amsdenj

Do you have any room ambience in you (legacy) cab models?

When using Helix with Powercab112+, I use Line6 link and let it do the conversion to mono in the Powercab. For Quad Cortex, I run left and right outputs 3&4 into Powercab112+ inputs 1&2 using TRS cables, and again let Powercab do the summing to mono. On both devices I did make sure that summing to mono didn't do bad things to the patch. That did result in changing the Width parameter on some stereo blocks in Quad Cortex. Outputs 1&2 on Helix and Quad Cortex go into the PA and feed my IEM mix which is full stereo, making the IEM mix more natural sounding.

I have a Powercab112+ that I use most of the time, and a Powercab 212 that gets occasional use. The 212 stereo isn't that useful live for me. The audience won't notice it, and I'm using IEMs which are a stereo mix regardless of which Powercab I use. The 112+ just seems to hit the sweet spot in terms of weight and size. The 212 is perhaps a bit too big for most clubs and doesn't match the rest of the band that well. Re: the Powercab 212 bug: when using Line6 Link and controlling Powercab 212 from Helix, The Mode and Voicing settings only control the left speaker, not both the left and right. The work around is to use MIDI and turn off Line6 Link Powercab control. It's an extra cable to setup, and makes the patches a bit more complicated, but is necessary for Powercab 212. I don't know for sure, but the same problem might occur using Line6 Link with two Powercab 112+'s in stereo. Depends on whether the bug is in Powercab 212 or in the Line6 Link protocol implementation. Powercab112+ and Helix with Line6 Link is a really great guitar setup. I get best results using Flat Mode and LF Raw Voicing with no cab block or IR in Helix. That's basically a powered guitar speaker. The Eminence speaker in Powercab112+ seems to be a pretty nice guitar speaker. This is convenient, easy to setup, easy to transport, reliable, simple and flexible - with no compromises in tone. You can get different tones using Flat Mode and FRFR Voicing with cab blocks or IRs in Helix. But you'll never be able to make a 12" speaker in a small cabinet sound and feel like a 4x12 no matter how good the model might be. To me, LF Raw just sounds more natural and doesn't have the subtle high-end fizz caused by the tweeter in the FRFR voicing. But it's great to have the flexibility.

The cab models or IRs for the speakers should already capture the speaker frequency response, possibly better than you could with EQ. You might adjust the low cut to account for bass coupling from the floor, and possibly adjust the high cut to limit fizz. But that seems to be less necessary with the new 3.5 cab models.

Neural DSP took a different approach to Fuzz, it's impedance and how it interacts with the guitar. It's recent fuzz model allows you to choose your pickup type (single or double coil) and use an expression pedal to control the guitar volume in the plugin instead of with the guitar volume. This is a compromise, but seems to work pretty well. They use machine learning to model what the fuzz is doing at different fuzz levels and with the different pickups. It's another interesting approach.

Line6 support has acknowledge the defect is in their defect backlog. But I have no further information on whether it is a priority or would ever be fixed. My recommendation, and what I'm going to use myself, is to not rely on Line6 link, but rather use two TRS cables and a MIDI cable and use MIDI to control Powercab212. I will continue to use Line6 link with a single Powercab112+ as this is reliable. Defects are a reality, workarounds are good. I'm hopeful this will be fixed, but moving on to make the best use of the gear I have.

I have recently observed that when using Helix with my Powercab 212 connected with Line6 link, Helix appears to properly control the speaker mode. But when mode is Flat, Helix through Line6 link only controls the voicing (FRFR, LF Flat, LF Raw) for the left speaker. That is, the right tweeter is not turned on and off properly based on the voicing setting. Changing voicing from the Powercab 212 controls or using MIDI works properly on both speakers. I have notified support and they are looking into it.

The knobs on the HX Stomp can get stepped on and slightly bent. That can cause them to bind and turn hard. See if that's the case. I had to bend one back once. Fixed the problem and didn't seem to have any remaining issues. But use Line6 support if you have any doubts.

Note that collapsing a stereo effect to mono may not be the same as using a mono version of the same effect. Check to be sure the result of collapsing stereo to mono sounds OK to you. If not, try using a mono signal chain in Helix.

Note that with modelers now supporting IRs, and a good selection of acoustic body IRs available from various vendors, it's possible to get pretty good acoustic tones from piezo pickups without having to use a Variax.

I'm speculating but: The capture process for modeling an amp is simpler than that for modeling a guitar. For an amp, you can put an input into the amp, stick a mic in front of the cabinet, and measure the output. Then you can use algorithms (Helix), profiles of fixed amp parameters (Kemper), or machine learning (Quad Cortex) to create the transfer function that converts the input to the output. For guitar modeling, you have to find a way to input something into a guitar pickup that is similar to a vibrating string. That can involve some sort of inductor that sits above the pickup that is driven by an audio pattern that is induced into the magnetic coils of the pickup, depending on its position and the body its mounted in. That's a pretty complex process. I think Variax as done an incredible job producing realistic, usable guitar models. They aren't perfect, but they're often good enough for a live gig. Markets and technologies often move on. I really hope Line 6 or Yamaha have some future investment in Variax as I think its incredible what has already been accomplished and would love to see it move to the next level.

