ColonelForbin

Yes; I have one possible idea: are you using the correct AES/EBU cabling? Not regular XLR cables?... I have read reports of issues with Line6Link using regular XLR instead of the correct AES/EBU (110 ohm digital cable). I had a few lengths made by BestTronics; 10', 20', 30' (I also use them with the L2/L3/M20d rig, which definitely required AES cables) Best-Tronics: http://btpa.com/AES-EBU1-XX.html Or the Line6 branded option: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/L6LinkMedium http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/L6LinkLong

Yes; seemed like a little treble boost and top end clarity that was subtle but the change to the stereo image was certainly noticeable - it was really interesting to toggle between stereo and stereo wide. Quite nice, well done!! I am really impressed with the FH1500 global EQ as well - that is sweet!! It was easy to set the global EQ to on the FH1500 using the app on my Android phone; and this helped alot to tweak the tuning of the FH1500 to mesh better with various Helix patches. The app has also been great for adjusting volume levels and auditioning back and forth for the speaker and stereo mode. Cheers!

I spent some more time with my Helix + DT25 combination (using Line6Link) over the last couple days; making progress - for what it's worth, it's sounding really good! Mostly I was just picking Helix patches, then trying to figure out how to audition the DT topo settings - the other settings can all be changed on the amp controls. Well, here's what I discovered: I used my regular MIDI soundcard, and loaded up DTEdit and connected the DT25. I chose no amp model / no cab model / and no mic model on the XLR direct out - for all eight slots. A 1-4 and B 1-4, make them all no amp/no cab, etc. Then I made each pair of I, II, III IV for A & B correspond to it's topo setting; IE, voicing switch I = topo I, voicing II = topo II, and so forth. Then I set all the class and triode to the same on all for a starting place, then disconnected the MIDI cables, and connected L6link cable from Helix to DT25. At this point - on channel A - the option to toggle between I-IV goes away. *HOWEVER* when I changed the DT to channel B, I then had the option to toggle between I-II-III-IV. I can definitely hear a subtle but specific difference in the sound coming out of the amp when switching topology like this - it really does have more to do with feel than anything; not nearly as extreme volume jump from what I was experiencing. It also does alot for tightening up the bass response, and how loose or crisp the speaker sounds. I was able to appreciate it in a more impartial sense than I did with the HD500-DT pair, since it did not cause the amp volume to increase or decrease substantially. The function of LVM still has me mystified in this configuration; it just seems to lower the overall range of the master volume knob; the tone ends up seemingly the same when you lower the master in 'regular' mode or raise it in LVM. I suppose since it's not feeding the extra modeled HD signal, I don't know what all differences are engaged in LVM in terms of the power / topo / class, etc. Also don't know how it impacts the XLR out; didn't get to do any recording this time. Cheers!

So my question! @L6Arne, are you able to clarify the difference between 'stereo' and 'stereo wide'? I just spent the last hour or so getting my Helix + FH1500 to pair well with each other. Really getting much, much happier with the sounds I am getting!!. Working a combination of Helix cab high & low cut, plus some global EQ (also on helix) and also messing with the Fh1500 stereo mode and floor/wall/free speaker mode. Note to all trying to use Helix + FH1500. Definitely use the app to control the volumes and mess with those wide / stereo settings, and definitely mess with the floor and wall bass cut modes. Majorly helpful!!! I missed that first few times I used it and was not optimal due to my user error.. Thus far I like regular 'stereo' on the FH1500 (not wide stereo / not mono), and I am running Helix with the volume maxed or almost maxed. I am floating between floor and wall for the FH1500 bass cut / speaker mode. Depends on the patch.. Need to do some recording tests to figure out how that sounds coming off the FH1500 XLR out vs the Helix XLR out. Anyway, sounds really good at very loud volumes. Got it *cranked* and sounding full and smooth! The bass response / cut just toggling between the three speaker modes on the FH1500 are pretty drastic. In 'free' mode the bass is huge and overpowering. Depending on the patch you are using, I have found good tones from both wall and floor modes.

