Line6 POD HD500 troubles

[Mummbles]

Hey all,I hope all are blessed here. I need some help to resolve a couple issues I am having with my POD HD500. It just doesn't sound that good, I'm figuring it's a setting or something I am doing. What tips can you give to help me out. My distorted tones sound fizzy and I am having trouble getting a articulate "dirty" sound. The tones I am looking to emulate are typical of Hillsong and the sort. Thank you in advanced and Be Blessed!!!

[mikeymo1741]

Make sure you're in studio/direct mode. Check your gain structure - try a blank patch with your guitar turned all the way up and make sure the board isn't clipping you. It that is ok you may want to check the input side of the gain.

[klintbrat]

I have a line 6 pod x3 live. What I have learned that I have to do is spend some time working with the software on my computer. It helps if you have some studio reference monitors that you can use to be able to hear the sound your working with. Try different amps and different pedals. If you're looking for that hillsong sound I would try either the fender blackface models, or the vox ac15 or ac30 models to start with and then add in some overdrive (like a tubescreamer) to get that good crunchy overdriven sound. If you don't have some studio speakers, but you do have a laptop, you could always hook into the soundboard at your church and stand in the audience and tweek your sound. I did this once and it worked pretty well. Also if you a good pair of in ear monitors this could help as well, it just won't give you a real accurate idea of what it would sound like coming out of the sound system at your church. I hope this helps in some way or another! Blessings!

[mikeymo1741]

I'd avoid using earphones or IEMs to tweak, as it will not give you an accurate assessment of what sound you get through your PA. Better to tweak where you play.

You can also go online and download specific patches to match Hillsong songs. I've got a couple and they work pretty well with only some minor tweaking.

[joemazza]

I've also found that on the HD500 it's very easy to accidentally turn off the amp model or remove the speaker cab modeling, leaving you with essentially a preamp sound which will sound pretty much as you describe. If you're starting from a preset patch and then doing tweaking (which is always a good option), make sure it's one that has an amp in it- some of the HD500 presets do not.

[hitchface]

Definitely check gain staging.

What kinds of effects and amps are you using and what settings do they have? Why not post a problem patch? Some of us can take a look for you and identify the issue.

[fmckinnon]

Hey gang,
I just wanna insert this --- I'm not a guitarist, and have no clue how to use these pods ... but reading these quick responses in less than 24 hours after the initial question ... it thrills me. This is exactly why this site was created. Keep it up!

[nomad100]

Mummbles that's my experience with modelers. I've read that a graphics eq can solve this kind of problem very effectively. I forget which frequencies your supposed to cut.

[ScottCarlisle]

Your HD500 can sound exactly like you want it, but you have to spend time tweaking the sounds. I've been using POD products since they were first introduced to the public way back, and from my experience, factory presets are usually not very good right out of the box. I've had great results using POD's Vox and 68 Marshall amp simulations. Lincoln Brewster has used the X3 Live pedals in his live setup and he had presets that used Vox and Marshall. Try setting up a new preset with one of the amps I suggested, a little reverb and nothing else. This will give you a base to build upon...Let me know if you need any further assistance....

[nomad100]

Lincoln Brewster also used a analog stomp pedals for his dirt. like the boss blues driver and i forget what else.