ColonelForbin

I think this is the "potentially big" rack news DI was talking about.. http://line6.com/support/topic/17042-helix-rack-and-control—new-pricing/#entry125608

I think you just need Line6 Updater for Helix. Try this link, then choose the Line 6 Updater from the -All Software- pulldown menu. You will need to login to the line6 website, it's same username and password used on the forum. You will also need to login to the Line6 updater after it's installed. http://line6.com/software/index.html "The easiest way to perform the update process is by installing the latest version of Line 6 Updater. Once you've connected Helix to your computer via its USB port (hubs are not supported), Line 6 Updater will recognize the unit and take you through the update process."

Sweet! Thanks for the heads up! http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HelixBP

Ok, here's what I came up with. These all have relatively comparable volume levels from amp to amp, and I tamed some of the overall tonal balance with a couple of the cab options. Granted, it's 1:21am, so at this point, I am not playing 'at volume'. But toggling from amp to amp, and having B set up to boost slightly over A is giving me some really nice options. Still stuck on Plexi bright, I used it twice. Ended up with the Park normal and bright for III and IV. With all EQ, drive, channel volume, master, and all pedal settings the same, these are a nice set of interchangeable amps. Fairly narrow slice. You could do something comparable with the high gain amps, or the Fender amps. For example, with the power settings on their lowest volume options, the JCM800 is still like, 10x louder than alot of the other amps. So. I steered clear of major volume shifts between amp to amp. Ideally, you could toggle between these amps between songs, and not really have to change much on the DT. Will give it a go after work tomorrow at more 'full' volumes, see how it holds up. Loving messing with DtEdit, so much fun :) I: Plexi bright / Greenback 25 / Class A / Pentode / Topo II II: Plexi bright / Brit T-75 / Class A / Pentode / Topo II III: P-75 normal / Blackback 30 / Class A/B / Triode / Topo II IV: P-75 bright / Greenback 25 / Class A/B / Triode / Topo II * boost off on all

I have benched my HD500x for the time being, and the majority of the time I spend playing these days is with my pedaltrain board into my DT25. I have a G70 wireless, into a Voodoo Lab pedal switcher (PX-8) going in front of the DT25, with an M9 in the DT25 FX loop. I love it! Lately, I've been spending some time configuring the standalone amp options, and getting critical about the cabs, and trying to dial in a solid 'amp' tone, that the pedals can sit nicely with. At first I went with 8 different amps, but realized that for the A/B channel switching to work properly, it's best to be toggling between two identical amp models and power configurations. So, thus far my one go-to is the Plexi bright. I picked up a generic dual-latching footswitch, which toggles the reverb on/off, and the channel to switch from A to B and back. I currently have that set that up as II-A and II-B (except I toggle the 'boost' setting OFF in both using MIDI with DtEDIT) . I make channel B with a touch more gain and channel volume, maybe a little EQ adjustment, so it acts like a nice lead boost / crunch boost thing. So, I am going to watch football tonight after work, and do my usual routine of setting everything up in the living room, and jam with the TV in the background. Anyway, going to explore at least three more standalone A/B pairs, in a similar overall volume structure to the Plexi. Alot of that actually comes down to topology; if you set everything up on topo III it's all going to be louder than the other topos. I have attempted to do the original DT set up with one topo per I-II-III-IV, but end up gravitating towards certain amp models over others, so will likely just use a couple of the topos. I was using a lot of A/B, then switched up to A instead. Might go back and explore the variations a bit more carefully, once I settle on four amps to load up. I had tried doing Plexi bright on all 8, and changing up things like the cab and the power settings; but discovered that certain configurations are just going to sound better, making the copies redundant. I am thinking Divided /13 for one of the pairs. Maybe one of the Fenders for one, and the Park or another Marshall possibly for the last. For some reason I prefer the Plexi bright to the Plexi normal. Also has a lot to do with that cab choice, and the overall amp voicing as it sounds through a 1x12. I tried to make the A-B toggle go between Plexi normal and Plexi bright, and it didn't work well.. In general, it seems there is a subtle dropout when toggling between A and B, if they are not the same amp model. Wheras, if you set both to the same model, but change the level, drive, reverb, and eq settings, the toggle was more seemless. Same seems to go for changing cabinets or any power related settings when toggling A-B Thinking also in terms of comparable EQ, channel and drive settings, and cabinets, and how the FX pedal settings translate from one amp model to the next. Ideally, be able to leave the pedal settings alone. One nice feature I've been using, is the G70 'scenes', allowing you to foot toggle between different pre-assigned channel volumes. I use this to adjust the signal hitting my compressor and first overdrive, and depending which guitar I am playing. Very cool feature! Anyway, if anyone else is using their DT 'old school' and has some favorite amp models - especially for toggling between A and B using a dual latching footswitch, chime in!