Yes, and it's wayyy lighter! One L2t is really loud, and you can plug a few things in. If you have two, you can use a pair of AES cables, connect both in/out L6Link on both speakers, and that doubles your inputs, and they will automatically send each other the signals being input from both and pan them in stereo. I can easily carry one L2t with one hand, and no back pain. Moving the FH1500 at all tweaks my lower back - though disclaimer, I have pre-existing back issues anyway; so - keep your back strong and healthy! It will never go back to not being susceptible to tweaks with just visits to the chiropractor, trust me, I was going there almost weekly for a long time. I need to do more core strength exercise to be able to lug the FH1500 around safely (hence why it's been staying at our practice spot and hasn't even gone home with me yet!) My chiropractor says I should be able to do my age in push ups, sit ups, and jumping jacks daily for a good place to start... Needless to say, got some work to do :)

L2t has two 1/4" / XLR combined regular mono inputs on the side panel, a single main XLR mono input on the back panel- and also has RCA stereo AUX input on the back panel.. (no 1/8" though, unless I missed one on the side panel?)

I think that is the yet to be created "'Line 6 StageHawkScape 51500'" ;) It combines Marty McFly's hoverboard technology with Doc's ginormous 1.21 gigawatt FRFRHR high powered , 67 speaker system - that levitates itself to the gig! :)

Good question! I guess I don't know... I was basing my experience of the patch on his video..?? lol, I must have totally dreamed up playing through it, doh! :)

The most important question - what kind of speakers / amp / monitoring system did you use? I am going through a variety of high powered L6 FRFR speakers, and still struggling to cut through the mix when I jam with my band at our rehearsal spot on Fridays - the other guitarist uses a 40watt Fender tweed tube amp. I have difficulty being loud enough using a 1500 watt Firehawk1500 amp... I can get there; I just still get overpowered when the drums, bass and the tube amp are all really playing 'loud'. For the majority of the time, the FH1500 keeps up just fine. I also use a pair of L3m at home - 1400 watts each, but overkill for stage volume - too much bass (the bottom 10" speaker in each L3m is crossover for bass/sub freq). Also use a pair of L2t; quite likely the lightest to loudest ratio, and with Helix, sound incredible. I also get excellent tube amp tone without having to jump through hoops by L6Linking Helix to my DT25. Stack the combo on the 1x12 extension cab; disable all the DT amp/cab/mic models, and tweak the topo. That rig *screams*. The DT25 is loud, really loud - and holds up quite well paired with Helix. Quite frankly, I would likely put the Fh1500 in front of me if I needed a stage monitor, and the DT25 behind as a regular amp backline. It does bring back that old comparison between usable tube watts and usable solid state watts... 40 watt tube through a 12" speaker has a strong mid focus, and emulating that to hear yourself better on stage is wise; even though you may want to *not* do that for the main mix, or recording, or etc. Anyhow, I will leave you with this - keep searching! It's all good, no one is here to refute your choice - that's yours and yours alone! To keep you inspired, here is an awesome video for Glenn DeLaune's Joe Satriani custom artist Helix Patch. Cheers Brother! :)

It occured to me, that (for L-center-R with Helix) you could also set up an fx loop in a blank FH1500 patch, and send the main stereo 1/4" outs from Helix to the FH1500 fx loop input. Then, create an additional mono 1/4" send from Helix to the FH1500 guitar in. Then, with the latest FH1500 firmware update, the monitor inputs are not routed to the XLR outputs. So with the FH1500 in front of you as a tilt back monitor, you could do a variety of direct monitoring from Helix, and also pass through that signal to the mains /mixer - while also feeding back monitor signal (to the fh monitor input) and that won't get passed through the FH1500 XLR outs. That's an important point for those of us who intend to use it to pass through signal from Helix to FH1500 using XLR to the monitor input, while also routing that signal out to the FH1500 XLR outputs. IE, if you want to do that, don't update your firmware - yet. L6Arne mentioned a possible future firmware that might allow that option to be selected on the FH1500. For now, I left my firmware on the original, since my primary use is a powered stereo Helix monitor that I feed to mixer at jam space (which is routed to several PA powered speakers and monitors, and also to ProTools for multitracking. It looks like the cancelled Friday jam tomorrow was just uncancelled, so I am psyched to put all this info to good use. thanks fellas!:)

