I think it's a great piece of hardware! I have an older model aswell and the HD series is really improved stuff. I can imagine that for those who are used to "the real thing" the line 6 boards might be toys, but for me it's a great solution with a great amount of effects I could never afford.

God damn I wish you'd stop mentioning the Kemper.



I want one so bad I can taste it... and I'm staring at the cash to get it too. If that didn't mean I'd be stuck with my aging computer for another year or so, I'd be on it like teenagers on drugs, but alas I was hoping to find a cheap solution to placate my guitar tube amp lust while also letting me run more than one instance of Diva.

I looked pretty seriously at it as well but without being able to demo it in person I couldn't make that leap and...oh yeah, I'm vain and, well...it's freakin' UGLY!#@$%

Can't you get a badass computer for cheap these days? I recently bought quad core i7 laptops for JRR for $599 a pop.

I have not (still) gotten around to testing out the POD HD series, I do intend to, Time has not been on my side for 'me' time as it were. Also the Kemper's are easy to get over here now so it is on the list way above the POD HD series as I have quite a few good amps to profile already plus friend's and collegue's have different good amps I can profile and they can profile mine. I know it looks shit (The Kemper) but in the black on green I kind of like it not looking like some "boutique" thingy thats been made as a piece of furniture I have quite alot of Line 6 gear already, The XT was good over the original POD but the X3 was a real dissapointment, I know the HD range is a total overhaul of the entire thing but I am still skeptic. As it is I get alot more use from my Bass PODXT than any of the other PODs and the best distortion pedal i have (actually have more than two of them incase one ever goes down) is thier 'ToneCore Series' UberMetal pedal...For high-gain covering almost every sound you could need the UberMetal has it inside and for the life of me I do not understand why it is thier only pedal, Actually product IMveryhumbleHO that includes thier best distortion algo/EQ and also the only distortion where the on board gate works instead of having to go for one my trusty Boss NS-2 pedals...They just got that one so right. I use it daily. You can get them dirt cheap aswell last time I checked. The X3's fx are fine/servicable but so are the Boss GT-10's which I have also but again I am admittedly 'one thing for one job' sort of guy so these things (big feature packed ultra powerful floorboard, desktop and/or rack units have about 90% or more features I never use/don't need ), Vox ToneLab LE and SE with wank built-in effects. I like the looks/ease of use of the 7ender Mustang especially how easy it is to assign whatever to the expression pedal, Soundwise not tried so can't comment but it has an external loop for using proper pedals. The PODX3, GT-10 and ToneLab SX all work as USB audio interfaces also...Why the heck would I want them to do that. Boss have unleased the GT-100 (90 times better than the GT-10 obviously so that has gotta be tried)

Speaking of uprgrading/having a new dedicated audio machine. Mine is nearly ready and finally I can haz lots of power to run stuff I can not and have not been able to do so since my old audio machine went down. So alot of stuff to try out...ITB amplifier sims/emus included but I ain't holding my breath

Cheers and all the best to all as always

Dean

The Zoom G3 and G5 may be worth trying out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfEa4ANaW6A&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dsVikzw9PA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zNCeYl5FGg

I just got mine yesterday and have only had time to install the latest drivers, firmware, and editing software. However, was able to do a quick test this morning using the Divided by 13 model (love that boutique stuff) with a bit of tweaking.

Verdict: this is crazy good! There was so much more response, definition, and depth to the sound that I was grinning like a fool. I'd say run...don't walk...down to the store and get one. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Which are you referring to?

Yeah, in this case I was just referring to the HD500 floor unit. For the record...I just think the other two floor models (HD300/400) are really missing too many features to be serious contenders. It seems to me that the HD500 really nails the price/performance thing much better than the other two.

what did you get Dean? My new machine (i7 2600, 3.4ghz) is awesome and truly dedicated for audio (doesn't even have microsoft works)...I'm loving it with Samplitude Pro X...I only have one issue and will probably ask a stupid question in the computer forum later (my old DAW built by PC Audiolabs had cables and such inside for adding hardware, this one is different and I have yet to install my emu 1820 because I have no power cable for it but my presonus firestudio 26/26 with my rack effects does he same thing)

Eric, never again will my main DAW be a laptop but my needing something portable isn't like other people.

As for the POD HD, not even looking at it at this point. I think it's a bit of the fact I am running out of G.A.S. and also getting very tired of chasing updates, upgrades, keeping up to date with the latest this and that...frankly looking back at my purchases over the last 6 years I see that is a contributing factor to not getting things finished because I'm always dealing with new stuff. What I am using now will not be obsolete ever.

From this point on I'm going back to building, not buying (not 100% of course)...after the summer I want to build 1 pedal a month for at least 6 months, maybe more and I still want to build an amp and I still have one guitar project on the table and more mods to make to my baritone).

Thinking about evaluating HD Pro for rack mount.