The M20d can transmit six mono signals through L6link to six different stagesource speakers. 1.)Main left, 2.)Main right, 3.,4.,5.,6.)Monitors 1-4. If you sent six analog signals from Helix to M20d, you would be able to route those different signals to different speakers in the l6link chain. M20d + Helix l6link example: Send six different analog outputs from Helix to six input channels on M20d. Looper only, wet left, wet right, dry amp 1, dry amp2.. On the m20d, pan one signal left, the other right, bring those two up in the m20d main mix. The other four, leave down in m20d main mix, but assign one each to the four monitor sends. Manually configure the m20d to send each signal to it's own speaker. Taking that futhur, manually set each speaker to the mode you want. You could send Helix preamp only to a speaker set to electric guitar mode, for example. My guess to my question is "maybe", with possible future firmware update. L6link clearly already has the ability, as do the stagesource speakers. Whether they can code Helix to be able, remains to be seen. HD500 focused it's link options more on the DT integration, but I could see Helix making better use of the multiple speaker l6link ability, since it's routing options are so much more robust than the HD.. Glad I didn't sell my M20d, and psyched for my Helix to get here in the next month or two so I can try some of these ideas myself :)

Current status of Helix L6 Link: L6 LINK Output Alternatively, the digital XLR connector can be used for L6 LINK output (use of a 110Ω XLR cable is recommended). L6 LINK provides easy digital audio connectivity between Helix and Line 6 StageSource speakers and/or DT-Series amplifiers. Two StageSource speakers or DT amps can also be connected in series via L6 LINK and your stereo Helix signal is intelligently split, with the left channel going to the first StageSource/DT and the right channel to the second. If you have one StageSource/DT connected, the Helix output is collapsed to mono and fed to the StageSource/DT. Connecting an L6 LINK device to Helix automatically disables S/PDIF out and routes audio out the digital XLR connector - no adjustments of the Global Settings > Ins/Outs > Digital Audio or Sample Rate options are necessary. TIP: With an L6 LINK connection to a DT-Series amp, often the Helix Preamp models are a better choice than Amp or Amp+Cab models. Manually configure the analog power amp options on the DT amp for more sonic possibilities!

What kind of L6Link routing options does the Helix have at the moment? I was hoping it would have, or eventually be capable of something comparable to the M20d

Gotcha, that makes sense! Check the out put settings, it should auto configure a single L2 as mono,merged L/R, or at least, HD500 did. You could also try setting the Helix XLR to line level and use the L2m XLR main input, just to compare. Definitely a different feel from the HD-DT pair! I don't have Helix yet, intend to keep the HD-DT25 pair even after Helix, since it does represent a unique combination. However, with Helix I am primarily intending to use it in FRFR with my L2t. An idea you could try, set up some patches using preamp only version of an amp model, and instead of a Helix cab+mic, load a cab only IR. L6link to your L2m, and manually change the L2m speaker mode to "electric guitar". This should approximate the more "amp in room" sound you had with the HD-DT pairing. Electric Guitar: "The overall frequency response emulates the sound of a 212 combo amp. The 10†speaker plays full range, with the horn adding only the smallest amount of sparkle."

Try this, l6link the HD500 to the L2m, and compare that to the Helix linked to the L2m..

What I am hoping, is for Helix to eventually have something resembling the L6Link capability of the M20d mixer, which can route six different mono audio signals to six different speakers / l6link devices. It would be so cool to send a link chain to DT amp and L2/L3 speaker(s). Or even to just be able to specify a certain part of the signal path to go to the L6Link, in order to split out what the DT gets! On the right track, thanks for doing this test, way cool!! :)

This video is pretty good; Glenn sets up his patches where toggling into stompbox mode expands the options to turn on/off additional FX and such. To toggle between multiple amps with the FS, most likely you are going to be doing patch changes, but to a certain degree you should be able to morph or toggle between at least two, maybe three amp rigs in one preset. I dunno, my Helix isn't going to be here until end of December, so I've got some waiting to do...

Sweet!! Cracking the Helix-DT seal.. It's gonna be sweet what people can do with this pair. The DT is a unique amp; in that, you can separate the power amp settings from the preamp. Since the preamp is digital and can be deactivated, it opens up some very, very cool options. I am loving my DT25 with pedals in front of it, and in the fx loop - sounds great! And those power / topology settings are crucial to the 'feel'.. What you described, how it feels when you hear it.. It's beyond just a simple yes/no logic circuit in your brain, it has to tap into those deeper realms. Like transparent aluminum!! ;)

I would guess part of the issue is how Musicians Friend and Guitar Center are basically the same company; with either the same or overlapping warehouse and inventory; to a certain degree. And since they are both web store and box store, they have different issues from web-only business. American Musical and Zzounds are the same company - same stock, etc. I mean, literally - I was comparing two PRS guitars, and compared the photos - then looked at the serial#'s. Identical. Same company. Different tax structures, but... I just got back in the preorder line with Sweetwater, and will wait it out. I am getting pysched though! Seems like people have had them long enough to stumble through a few issues, but also hearing some reports back of folks really excited for their tones. On that note, I need to give this one a listen on lunch break today! Vetta vs Helix http://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/line6-helix.1586637/page-804

