Line 6 HD500 review

[Tarekith]

http://tarekith.com/a-new-friend/

Might be some guitar players here who are curious, I don't really know....

[LoopStationZebra]

meh.

I can’t think of any other area where the HD500 is step back from the earlier Pods.

Really?

They've absolutely GUTTED the MIDI functionality of the HD series.

Gutted.

MIDI out is the only thing that's supported. No more MIDI In; let along clock sync support - which has NEVER been supported via Line6.

The lack of bass modeling also sucks, and is a major hit to the series. I know a number of bass players and keyboard players who loved the bass modeling and can't believe the company has pretty much issued a big 'fuck you' to them. lol.

Honestly, I don't know what the fuck Line6 is thinking with this series in not supporting full MIDI. As I wrote on the Line6 forum, the company pretty much seems to think that 99.9% of their user base are metal head jackoffs sitting in mum and dad's basement playing horrid Thin Lizzy riffs.

The modeling is nice, though.

[Tarekith]

I never used the midi in functionality myself, especially with the Pod X3 as it was all over USB and I tend to use my guitar devices purely standalone. The only thing I might use it for is MIDI clock, but honestly I just find it easier to hit tap tempo four times and be done with it.

Someone brought up the point that perhaps Line 6 has withheld some of the X3 features like bass amps to help clear out remaining X3 stock. No idea how true it is, but maybe we'll see it again added in the future. Took them awhile to remodel all the guitar amps for the HD range, maybe that was priority and they're working on a new Bass Pod now. No idea. Again, doesn't really apply to me, I'm a guitar player and based my purchase on what it does for me, not what it doesn't do for other people.

[LoopStationZebra]

But no full MIDI? In 2011? Really? REALLY?

I get that you don't use it, but I enjoy the hell out of sending automation to my X3 via dummy clips in Live. Way cool to be controlling various FX parameters in that fashion. Based on quite a few posts at Line6, I'm not alone.

I was ready to purchase the HD500 when, quite by accident, I read about lack of MIDI and bass modeling. I couldn't believe it. Line6 was the first company I'm aware of that even offered MIDI in a hardware modeler. They were ahead of the curve.

All they've done is lost a customer, that's all. They'll survive, I"m sure.

Or not. They've lost a pretty big part of their market share to products like Guitar Rig. Seems as though it would be in their best interests to be doing everything in their power to capture full digital/DAW integration.

Sorry, T. I'm just very sensitive about MIDI lately.

[Homebelly]

Line6 have always had a very basic marketing concept.
The HD series seems to be a rerun of the pod1.0/2.0 scheme.
I'm betting the bass models will be available in about 6 months as a paid for
add on "amp pack" along with a "metal pack".
All based on the same "we scoured the planet for the best in collectable vintage originals and used our
proprietary high definition modeling technology to model each aspect in the original amps signal chain".

Then the HDX3 will come along in another year or so with every thing added in
and marketed as being another new leap forward in amp modeling technology.

Don't get me wrong..
I've used the hell out of POD1/2.0'S and an X3L.
For portability those setups are great.
But right now, my actual tube amp and my rivera silent sister with a SM57 for amp tones,
along with all of the live devices is a whole lot better that any pod ever was.
Not as portable, true, but way more responsive and a whole lot more satisfying.

Honestly, I don't know what the fuck Line6 is thinking with this series in not supporting full MIDI. As I wrote on the Line6 forum, the company pretty much seems to think that 99.9% of their user base are metal head jackoffs sitting in mum and dad's basement playing horrid Thin Lizzy riffs.

This about sums up my feelings toward line6

[LoopStationZebra]

Yeah, good post.

A big part of me wants to move to Guitar Rig alone, but my 2007 MacBook just isn't robust enough. It would be great to simply have a SoftStep and separate expression pedal. The more time goes on, the leaner I'm getting with external gear.

[Tarekith]

But no full MIDI? In 2011? Really? REALLY?

Sorry, T. I'm just very sensitive about MIDI lately.

No worries man, I avoid midi at all costs if I can, even with synths.

[kmika99]

although lacking in some features, the HD300-500's sound great...i am very surprised at how expressive the basic amps sound....

many of the effects are overdone IMHO, and there is a limited number of amps ...but they really do sound great

if you are into your guitar sound, you should check these ampsims out for yourself.

[LoopStationZebra]

I love the Line6 modeling. And I'm all about overdone FX, lol. No issue at all with the excellent amps and FX in my X3L or in the new HD series.

[kmika99]

actually i think you can dial back the effects anyway..

i was really talking about the presets...i've already blown half of them off the machine (to make my own overblown fx--hehe)

[LoopStationZebra]

The HDs offer 2 separate line out channels, right? Where you can put a different patch on each channel? Or did they take that away as well?

[The Leveller]

99.9% of their user base are metal head jackoffs sitting in mum and dad's basement playing horrid Thin Lizzy riffs.

That is actually fact.

[Tarekith]

The HDs offer 2 separate line out channels, right? Where you can put a different patch on each channel? Or did they take that away as well?

It has stereo 1/4" out and stereo XLR out, along with SPDIF out. I 'think' you can use up to two of these seperately, I'd have to check though. It does have a seperate hardware FX loop IO, and this can be placed anywhere in the signal patch, on either channel. So you could always use that too.

[LoopStationZebra]

99.9% of their user base are metal head jackoffs sitting in mum and dad's basement playing horrid Thin Lizzy riffs.

That is actually fact.

ps. Not that I don't like Thin Lizzy btw.

[The Leveller]

Aye. The difference is BEING Scott Gorham and PRETENDING to be Scott Gorham.