Leaderboard

There are two ways to do what you want to do. This is another way. Plug one instrument into the Guitar In. Plug the other into the Aux In. The Aux In has an input impedance of 10 KOhm. This is for a guitar with active pickups or a bass. What this means to you is a guitar with passive pickups will have a low signal so you will probably have to boost that. But your acoustic may have active electronics and may be OK. Just know if the signal at the Aux In seems low, that's normal and you'll need to add a preamp or something at the beginning of your signal path to boost it. You then select Aux In or Guitar In at the input block.

Line 6 Helix 2.70 Mega-Setlists · 4 Setlists: IRs LG + IRs HG & Cabs LG + Cabs HG. · 232 Presets, each with 8 Snapshots. · 57 solo amp & 175 dual amp presets. · Cab Sets feature L6 Cabs. IR Sets feature IR blocks, but not IR files are provided. BYOIR. · LG = Low Gain (Supro->Plexi Jump). HG = High Gain (2204->L6 amps). · Each amp features Snapshots for Low, Mid, & High Gain settings. · 2 formats for dual amp presets: “Channels” & “Parallel Amps”. · LED rings color coordinated for Snapshots view. · All FX Blocks are custom named. · All Snapshots output leveled to -28.5 LFKS Integrated, ITU-R BS.1770-4, over 15sec of looped open G strumming. · EXP Pedal 2 has additional Mod, Delay, & Reverb settings. · Amp and FX settings largely derived from the SOAS Project (25%) and personal preferences (75%). · To Import, Drag + Drop directly into Helix. Or hit the top left yellow “Import” button & search for “all files” instead of just .hls. I am not sure why the Setlists are saved as .hlx instead of .hls files. · For more information, including lists of all of the amp and effects settings, along with the OwnHammer IR’s I used, please visit: https://l6helix.wixsite.com/helixsoas · To Download the Setlists, please visit: https://line6.com/customtone/profile/Noobian_Prince https://imgur.com/a/Gic53qq

I just uploaded my first Helix video, and following a suggestion from a forum member I created a patch which takes the output of the guitar's piezo pickup into path 1, and takes the output of the iRig Acoustic clip-on microphone into path 2. I have placed all of the wet effects on path 1 and kept the iRig Acoustic path dry. In Logic Pro X I armed 2 tracks, one mono and one stereo (the stereo track is from path 1 with the wet effects). I have given the stereo track a little spread in Logic. I would love for experienced Helix users to critique my patch and give me suggestions for improvement. @datacommando gave me the idea. Thanks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjGEpsuo-ZM

Hard to judge in context but if you share the guitar track alone gets easier. You have a couple things going on that I can tell: you have a lot of highs in the hairy track and not a lot of frequencies in the mid and lower end. You should make sounds with a graphic eq to see what that looks like, it's so much easier to make sounds that way. I use this: https://www.fabfilter.com/products/pro-q-3-equalizer-plug-in just get the chart of what the spectrum looks like and then tweak, having visual feedback of what changes as you tweak makes everything faster and easier.

If you are only using a single path for each input, make sure one input is on path 1A and the other on 2A. Change both of the outs for these to USB 1/2 and hard pan them left and right in the output block. Add a Volume or Pan block to the end of each path and drag it down into path B. Move the split to the very end of the path and drag the merge down to create new outs. Set both of these outs to XLR. Change the global setting for Headphones Monitor to XLR. This setting is on pg 3 of the global Ins/Outs settings. You now have a few places that you can pan your headphones. The split blocks and the output blocks both have pan settings and if you used Pan blocks to create the new paths you can use those.

I've not played the Acoustisonic yet, but the video demos I've seen are really impressive. It is a little pricey for me, but new ideas usually are when they first come out. I've added it to my reverb.com watch list so if one comes up used, or an open box/scratch-and-dent comes up with an online store (that's how I got my awesome Blueshawk for 60% off) I may snatch it up. I have found that I'm not as pleased with either of the 12 string models on my VAX700 as I am with the Dread setting on a chorus pedal. I may need to spend more time EQing it or put it through the Workbench software. I'm with you though, a patch to add an electric model would be ideal, and probably take the Acoustisonic off of the wish list for me.

