roscoe5

Oh these will be super useful for my URB live to give me a mic'd sound, especially in a full band, when I cannot use a condenser mic. The piezo only isnt too inspiring, and the Schaller mag is a bit dull, although punchy. Makes me want to pull out the bow again, which my singer/guitarist has been bugging me to do. Can't wait to use them live. I've been meaning to make some myself of my mic'd Kay bass deconvolved with the Barcus Berry Piezo Bridge. But that bass is plywood and I'm sure that solid wood German Bass is much sweeter. 3Sigma has a better studio and gear anyway. They can have my $10 on this one and save me days of experimentation and frustration.

Oh, our friend Pete Thorn is demoing them.

Just bought the V30 412 pack for $6 since there is 50% off single pack coupon NAMM17. Really nice, smooth and consistent IR's that play really well with Helix. Seems like a really controlled, methodical creation process. Leaves a lot of sound control for the Helix amp controls and effects/eq blocks. They give you 3 cab mics with 6 IR's each; Balanced, Bright, Dark, Dark 2, Fat and Thin Shure SM57 Royer R-121 Sennheiser MD421 3 Neumann CTLM 107 room IR's; stereo, left and right. 12 mic mixes, 6 hi-gain and 6 lo-gain. The 421+121 is great! Great logic and organization, and not too many files and options. Like a cross between 3Sigma and Ownhammer. Soundwise, these Celestion are a bit more controlled and predictable IR to IR than say my Ownhammer California Duo pack. The Ownhamer has a more enhanced sound, maybe due to their "neutral tube amp" capture process. However, the Celestions are easily "enhanced" with a parametric eq after them. I will say these Celestions had a great natural sound with good presence and cut coming through my JBL Eon 515xt in monitor mode. I think they would make great live IR's. Not that the Ownhammers are not great by any means, but the Celestions sounded very natural at gig volume through an angled 15" monitor pointed at my head. My Ownhammers can be a bit boomy, or have some odd frequencies with that JBL if I don't tweak them. All in all, I think I would highly recommend them, especially to those new to Helix & IR's. You can get a great sound quickly and intuitively.

Ha, yeah that's smart!!! Glad to see it. Now amp and effects manufacturers should be able to publish their own amp models...get out the dev kit Line 6 :) Ah well, I guess IR's are platform-agnostic and studio friendly. Edit...I subscribed and downloaded the one free IR, a V30 mix. Pretty cool. Really neutral-sounding. Not too much thump or edge. It's probably very versatile. Sort of reminds me of Helix cabs before you tune them with parametric eq, different mics, dual cabs, etc. Double Edit...found the free download page for this IR. It's a 1x12...no wonder it's not thumpin' ;) https://www.celestionplus.com/free-download/ We wanted a classic guitar tone that would work from clean to higher gain rock. Cenzo selected the Vintage 30 in the closed back 1×12 cab and blended the balanced IRs of the Royer and 57 to get a fantastic core tone. Switching to an open back cab he mixed in the rear 57 to enhance the bass, then subtly included the Neumann room mics to add the spaciousness of an open back cab, and provide the glue to hold it all together.

Oh yeah, on another note (maybe a new thread)...I messed around with my JTV-69 yesterday trying to get a good acoustic/upright bass sound for my acoustic duo gig, and I found the Jazzbox guitar model with strings an octave down (or Helix octave pedal) with the Tuck N Go amp/cab gave a really nice bass sound. I keep switching out instruments on that gig since it's so casual (acoustic guitar, 6 string electric bass, double bass), but I want to take the JTV next time and try to cover all basses.

I haven't really had any time to dig in or make clips since I got the IR pack yesterday, but just took a quick lunch break with them. I used the IRs with my Yamaha TRB5P fretless bass with piezo bridge it it was a very nice effect, even with just the mags. Bridge mag + piezo blend was really good. I last put stainless roundwounds on it so I could play slap and finger style on it (dont worry, the ebony fingerboard is tough). I think it would sound much more like a URB with flatwounds or tapewounds. The IR's enhance A LOT of string noise on the electric bass, so get ready to lower the highs. Now it doesn't make your electric bass sound like a 4/4 double bass, BUT it does give it a some air with some woody thump. They do make your piezo equipped solid body bass sound much more acoustic bass guitar (ABG). I had a Tacoma Thunderchief fretless 5 string at one time, and it reminds me a lot of that (wish I still had it). It's even a nice acoustic enhancement for mag-only basses. Anyway, I highly recommended it for bassists using Helix.

The Helix manual recommends preamp models and I agree. Since there is no L6 Link control of DT yet, I just go Helix 1/4" out to DT power amp in. This physically bypasses all of the DT modeling rather than shutting everything off in DT edit. I actually like plugging into the front of DT still from time to time for comparisons, etc. It's a good gig backup too to leave all of the DT modeling on in case Helix dies.

I just picked up the new 3Sigma Upright Bass pack. I plan on using it with the Barcus Berry Piezo Bridge signal on my old Kay URB, blended with the dry Schaller Mag pickup on the Kay on a separate Helix input and path. Should be pretty sweet. Will post clips when I get it hooked up. Cant wait to get that bowed sound too. Nice job 3Sigma!!! Just the 3Sigma clips comparing the URB piezo DI dry and with the IR sound great. Looks like they used a Fishman Full Circle pickup. http://www.3sigmaaudio.com/items/category/upright-basses/

Sounds like you have the bases covered then. Can't really think of anything else off hand.

