What are the signal paths thru FxLoop to L/R tube amps?

[dnetdrone]

I am having problems knowing how the signals are routed through the effects loops with a stereo setup using both effects loops to/from two tube amps - the preamp signals from the right amp appear in the return to the left amp. I would like to find routing diagrams or descriptions for these signal paths - any info would be appreciated. Also for tube amps should I use pre-amp models and make use of the bypass volume control in order to adjust the patch level to make it same as other patches? I have read the POD HD manuals & MeAmBobbo ~ Thanks ~

[radatats]

I am having problems knowing how the signals are routed through the effects loops with a stereo setup using both effects loops to/from two tube amps - the preamp signals from the right amp appear in the return to the left amp. I would like to find routing diagrams or descriptions for these signal paths - any info would be appreciated. Also for tube amps should I use pre-amp models and make use of the bypass volume control in order to adjust the patch level to make it same as other patches? I have read the POD HD manuals & MeAmBobbo ~ Thanks ~

 

ok, just to confirm, you are using a TRS breakout cable to split the FX send into two separate signals, one to each amp right (some insert cables take a stereo input to two equal mono outputs)?  then each amps return comes back to the POD FX return separately to its own channel.  These should definitely be separate isolated signals at this point.

 

You can adjust FX send and return levels for signal balancing.  Depending on where the FX loop is in your signal chain your mileage with adjusting bypass volume will have varying effect.  Before the FX loop and you lower the signal to your tube preamp and thus its tone, after and it may be more  transparent.  You can also use the mixer levels for leveling.  

 

Good luck...  Have you tried just doing everything in the HD500 and feeding to your tube amp power sections?  Much easier to dial in...  in my experience...

[dnetdrone]

Thanks for reply - radatats - I love my pre's can't bypass these.  I will try your settings suggestions. Also got a reply from Awesome PODHD GUIDE site (don't know if they would care if I named em so better not) - had insight that  if u want to preserve each amp as panned hard left and right, u need to do that by hard panning each channel at the mixer AND make sure you only use true stereo effects beyond the mixer. Any stereo effects in channel a or b will be mixed down to mono.  ANY MONO EFFECTS BEYOND THE MIXER WILL MIXDOWN THE STEREO SIGNAL FIRST.

 

 I'm not using wires to split the signals.  It seems like each amp should get the respective L/R channel output from the POD, I think this way you can use stereo fx in pre & those fields will get sent to the R/L loop, to accommodate this I have set {POD setup -input1 source=guitar, input2 source=same, mode=stack front} (maybe this is my error) however I read in Advanced Guide(3-7):

• The FX Loop is capable of stereo, just like any stereo-output FX Model, provided that you utilize both stereo pairs of the SEND & RETURN jacks. If you use only the Left SEND or RETURN jack, the FX Loop signal is summed to mono.
• The above rules also apply within each of the parallel Paths A and B, since these are each stereo signal paths as well. The Mixer Block offers Pan controls to independently adjust the stereo balance of each of these Paths before they are fed into the first “Post†FX (or Amp Block, if the Amp is placed here), immediately following the Mixer.

 

Could you please explain why you use a Y cable?  I am attempting to apply 4 cable method to stereo application, becomes 7 Cable method - as follows: {POD rear settings -Unbl output=Amp, using shielded gtr wires}, {FX Loop lvl=line, using speaker wires}

 

POD Unbl Out L/Mono --> L Amp (crate v32) FX Rtn

POD Unbl Out R/Mono --> R Amp (VM 2466) FX Rtn

 

POD FX Send L/Mono --> Input pre L Amp (crate v32)

POD FX Send Right --> Input pre R Amp (VM 2466)

 

L Amp (crate v32) FX Snd --> POD FX Rtn L/Mono

R Amp (VM 2466) FX Snd --> POD FX Rtn Right

 

I  AM getting sounds that are AMAZING, after 2weeks of study & settings. Used patches frm; factory, community, & frm scratch patches -copied my fav setups from my lexiconG2 which my pod hd is replacing - I have a patch straight through POD for just my amps.  Had to disable all ground pins, to rid ground fault hum! custom tubes biased on hot end by ear, amaze, hand selected 12ax7's

[radatats]

you must be using a POD HD PRO.  The PRO has separate L/R sends while the 500 has a single TRS send and a pair for return.  You don't need to worry about the Y cable.

 

So there is no chance the signals are being crossed or mixed at the FX return.  It would have to be somewhere after so like you said, keep the mixer panned hard left/right and don't use any mono effects in the post section to keep your signals separated.

[dnetdrone]

Ok - with your help and from the site that I mentioned - we are all convinced that I am hookup correctly - I think that what I was hearing was  the results of placing a stereo fx in PODs pre path and that caused the signals of my tube amp pre's to then pass on both sides of the fx loop going to the power amps.  This is actually interesting that I can get some of the pre-amp energy from the VM high-gain channel over to the V-32! I think I like the POD HD - I can't test this out till the weekend.  Thanks for the help!

[jandrio]

... I would like to find routing diagrams or descriptions for these signal paths...

 

 

 

check out  perapera's   Pod Hd 500 - 500x *new* Routing Schematics.

think u find useful info...

 

cld u post sound samples/patches of this "stereo 4cm" setup?

[dnetdrone]

hope to have some sounds to post soon - worked some but not yet complete, thanks