...no worries, I appreciate your work. Thx!! I had another look at iRig Acoustic Stage reviews online (most are positive) and noted IK Multi dropped the price (on Amazon) to $70, so I ordered one out of curiosity to try out for live and studio work. I find that acoustic tone is mainly dependent on the guitar + pickup interaction, so most things done afterwards (in Helix or otherwise) is often an attempt to correct or fix any pickup anomalies or shortcomings. In my case, I settled on a B-Band A2.2 XOM pickup for my Alvarez Yairi, and haven't found anything I've liked better. But that pickup may not sound as good on another acoustic. So, there ya go....

That's what preset changes are for. If you had to load a new amp model in each snapshot it would take as along as a preset change anyways, introduce gaps in the audio, and you wouldn't be able to have delay trails. Think of presets as being able to change out your whole rig with one button. You wouldn't be able to switch amp heads, cabs, and pedals without everything turning off. Think of Snapshots as being able to turn all the knobs on your rig simultaneously to exactly where you need them to make a different sound.

Your patch sounds pretty darn good in the video... I don't have any direct suggestions, but I'd like to point you to a video that helped me setup my acoustic tones when I got a Helix. In the video, Ritchie uses a Variax.... but the "general approach" works great for regular acoustics as well. NOTE: The general approach of the video is over by the 3:45 mark... .... then he heads off into "variax specifics" later in the video, you can ignore those. This is a similar chain to every acoustic instrument I own, from my J-45, my classical, my dobro, my 5 string banjo, my mandolin, and all of my variax acoustic instruments as well. I just adjust a little for each instrument.

Love it man! It may take all my remaining years on earth but someday I’ll fabricate a front dress plate or two for an old 500. Visual stimuli has always been important for live stage but even more so in our graphic image rich modern world we live. Doing live country gig on Variax 500 recently I knew there'd be good natured ribbing by some old duffers so I dressed 501 up/down a bit. The nickname "Wilford" (as in Brimley) was immediately thrown out and kinda stuck... Biggest surprise was how many fair ladies in the room loved it!

I saw the picture before I read the post, and thought that was a real thing! I thought, "I gotta have one of those!" Take note Line6. With the new Fender Acoustisonic capable of organic sounding acoustic tones AND authentic electric capability, I might be switching guitars someday...

I personally use a CP8 myself, but it's normally in smaller venues where I don't need to turn up too much. It's got plenty of sound and can easily fill most rooms if it's mounted on a stand behind me, but it does tend to hit the limiter fairly quickly if you feed it too much signal. I normalize all my patches with the Helix master volume knob at around 11 o'clock which is pretty much the max signal I want to send to my monitor whether it's the CP8 or the Yamaha DXR12 in larger setups. I rarely find I need to turn up and most of the time I ended up turning it down a bit. I keep both my CP8 and my DXR12 set at noon or unity and never change that as that really does invite the limiter to kick in. From what I can tell I'm pretty safe turning up the CP8 to around 2 o'clock, but I try not to press it. I also configure my global ins/outs so that I feed my stage monitors a line level signal and have the XLR L/Mono not affected by the Helix master volume and send it to the board at Mic level, which is what most boards are used to working with. That sends the XLR L/Mono to the FOH as if the Helix volume knob is turned full up, but since it's a Mic level signal it's pretty easy for the soundman to gain stage it appropriately and any adjustments I make on stage to my monitors via the Helix volume knob won't affect the soundman's signal level.

I think it may be the way you're describing it that's throwing our understanding off. When you change something such as a setting like amp volume or gain, you have to make sure to designate that parameter will be controlled within the snapshot. To do that you need to press the knob in and turn it so that the value is surrounded by brackets. Once you've made the changes save it to the snapshot you're working on. Go to the next snapshot and change the parameters (the ones with the brackets) and save that to the next snapshot. Now when you go from snapshot to snapshot those parameters will change appropriately. You may want to review the following video so you can get a full understanding of how this works: Jason Sadites explains how to use snapshots

It would be nice to hear each raw signal alone first; your piezo pickup, and the iRig. I'm not able to judge how Helix affected each path, and if the blend was an improvement. Sounds good, though, but still a little piezoplasticy. I'm also wondering how it would sound using the iRig's pickup blend feature, then just using one Helix path for the "pre-blended" tone (I use a Stomp for coffee house and winery gigs).

Well, I liked it! Sadly, my iRig Acoustic Stage has just decided to pack in. It will be going back as it was used only once and I certainly would not want to rely on it as a serious stage option. It's a bit of fun.