Will Helix be able to handle Line6Link at the same level as the M20d mixer? The M20d can send six mono audio signals through the L6Link to multiple Stagesource speakers, and the routing for which signal goes to which speaker in the link chain is controlled in the M20d. It would be nice to do that with Helix. You could create some sweet wet/dry/wet rigs that way, even send the looper to it's own speaker. If that idea makes sense, sounds cool, or is possible from a Helix hardware perspective, then vote 'er up, ya'all! :) http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Helix-Line6Link-Capability/794556-23508

I also just realized that L6link might not work as the send to the DT from Helix, unless you can tell Helix to only send certain audio paths to the L6link output. My best guess is L6link *should* eventually offer Helix the level of routing you get with an M20d. L6link supports 6 mono channels on the M20d. Main left, main right, and four monitor sends. In theory, that should open the door for future firmware to allow L6link from Helix to DT and from DT to L2 or L3. In that case, sending different signals to each. For now, I think this will entail the use of 1/4" cables. Side note, the DT has that transformer tapped cab sim output. I wonder what comes out that XLR when you have disabled the DT cab and mic sim? "Curious, very curious" :)

Definitely NOT a stupid question! Actually quite an awesome speaker for doing exactly that. I like that I can get some low end movement from kick drums and bass when I am playing along with audio from the computer; either to jam along, or tracking parts. I have some small M-Audio monitors that are ok for mixing, but say, tracking bass, I have to be careful. I love using my L2t for recording and playback! Since you have to use the analog outs anyway, couple of routes. The XLR in on the back of the Stagesource is expecting line level, but the HD500 XLR outs are mic level. If you have a 't' (L2t, L3t) no problem, just use the side mixer panel, and add some gain. Otherwise, you can probably still make it work with some tweaking on the mixer block output. Those speakers are loud as heck anyway, doubt you will have much problem. On my M-Audio monitors, the XLR is too low, so I have to use the 1/4".

Correct (unless there is some setting I couldn't find!) On my HD500x, USB audio doesn't go through the L6Link.

Exactly, Helix can do all the stuff DtEdit does, which is crucial to bypassing the HD DT amp models, cab model and mic models! The Bogner topologies are really cool, I have my DT set up in standalone with the Plexi bright on all eight channels, but with variations of cab, topo and power configurations.

If by some minor miracle that results in something usable, the next step (until a possible future firmware update) is to control the DT topology using MIDI commands sent by Helix. Topology III is way louder than the others, for example. You could also tell it to change A/B to A, pentode, triode. There is also a power amp boost in the MIDI editable options that is not part of the digital preamp selection. It is a large volume jump though,not subtle enough for a clean boost, but being able to toggle it on or off via Helix MIDI should be doable.

Ok, some one try this: Helix > L6link > DTamp (with no preamp selected using DTedit) > DT fx send > Helix > Helix cab only IR (no mic model) > Helix post amp model FX > DT fx return > DT XLR out > Helix > Helix cab + mic model > FRFR speaker or PA or recording No clue how that will work, if it will work, or whether it's even worth it. But, that should add the actual transformer tapped power topology tone to your direct out signal. Then using the cab or IR in Helix, you create the final cab emulation in the Helix rather than using the DT HD cab and mic models.

Yeah, I primarily use my DT without the HD these days! I think you could do Helix preamp 1/4" or L6link to the DT. Then use DTedit/MIDI to set up a "no preamp" channel on the DT, so it's topology only. Then I guess there are various options here. Use the fx loop from the DT to get that signal back to helix and run it through a cab only IR (no mic or room) then to some post amp model Helix FX. Then back to the DT return. And I suppose you could do a parallel path to the IR with a full Helix cab + mic and go to a FRFR speaker with that signal. Or take the XLR from the DT to get back to Helix. Not sure. I think the cab model is two different things remember. The cab model that the DT puts through it's speaker is different from the cab+mic model that gets sent to it's XLR out. That second process needs to happen only in Helix after DT. The first cab process should go to the DT, or at least, to emulate what it currently does anyhow.

I am quite interested in doing exactly that with my DT25 once my Helix arrives.. I had some ideas early on before the specifics of how Helix works were out; not sure any of them hold water at the moment. I just feel there will be some really cool way to feed Helix preamp models through DT power amp topology, and then back through Helix cab / room models. Just not certain *how*... But it's there I can feel it!

You have to register there as well; it's not the same login used here in the forum http://line6.ideascale.com/a/register

On the HD500, the XLR are mic level only. So, on my studio monitors, which are expecting line level, the XLR signal is way too low volume to use, I end up using the 1/4" outs from the HD and set them to line level. On the Helix, however, you can switch the XLR between line level and mic level. That issue is a good place to start. Also, you should (supposedly) be running the Helix master volume at 100% and turning down the speakers and everything else: http://line6.com/support/topic/16279-unity-gain-setting-signal-to-noise/?hl=unity+gain Also check these threads; what you are describing sounds similar to the issues noted here: http://line6.com/support/topic/16128-alesis-alpha-112-fizz/ http://line6.com/support/topic/16775-line-6-helix-atomic-clr-bad-sound/