ColonelForbin

Did the mic level vs line level on the XLR make a difference?

You can set up all eight channels to have no amp model, but configure each to different topology and power settings.

You load up DTEdit, connect the DT with MIDI cables to your midi interface to the computer. In the amp model list, you can choose "none" or something like that, no amp. You still have the option to set all the power settings though. Works great for using variax or acoustic guitar. When you do this, the gain and channel knobs on the DT will not work, but the master volume will still work.

Yo, take note of the comments by Radatats and Cipherhost, regarding using the DTEdit software via MIDI connection, to reconfigure your DT to disable the onboard preamps. Yes, this is totally possible. And, you can still configure the power topology, even with no preamp model, no cab model, no mic model. Get the MIDI going, and give it a try. Should achieve what you want with L6Link and Helix.

Good call Big Ralph! I am, for one, insanely psyched about the Helix recording capability. Currently I use an HD500x as my soundcard with Pro Tools, on two different Windows machines; one running 7, the other on 8. Does quite well, all things considered, but the Helix is a definite step up. As DI mentioned, reamping is a feature that Helix will support, and it will be awesome! Plus, being able to route more than just the stereo 1/2 as HD500/x does will open up some awesome routing / recording / jamming / ideas / workflow. For example, lately I have been using a Roland keyboard to generate drum patterns, and I lay them into groups in a click track / multi track session. Since I can only send one stereo track at a time, I have to record a bunch of drum patterns, and string them together into some vague idea of a song, or even just track out several minutes of a given beat at whatver BPM the Pro Tools session / click is set to. Then, I go back and jam chords progressions over that, and eventually build a song structure from it, overdub bass ,etc. With the Helix, I could be recording a stereo track of the drum machine, stereo 'processed' guitar, plus some kind of 'dry' guitar signal. Be able to mix that after the fact, and again with the reamping - this is a major bonus. You want to be able to do this.. It allows you to capture the dry performance of your guitar, yet gives you the freedom to run that dry signal back out to the Helix, or any other processor or guitar rig, and send that new processed signal back to the recording session. Majorly awesome feature upgrade. As for tracking multiple player jams, could do the same basic thing, and add more players! Get a bassist and another guitarist and record everyone on their own tracks. Plus, upgrade to the full 24/96, that's pretty awesome too

Right on, thanks for checking on this!

