Best settings to record POD HD500x via balanced output?

[sbesozzi]

Hey guys!

 

I just got my POD HD500x and I'm having several issues; I hooked it up to my ProFire 2626 interface via the balanced (XLR) outputs. I made a nice distortion patch, but no matter what I do, I either get a reeeeeally weak signal or I get crackling. Even if the signal level is at 50%-60%, I'll get crackling (especially when using Wah or delay). But if I turn it down the signal is too weak. So my question is the following:

 

1. How should I set the amp's volume, mixer volume and master on the POD HD500x in order to achieve the loudest, clearest signal?

2. Should I use make up gain on my interface?

 

Thanks

[DunedinDragon]

Do you have the mic/instr button set to mic?  The XLR outputs on the HD500X are set to mic level outputs, not instrument level outputs.

[sbesozzi]

It's set to mic :/ I'd understand the crackling if the levels were clipping, but they're not. They're at about 50%. It crackles more when I play louder/add louder effects. When I plug headphones straight to the POD HD500x, everything's fine.

[silverhead]

Just to test..... what happens if you remove the ProFire from your setup and use the HD500 and its ASIO driver as the audio interface to your DAW?

[sbesozzi]

Just tried it. It works perfectly fine. Levels are good, no crackling. But I don't get it, I've had no issues whatsoever with my ProFire before. And I don't want to switch interfaces everytime I want to record guitars haha.

[silverhead]

Does your Profire have an s/pdif input? You could try that with the POD s/pdif output.

[sbesozzi]

It does! I'll go grab a spdif cable later and try it out. Think it could make a difference?

[silverhead]

It could make a difference. We're trying to narrow down the source of the problem. So far we know that the POD itself works as the audio interface via usb, and it works OK using headphones. So it's not the POD processing at fault.

 

So now we narrow down further. The Troubleshooting 101 steps I would take are:

 

Since the POD XLR audio outputs to the Profire inputs does not work, it's either the cables, the POD XLR outputs or something with the Profire.

Testing cables is easy - if you have extra XLRs do that first.

I suggested using the POD s/pdif output to see if the problem is somewhere in the XLR signal path. If the s/pdif connection works OK then it's either the POD XLR outputs, or the Profire XLR inputs, or the internal Profire processing. As an aside, using both the s/pdif and XLR or 1/4" POD outputs to your Profire will let you record the dry guitar signal (via s/pdif) and the processed signal (via XLR or 1/4") simultaneously into your DAW. Great for subsequent VST processing of the dry signal.

Is it the POD XLR outputs? A good test of that would be to connect them to some powered monitors and see if the problem persists. If not, it's something in the Profire XLR signal path. The simplest thing to try on the Profire would be to make sure it is not applying phantom power to its MIC inputs when the POD XLRs are connected. This can be an issue when using Line 6 Helix. I haven't heard of it being an issue with POD HD devices but best to rule it out.

You could also independently test the Profire XLR inputs. Do they work with a microphone? Or simply use another pair of the many Profire XLR inputs.

Finally I would try using the POD 1/4" outputs to the Profire 1/4" inputs. Again, you can independently test the POD 1/4" outputs to external monitors/speakers.

All these test should gradually identify the culprit.