steelstringer

This is cool, and it got me thinking...why would he go this route? I know why I did it with the Helix — it simplified my set up/tear down. I cannot go back now; I’m converted forever. But a world class musician doesn’t really deal with that issue, I would assume. So, why are some big time artists going this route when they have techs who can and will run complicated analog rigs?

Post an image of your patch. There are folks on this board who can give more advice if they can see your workflow. In my case as a new Helix user, digital fizz always came from clipping somewhere, like hot pickups that cause issues at the beginning of the chain or the output level being too hot and clipping the mixer or recording device.

I used to have up to 3 eq blocks on my patches (two simple, one parametric) that I would automatically tweak in similar ways on most patches. I mostly did this as a response to reading forums and watching YouTube tutorials. Honestly, though, I was overdoing it. In some cases I was sucking all of the life and dynamics out of otherwise awesome tones. Now, I just use one eq as a lead boost (to bump some mids), and that works for me. Sometimes I tweak tones based on what I have read, instead of just using my ears, but I’m trying to change this habit. There is just so much information out there to read!

Do you have access to a powered speaker (frfr) that you can use at the next rehearsal? It’s a difficult scenario when one guitarist is using a traditional cab and the other is using modeling tech through the mixer. The sound dispersion is all over the place. If you are each using one speaker, you might be able to get a better sound as a band or at least get a better feel for your tone. If you do not have access to one frfr, You could also ask the other guitarist to turn down, and then mic his amp. Then, you are both in the mix together. I’m lucky to be in a group where we all use modeling direct to the mixer (even the drummer!), but I remember being the first one to take the digital plunge. It takes time to find your sonic space.

Also check out the Helix Channel (Scott) and Richie Castellano on YouTube. Between these two and Jason Sadites, I have learned so much about building patches.

Mine is completely flat, which means I tweak on the Helix, not the mixer. This has worked great for me so far, but I’m interested to hear other’s opinions.

I know it’s counterintuitive, but I prefer the sound of the Helix full amp model and IR into the return of my Marshall tube amp. I’ve tried the preamp/no IR approach, and it always sounds small to me. I use a wet/dry/wet setup, and the Marshall is the dry in the middle. My xlr outputs go to 2 frfr speakers. Pretty big sounds/tones. Good luck on your tone quest.

In a full band situation, it’s nice to have 1 frfr pointing at you, most likely a wedge on the floor (your tone mixed with the other instruments/vocals ). Then, one on a pole behind you with your tone only. This works for me, but there will be other options that work as well.

My story: I got the Helix LT for many of the reasons that you describe (space and back pain). The first few gigs, I used it simply as a replacement for my pedalboard (in conjunction with a Marshall DSL). Then, I went full modeling (no amp, Helix straight to our Mixer/pa). That was about 2 years ago, and I’m still using the LT straight to the mixer as my live rig. It works for me (remember that tone is very subjective). I share this as food for thought- if you get the HX effects only, you are locked into hauling an amp; if you get an LT, you have choices if your circumstances change. I will say that I am very happy with the effects, and they work well in conjunction with a tube amp, but I am grateful that I have the amp modeling. Good luck with your tone journey!

Check out this conversation. Good luck in your tone journey!

The Placater Clean/Dirty setup is perfect for this. The Dirty channel is very flexible. I also like the Texas Cali 2 for cleans/light overdrives with the Placater Dirty. I use a 3 Sigma IR (Marshall 4x12), but the default cab is fine as well. My other choice is the Cartographer; it can do all of the tones...

Dang it. Why did I have to read this? My go to presets are fine. But I just casually decided to put a Tweed Blues Brt preamp in front of the clean WhoWatt. Wow. Rabbit hole, here I come.

I use a pair of Yamaha DXRs on stands in my basement with my LT. Awesome sound. I switched from an all tube setup, as well.

I took off the grille/cover and tightened every screw I could find (there were a bunch). Everything sounds good now. I can play E chords again now (Yay). It’s still interesting to me that I could “fix” the issue with the parametric eq. That’s a powerful tool in the Helix.

Thank you. I’ll start tightening screws...

I’m not sure if this is a Helix issue or a Yamaha DXR 12 issue, but I thought I would see what you all think. I noticed a really irritating buzz/rattle/vibration from one of my main speakers last night (yep, only one side). I pinpointed the problem to the E note (open string, full chord, power chord at the 7th fret, power chord at the 12th fret). No other note or chord causes this. I run direct to PA via xlr, and I utilize the high/low cuts that many of you discuss. I tried several other patches, each displayed the vibration in the same way. So, I put a parametric eq in the patch, and found that a big cut at 170 hz (q 4.8) made the vibration stop. That is not the frequency that I expected to cut. The problem, of course, is that now the patch sounds a bit thin to my ears. I wondered if anyone else has encountered similar issues or might have some advice. My gut tells me that something is loose in the speaker since both are not displaying the same behavior. But it’s so specific to that one note/frequency...Thanks!

Deleted. Jws1982 responded to my post, and I thanked him for the info. I just wish that I hadn’t sold my SV...

There are a few single amps in the Helix that can pull off a clean/overdrive situation, and the Cartographer (w/Minotaur od) is my favorite. I tend to use 4 different patches (using snapshots for leads only), but you could absolutely create one patch around this amp. I’ve been pondering whether I want to try this approach, but I’m always afraid that I’ll end up getting confused in a gig situation with so many snapshots. I like this model through a 3 Sigma ir (Marshall 1960 cab), but I’ve also used a stock cab. Have fun!

Ouch! I wouldn’t say I have 0 knowledge of the Helix, I was just a bit confused about the marketing/ phrasing of 3rd party amp packs. I have a better understanding of all of it now. Thanks.

Thanks for the replies so far. I guess, when I visited this site, the description made it sound like a Jubilee was modeled https://ml-sound-lab.com/collections/amp-packs/products/mars-silver-helix Just to clarify my original post, I feel like I can dial in about any tone that I need with the current amps (and stock cabs). I just wondered if others had experiences where a boutique amp pack was particularly impressive. But it seems to me that if amp packs are built on amp models already in the Helix, then I’m not interested in purchasing them.

MLSoundLab seems to be advertising on this forum on occasion, and recently he mentioned amp packs, so I wonder if they are made with existing Helix models? Codamedia asked the question that I also want to know: could Helix even import a file with a baked in amp model?

I have seen a few 3rd party amp packs designed for Helix lately, and I wondered what experience that users here on the forum have had with them. First, my current feeling is that we already have so many amps to build upon that I don’t feel like need to buy more. For example, we don’t have a Marshall Jubilee, but we have several Marshalls that, in conjunction with an overdrive pedal/eq pedal block, should sound pretty close. But I could be wrong here. Maybe some of these packs are amazing, and they generate tones that we currently cannot get from tweaking the current amp models. Any thoughts?

I would not rule out the Cartographer In this discussion. It’s got some Marshall influences in it for sure, especially with the gain1 knob cranked ( gain 2 around 9 o’clock). It’s my go to Marshall tone in the Helix, and I use it in conjunction with the stock cab 4x12 Greenback 25. Give it a shot.

I like to use a simple eq block right after the cab with a midrange boost. Try it if you have room for another block.

One thing that I’m trying to figure out is this: does a wet/dry approach help at all with this issue? If my core tone/path is mono and is right down the middle, then it seems like the stereo effects (on a different path and panned L and R) that I mix a bit lower should still sound good out front. My setup is straight to PA from the Helix with no back line/amps on stage. We also use IEM. I find this discussion really interesting, btw. I appreciate the different approaches and opinions.