DT25 is awesome, very good tones. You can customize the onboard amp models from the various 'HD' amp model preamps, and trick them out with power configurations to get some really gnarly sound. It's still a heavy beast, but enough lighter than the DT50's to make a difference. The lower wattage also makes it easier to get nice tube breakup without bleeding ears volumes. Works really well linked to an HD500/500x too. I use mine a fair bit with analog pedals too, does a great job there. Since you can technically make 8 different stand alone amp configurations, it's got a lot going on. It has no onboard FX, which I prefer. That being said, the Helix is going to take things to a whole other level, and unfortunately isn't going to link to the DT amps in the same way as the HD500 did. You can still link them, and with some work arounds, I think Helix + DT25 will still be a pretty awesome rig. The main issue being, when you link an HD500 to a DT25 / DT50, you are entering into 'combo poweramp' (or stack poweramp mode) which disables the mic sims. Typically, when I use this rig, I also use the 'pre' only versions of the amp models. In terms of recording with that rig, the DT25/DT50 has XLR out with cabinet emulation. You can customize which mic model is the default by using a MIDI editor. You can also knock it down to 12 watts in low volume mode. That being said, again, Helix.. The DT25/DT50 amps are inherently tied to the HD amp models, because there is no analog preamp - the preamps on the DT series are all digital amp models. You can choose 'no amp model' when using MIDI to trick out the DT, and that option is likely going to come in very useful for people who want to use their DT amps with their new Helix. The main issue, is that with Helix when L6Linked to the DT25/DT50, it's just going to send either Left, Right or mono summed Left/Right. I don't know if you will be able to tell the L6Link that you only want the signal to include amp and cab modeling, but not mic modeling. What is not yet established is how the DT and Helix will interact when they are linked like this. When you link the HD500 to the DT, it's a two-way connection, Turn a knob on the DT, and it adjusts on screen on the HD500. I don't think the Helix will do this. So, the question being: will the Helix bypass the onboard DT amp / preamp models when linked? If so, since the Helix-DT link does not support changing the power amp topology, which power amp settings are used? That is where (in theory) the Helix + L6Link + DT25/DT50 could get really interesting - use MIDI to set up one of the 8 amp slots on the DT to be no amp model / no cab model / no mic model. At this point, you are still able to configure the default power settings - class A, pentode, triode, etc. The Bogner power amp settings are always separate from the L6 preamp / amp model settings. They are paired, but can be edited. I'd be curious then to see what it sounds like. In theory, you should be tapping the Helix signal into the all analog Bogner power amp, without forcing the Helix 'HX' amp / cab / mic models to be processed through the HD amp / cab / mic models. This also opens up some doors to people who are using L2/L3 speakers AND using DT amps. Currently, when linking a DT + HD500 + L2 / L3, the Line6 manual says the DT has to be first in the L6Link sequence (IE, HD500->DT25->L2t). The problem with that is the HD500 then defaults to 'combo poweramp' or 'stack poweramp', and disables the mic sims. So at that point, the only 'direct' XLR signal with mic + cab modeling, is the XLR out from the back of the DT amp. This means the L2 is also not getting a 'FRFR' signal; since it's not studio / direct. Which brings us to linking Helix + DT + L2/L3. In theory, with Helix, it should support 'FRFR', since there are no 'output modes'. The Link connection doesn't force the output mode, so you should be able to get some awesome tone, with the DT as the backline, and the L2/L3 as a floor monitor. You could sum them both to mono, while still being able to send stereo to the FOH or to the mixer/recording, without needing two DT amps to do it. A compromise, since the Link functionality between the DT-HD500 has some cool other options, in terms of the signal content being sent down the link (wet, dry, stereo, mono, etc.) You can also find some nice deals on used and price dropped DT amps these days, for a whole lot less than what they used to cost!

Interesting! That sounds definitely hopeful. I know the M20d sort of does this, but with horrible latency. I just never actually noticed that the HD500x cannot do it. tHANKS!

While connected to a computer as a souncard via USB, can Helix send computer audio playback (IE, ProTools) to the Line6 Link output?

Bump! Until I hear otherwise, as I tested it at home last night, the answer is NO, USB / computer playback does not support Line6 Link output. What I am more curious at this point, is can Helix do it, so I also asked this question in that forum. I am wondering if it's a limitation of the L6Link capability?

Correct me if I am wrong - it would appear that the HD500(x) cannot, when used as a soundcard, send audio playback from a computer out to the Line6 Link connection. I hadn't noticed this previously, recently been doing some recording / multi-track noodling at home, just usually just used a pair of M-Audio speakers. Decided I should hook up the L2t's and see how it sounds, and realized computer / Pro Tools playback was not going out the L6Link. I asked this same question in the Helix forum, sorry for the redundancy Thanks!

My current Pro Tools-HD500x / home recording work around at the moment is, stereo 1/4" to the pair of M-Audio monitors, both XLR outs to the XLR inputs on an L2t, "dual mono" mode, and a pair of 1/4" from the keyboard / drum machine to the FX loop return on the HD500x I attempted using a 1/4" to RCA stereo cable from the HD500x to the L2t RCA inputs, but I was hearing weird / nasty noises, some kind of power related thing, dunno.

Quick question: When used as a soundcard, will Helix be able to send audio from the computer via the USB port to the Line6 Link output? Correct me if I am wrong, but HD500x cannot do this. thanks!

I have been spending time with the HD500x having a semi swan-song with it. Might as well enjoy it now, while waiting for Helix! 'Cause one day soon, I won't be waiting for Helix anymore, which will end the waiting honeymoon and begin something else. Sort of funny how you don't realize until it's over that having something to look forward to, even when irked because it keeps you waiting, fills a need. The second you are no longer waiting for Helix, you will be looking for something else to fill the waiting for something need. Which is a damn good way to go broke! Until then, enjoy what you have, anticipate what is coming, and find a way to be at peace with the gap between.