The issue may be that Line6 ran up against limitations in the technology used to capture and model the guitars. Some for example liked the old 1.9 models better. The other problem may be that they lost the developers who built the product. I have stopped gigging with my JTV-69S, preferring to use my Strat, Tele and Les Paul. Mostly this is because of some sustain issues in my variax, and those three guitars should be played. I do miss the quick open tunings, acoustic models, 12-string, and its my lightest electric. I put a lot of money into that JTV-69S (new neck and pickups) so it's not going anywhere and could appear back in the rotation some day. I do still use it for practice and rehearsals.

I have a JTV69S that I used for gigging for the last 4 years. I invested in a nice new neck and SVL Daytona pickups, adding about $1200 to a guitar I bought used on eBay. Now its a wonderful guitar, fantastic neck, great pickups, light, stays in tune, tremolo works great, real easy/fast to change strings, looks great, etc. But sadly it has fallen out of my gig rotation in favor of a Strat and Tele that are just wonderful to play. I like the way the different guitars feel and how they change how I play. I still use it for rehearsals and as my practice guitar. And it might re-appear in the rotation sometime, you never know. If found the models fine for occasional double coil sound, acoustic, and quick open tunings in live gigs. But I would likely never use the models for recording except for some of the odd models of instruments I don't otherwise have. In my case, I've tried to focus on what's needed for the songs in the context of our band. And in that case, I don't really ever need a double coil guitar because our other guitarist plays a Les Paul or SG most of the time. I need to use the single coils so we don't collide in chaotic muddy midrange. So I no longer really needed the models. We've adjusted the set list so the open tunings I need are all in one place. And I use IRs to get a pretty good acoustic sound out of the single coil picks. It's not as good as Variax acoustic, but close enough for club gigs.

If you need lighter strings (I've had to do it to address elbow problems), try 9.5. Might be a good compromise. I'm using them now and they seem to work well.

Make sure your audio interface is properly grounded, and you are using a high-Z input for your guitar. Also check the outputs of your computer and speakers. Noise could be created there if there's improper grounding or poor gain staging. The noise could be created in your interface's converters and preamps. I have no problems with Helix Native and noise, so I don't think there's an issue in the plugin.

Make sure nothing's clipping from the last block in you Helix signal chain (i.e., the Helix output) through the power amp input. There's likely no good clipping in that part of the signal path.

Sure, send some links! And welcome back go gigging!

I think Helix powers on in the preset that it was in then it was powered off. And I think Helix loads presets in the mode they were in when they were saved. But you'd have to check if this does what you want.

Whether you need to get the Powercab off the floor or not depends on your desired tones. What happens is a cabinet on the floor will get bass coupling between the speaker cabinet and the floor giving a possibly unnatural bass boost. But that could be good or bad depending on what you want and how your Helix patches are setup. I have found the 112+ has less bass coupling than 212. That's probably because of 1 speaker vs 2 (bass coupling is impacted by speaker surface area) and that the 112+ has a light back angle on the front of the cabinet while 212 is flat. By the way, I love my Powercab 112+ and use it on every gig, with Helix or with Quad Cortex. I use FRFR and IRs or cabinet models Helix/Quad Cortex for the simplicity and flexibility. But I have used the speaker models. If you find something you like, use it. If it sounds good it is good. I wouldn't worry too much about whether they sound like the original or not. The sound will be very different depending on number of speakers and open or closed back. Just go by what sounds good.

I wouldn't leave something on indefinitely unless it had an auto sleep mode simply because I wouldn't want to waste the power.

Try this: Download and install Line 6 Updater if you have already Also download the Helix Flash Memory for 3.15 Hold switches 6 & 12 when powering up Helix to get into safe boot mode Run Line 6 Updater, if it connects to your Helix, used Offline Model and install the Flash Memory file you downloaded in step 2. If Line 6 Updater doesn't see your Helix, or the update fails, you probably need Line 6 service.

I am very happy with Powercab 112+. i us it with Helix, HX Stomp and Quad Cortex. It's flexible and sounds great. I have some patches that use acoustic tones with a Variax and it does those great too. What works for you will depend on your needs. I also have a Powercab 212 that I'm less happy with. It doesn't sound as good as the 112+ to me and is a bit bigger than I need for most gigs. I use to use the speaker models, but haven't in a long time. FRFR is just simple and effective.

The chorus may be putting the two amps out of phase.

Did you do the captures with open or closed back?

The Powercab manual doesn't say what the input impedance is, but input 1 and 2 both have the ability to set the input level to line or instrument. Instrument settings are generally high impedance.