amsdenj

This is the kind of response that makes me love this forum. You get people like @jerseyboy who clearly knows a lot about things we care about and is willing to share. Thank you!

A couple of good rules of thumb: 1) Something that sounds good quiet will likely sound as good or better louder (but watch out for too much mid scoop which doesn’t scale up as well). 2) Something that sounds good through speakers will likely sound good through headphones. What’s notable about these rules is that the opposite is generally not true. Something that sounds good loud might not sound good at all turned down. Something that sounds good through headphones might sound terrible through speakers. This means set your patches through the system you’re going to use live, focusing on the FOH FRFR tone. After all that’s who your playing for right? Your audience? And set them up at the lowest stage volume level you’re likely to play. Don’t worry too much about the difference between your FRFR and IEMs. In a live setting, with some bleed from the backline, you won’t notice tone subtleties in your IEMs. I use a Powercab+ as my backline for me to feel and to provide some acoustic feedback with the guitar. This also provides stage fill in small clubs where the dancers are up close to the band and don’t get that much of the mix in the PA. I have my own IEM mix which I control live through iPhone/iPad or computer. And I set the IEM level so that I can just barely hear it. The IEMs are really just backline fill for lost frequencies and ear plugs to tame the drums. I’m really focused on preserving my already damaged ears, and enjoying playing without doing further damage. Having the IEMs too loud can really tire you out and give you a false sense of what you’re delivering to your audience.

There’s probably some breakin period, probably 2 to 10 hours. But I wouldn’t worry about it. Just use it. That will do the breakin.

There are a lot of factors that contribute to good tone. But I think the most significant contributors are the things that touch the air: guitar, picks, strings, pickups on one end, and speaker and cabinet on the other. A tube amp in large part sounds the way it does because of the guitar cabinet in the room turned up loud. If you turn a tube amp down and use a lot of pedal or preamp distortion to get a low volume distorted sound, it won’t be the same. You, your guitar and your audience all respond differently to something that is loud. Modeling solutions like Helix provide a lot of flexibility with cab models, mic models and IRs along with a good FRFR to produce a wide range of pretty good tones. But if you want that traditional amp in the room sound and feel, you kind of have to use an amp in the room. Helix into PA speakers can sound pretty good, but it isn’t going to sound like an amp in the room. You can do this using Helix in front of, or in the effects loop of a traditional guitar amp. But that requires still carrying around that big guitar amp you’re trying to avoid, and it looses a lot of the flexibility you get with Helix. You can’t really play acoustic guitar tones through Helix into a traditional guitar amp. You could simplify things a bit using a power amp and traditional guitar cabinet. But that’s still big, heavy and somewhat complicated. I think the solution is Powercab+. I got one a while back and love it. I get the full flexibility of a JTV-69S Variax with Helix, while getting the amp in the room sound, look and feel. Powercab doesn’t feel like a compromise, it feels like an optimization. You get a relatively small, reasonably light weight powered cabinet that’s extremely easy to setup using Line6 Link. It starts with a good guitar speaker, and then extends it with EQ processing and a good tweeter rather than starting with a PA speaker and trying to shape a guitar tone with modeling. Its really a fantastic compliment to Helix. I used a couple of JBL EON610s with my Helix for live gigs for a couple of years. They sounded fine, the setup was simple enough, and I liked having the stereo. But I never got a really satisfying thick, fat, warm tone out of them, and I constantly had problems cutting though the mix, no matter how loud I turned them up. Since switching to Powercab+, I have no problem getting the tones and feel I’ve been missing and everyone says they can finally hear what I’m playing. I suspect part of the reason is I put the Powercab on an amp stand. Getting it off the floor helps too. I think Line6 has hit it out of the park with Helix and Powercab+. With this combination, they have optimized the whole guitar signal chain into a complete ecosystem that includes one of the more critical components - the cabinet and speaker that actually deliver the sound. Now if they produced a stereo Powercab+ using 2x10”s, I’d be all in for that.