Received the guitar early on Friday, and played it a bit over the weekend. It's incredible. I can't believe how good the acoustic models sound, including the resonators and 12 strings. I loaded up some heavier tones with the Lester setting, and palm muting seemed to be pretty decent for me. The magnetics (Seymour Duncan Slash set) sounded fantastic. There were no issues in either normal (magnetic) mode or modeled mode (so far). I own a Roland VG Strat, and I feel Line 6 does a far better job of implementing the modeling than Roland/Fender did. The JTV-59 is a new reference point in modeling for me that I will see if I can tweak the Roland VG Strat to get closer to what the 59 can already do. That will allow me to have a modeler in both a floating trem model as well as a fixed bridge model. I'm going to throw some locking tuners on the 59, ebonize the fretboard, and put what I hope will be some tasteful vinyl inlays over the dots to dress it up a bit. I'll throw a few pics up once that is done. I'm loving the guitar so far, and am excited to kick it up a notch with programming things in the Helix for it! All the best, Todd

Thanks guys. Sorry for the delayed response. I've had a crazy work schedule... I appreciate both of your insights and comments/suggestions. I've strung my 700 with heavier electric strings (with a plain 3rd G). It makes those impossible bends on a wound 3rd string work on an acoustic! The tone might be slightly different on that string, but I don't notice it and the intonation seems to work just fine! I like the idea of a graphic facade on your 500 jerseyboy. If you do get around to doing that, PLEASE let me know!! I'd love to see how it turns out. I thought about buying a natural finish 700 and adding a graphic sound hole. It would look pretty sweet. I make a quick mock up of it and it looks convincing! haha Is there anybody on here that would know anything about a hack to make my electric dream possible with this acoustic 700 axe??

Yes it is. Plug one guitar into the "guitar in" as you always do. Design your signal path for whatever best suits that guitar. Plus the second guitar into one of the Helix's other in holes (FX return) and on a second path set the starting input for the return port you used. Then design this second path according to what ever signal path suits that guitar. Walla. Two guitars, one Helix.

Correct. I have a mission EP-1 and M-Audio pedal. One thing I just noticed is that when I delete the volume block, the wah block works.....

It looks like it set correctly (same as other presets that are working fine) nothing happens when i move the pedal on this one though. I at a loss

Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you brought this up. I am with you, I like the acoustic look and the larger variety of acoustic voices on the AC700, but would LOVE to be able to switch to an electric sound. I've tried distortion pedals and overdrives to see if I couldn't get something acceptable, to no avail. I've thought about installing an electric guitar pickup (sound hole) and running a separate jack for it. I'm still weighing whether or not it just makes more sense to have a Strat on stage. Finding a hack to do it with no alterations would be ideal though.

Don’t hold your breath. Perhaps boilerplate Line6 response but what you seek is something, if technically possible, would be strictly hobbyists and/or clever Chimps willing to test/hack Variax firmware. Roland VG forum might find some folks who’ve accomplished this feat? I dunno…. The 500 contains a few very acceptable steel string acoustic models along with several favorite electrics I’ve tweaked over the years. Problem is, playing it on stage using the acoustic models it sounds wonderful yet seems to confuse people. Even sound folks and production staff often fail to understand what’s what. I’m seriously considering a realistic graphic facade and/or pick guard to attach to one of my 500’s. At a glance from a distance it can look more like an acoustic cutaway guitar. The Tacoma Kahuna is a potential donor for this graphic. Maybe even a Line6 Variax Acoustic photo printed to proper scale to cover the front of the 500? Although hacking some electric models into Acoustic 700 might be useful it would likely suffer some difficulty playing electric parts using a wound 3rd (G) string as it appears the Variax Acoustic bridge pieces aren't adjustable for plain string intonation. At least with the electric Variax guitars you can adjust for using either plain or wound 3rd string. But again, they do look like an electric guitar and that seems to cause confusion for some people. Even if it sounds like the best ever acoustic guitar tone amplified live.

I updated the website with some additional information including the list of all of the IRs that I used to dial in the tones. I also included all of the amp and effects settings, additional Distortion level settings/, and Dist Blocks popularity by amp model. I also added an Easter Egg/Purloined Letter to the site

Hi, this is not a bug. When the TRAILS setting in the setup menu is set to ON then the return of the FX-loop is not muted to allow the effects to ring out. Setting this setting to OFF should mute the return when the FX-loop is off.