I remember I was really disappointed having the POD XT Pro for a short while - and the peak led blinked having HB guitar and full volume. I had to reduce volume on guitar not to have overs.

I felt - are these people really serious about guitar or just single coil fanbois.

Answer: SC fanbois.

Have anybody ran the HD series with humbuckers?

And do they have simple TRS input for passive expression pedals - not needing go through a midi thingy first?

Thanks.

It is for the first time, A change for me/shock horror as you know I am not a big change sort of person, But my friend whom is building it for me has always used and had zero problems using them...an AMD CPU, Its a fast one, six(?) cores and 3.0 or above ghz, That much I know but for exact spec I will have to ask John 16GB RAM...etc. one thing Im lucky with is that the old graphics card is still plenty enough for the new machine along with a few other bits so I am managing to save where possible, I know you have graphics programs though so probably need the power of a new/powerful card? I'll be glad to be off this damned laptop that is for certain! Plus obviously running my audio software to its proper potential A pedal a month sounds like a good plan and easy enough going to get it all neat. Then a life time of diming any amp and/or sim with any of them, Well at least 6 months until you pick your goto for each setup Which is about how long it takes me to be happy with exhausting each concievable setup. I have got alot more bits I got to either pickup and do (or both) though even when the audio machine is flying (Warmoth Baritone neck for one of my Jacskson's, alot of other bits and bobs like pickups for stuff...etc. Then studio upgrades gear wise) Always bloody something hey? Updates well yeah at least I will be running stuff that can be updated when needed then except windows updates. Nice one my friend

Eric those Zoom units especially the first clip/demo sounds pretty good to me, I'll sure try one out. Cheers for the heads up on those dude

Best to you both

Dean

I never go anywhere near single-coils and near any bucker with a DC resistance below at least 11, So I hope thats not the case but I can live without one for sure anyway. I think Line 6 expect one to be using nothing but a Variax, fiddling around with workbench (or whatever its called) and jacking in via the dedicated variax link Yeah right, Thats not happening here, Ever. The last part I can not answer as I ain't had a look/tried. However I'm sure they have a HD Floorboard in the works which will cost nearly as much as the damned POD HD Pro itself. They must of really cleaned up with those old floorboards until the XT Live sort of got rid of the need for them. I might be better of with one of the M thingies as i really don't need any more pre-amps/power-amps/mic'd cabs HD or not (still as said I will try just incase)

Let us know how you get on with it if and when lfm dude, Cheers

Dean

Thanks. So you're a high output hb guy, ha

I had the SD JB and had to turn down volume on guitar to 5 not to get overs.

I looked through as much as I could find on Line6 site - which is really nice. I even looked in manuals och quick start guides. Plenty to read.

HD Bean seem to be a lot for the money(1/3 of HD Pro). Even with floorboard Express Mk2 it's much cheaper than HD floorboards(maybe same as HD300).

But bean does not provide a pad switch - which means one never knows how hb's are handled. Even fixing with bleed capacitors turning down volume does alter tone on guitar.

I don't fancy equipment trying to control me - it should be the other way around.

So I think HD Pro is safe regarding levels with pad switch. But nowhere could I find how much pad is attenuating. I have a LowDown10 for bass and pad is -10dB but one never knows. Most probably it's safe.

What is astonishing is that not all models provide pad switch!!!!!!
That is like saying:
- So, you've got a high output pickup on your guitar, sorry you must get that down somehow with our gear.

Makes me wonder - how serious are they about guitars, really?

I found an ad for used HD Pro for about 60% of new price - so that would help a bit. But a Express MK2 floorboard is minimum as well. No passive expression pedal input on HD Pro.

What's good about HD floorboards are that you can have an passive expression pedal as well as the regular onboard pedal. But you have to crawl on the floor to experiment with settings and stuff - PITA.

HD Pro is good with digital inputs as well for re-amping.
I'll make a post when I'm done.

Cheers for the detailed information. I would of thought for the money that at the very least a variable input level should be standard!

Humbucker wise yeah hot EMG85s on 18v, Bareknuckle Warpigs (Passive but absolutely savage) amongst others but those are the two goto setups and soonish I'll have a few SD Blackout Mick Thompson models which are pure perfect for me personally (I just avoid Ceramic based magnets even though it is usually the ceramic models which are even hotter output wise on pickups EMG 81 against the EMG 85 for example as I much prefer the thicker low-mids and less pick attack/fret noise area accentuating Alnico V based magnets, However that is purely a personal preference and nothing to do with quality and speaker wise for example Alnico based models are the opposite voice wise and feel wise than I prefer/works for me style wise again now't to do with quality as the Alnico based speakers are alot more pricey, I'd use an Alnico based speaker for clean work perhaps but nothing with gain on it). So yep i'd be straight into the red on DSP based gear that has not got compensation for modern buckers/setups which again I do not come accross often but its not good at all when one does

Cheers lfm and look forwards to hearing how it sounds for you and any problems with hot ouput humbuckers especially

Dean