Knowledge base article Helix Native Midi Operations in a DAW provides instructions on how to use MIDI messages to control block bypass and parameter values in a number of common DAWs, including Logic Pro X. The instructions for Logic Pro X don't actually make use of the new feature in Helix Native 1.60 and beyond that allows direct use of MIDI CC messages for block bypass and parameter control. This is because Logic Pro X does not send MIDI messages to audio track plugins, you have to use controller assignments that map to the Helix Native switch and knob automation parameters which are then configured as automation assignments in Helix Native. There is however a way to use this direct MIDI CC control of block bypass and parameters in Logic Pro X. What you do is use a software instrument track instead of an audio track so that the MIDI messages will be sent to the track, and you can choose which MIDI channel to get the messages from. Next you select the Instrument slot for the software instrument track, and add Helix Native. Now Helix Native isn't a tone generator, and generally won't respond to MIDI messages the same way a software instrument would, but it will respond to MIDI CC messages that are mapped to block parameters, and that's just what we want. Unfortunately, software instrument tracks don't support audio inputs, so no sound comes out of Helix Native since your guitar isn't connected to that track. But there's a work around for this - software instrument plugins include a Side Chain audio input that can be used to control the software instrument tone generator based on an analog input. If you set the Side Chain input to the audio interface input your guitar is connected to, then your guitar will be input into Helix Native. Now you have both audio inputs and MIDI messages being sent directly to Helix Native - not as an Audio FX plugin, but as a Software Instrument with an analog side chain input. There are however a couple of complications you should be aware of. First, if you have any controller assignments configured for the same MIDI device and CC messages, you won't see the MIDI messages in the software instrument track. All MIDI messages that are mapped to controller assignments are consumed by the controller, and are not sent to any software instrument track. So be careful about overlapping controller assignments and Helix Native direct MIDI CC assignments, the track won't see any of the overlapping assignments. The second complication is recording. MIDI tracks only record MIDI, not audio. So although the software instrument track with instrument set to Helix Native will provide monitor sound, this sound won't be recorded. To record you need to create an audio track for your guitar input, record that track with dry guitar, and route the output of that track to a bus which is then used as the input to the side chain. Now when you record, one track will record the audio, and the other will record the MIDI CC messages. On playback, you'll be playing the audio track through Helix Native since the track is going through the bus into the software instrument's side chain. Recorded MIDI messages will also be sent to Helix Native, essentially playing back the button presses you did when recording. This is a little complicated, but works great and is very flexible. Why is this useful? Really three reasons. First, controller assignments are pretty tricky with Logic Pro X (MainStage is much better). You might find direct mapping of MIDI CC messages to Helix Native parameters a lot simpler. Second, Helix Native only supports 16 switches and 16 knobs that can be the target of controller assignments in order to configure plugin parameter automation. That might not be enough control for complex patches. Third, it can sometimes be quite difficult to get plugin automation to record and playback properly. For some plugins, the state of the automation parameters is not known until the track gets the first MIDI message. This can for example cause a distortion block that you turned on for the first chorus to be turned on from the beginning of the track - the automation parameter didn't get initialized properly. You can easily fix this by manually adding the missing automation point, but this adds more work. Hope you Logic Pro/Helix Native users find this helpful.

I think the purpose of the metal clip in one side and not the other is to allow Helix to detect if only the mono XLR is connected. This will automatically mix down the stereo blocks to mono on the XLR out.

I love my Powercab, thinking of getting another.

The limitation for the Helix family is more likely software than it is hardware. Helix already has a good compliment of hardware features. A new model might have Bluetooth, WiFi, touch screen, different knobs, more DSP, etc. but probably not a fundamentally different architecture. They’re likely going to try to leverage the hardware base for as long as they can to recover the ongoing software development costs. But this is pure speculation, mixed with a bit of wishful thinking. I’m still hoping for updated Variax hardware/software.

