The Watering Hole

Hi guys - I know that the current flavour of the month is the Kemper, and before that the AxFX unit, and before that the HD500 (Jon, I think you had one). ;D

These things seem to go in/out of favour every five minutes.  But for home play & gigging (I'm less concerned about recording) how good is the HD500 - what are its strengths and weaknesses.  I've been listening to a load of you-tube clips and it seems to sound darned good.  How does it feel to play eg response/dynamics/roll off?  

Re weaknesses, I've heard that it can run out of memory when mixing effects - how big an issue is this?  And how does it compare to say a Vox Tonelab TLST/EX from a quality of tone perspective?

I can't afford £1200 for a Kemper, but maybe £250-£300 for an HD500 might be possible.  

All views based on your experiences would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Rich  ;)

Marco has one now. He can also comment.

The HD500 is actually very good in the touch sensitivity department, it's just the cabs that I didn't like very much.  Here's some old man noodling on the HD500 (me) .  It does respond well to digging in and backing off etc.

http://youtu.be/jd0Aatd1-Gg

For me though, the best combination is a real amp at the front end and then good speaker sim at the other.  I think the torpedo cabs stomp box is worth getting when it's released sometime in April.

KPA going then. Good, good. Let me know when its on Ebay!  :)

Marco (lwb)'s samples of the desktop bean unit sound pretty darn good.  I am tempted to pick one up for my scratch tracking, then get rid of all these old ones (pod 1, pod xt, bass pod, spidervalve) I've got taking up space...

Jon — Mar 19, 2012The HD500 is actually very good in the touch sensitivity department, it's just the cabs that I didn't like very much.  Here's some old man noodling on the HD500 (me) .  It does respond well to digging in and backing off etc.

http://youtu.be/jd0Aatd1-Gg

For me though, the best combination is a real amp at the front end and then good speaker sim at the other.  I think the torpedo cabs stomp box is worth getting when it's released sometime in April.

Sounds really good Jon , thanks.  Any comment re the processor power limitations if you put too many FX together?  Did you encounter any problems?  

Also, how's the quality through headphones?

Marco, if you're looking in mate, I'd value your input too!  

Resource limitations mainly come into effect (heh heh) when using dual amp chains... at least for me, so far.


EDIT: Just remembered that this cat did some DSP% estimates and made a lil chart.  It's for 1.0 fw though, I believe, so the amp models may take up a little more DSP each now with the "deep editing" zone they added later.

http://line6.com/support/thread/50339

Hi Rich,
after a month of use, I still like the POD HD. :)

Pro

- Very responsive and great dynamics.

- Lots of amps/cabs modeled. The good thing is that every amp I've tried on the POD reminds me something I've already heard on CD..so it don't sound too "fake" to my ears.

- Good pre/post fx selection. My favs are the screamer, the red comp and the dynamic delay (anyway there're dozen other fx I haven't tried yet..)

- Lots of connection you can use: USB, analog out (line level), phones out, mic in, (midi in-out on the 500)

- Ability to build your fx chain placing / moving your fx,  pre or post the amp.

- Ability to build a patch with two amps.

- No digital artifacts

- Firmware is frequently upgraded. The current firmware release is the 1.43 and the next one will be the 2.0 so I think there'll be something really "NEW" (..maybe a better IR cabs sim)

- Never had a problem with L6 drivers both on win and mac environments.


Cons

- Every kind of connection sounds different to my ears. USB is pristine, headphones out is a bit "enflated" while the analog out is at half way of the two.. This mean you can't use the same patch if you want to use the pod in different situations (recording/real amp/PA..)

- I've found it sounds  a bit mid scooped to my ears..no matter which amp model I'm playing with. Anyway there're 4 or 5 EQ models I can use to compensate it.

- Talking about the EQ's.. I don't know how they implemented some the EQ models where are exposed percentage values instead of frequencies gain/cut and Q... That's really strange..

The DSP limit is not an issue for me as I've never reached that limit...I like simple setups ! :)

It's not perfect but good enough for my needs. With a bit of patience it's possible to replicate (or create) a good number of useable sounds.

Ciao!

Thank guys (esp Marco)

I need to try one out, but I'm impressed so far by the recorded/you-tube tones and what I hear from you guys.

Best

Rich  ;)

I've been pretty impressed by what I hear on Youtube. The weakness on the Pod series has always been the compressors... I wonder if they've improved any?  Of course, I've built three compressors so I guess I could just use one of those...

Check this video out... lots of boring talking... skip to around the 4:45 mark.  Listen to the Park 75 full up... then after about 30 seconds, he rolls back the volume knob.  Check that shit out.  That's the model that makes me think this might be worth having.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjkEtveqZ-M&feature=related

Thanks Charger - that is exactly the type of thing I wanted to hear!  This thing sounds awesome - I love the 2 amps at once option too!  Seems to me that the 500 is THE one to get.  I may have to wait until the price comes down & more used units come on the market.  But I'm in no mad hurry - my Vox TLST will keep me going for the moment.

I have one, too, and I love mine. I haven't recorded anything recently, so I can't give any examples, but the touch sensitivity is like no POD that has ever existed. It's kind of amazing, actually.

The only thing I find kind of annoying about it is that it lacks the bass models of the X3 series, but one of those is coming in v2.0 (unfortunately, not the SWR model I use as my main bass tone...so I'll be making adjustments). I think we'll continue to wait for mic preamp models, though that'd be nice, too. I won't be giving up my X3 Live anytime, but I might be ditching some of the older PODs I have laying around like Charger...