Sixteen Cable Method

Get this one if you prefer a more 'wah pedal' feel: http://missionengineering.com/?product=ep1-l6

You can take many approaches to how you set up the DT. Another interesting trick: set up one of the 8 slots, (Like, A-I or something) to have 'no amp model' defined. It's an option in the amp model list.. You can still configure all the power amp settings however you'd like them to be. Makes the gain and EQ knobs not do anything, but does make for a direct tap into the power amp with no pre-amp filtering going on. Did good things for getting acoustic guitars to sound good through the DT.Or JTV / Variax reco and acoustic models.

Mostly I delved into this DTEdit of my DT, for use with a non-HD500 pedalboard. Keeley pedals and such, with FX before the amp send, and more in the FX loop. This way, when I plug that board into my DT, I have 8 different 'amps' on tap. Don't really toggle between them much, since the settings all have to change, but it makes for some cool 'base' amp tone flavoring that radically changes how the overdrive, wah, delay, etc interact with the amp tone. I like to use the Fender twin for clean / blues rock. I use the Plexi alot. I also like the SLO crunch and clean. Fender tweed, I think I loaded the JCM800 on there for a more rockin amp. All other variables being equal, it does allow for a nice sonic sweep of the tonal pallette. But remember - the DT doesn't save any positional data. The knobs as set, are where they are set, and when you change amp models those knob positions instantly apply to the new amp model. You can get some mega volume spikes doing this, so proceed with caution!! That's also why I turned off that 'boost' setting on all the models I loaded standalone, and then with settings somewhat 'normal' toggled between all the amps and made sure none were radically louder, or in sets of similar volumes. IE, pair clean amps up with each other, pair louder amps together.

If you are not using an HD500, you can't 'save' anything to the DT25 in terms of presets. The DTEdit software allows you to pre-configure the specific amp model and cab combinations, with their power amp settings in the 8 slots on the DT, when used in standalone mode. With an HD500, you are not limited to only 8 configurations, you can use any / all of the various amp and cab combinations. That being said, there are some cool things you can do at least experimenting with the standalone configurations of the DT. As it comes 'stock' there are four amp models, and the same four are on A-I-II-III-IV, as B-I-II-III-IV. I set mine up with 8 different amp models, usually matching the topology setting of that amp model to the I-II-III-IV slot they occupy. Though, you could set all eight to the same power topology settings, and just changed the flavor with the different pre-amps / cabs.

For me it was a subtractive thing; I turned the boost 'off' on all my standalone setups for the DT. It helps even out volume spikes from model to model - since the settings on the amp itself immediately spike or cut the volume when the amp model is changed. It is difficult to toggle between the amp models in 'standalone' mode, as compared to setting up level balanced patches with the HD500.. I am curious to see the interesting uses people put the DT to paired with the Helix! Since you can do more routing options, I was thinking stereo L2t's with the DT25 in the center. Figure out how to send the DT a summed l/r signal, maybe even pre-'wet- FX - at least before the mic / room modeling (sim to 'combo/poweramp'), and then send the full mic+cab 'studio direct' version (in stereo) to the L2t's. For total 'Helix' overkill, do pair of L2t + pair of L3 + DT25 mini stack (combo on top of extension cab) :)

Standing here in Gtr Ctr looking at a new DT50 1x12 for $699, and a dinged up blemished DT25 for same price.. Dang.. I guess that's good news for anyone in the market to buy, not so much good news if anyone is looking to sell!

I would imagine you will be able to do some stellar cool things on acoustic with Helix. The normal processing + you could add a microphone to a second signal path. Make your piezo pickup go through one set of effects, make the mic in front of the acoustic do something different.

Looks good! This type of diagram is excellent, helps understand the various routing options.. This Helix soundcard functionality is awesome, loving that it supports re-amping.