HX Effects through headphones, no matter how you accomplish it, isn’t going to sound right because there’s no amp or cab model. If you have HX Effects, run it into an audio interface into your computer and S-Gear and use the headphone out on your audio interface. You’ll be very happy. Otherwise, get an HX Stomp or Helix, this has the amp models and the headphone output. HX Stomp is one of the coolest things I’ve ever bought. I love it. I have Helix and HX Effects too, but for different purposes.

I send Line6 link to Powercab+ for my stage amp, and stereo L/R out to FOH. We use an X32-Core for PA with 2 SD16s. So each of us (5) can have or own stereo out from the X32-Core to drive our IEMs using a Behringer headphone amp clipped to my belt. Since I’m using a Variax and VDI cable, I’m cabled anyway, so one more doesn’t matter. This way I get my guitar in stereo in my IEMs and mono in the Powercab+ stage amp. The stage amp is only for front fill, and to give me and the guitar something to feel. Stereo in the IEMs gives some sense of space so its easier to relate to what you’re hearing. I turn up the IEMs so I can just barely hear them, they just fill in the highs that are missing from the Powercab, and protect my ears from the drums and the rest of the band. I’m finding this works very well. I have my own mix, but I find that pushing my guitar and vocal up more then a couple of dB isn’t helpful. I need to hear myself in context with the rest of the band and the song, not standing out as a solo. I really try to play to in that context, and feedback from the audience. Makes gigs a lot more fun that way.

Well, if the HRD sounds OK by itself, then it should sound pretty much the same replacing the HRD preamp with a similar model in HX Stomp. If not, then I’d suspect the main out is not set right to match the HRD return input.

So you want to use your HRD as a stage amp and send another feed to FOH? And you want to use HX stomp preamp models in stead of the HRD preamp? If so, here’s what you would do using the picture above as a guide. Your guitar goes into HX stomp L input. You would put any front of the amp effects in the first few blocks, then a preamp model (not an amp model - you don't want another power amp, and not an amp/cab model - you don’t want a cabinet model here). Then add any after the amp effects you want (e.g., delay, reverb, etc.) This would go to the Main L output, set to Inst level, into the effects return of your HRD. This is your stage amp setting. The HX Stomp Volume will control the volume into the HRD effects return. Make sure to gain stage everything so that when the HX Stomp volume is up pretty high, you’re not getting any distortion from the HRD. All your distortion is coming from HX Stomp, run the HRD as clean as possible. The last thing in your signal path would be a cab model or IR. Move this to path B and set the path B output to Send L/R. Configure Send L/R for Line output and make sure you’re going into a line input on your FOH PA. This approach will use HX stomp to control all the tone. HRD is your stage amp and is seeing the output of the preamp model, its effectively an external power amp and cab. Path B has the cab model or IR going to FOH. Both the HRD and the cab model should be seeing the same input. You don’t need 4CM for this setup, and you don’t need to waste a block using a send block. It should work great if you have all the outputs at the right level and everything gain staged properly.

Just to be clear, the controversy here is that some people think the 1/4" TS output with the magnetic pickups sounds better/warmer than the magnetic pickups through the VDI cable. That might make sense since the magnetic pickups are converted to digital in the Variax and sent over the VDI cable. And it's not clear what impedance load is being applied to those magnet pickups before conversion to digital in the JTV - but I suspect its fixed at High-Z. If you use a 1/4" output into Helix Guitar input, the A2D conversion is being done in Helix, not the Variax, and Helix controls the input impedance. The use case is that you want to use the VDI cable to power the Variax and allow Helix control of the Variax. But you want to retain the 1/4" output to Helix guitar input to retain the tone, and to properly respond to the impedance set in your patch. I think this is a perfectly valid use case, and should be supported. The fact that using a 1/4" TS cable in the JTV with the VDI cable can inadvertently load down the VDI power is unfortunate but real. Best to avoid it as suggested many times above.

I have been using a Powercab+ for the last few gigs and really love it. I'm still keeping my two JBLEON610s and maybe will use them is a wet-dry-wet setup sometime. I'm mostly trying to minimize gig complexity and variability though.