Gotcha; so you are sending the regular stereo XLR to the FH, and also sending the wet summed to mono 1/4" L/mono output to the FH1500 guitar input (blank patch) I tried that briefly, but I need to explore more!! - I need to start with adjusting the Helix 1/4" out to instrument level.. Have you tried building a patch with a 'dry' (pre fx + amp model) mono FX send placed after the Helix amp/cab model, before reverb/chorus/delays? (in place of the main 1/4" out) @Spikey - Basically, placing an input to the FH1500 guitar input utilizes the 6th speaker (center horn) and feeds some additional signal to the 12" speaker (which is also used by the stereo system),. The monitor inputs on the back use 5 of the 6 speakers - bypassing the center horn, and using the center 12" as a crossovered sub. I think adding the guitar in to a blank patch access the additional power amp center system that drives the horn, and adds some non-sub frequencies to the center 12" speaker.. (I think! @L6Arne might want to clarify..)

Yes; I did something similar. I ran the outputs from my G70 wireless to Helix and to FH1500 guitar in, while also sending the XLR from Helix to the FH1500. I did up some parallel tones, blending the FH1500 + Helix patches. I think I got some cool overlap, but it adds a considerable level of complexity and dual unit patch volume leveling. I think I will experiment more with some kind of post amp model, pre wet fx send from Helix, maybe toggle that send with an on/off fs on Helix, not sure. I really Need to test it, and band jam got cancelled for this Friday!!! :( Gonna go get my amp and bring it home, test this stuff out properly.

Sweet! Just to clarify, so I can try this same rigging on Friday (I also need to check that 1/4" setting on my Helix), you are doing this: 1.) Helix XLR to FH1500 XLR / monitor input 2.) Helix 1/4" to FH1500 guitar in - What are you sending from Helix: -a dry send, -a specific placed FX send, or -the main 1/4" L/mono output? - Are you setting the FH1500 to a blank patch? Cheers!

The only documented mention of lower power is between class A and A/B.. I saw some reference to 'master volume scaling', so it might be doing something closer to a signal level reduction.

I don't know what it actually does in terms of the power! I may have been wrong about it lowering the actual power. It definitely lowers the speaker volume! I guess more tests needed.. I know the fx loop doesn't work in regular LVM, don't know what happens with the DT modeling defeated.

Yeah, you probably won't even need a mixer. Run your guitar to the guitar in, and the vocal fx output to the monitor inputs on the back. This would put your guitar through all six speakers, and your vocal fx through five speakers - not through the center horn, which is likely a good thing. I might try routing vocals to it at rehearsal this Friday as a monitor, tilt back in front of me, will give a good listen, see how it sounds. I also want to try running keyboards to it, might test that on Friday too

Check out low volume mode on the DT25 with Helix L6linked (and all DT25 amp/cab/mic models bypassed). Near as I can tell, it just knocks it down to 12 watts, but doesn't seem to do the extra digital model add-in that happens with the DT/HD modeling.. I was finding that DT25 linked to Helix is really, really loud for jamming at home, and I stumbled onto trying out the LVM switch. Cheers!

I spent the most time on opt.2, because I didn't have to reprogram anything to make it work with different Helix patches. Taking the time to create a template would be a good place to start, to do a more specific signal- pre + amp and cab model dry (post amp model, before 'wet fx')) with that 1/4" center system send linked to a footswitch or volume / exp pedal. In terms of balancing the guitar in vs monitor in levels, I think you press the big volume knob to toggle between master volume, and the guitar in / patch level. The led ring colors change. For that extra 1/4" send, I hust wanted to add a touch of the center / mono / horn and center 12" speaker portion of the rig.

Yes! I dabbled in messing with the three cable send from Helix to FH1500. I tried these 3 options: Helix stereo to FH1500 monitor in, and.. 1.) I ran a dry guitar signal from my wireless (G70) to the FH1500 guitar in, and tried different presets on the FH in parallel with my Helix patches 2.) I ran a 1/4" from the main Helix 1/4" L/mono output to the FH1500 guitar in, and set the FH to a blank patch. 3.) I ran a 1/4" from the Helix fx send and placed the send just after the Helix amp/cab models, before any post FX.

