mostly setup similar to the HD500X looper, and I have two extra footswitches to navigate the MainStage concert. I'm not currently using FS8, but it could be used to control something else in MainStage. My question is on FS4. The HD500X Advanced Guide on page 8.2 says FS4 can be used to turn looper mode on and off. The presentation mode display shows the looper icon on FS4. However, FS4 doesn't do anything different when the Looper switch is lit - it still sends CC 54, the same as if the Looper switch was off. I need to be able to turn the HD500X looper off entirely since I'm reusing its footswitches to control MainStage's looper and I don't want both loopers running at the same time. I currently do this by simply turning the HD500X looper playback volume all the way down. But it would be nice if there was some way to turn the global Looper block on and off, just like any other block - perhaps by selecting it in the signal chain and pressing the enter key. Is this a bug? Is the manual incorrect on page 8.2 and is describing the Looper switch, not FS4? Is there some other way to turn the HD500X looper off? Perhaps sending CC 99? According to the manual, CC 99 turns the looper on/off. To turn it off, the value has to be 0-63. To turn it on, the value has to be 64-127. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson69978 Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Thanks Duncann. But shouldn't that fs4 button toggle it on off without midi when in the looper mode? I also find that there is no good way to completely clear a previous loop. (When I have started a new loop and do overdubs and then use undo, I have heard remnants of previous loops that should have been cleared) The manual says you have to stop the loop and a new loop is created when you hit the rec/ overdub button. I used to own the pod hd 400 and had no looper issues. it does work a bit differently, But you can easily completely clear a loop on that unit. I am surprised more users have not complained about this. You never ever see any one on utube or line 6 videos using or even addressing the looper on/off feature. Mmm, is this because it doesn't Work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncann Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 Thanks Duncann. But shouldn't that fs4 button toggle it on off without midi when in the looper mode? I also find that there is no good way to completely clear a previous loop. (When I have started a new loop and do overdubs and then use undo, I have heard remnants of previous loops that should have been cleared) The manual says you have to stop the loop and a new loop is created when you hit the rec/ overdub button. I used to own the pod hd 400 and had no looper issues. it does work a bit differently, But you can easily completely clear a loop on that unit. I am surprised more users have not complained about this. You never ever see any one on utube or line 6 videos using or even addressing the looper on/off feature. Mmm, is this because it doesn't Work? I don't see anything about FS4 in the advanced manual relating to the looper. The foot-switch labeled LOOPER should turn it on/off manually though. Oh, I just noticed that the display, when the looper is turned on, gives the impression that FS4 is used to turn the looper on/off. It does not. Use the button to the right of FS4. Sorry I can't help with the rest as I've never used the looper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhead Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 I believe that engaging the tuner will also erase any existing recorded loop. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson69978 Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 I believe that engaging the tuner will also erase any existing recorded loop. Thank you silverhead. I will try the " tuner " trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amsdenj Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 The "Looper" switch doesn't do anything directly with the looper - rather it changes the configuration of FS1-FS8 to send fixed MIDI messages and control the looper. If the looper is playing, pressing the Looper switch has no effect on the running loop. Rather it allows you to change patches and effect blocks while you are playing along with the loop. The Looper switch provides a "shift" mode to redefine the 8 foot switches. I use this with MainStage to get 15 programmable foot switches. FS4 is the only odd one. It sends the same MIDI CC whether the Looper switch is on or off, and doesn't do what the manual says, or what is indicated on the foot switch display. I think this is just a bug. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncann Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 The "Looper" switch doesn't do anything directly with the looper - rather it changes the configuration of FS1-FS8 to send fixed MIDI messages and control the looper. If the looper is playing, pressing the Looper switch has no effect on the running loop. Rather it allows you to change patches and effect blocks while you are playing along with the loop. The Looper switch provides a "shift" mode to redefine the 8 foot switches. I use this with MainStage to get 15 programmable foot switches. FS4 is the only odd one. It sends the same MIDI CC whether the Looper switch is on or off, and doesn't do what the manual says, or what is indicated on the foot switch display. I think this is just a bug. Ok. Sorry for my non-understanding of how the looper works. Learned something new. But I still can't find anything in the manual about FS4 and any relation to the looper. Have you tried using CC 61 to stop the looper, and then use CC 99 to toggle the looper mode? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amsdenj Posted March 14, 2015 Author Share Posted March 14, 2015 See the end of page 8.1 and the beginning of page 8.2 in POD HD500X Advanced Guide - English.pdf. It shows FS4 in the performance view display controls the looper and the description for FS4 is: "LOOPER - Toggles Looper Mode On/Off. When this switch’s LED is lit, the POD HD500X Looper Mode is active. The Performance View screen will display the Looper functions when the Looper is active, as shown above. " Rather FS4 does the same thing it does with Looper mode off. This is the bug. It should turn the looper block in the signal chain on and off. That's not the same as pressing play/stop on the looper. Nor is it the same as pressing the Looper mode switch, which just reassigns the foot switches to Looper functions, which should include FS4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncann Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Are you sure you're not getting confused about the way the performance view is displaying the icons? Two rows of four columns; which kind of implies each FS should control one of the functions displayed, in the order they are displayed. But notice the inverted text underneath the looper icon. I take that to mean that only FS1 - FS3 on the top row does something, and FS5 - FS8 does what's displayed on the bottom row. But FS4 does nothing, and I don't think it was ever intended to do something. Plus there's no label on FS4 except for FS4 above the switch. Or are you saying that even though FS4 doesn't control anything with the looper, it should still have a different, assignable function when the looper mode is engaged? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson69978 Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 Amsdenj is correct... In my opinion. On/0ff is not the same as play/stop. Also Silverhead is correct. Bringing up the tuner mode, then disengaging it totally cleared any previous Loops. I couldn't find this info in the manuals but Silverhead knew about it. Guess that's why you are an expert. Thanks so much everyone!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amsdenj Posted March 16, 2015 Author Share Posted March 16, 2015 Regarding the difference between play/stop and on/off - if the looper is off, it should not record or play even if you press the Rec or Play/Stop switches. This is important if you want to use the switches to control some other MIDI device. That's what I'm trying to do and how I discovered the issue. "Bringing up the tuner mode, then disengaging it totally cleared any previous Loops." sounds like a bug too. Why should tuning your instrument clear a loop? But in any case its nice to know. I think the looper capabilities are incomplete in the current HD500. Hopefully some of these functions will be completed in the 2.6 update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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