Also set the join to put Cab A 100% L and Cab B 100% right going into the stereo modulation effect.

Problem 1: check the HX Stomp global setting inputs and outputs and make sure they are set to instrument levels. Problem 2: you need those switches to be momentary contact, not toggle. Once the switch is on, HX Stomp sees preset up on all the time. Problem 3: Sound like you're using an input on your amp that bypasses the gain control. If it works with a guitar, it will work the same way with HX Stomp. Make sure you are using blocks in HX Stomp that are designed for front of the amp use - no amp or cab models for example.

You have to set the output block on path 1B to Send 1/2. Then make sure the level of the split block and send output are appropriate - the defaults should be fine.

I would much rather have Workbench running in a computer. I don’t change guitar models live, so I don’t need Helix to do that. I also don’t want to complicate the Helix UI with capabilities that would be rarely used. That said, it would be interesting to be able to store whole Variax models in Helix and load them into the guitar as needed instead of having to load them in the guitar directly ahead of time.

The key thing is to keep most blocks at unity gain (bypass on/off doesn’t result in a big volume jump). This way you won’t get gain buildup in your signal chain that could result in digital clipping at the output, and you’ll be sending each block a signal that hopefully keeps it in its sweet spot, where it was designed to work best.

Turning the patch output up or the PC+ XLR input down certainly can be used to achieve similar levels between the XLR and AES outputs. But it would be convenient if Line6 normalized these so the typical 0dB settings on Helix output and PC+ XLR input were the same. This would simplify patch management when using different FRFRs. I also find the AES PC+ input volume a little low. I have to run the PC+ and Helix output knobs up pretty high to get sufficient stage volume. Its enough, and there’s plenty to spare, but it just seems the knobs have to be up pretty high.

If you want to use the 1/4 output, and don’t want to relay on batteries, you can use any of the old Variax external power supplies with any JTV guitar. That will provide power through the TRS cable.

1. There’s no specific list of presets that emulate artists or songs, but you may search Custom Tone and find things to try. To figure out tones, try searching for the band/song on YouTube, or go see them live and see what guitars and amps they are using. Then see if you can figure out what pickup they are using. This will provide a pretty good starting point. Adjust saturation, tone, effects from there. 2. Helix has three outputs you can use: XLR L/R, 1/4” L/R, and Headphone. If that’s not sufficient, or if you need more control about where the outputs are in the signal chain, you can use Send blocks anywhere you need them. 3. Yes, and these might match the impedance of your instrument better than the Aux input. On my acoustic gigs, I have a Strat, acoustic guitar and mandolin plugged in all the time. Start in the guitar input (needs high-Z), mandolin in Aux, and acoustic guitar with active pickup into Return 3. Different patches determine which input is active.

There’s a simple way to accomplish what you want without using a send block, or having to waste an extra block on path B. The trick is to switch the roles of the Main L/R out and Send L/R. Use Send L/R to send to FOH and use Main L/R to send to your stage amp’s return. Then you can use the IR or Amp block (depending on what your stage amp is) on path B, no need for an extra block. This also has the advantage that the Send L/R sends a fixed level to FOH while the Main L/R volume can be used to conveniently control your stage volume from HX Stomp.

Use a blank preset with headphones and listen to the guitar played hard through all pickup combinations and see if you can hear any distortion. Digital clipping is not pleasant, so if you’re clipping, you’ll probably hear it. If there’s any doubt, compare the sound with pad on/off (adjusting for equal volume). If they sound the same, you’re probably not getting digital clipping.

I use a Variax JTV-69S that I added SVL Daytona SSS pickups and a real nice Warmoth neck. That’s my goto guitar for almost everything. I also use a 67 Les Paul Deluxe that has Tom Holmes split coil humbuckers. This is also a pretty versatile guitar as it gets the Les Paul and Tele sounds pretty well. But for flexible tones, its hard to be a Strat and a JTV-69S can be a nice Strat and have usable models for other things too.