Yeah, my Crate Powerblock has never hickuped or failed on me. Can't beat the convenience. That thing was ahead of its time. A 300W+ version of that or something similar would be great though for just a little more clean headroom. Actually makes the Mesa and Markbass mini bass heads look appealing. Still waiting patiently for NAMM this week :)

Anyone here try Helix with a Line 6 HD147? Any reliability issues with these? I just came across a pretty good deal on one locally. It's 300W solid state (150W stereo) with switchable impedance. I've been thinking about upgrading/changing out my Crate Powerblock with a rack amp (Matrix, etc.). But the HD147 should have enough power for my V30 212 cab, looks sexy and keeps me in the L6 world.

If no new amplifier solution pops out of the Line 6 oven, I'll probably snag the Fryette Power Station and "upgrade" my L6 SV HD100. DT50 ain't cuttin' it for me.

Going off of some experience with my Crate Powerblock. I see that the Blackstar ID60 is solid state. I pulled the ID60 manual and looked at some pics online. Here are a couple of things I can think of to try. Adjust the Presence knob on the amp. This generally tames the power section highs on a tube amp. Not sure of the effect on this one. Try MP3 mode and send Helix to it from the 1/4" phones out with a 1/4" stereo cable. The ID60 sums the stereo signal. The 1/4" line in on my CPB has a different tone than my CD in. I think it has some tonal filtering. CD Input on the CPB works better for Helix.

This is a helluva claim given Helix and AX-8... "The HeadRush Pedalboard delivers the most versatile, realistic-sounding and responsive amplifier, cabinet, microphone and FX models ever found in a floorboard guitar FX processor." I have to eyeroll this one. Guess we'll see... P.S. Nice Axe Fx Sarah ;)

Could make a nice Helix accessory :) 100W Nanotube amp pedal. Looks like it is Class D power with a Nanotube driver. Any better than my 150W Crate Powerblock? Hmm... http://www.bluguitar.com/english/AMP1.html $799 at Sweetwater. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Amp1 Really excited for NAMM!!! C'mon Line 6, show us whatcha got!!!

Yeah, had the pack for a couple of weeks now and still happy with the 38 quick start in the 412 V60 folder. You can always audition IR's in your DAW and only bring selected ones into Helix. There are free DAW IR loaders.

Well, even if the device is just a slick touch UI floor unit with the Eleven + Expansion Pack + new Eleven MKii amps with IR capability that integrates into the Pro Tools ecosystem like the Eleven plug in (track savable presets, etc.), it will be a nice piece of gear at $999. If it can be had occasionally for $799 with discount coupons, open box, etc. even better. It will be a pretty big step up from POD HD500x and current Eleven Rack I bet. One thing I have to give Eleven Rack is the high-quality build...jacks, knobs, switches, etc. Very road worthy. I'm not sure that I am seeing the same quality in the Headrush at this point with the limited info available. I think there is a market and user group for it in the Avid community and those that don't want to pay $1500+ for Helix and the rest of the current gen modeler gang. Pretty smart product if you ask me. If I hadnt jumped into Helix last year and was still using my Eleven Rack, I would have been all over this. I wish them well and really hope they support their Eleven product and user group better than Avid. I think it's a nice nod to Line 6 and Helix too.

I run Helix this way as well. Works and sounds great. Very simple Helix 1/4" out to SV power amp in. No cab models on in Helix. I would assume you will want them off in XTL as well.

You can get Line 6 parts from Full Circle too. Call them if you don't see it on their site.

If I hadn't already gotten Helix, being an Eleven Rack owner myself, I can see how this could really be appealing. My Eleven Rack is still a great piece of gear, especially running into IRs. I think Eleven MKII plug in came out right before Christmas with some more models and some updates. I always thought the Eleven Rack was a step above my old HD500X tone wise. I'd imagine this Headrush is somewhere between HD500X and Helix. The $1000 price reflects it too.

Easiest load in and out ever!

No worries. I didn't take it negatively at all. You made a great test suggestion and I was the one making the claim. I really didn't want to spread inaccuracies and have others going out of their way to test and scrutinize. Honestly, it has been a while since I had tried just a straight Helix amp and cab. I've been so obsessed and immersed in IR's this year (trying, buying, creating, etc.). Maybe there was an improvement in an older update or something I missed, but I'm not about to go witch hunting, rolling back to each one until I shake it out. It's probably just me. Maybe it's a good example of how your ear and tastes can change in a year going from being a live player with traditional tube rig to working with Helix and learning the engineering side of things. Seems like it's a common evolution though. Next thing you know, I'll be playing through an FRFR rig...or not ;)

Well @willjrock and all, I guess I will eat a little crow here. I rolled it back to V2.11 at lunch, recorded a dry track, re-amped it through the same Cali Recto amp and 412 and recorded that, then exported the preset. I then re-upgraded to v2.12, brought the preset back in and recorded another re-amped track of the original dry track. When I played back the two tracks and inverted the phase of one, there was no sound. The two tracks sound identical too when solo'd. Unless there was some kind of v2.12 optimization or improvement on the Helix guitar input or headphone out, I guess I'll be taking advantage of my company's mental health benefit. Silver lining...I learned a new trick with DAW phasing :)

Ha, I do work from home in my pajamas doing CFD and FEA modeling and simulations...and play more than I should ;) I really do appreciate the efforts, support and interaction from the Line 6 staff and partners. It makes me feel like part of the company trying to achieve the same goals. Other companies, even outside of the music tech industry, can learn a lot from you guys. I think a lot of the L6 culture permeates into even my own personal projects and efforts with my company and colleagues, whether directly or indirectly.

Live streams would be great, even if Q&A wasn't enabled for the virtual attendees. Although I may just have to schedule some project work or training in our California office around the time of the next class ;)