I always run mine from the S/PDIF out to my digital Edirol mixer, and I've never noticed the "mid scoop" others mentioned.

You should start to see more and more used ones popping up. I don't know if you frequent thegearpage.net, but they often have stuff for sale for good prices there. Those guys love to buy and sell stuff...and then buy it again and sell it again. :)

Tripper

Many thanks Trip - I'll certainly have a look in at the gearpage but I suspect it will predominantly be gear being offered in the US, and I'm UK ;)

But I am getting some serious gas for this puppy!  If they have one in, gonna pop along to DV247 on Saturday, to try one out.

By the way guys, what's the quality of the HD500 through headphones...could be a BIG selling point to Mrs Voxman and the girls!   :D ;D

voxman — Mar 22, 2012By the way guys, what's the quality of the HD500 through headphones...could be a BIG selling point to Mrs Voxman and the girls!   :D ;D

To my ears it's a big step up from the previous PODs - you really hear the depth and detail of the models with a decent pair of headphones.

But as always, your mileage may vary... :)
Tripper

and as always, the headphone out is the weakest link.  That said, plug the line outs into any decent mixer and it will probably be better.

New 2.02 update is out. They added a Plexi model that is amazing, and the Flip Top bass model they added sounds really great, too!

HD500 can now be my bass rig. Finally. :)

One of the best features they added? Cabinet tuning controls...which work GREAT. No more overly-woofy cabs (unless you like that).
Tripper

I knew it was out but wa too busy last night. Now I can't wait!!

Sorry if this is a silly question, but according to the Line 6 website, the Pod HD500 comes with 22 amp models.  So, when they do a firmware update with 2 new models “Plexi Lead NRM” and “Plexi Lead BRT”, does that 'up' the number of models to 24 - if so, how many models can it hold?  Or are there memory limitations that mean you have to 'dump' 2 others if you want to add these?  

I would think it'll hold a couple add on packs worth if previous business models hold true, but I don't think they've mentioned a max amount yet.  When you get the updates the new models are just added to the amp list, no removing models to get new ones so far.

voxman — Apr 07, 2012Sorry if this is a silly question, but according to the Line 6 website, the Pod HD500 comes with 22 amp models.  So, when they do a firmware update with 2 new models “Plexi Lead NRM” and “Plexi Lead BRT”, does that 'up' the number of models to 24 - if so, how many models can it hold?  Or are there memory limitations that mean you have to 'dump' 2 others if you want to add these?  

Nothing has to be deleted. They just add to the list like Bingewood said.

Unless they've updated the total. I think counting the Flip Top bass model, it's at 25 now.
Bogner® Uberschall
Divided by 13 JRT 9/15
Dr. Z® Route 66
ENGL® Fireball 100
Fender® Bassman® ("Normal" channel)
Fender® Bassman® ("Bright" channel)
Fender® Blackface Deluxe Reverb® ("Normal" channel)
Fender® Blackface Deluxe Reverb® ("Vibrato" channel)
Fender® Twin Reverb® (“Normal” channel with “Bright” switch off)
Fender® Twin Reverb® ("Vibrato" channel with “Bright” switch on)
Gibson® EH-185
Hiwatt® Custom 100 (DR103)
Marshall® JCM-800 (2204)
Marshall® JTM-45 MkII ("Bright" channel)
Marshall® JTM-45 MkII ("Normal" channel)
Mesa/Boogie® Dual Rectifier®
Park 75 ("Bright" channel)
Park 75 ("Normal" channel)
Supro® S6616
Vox® AC-15
Vox® AC-30 (Top Boost)
Line 6 Elektrik (kind of an Uberschall-esque additional high-gain model which I like a lot)

And they've added the Marshall Plexi 100w Super Lead normal and bright channels, and the Ampeg B-15NF Portaflex bass amp

And a model of a vintage-style mic pre which sounds nice.

I've already got my bass tone together with this beast, so I'm pretty excited for our gig tonight.

I would hope there's plenty of room for additional models to be added, but I really don't know. There are a lot of the old bass amp models I'd love to hear HD versions of...like the SVT, SWR, and GK models. Here's hoping they bring out some more model packs for this series and they're reasonably priced!

Tripper

Hey B, just got it.  Where are the cab tuning controls you mentioned?  Haven't found them yet.

DreamTheaterRules — Apr 09, 2012Hey B, just got it.  Where are the cab tuning controls you mentioned?  Haven't found them yet.

If you go in on the interface and edit the amp, you can use the arrow keys to go to other pages by pushing right. It's on one of the later pages, after the amp bias and stuff like that.

Not sure where it is on HD500 edit software - I actually haven't used it with the computer because the HD500's been out with my gear (I had a gig Saturday and tonight).

Good luck! And enjoy that Plexi model. I sure am. :)
Tripper

In HD500 Edit they are to the right of the amp parameters kinda grayed out.  When you click the cab parameters button they take over the virtual knobs you use for the amp parameters.  Pretty sure you need HD500 edit 2.0.

hmmm, still don't see it, but I'm at work now with no POD hooked up so I'll check tonight.   I have the latest of everything.  

Should be like these:

image 2

aha!  that didn't show up when I opened Edit with no POD attached.  Thanks!  

update, just opened it again and this time chose a cab (DOH!) and now it's there even without the HD attached.  COOL!!!

Noice!