POD HD Preset Tool

Posted at — Apr 26, 2012

The POD HD Preset Tool

The POD HD Preset Tool can convert preset, setlist and bundles between different POD HD models without modifying their settings. Optionally, It also can mass change some settings of all presets, setlists, bundles like setting all amps to preamps or changing the microphone

Screenshots:

POD HD Qt Mac OS X

Features:

For the POD HD 500 / POD HD 500X / POD HD Desktop / POD HD Pro / POD HD ProX:

For the POD HD 300 / 400:

Program Usage:

Download:

Changelog:

2015-06-01:

2015-05-01:

2015-04-30:

2014-02-22:

2013-07-26:

2013-07-23:

2012-12-21:

2012-11-22:

POD HD GUI Change

2012-11-20:

2012-11-15:

POD HD GUI Change

2012-10-08:

2012-08-14:

Now with basic HD 400 support. Same features as HD 300, so no FX loop, same effects as HD 300.

2012-08-11:

First version of my HD 500 to HD 300 (same applies for HD 400) Preset ‘Translator’.
Initially, I thought that couldn’t be that hard and decided to take up that challenge, but soon i noticed that almost every byte needed to be modified and adjusted with proper pattern. Even things like the potis are differently stored, the amps and cabs have different orders, thus are different saved and so on, ..
Since the HD 300 has less effects and lacks of the dual amp capacity, if you translate a preset you might get more output. For instance you load a dual amp preset, you get one preset with the first amp row and all effects, one preset with the second amp and all effects. The same applies to the effects. If the initially preset had 3 distortions that must all be mapped into the first Fx Row of the HD 300, you get 3 presets with each.
I mean, it’s quite obvious that the output might not sound as the original (if it’s loaded with many effects), but this way should deliver the closed sound and from that on, you can fine tune.
To use, simply download the .jar file, switch to the tab “HD 300 & 400”, select a directory with .h5e files (hd 500 presets), and hit ‘Run’. You’ll find loadable Preset files (.h3e) or (.h4e) in that directory. For a better understanding, i’ve made a [sample mosaic of screenshots (.jpg, ~690kb).] (https://www.jzab.de/sites/default/files/images/hd300_translate.jpg)
POD HD 300 Translator
The first and second images show the preset in the HD 500 Edit Software, the Effects and Amps. Then follows an Explorer Window, where you see the original preset and translated presets listed. After that you see all the translated files opened in the HD 300 Edit Software (.h3e). As you can recognize, there’s a dual amp configuration with two distortion effects and one reverb and delay. Since you can only load one dist at one time, you get 2 presets for the first amp, and the same for the second amp, thus 4 possible configurations and translated presets.
This is a list of missing effects on the hd300 and how they are currently replaced. I’m not sure if i’ve always taken the best fitting choice, hence i’m open for any suggestions. In a later release, you’ll find an option for set it on your own.
While messing around with the various versions of the HD Edit Software, i’ve noticed that some settings don’t get stored/loaded during the Offline Mode. So, if you wonder why all the amp parameter are screwed in the translated Presets, that probably won’t effect you and is not a bug of my software itself. If anyone cares and wants to know more, there is a thread ongoing in the line6 forum, here you go..

2012-08-01:

Now with edit function. Currently you can choose the Inputs and Input Impedance to be set. That means, you can also mass change these values in any preset you are already using. POD HD Convert Edit Function

2012-06-07:

Now as native Windows application. But it has one major drawback. I never thought a statically linked Qt application would add such a huge amount to its filesize (~11mb)!

2012-05-24:

Now as native Mac OS X application.
POD HD Convert Cocoa

2012-04-23:

Now with rename option.

2012-04-20:

Now with GUI:
convert.jar Main Window

Usage:

To load files with the POD HD Edit software, they have to have the .hbe extension. Make sure you select rename .h5e to .hbe if you downloaded your preset directly from the line6 customtone website.

The Story:

Since the new firmware update v2.02 for the pod hd series, which added new amp models, you cannot interchange presets between the hd desktop (aka bean)/500/Pro models anymore. Thats a big downsite. There are 2838 tones for the 500 model on the line6 customtone website, but just 130 tones for the desktop version as of today. Now, when you start up your pod hd edit software v2.00 and open a preset you get a notification:

POD HD Edit: Invalid data found in one or more patches. These patches have been reset and named “New Tone (Reset)”.

POD HD Edit Sofware - Invaild Data
Now, I’ve written a small program that changes some bytes in the presets, bundles or setlists to make them load with the POD HD Desktop model.