I am liking it; but I am prone to overkill :) I mostly jam with the guys on Friday in our space, haven't gigged in a while. I have the L2 and L3 speakers too, I like where Line6 went with all the Stagesource gear, and liking this too. Haven't messed much with the wet/dry/wet option, or using the onboard modeling. The bluetooth works just fine, sounds good. The FH1500 is certainly a nice sounding - and loud - and heavy - stereo / FRFR amp. I used it with Helix for the third time in a jam session last night. Holds up just fine with a really loud four piece band in our rehearsal space - drums, bass, and another guitarist with a 40w Fender tweed. I sort of impulse bought it; it had come up on MF.com as an open box / scratch and dent, so I am leaning towards keeping it; still have some days to decide. Last night I used it in front of me, with the kick back / tilt back stand. I also had an L2t behind me on a speaker stand. L6link to the L2t, 1/4" stereo to the FH1500, and stereo XLR to the mixer / recording. It's really damn heavy, and I am thinking whatever rolling case they come up with for it will be a good investment.

Had a decent third jam with the FH1500 as monitor for my Helix last night! This time I set the FH1500 in front of me, in tilt back - had it behind me in the last two jams. I also had a single L2t behind me on a speaker pole. I also multi-tracked (with my M20d) a rough assembly of the jam session with a couple of condensor mics (one for drums, one for 'room' sound), a close mic on the other guitar amp, and line outs from the Mackie PA mixer at the rehearsal space (for vocals), from my Helix (XLR) and from the bass rig. Curious to give that a listen, if I get anything decent will post some clips. I am still not quite setting my trim levels properly on the M20d; what seems to be plenty of trim / gain, and volume ends up being low volume when I import the files into ProTools. I'd rather that, than having them too hot and clipping! 24bit headroom makes it easy to just boost all the levels in ProTools before I mix it down. Will have to take another look at the level meters on the M20d, I might have just been reading them as near 0 when they were probably closer to -12 to -20db or something. Another little change, I ran stereo 1/4" from Helix to the FH1500. No buzz, no hum, no noise, no problems! Sounded really good overall with the FH1500 in front on the floor, and the L2t behind me up high. I ran L6link to the L2t, so might do an alternate version, with the FH1500 in front, but put my DT25 behind me, L6linked. I could even see a scenario where I use the FH1500 strictly as a monitor, and run Helix in using 1/4", maybe to FX loop in, with monitor send from the PA / mixer. Dunno. Liking it's versatility, haven't settled on one best way to use it, which is cool - it has performed well in all scenarios thus far. A quick side note; I had some serious fun with Glenn DeLaune's leslie organ patch; sweet!! Way cool, really impressive how much Helix can make happen with creative patch creation. Keep it up Glenn, great stuff! Hitting the leslie 'speed' button is crazy cool.

Yeah; got that far; for some reason it's restricting my file size of attachment to 3.22kb, which is really tiny.. not sure how to get around that? I am having trouble getting anything to resize to that limit and be viewable at all. Am I missing something? It's super weird, because the other attachments earlier in the thread are well over 100kb. I just tried uploading several sizes until it allowed it. Not sure what I am doing wrong.. Not a big deal I guess I will figure it out! Need to get me some Photoshop..

Sweet! Quick question: how do I go about getting a thumbnail / image posted like that? thanks!

Good enough for me! :) Thanks!

While I think this is an excellent idea when using the FH1500 as intended - with a guitar plugged into it, and a monitor return, that makes total sense. I am just glad that I didn't update the firmware yet! I would like whatever the improvements are - 'Improved performance at high volume levels' But I definitely still need the monitor (Helix) in to be able to be routed to the main XLR outs... I suppose the work around would be use 1/4" cables and make a blank patch with an FX loop block. Not a terrible option.. Allows the XLR to come out of the Helix instead of the FH1500. But not ideal. Sticking with the original firmware for now, unless someone can clarify if that option - to disable the monitor in being routed to the XLR out - can be 'chosen' not forced with the firmware. Thanks!